The Poozies
Eilidh Shaw: guitar, fiddle, percussion, vocals
Mary MacMaster: electro-harp, metal-strung harp, percussion, vocals
Patsy Seddon: electro-harp, gut-strung harp, fiddle, percussion, vocals
Mairearad Green: piano accordion, pipes, vocals
Sally Barker: guitars, percussion, vocals
Since 1990 the all-women band The Poozies have enjoyed great success due largely to the sheer joy in their music, which is at their core whatever else changes. With Sally Barker there was an element of rock - she was once described as "the only person I've heard SCREAM in tune", (Shetland Folk Festival).
When Sally left The Poozies, Kate Rusby joined bringing a more traditional flavour and a blossoming of the harmony singing that is such a trade-mark of The Poozies.
Listen to
The Poozies
- Another Train [3.34Mb]
- Les Femmes Chaussees [3.09Mb]
- We Built Fires [4.76Mb]
- Willie's Old Trousers [3.18Mb]
Then, when Kate left the band, Eilidh Shaw was brought in, a great young west coast Scottish traditional fiddler with an impressive musical pedigree. Eilidh grew up playing fiddle in the Highfield Band, her parents' ceilidh band, boasting an international reputation as the best Scottish country dance band in Scotland.
In 2006, The Poozies' world turned full-circle with Sally Barker rejoining making the band back to 5-strong once more. Sally's voice blended with those fabulous harmonies and she contributed the wonderful creative force of her song-writing.
The latest recruit to The Poozies line-up arrived when Karen Tweed left at the end of 2007, and the youthful Mairearad Green stepped up. As talented on the pipes and keyboards as on the accordion, Mairearad has complemented beautifully the band's delicate interweaving fiddles and the nylon and metal strung harps of Patsy and Mary.
The Poozies have long been masters of arrangment and their instrumental sets and songs from the rich vein of traditional Scottish Gaelic culture (and any other enticing genre) take you on a great musical journey via close vocal harmonies and the fabtastic Camac electro-harp which underpins the arrangements, while Patsy's twinned fiddle casts beams of rhythm into the mix.
The range of experience collectively realised by The Poozies new line-up is massive! Individually they have played in ... Sileas, Harem Scarem, Clan Alba, Keep It Up, Shine, John Rae’s Celtic Feet, The Unusual Suspects, Karen Tweed, Karine Polwart, Anna Massie Band, Box Club, Caledon, La Boum and The Highfield Ceilidh Band. They have also all guested on many recordings including those of Dick Gaughan, Lal and Norma Waterson, June Tabor and Eliza Carthy.
The success of The Poozies is evidenced by their continued popularity with audiences. They play to packed houses wherever they go and they are constantly in demand at festivals throughout the summer months.
For more information visit Poozies website
Current Availability
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