Photo: Craig Stuntz · CC BY-SA 2.5 · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
The Tannahill Weavers
Group · United Kingdom · Paisley · formed 1968
British band
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Also known as Tannahill Weavers · Tannahill weavers · The Tanahill Weavers · The Tannahill Weaver · The Tannahill Weaves · タナヒル・ウィーヴァーズ
Timeline
16 events▣ Album 14◆ Formed 1★ Debut release 1
1960s
1970s
· Debut release
Debut release: Are Ye Sleeping Maggie
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
Biography
English biography386 words · 3 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1376923806
Biography
The Tannahill Weavers are a traditional Scottish music musical group. They released their first album, Are Ye Sleeping MaggieAre Ye Sleeping MaggieSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Are Ye Sleeping Maggie4:082Ferrickside2:213Galley of Lorne3:424Birnie Bouzle2:405Cam Ye by Athol5:286Hugaibh Oirbh4:447The Gypsy3:228My Love's in Germanie5:549The Overgate2:0610Ca' the Yowes4:57, in 1976, and were one of the first popular bands to incorporate the Great Highland Bagpipe in an ensemble setting. In doing so, they helped change the sound of Scottish traditional music. In 2011, the band were inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.
The band was formed in 1968 and practised in a back room of the McKay family's rented council house at 41 St. Ninian's Road, Hunterhill, Paisley. The band first performed at St. Peter's Folk Club, Glenburn, Paisley which was run by Pat Doherty, father of Weavers' founding member Neil Doherty.
As of 2021, they continue to tour and release new recordings. They are named after Scottish poet Robert Tannahill, known as the 'Weaver Poet,' and have recorded several of his songs.
In 2022 Roy Gullane published an autobiography entitled Goulash Soup and Chips: The Reminiscences and Occasional Rantings of an Aging Folk Singer, which includes numerous anecdotes about The Tannahill Weavers' 50-plus-year touring history.
Members
The current members of the band are:
Roy Gullane (guitar, vocals)
Phil Smillie (flute, tin whistles, bodhrán, vocals)
Malcolm Bushby (fiddle)
Iain MacGillivray (Highland bagpipes, fiddle, Scottish smallpipes, tin whistle)
Past members have included:
Lorne MacDougall (Highland bagpipes, Scottish smallpipes, tin whistle)
John Martin (fiddle, vocals)
Colin Melville (Highland bagpipes, Scottish smallpipes, tin whistles)
Leslie Wilson (bouzouki, keyboards, bass pedals, guitar, vocals)
Alan MacLeod (Highland bagpipes, tin whistles, mandola, organ, vocals)
Bill Bourne (vocals, bouzouki, guitar, electric guitar, fiddle, keyboards, bass pedals)
Dougie MacLean (fiddle, mandolin, vocals, guitar, tenor banjo)
Duncan J. Nicholson (Highland bagpipes, Scottish smallpipes, tin whistles)
Struan Thorpe (Highland bagpipes, Scottish smallpipes, flute, tin whistles, guitar)
Gordon Duncan (Highland bagpipes, tin whistles)
Hudson Swan (bouzouki, vocals, fiddle, glockenspiel, mandolin)
Iain MacInnes (Highland bagpipes, Scottish smallpipes, tin whistles, vocals)
Kenny Forsyth (Highland bagpipes, Scottish smallpipes, tin whistles)
Mike Ward (fiddle, guitar, vocals)
Ross Kennedy (bouzouki, fiddle, bass pedals, vocals)
Stuart Morison (fiddles, bones, guitar)
Willie Beaton (fiddle, vocals)
David Shaw (guitar, bass guitar)
Willie Beag (fiddle)
John Cassidy (whistles, vocals) - founding member
Stuart McKay (vocals, guitar, penny whistle) - founding member
Neil Doherty (vocals, guitar, mandolin, penny whistle) - founding member
Jim McGowan (vocals) - founding member
Contributing artists
The Rough Guide to Scottish Music (1996)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 10 | 58.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 19 | 86.7th |
| Studio albums | 16 | 95.1th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 16 | 91.8th |
| Recording span (years) | 42 | 82.7th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (19 release groups · 16 studio albums)
Albums · 16
1976 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 39:22
1Are Ye Sleeping Maggie4:082Ferrickside2:213Galley of Lorne3:424Birnie Bouzle2:405Cam Ye by Athol5:286Hugaibh Oirbh4:447The Gypsy3:228My Love's in Germanie5:549The Overgate2:0610Ca' the Yowes4:571978 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 9 tracks · 36:19
A1The Deil's Awa We' th' Exciseman2:55A2Cam Ye O'er Frae France2:27A3Cameron McFadgen / The Humours of Cork / The Skyeman's Jig4:46A4Gloomy Winter's Noo Awa'4:29A5Wha'll Dance Wi' Wattie / Traditional / Pipe Major George Allan3:36B1The McGregors5:00B2Bonnie Was Yon Rosie Briar6:03B3The Laird o' Cockpen2:59B4The Irish Washerwoman / The Cook in the Kitchen / Miss Girdle4:041979 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 9 tracks
A1The Geese in the Bog / The Jig of SlursA2Jock StewartA3Tae the Weavers Gin Ye Gang / The Blackberry BushA4Farewell to Fiunary / Heather IslandB1Willie Cummings / The Red Speckled Hen / Dalena McKayB2The Merchant's Son / Dr. Ross’s 50th Welcome the Argyllshire GatheringB3Ned of the Hills (or Captain Carswell) / The Yewe wi’ the Crooked Horn / The Marquis of TullibardineB4The Gypsy LaddieB5Lady Mary Anne1981 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks
A1Johnny Cope / The Athol HighlandersA2The Trooper and the Maid / The Sound of SleatA3I Once Loved a LassA4Paddy O’Rafferty / Sandy DuffA5Auld Lang SyneB1Captain Carswell / Susan Macleod / The Cabar FeidhB2The Gaberlunzie Man / Mrs. MacLeod of RasseyB3The Terror TimeB4The Birkin TreeB5Lieutenant Maguire / Donald MacLean1986 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 39:54
1Lucy Cassidy / The Bletherskate / The Smith of Chilliechassie3:322The Scottish Settler's Lament5:523Donald McLean's Farewell to Oban / Dunrobin Castle / The Wise Maid / Iain's Jig4:084The Rovin' Heilandman3:025The Yellow Haired Laddie / Dream Angus4:536Land of Light1:387The Queen Amang The Heather / Mairi Anne Macinnes3:468Bustles and Bonnets5:359The American Stranger3:1110Conon Bridge / Macbeth's Strathspey / Major David Manson / Mrs. MacPherson of Inveran4:171990 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 9 tracks · 39:48
1The Standard on the Braes o’ Mar / The Haughs o’ Cromdale3:292The Fiddler / The Fiddler’s Jig / Jenny Dang the Weaver / The Reel of Tulloch4:423Joy of My Heart4:404Aikendrum1:385Samuel the Weaver / The Panda / Thunderhead / The Cannongate Twitch / Allan Macdonald’s Reel5:166Kintail4:257A Night Visitor’s Song3:398Cullen Bay / Dalnahassaig / S’Ionadh Riud a Chunnaic Mi / Alick C. MacGregor6:109Braw Burn the Bridges5:491992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 43:01
1Greenwood Side / Highland Laddie / Pattie3:172Logie o' Buchan4:023Elspeth Campbell / Kenny Gilles of Portnalong, Skye / Malcolm Johnstone / Thornton Jig4:534The Cuillins of Rhum3:435The Mermaid's Song / The Herra Boys / Captain Horn / The Fourth Floor6:276Are Ye Sleeping Maggie? / The Noose and the Ghillie3:077A Bruxa / Unknown3:518Come Under My Plaidie3:549Welcome Royal Cherlie / Campbell's Farewell to Redcastle2:4710Flashmarket Close / MacArther / Colonel Fraser / The Swallow's Tale4:2611The Ass in the Graveyard2:341994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 53:47
1The Blackbird Set: Blackley of Hillsdale / The Blackbird / The Hankie Dance / Jack Daniel’s Reel / The Farmer’s Daughter4:382Capernaum2:333The Plooboy Laddies / John Murray of Lochee4:444The Unicorn Set: The Unicorn / Trip to Pakistan / An Andro6:285The Braes o’ Balquhidder3:516The Hieland Sodger3:037The Carls o’ Dysart1:028The Log Splitter Set: Caradale Bay / The Log Splitter / Calibachan / Drochaid Luideach4:109The Sound of Taransay3:3610The Brewer Laddie / Cathkin Braes4:0511The Bergen3:5912Gray Bob’s Set: Gray Bob / Cutty’s Wedding / Loch Carron / Gray Bob3:1013Captain Ward / The Streaker2:5714Hame5:311996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 51:18
1Good Drying Set4:572Hieland Harry3:403The Rigs o' Rye4:574The Athol Gathering4:095St. Kilda Set5:426The Shearin's No for You4:227The Three Healths1:238Crann Tara Set4:219The Wars o' Germany4:1610Islay Charm Set4:0611Last May a Braw Wooer4:1012Farewell You Silver Darlin's5:151998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 54:22
1Interceltic Set: [Unknown Breton Tune] / Dominic McGowan / Neil Anns a' Bhata Mhor / Tha Toll Air a' Bhata / Quirang Quickstep5:352When the Kye Come Hame / Munlochy Bridge3:083Lord Drummond2:434The Braes o' Gleniffer3:275The Great Ships4:166Carronside Set: Carronside / Miss Grace Hays / Miss Sarah MacFadyen5:147Rich Man's Silver4:498McGregor of Rora Set: McGregor of Rora / Port an Righ / Bogallan / Malcolm the Tailor / The Primrose Girl6:439Craigieburn Wood4:4010Loch Tayside Set: Superscot / Am Breamatain Tobhain Dubh / Charms of Whisky / Loch Tayside Reel / Ruairidh of Barra's Reel / The New Reel5:0511Westlin' Winds4:5412Robin Tamson's Smiddy / Highland Kitty3:482000 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 45:10
1Fair Maid of Oban Set3:512It Was All for Our Rightful King2:253One for the Road Set3:474The Gallant Shearers4:525The Breton Connection4:216Ower the Moor Amang the Heather3:017For Aye4:558The Silver Whistle Set3:129Malley Leigh3:0410Hebridean Dream3:1311Helen of Kirkconnell / Les Wilson's Welcome to Lewis4:0112The Wagtail Set4:282003 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 44:49
1The Arnish Light Set: The Arnish Light / Twisted Fingers / Fear a' Choire / The Lintie4:092Cam Ye by Athol4:373Romy Therese / Tune for Mary3:234The Ewie Wi' the Crookit Horn2:475The Bell Rock Set: The Bell Rock / The Fittie Boatman / Bessie Brown2:476Lassie Wi' the Lintwhite Locks4:047Ower the Hills and Faur Awa'3:428Luskentyre Sands3:139The Rose Amang the Thorn6:1710Glen Where the Deer Is: Cluny's Reel / Doctor of Coll's Reel / Lord James Murray's Reel / Ghlass Ault / Glen Where the Deer Is3:0911Up in the Mornin's No' for Me3:2312Fair Gallowa'3:182007 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 58:29
1The Geese in the Bog / The Jig of Slurs3:162Tranent Muir2:443Farewell to Fiunary / Heather Island6:154The Log Splitter Set4:115Whem the Kye Come Hame3:096The Athol Gathering3:057Pipe Major George Allan Set5:578Dark Eyed Molly4:409Dumbartons Drums4:2110The Black Run Set4:1211The Soldiers Return5:4112Grat for Gruel3:2313Leaving Ireland Set4:1214The Cruel Brither3:23Òrach (The Golden Anniversary)
2018 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:00:19
1Òrach5:202Jenny A' Things4:513Christchurch Cathedral3:134The Jeannie C4:425Northern lights5:266Oh No2:487Sunset Over the Somme2:598Fragment of a Scottish Ballad3:009The Asturian Sessions3:3410The Ghost of Mick McDonnell5:0411Pipe Major Duncan Nicholson4:3112Jessie the Floo'er o' Dunblane4:3013The Battle of Sheriffmuir5:3514Gordon Duncan Set4:46— · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 43:25
1Roddie MacDonald's Favourite2:482Jamie Raeburn's Farewell4:453Harris and the Mare5:504Duntroon / Trip to Alaska4:165The Highland Laddie4:466At the End of a Pointed Gun5:167Lady Dysie4:108The Coach House Reel / Marie Christine / The Coach House Reel4:009Phuktiphanno / John MacKenzie's Fancy3:0210Drink a Round4:32— · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 39:13
1Turf Lodge / Cape Breton Fiddlers' Welcome to the Shetland Isles / Lady Margaret Stewart / The Flaggon4:402Tranent Muir2:403Isabeaux S'y Proméne / Banais Mairead3:514Fisher Row / Newmarket House3:425Wild Mountain Thyme4:186Maggie Lauder2:097The Smokey Lum / Maggie's Pancakes / Dancing Feet / The Mason's Apron4:218Mary Morrison4:489The Campbelton Kiltie Ball / The Back of the Moon / Kelsae Brig / Put Me in the Great Chest / Sergeant MacDonald's Reel4:1410The Final Trawl4:30
Album · 3
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Best of the Tannahill Weavers: 1979-1989Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 46:201The Geese in the Bog / Jig of Slurs2:56 2Auld Lang Syne3:20 3Tranent Muir2:40 4The Highland Laddie4:46 5Lucy Cassidy / The Blertherskate / The Smith of Chilliechassie3:30 6Farewell to Fiunar / Heather Island6:44 7Roddie MacDonald's Favorite2:48 8The Gypsy Laddie2:41 9Jamie Raeburn's Farewell4:44 10Johnnie Cope / The Atholl Highlanders3:42 11I Once Loved a Lass3:54 12Turf Lodge / The Cape Breton Fiddler's Welcome to the Shetland Isles / Lady Margaret Stewart / The Flaggon4:35 | Compilation | 1989 | |
| 1997 | The Tannahill Weavers Collection: Choice Cuts 1987-1996Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks · 1:02:411The Blackbird Set: Blackley of Hillsdale / The Blackbird / The Hankie Dance / Jack Daniel’s Reel / The Farmer’s Daughter4:36 2Wild Mountain Thyme4:15 3Capernaum2:31 4Crann Tara Set: Angus G. MacLeod / Crann Tara / Fiona MacLeod4:20 5Joy of My Heart / Kintail7:17 6The Carls o’ Dysart / The Log Splitter Set: The Carls o’ Dysart / Caradale Bay / The Log Splitter / Calibachan / Drochaid Luideach5:11 7Hieland Harry: Hieland Harry / The Wee Highland Laddie (2nd part) / Lieutenant Colonel D.J.S. Murray3:39 8The Braes o’ Balquhidder3:50 9Are Ye Sleeping Maggie?: Are Ye Sleeping Maggie? / The Noose and the Ghillie3:04 10Campbelton Kiltie Ball: Campbelton Kiltie Ball / The Back of the Moon / Kelsae Brig / Put Me in the Great Chest / Sergeant MacDonald’s Reel4:10 11The Cuillins of Rhum3:42 12The Plooboy Laddies / John Murray of Lochee4:40 13The Good Drying Set: Good Drying / The MacFarlanes / The Whistlebinkies Reel / Mulhaire’s Reel / The Christmas Carousal / Miss Monaghan4:56 14Braw Burn the Bridges6:30 | Compilation | 1997 | |
| — | Live at the BBC Concert Hall 1981Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 7 tracks · 34:441Reels3:34 2The Trooper & the Maid4:27 3I Once Loved a Lass6:04 4Captain Carswell / Susean MacLeod / Cabar Feidh4:45 5The Gaberlunzie Man5:18 6Auld Lang Syne5:12 7Johnny Cope / The Atholl Highlanders5:24 | Live | — |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put The Tannahill Weavers head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 10 | 58.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 19 | 86.7th |
| Studio albums | 16 | 95.1th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 16 | 91.8th |
| Recording span (years) | 42 | 82.7th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Awards & honours
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duncan J. Nicholson | — | present | |
| Iain MacInnes | — | present | |
| John Martin | — | present | |
| Kenny Forsyth | — | present | |
| Leslie Wilson | — | present | |
| Phil Smillie | — | present | |
| Ross Kennedy | — | present | |
| Roy Gullane | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tannahill_weavers.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/2684a10b-dcf0-46f4-966d-5f26440952a1discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/2684a10b-dcf0-46f4-966d-5f26440952a1core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q224645genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q224645seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tannahill_Weaversbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tannahill_Weavers
Why this artist is in the database
- List of folk musicians
- List of Scottish musicians
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Craig Stuntz · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q224645 · MusicBrainz: 2684a10b-dcf0-46f4-966d-5f26440952a1
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