Heisk
{{Short description|Scottish folk band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Heisk
| image = HEISK logo.png
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| genre = Scottish folk music
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| website = {{URL|www.heisk.co.uk}}
| current_members = {{ublist
|Lauren MacDonald
|Megan MacDonald
|Becca Skeoch
|Catriona Hawksworth
|Sally Simpson
}}
| past_members =
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Heisk is a Scottish folk band with a musical style tailored for festival dance parties. It includes six women and emphasizes female empowerment in the Scottish traditional music scene.{{cite news |last1=McLean |first1=Pauline |title=Festival marks full circle moment for trad girl band |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-68109232 |access-date=8 February 2024 |work=BBC News |date=27 January 2024}}
History
The band was formed by Skeoch and Hawksworth after they witnessed a dearth of female representation at the Celtic Connections festival.{{cite news |last1=Fish |first1=Bob |title=Heisk: Heisk |url=https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2021/09/heisk-album-review/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |work=Folk Radio UK |date=10 September 2021}} The band's name means "nervous, excitable, agitated or flurried" in the Orcadian dialect of Scots.
Musical style
The band aims for a "festival party vibe".{{cite news |last1=Potter |first1=Gordon |title=Review of HEISK – HEISK |url=https://www.livingtradition.co.uk/webrevs/heisk01.htm |access-date=21 December 2023 |work=The Living Tradition |issue=141}} John Barlass of At the Barrier described the band's style as "a blend of traditional influences from Scotland and Europe, all spiced up with healthy and enjoyable servings of funk, soul and unadulterated pop". Cara Macdonald, reviewing a live performance at Celtic Connections, praised their stage presence, including bright and colourful outfits and instruments, which she wrote created a "joyous and celebratory atmosphere".{{Cite news |last=Macdonald |first=Cara |date=2024-02-02 |title=Heisk |url=https://www.isthismusic.com/heisk |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Is this music? |language=en}}
Band members
- Lauren MacDonald (drums and percussion)
- Megan MacDonald (accordion)
- Becca Skeoch (electro-harp)
- Isla Callister (fiddle)
- Catriona Hawksworth (keyboard)
- Sally Simpson (fiddle and viola)
Discography
- Heisk (2021){{cite news |last1=Barlass |first1=John |title=Heisk – HEISK: Album Review |url=https://atthebarrier.com/2021/08/12/heisk-heisk-album-review/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |work=At The Barrier |date=12 August 2021}}{{cite news |title=Album Of The Week – HEISK |url=https://www.celticmusicradio.net/album-of-the-week-heisk/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |publisher=Celtic Music Radio |date=October 9, 2021}}
- Headstrong (2024){{cite news |last1=Pratt |first1=David |title=Review of Headstrong by Heisk |url=https://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/reviews/Heisk2/ |access-date=26 January 2024 |work=Fatea Records |date=January 10, 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.heisk.co.uk}}
{{Scottish folk music}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical groups established in the 21st century
Category:Scottish folk music groups
Category:Scottish musical trios
Category:21st-century establishments in Scotland