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After a few months' gestation, the Macaroon Ceilidh Band is finally born! More...

orchestra macaroon

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Orchestra Macaroon is a group of musicians who got together in 2004 to record an album of Colin Blakey compositions. The album is called Breakfast In Balquhidder after one of the tracks, and was nearly all recorded within a few hundred yards of the Atlantic Ocean on Easdale Island, Argyll, where Colin and three of the group's other members were living at the time.

The 'Orchestra', using combinations of percussion, yang qin, horns, strings, and several species of bagpipes, around a core trio of piano, double bass and drums, came into being as a result of recording the album; the first time everyone played together en masse was at the Breakfast In Balquhidder launch gig on Easdale Island in 2004. (see pic, left).

Following the success of that debut gig, and the friendly reception given to Breakfast In Balquhidder, Orchestra Macaroon continued playing live in various guises until early 2006.

Later on that year Colin and fellow Macaroon Philippa moved to Kendal, at the edge of the Lake District, since when other musical projects - such as the Macaroon Ceilidh Band - have been brewing. However, plans are afoot for a Cumbrian version of Orchestra Macaroon and some more recording.

Critics described it as "the best roots music I've heard in ages", "shot through with joyful melody", "a glorious fusion of sounds and musics", "a wake-up call to the dead". Orchestra Macaroon's Breakfast In Balquhidder CD is available here. More...

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To find out more about Orchestra Macaroon, please contact us.