Niteworks
{{Short description|Electronic Celtic fusion band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Niteworks
| image = Niteworks-1300991.jpg
| alias = Obair Oidhche
| origin = Isle of Skye, Scotland
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| years_active = 2007–2024
| label =
| current_members = Innes Strachan
Allan MacDonald
Christopher Nicolson
Ruairidh Graham
| past_members =
| associated_acts = Angus MacDonald, Allan MacDonald
| website ={{url|niteworksband.com}}
}}
Niteworks (also known by the Scottish Gaelic Obair Oidhche) was an Electronic Celtic fusion band from the Isle of Skye. The band are known for writing new songs in Gaelic and melding the bagpipes and Gaelic song forms such as puirt à beul with techno and house beats.{{cite web|url=http://www.hebceltfest.com/news/?id=78&view=full|title=School Pupils set to take stage with Niteworks|date=8 July 2011|work=Hebridean Celtic Festival Trust|accessdate=12 August 2011}}
History
Niteworks came together in early 2008. Shortly after forming, the band won several awards including the Rapal song contest with "Nam Aonar san Fonn". Niteworks' name comes from a sample of an old Gaelic speaker referring to "obair oidhche" or "night work.{{cite web|url=http://www.knockengorroch.org.uk/#/lineup/02/05/2011004913/05022011004913833648/|title=Knockengorroch|accessdate=12 August 2011}}
Niteworks have covered Runrig's "Chì mi 'n Geamhradh", and write songs in both Gaelic and English.
The band has toured across the Scottish music festival circuit, playing at Rockness, Knockengorroch as well as frequent returns to Tartan Heart Festival. They have also headlined Hebridean Celtic Festival's Islands Stage in 2011 (described as the "band of the night"),{{cite web|url=http://folkandroots.blogspot.com/2011/07/thursday-evening.html|title=HebCelt Thursday evening|work=Folk and Roots – Festivals 2011|date=15 July 2011|accessdate=12 August 2011}} 2012 and 2015 and sold out Glasgow's Oran Mor in 2012 and 2015, as part of the city's popular Celtic Connections Festival. They also DJ frequently, independently of their live act.
Their debut EP, Niteworks: Obair Oidhche, was released on 15 October 2011. This was acclaimed and attracted a larger fanbase to the group.{{fact|date=October 2023}}
Niteworks launched their debut album, NW, in October 2015 with a sold-out gig at Glasgow's SWG3 Warehouse. The album draws further on the band's Skye roots and Gaelic upbringing and drew comparisons to the legendary Martyn Bennett.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/14178760.Niteworks__NW__Comann_Music_/?ref=rss|title=Niteworks, NW (Comann Music)|website=The Herald|location=Glasgow}}
The band capped off 2015 by opening the show at the Scottish Trad Music Awards at Dundee's Caird Hall.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/music/gig-review-mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards-2015-1-3968142|title=Gig review: MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards 2015}}
In August 2018, Niteworks released their second album Air Fàir an Là which was co-produced with Alex Smoke and included collaborations with other traditional musicians including SIAN, Iain Morrison, Ellen MacDonald (of Sian and Dàimh), Julie Fowlis and Kinnaris Quintet.{{Cite web|title=StackPath|url=https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2018/10/niteworks-air-fair-an-la/|access-date=2020-11-20|website=folkradio.co.uk}}{{Cite news|title=Niteworks: Air Fàir An Là – balance set in a different place |url=https://www.ft.com/content/dff5b8f6-94b5-11e8-b67b-b8205561c3fe|access-date=2020-11-20|website=Financial Times|date=3 August 2018 }}
In January 2022, Niteworks released their third album A'Ghrian{{Cite web|title=Skye's Niteworks reflect on pandemic as band makes big return|url=https://www.thenational.scot/culture/19850769.skyes-niteworks-reflect-pandemic-band-makes-big-return/|access-date=2022-01-21|website=The National|language=en}} which was shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year Award.{{Cite news |last=Crae |first=Ross |date=6 October 2022 |title=Shortlist for 2022 Scottish Album of the Year Award announced |work=The Sunday Post |url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/shortlist-for-2022-scottish-album-of-the-year-award-announced/ |access-date=18 October 2022}}
In November 2023 they announced that they would disband the following year. A final single covering Runrig's An Toll Dubh was released in May 2024 ahead of November's Solas Na Maidne ("Morning Light") tour, which played dates in Inverness, Edinburgh, London and Aberdeen before concluding at the Glasgow O2 Academy on November 16th. {{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceqp6zpn520o|title=Skye band Niteworks to disband in 2024 after 17 years|date=23 November 2023|website=BBC News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/groundbreaking-gaelic-band-niteworks-from-isle-of-skye-to-disband-after-16-years-4419778|title=Groundbreaking Gaelic band Niteworks, from Isle of Skye, to disband after 16 years}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.stv.tv/entertainment/gaelic-band-niteworks-announce-they-will-disband-in-2024-after-17-years-together|title=Gaelic band Niteworks announce split after 17 years together|first=Beth|last=Franklin|date=23 November 2023|website=STV News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.niteworksband.com/|title=Niteworks|website=Niteworks}}
Band members
Names also given in Scottish Gaelic:
- Innes Strachan, Aonghas Strachan (vocals/keyboards)
- Allan MacDonald, Ailean Domhnallach (guitar/bagpipes/keyboards)
- Christopher Nicolson, Crisdean MacNeacail (bass guitar)
- Ruairidh Graham, Ruairidh Greumach (drums)
Discography
=Albums=
- NW (2015)
- Air Fàir an Là (2018)
- A' Ghrian (2022)
=EPs=
- Niteworks : Obair Oidhche (2011)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.niteworksband.com/ Niteworks Website]
- [http://www.hebceltfest.com/festival/bands/nite.php Niteworks at the Hebridean Celtic Festival]
- [http://folkandroots.blogspot.com/2011/07/thursday-evening.html Review of Niteworks performance]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Scottish folk musicians
Category:Celtic fusion musicians
Category:Scottish Celtic music groups