Coinneach

An outgrowth of informal jam sessions that late piper Kenny Macrae hosted at a variety of pubs in Ross-Shore, Scotland during the late-1980s, Coinneach continues to redefine traditional Scottish music. Their self-produced debut album, Life In A Scottish Greenhouse, focused on environmental issues and daily life in the Scottish Highlands, while their subsequent efforts, Ice Trees And Lullabies and Protected? have reflected on similar themes. Formed to play a series of shows in Macrae's memory, Coinneach took its name from the Gaelic translation for Kenneth. Recording since the mid-1990s, the group has been playing full-time since being reorganized by founding singer, songwriter and guitarist, Davy Cowan and drummer Graeme Hosie in 2001. The revised lineup made its debut on Coinneach's third album, Protected?, in early-2002. Recorded in 1995, Life In A Scottish Greenhouse featured the playing of fiddler/vocalist Rachael Parker, bassist Jean-Pierre Sieczkarek and keyboardist Torment McCosh. Shortly before work began on Ice Trees And Lullabies, McCosh was replaced by Steve Spence. All members but Cowan and Hosie were replaced when the band went full-time.