B2 (HEATHER MACLEOD & DAVID DONNELLY)
Well known for their work together for over a decade, with The Bevvy Sisters and The Loveboat Big Band – vocalist Heather Macleod & guitarist David 'Demus' Donnelly have forged a strong and intuitive musical relationship through such a long journey together and enjoy exploring a wide mix of rootsy music from jazz through country, blues, folk and soul. There may also be some humour involved.
Heather Macleod has a powerfully emotive voice owing as much to Beth Gibbons as her Celtic Roots. Originally from the Isle of Lewis, Heather paid her dues in the 1990s Aberdeen blues-jam scene whilst in Art School, before moving to Edinburgh to further her music. Thereupon she involved herself in the birth of The Bongo Club and embarked on years of touring with Eliza Carthy's band at the point of the US Warner Bros release of 'Angels and Cigarettes' resulting in appearances on Glastonbury's main stage and the Conan O' Brien show in NY. The busy few years that followed saw the release of her solo debut 'Crossing Tides', the formation of The Bevvy Sisters and continuing work with the much-loved Loveboat Big Band. Her glowing reputation for fine vocal arrangements, signature in the Bevvy's work, has featured in work by Eliza Carthy and Dick Gaughan amongst many others.
Should it be filed under Folk or Jazz or Hippy-tippy Hop?
Tell you what I think - File it under Heather Macleod! * * * * * * * * * * Danny Thompson
A cool smoky voice with a range that's as wide as her choice of styles. Dublin Evening Herald
David Donnelly (ex-Salsa Celtica/Finlay Quaye), a virtual one-man band and a gifted songwriter (as also heard on his 2011 solo album Future Analogue), who frames and underpins the sorority’s sound with brilliantly taut, inventive guitar and mandolin work, plus the odd basso profundo counter-harmony.
Guitarist Donnelly plays his guitar with a vigour worthy of an orchestra. He can invoke all manner of sounds from his instrument and each one is never less than perfection
Shetland Times