Breabach

Melding the different aspects of Celtic folk — that is to say pipes, whistles, flutes, fiddles, and traditional dance, Breabach found success quickly, and won many awards along the way. The band had auspicious beginnings, winning the 2005 Danny Kyle Open Stage Award at that year's Celtic Connections Festival, which led to a deal with the Vertical Records label the following year. Before releasing their debut album, Breabach scored a nomination for Best Up and Coming Band at the Scots Traditional Music Awards — also in 2006. The aforementioned debut, The Big Spree, was released to a warm reception in 2007, and the group followed it up with a tour. In 2008 bandmembers Donal Brown (pipes, flute, whistles, stepdance), Calum MacCrimmon (pipes, whistles, vocals), Patsy Reid (fiddle, vocals), and Ewan Robertson (guitar, vocals) embarked on a Welsh and English tour, in addition to planning a European jaunt later in the year.