| Music on the Isle of Scalpay in the Outer Hebrides Sadly there appears to be no music coming from the island at present. This is sad for a small island with a rich musical background. Many excellent songs have been written about the Isle of Scalpay and several songwriters are from the island. There have been many Gaelic songs written and a couple of pop songs from the likes of Runrig. Runrig have some strong Scalpay connections and thereis mention of the island in their songs.  Scalpay born, Art Butler is a fiddler in the Suffolk band Workhouse. Art was born at Eilean Glas while his family was living there and his father was a keeper. The band Workhouse play Celtic dance music and has been described as "electrified and groovy". You can find out more about Art Butler and his music at www.btinternet.com/~workhouse.online or you can email him directly at art_butler@yahoo.com. You can find details of the Eilean Glas lighthouse in the History & Location sections.
 Steven Lennie and Andrew Kelly released an album under the name Bothan after an appearance on the TV programme Tacsi. Steven was a partner in the company Scalpay Digital Audio and Bothan took advantage of the facilities of the company to produce their music. The album was electronic in nature with hints of celtic, 80's pop brought up to date with a pumping dance/trance vibe. The album (The Bridge) was generally well received and a couple of further TV appearances followed inluding the Gaelic programme @ire. Sadly, even though there was continued media interest, their second album was never completed as (Andrew) Kelly left the island to settle in South Harris. Kelly hopes to return to making music under the name Bothan and has kept the website going at www.bothan.org where you will find both albums available for download.
Alan Macleod, Fairhaven, better know to locals as "Squirt", released an album under the name Elixir and had a brief television appearance on the gaelic program @ire. The music was of an electronic nature with rock influences. Recorded at Dachaidh Studios by Scalpay Digital with production and remixing by Wickerman the album at times hinted on the dance genre. Sadly Squirt lost interest and has failed to produce further music. Maybe in the not too distant future we will see some of the younger member of the Scalpay community producing music from the island to continue this important tradition. All the children on the island have weekly music lessons where they learn many Gaelic songs. There is often success at the National Mod by Scalpay artists.
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