Maggie MacInnes

Scottish Gaelic Singer and Harpist

Maggie MacInnes sings and plays the clarsach. She was born on 29 August 1963 in Glasgow and now lives in Ayrshire. She comes from a long line of Gaelic singers from the small island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and learns most of her songs from her mother the highly acclaimed traditional singer, Flora MacNeil M.B.E. Maggie has performed in various groups over the years such as Ossian, Fuaim, Eclipse First and The Maggie MacInnes Band and she has travelled widely with her music touring in many parts of Europe, U.S.A. and Canada. She also appears frequently on Radio and Television both at home and abroad. Since being given a Celtic Connections New Voices Commission which she entitled "Oran na Mna" (A Woman's Song), Maggie has gone on to compose lots of new music and song.She has written music for two BBC documentaries both produced by MNE Media. The first was called "An Traigh Mhor" and was all about the Airport on Barra which is a beautiful big sandy beach.The second was all about the island of Mingulay and was entitled "A Fàgail Mhiughalaidh". The music from the Celtic Connections commissioned piece and the Mingulay documentary can be heard on Maggie's last two CD releases. She has recorded five solo CDs and continues to appear solo or with many of Scotland's top musicians. Most recently she has been touring with her Trio which includes Brian McAlpine on Keyboards and Accordian and Anna Massie on Guitar and Fiddle. In 2004 Maggie was voted Best Gaelic Singer of the Year in the BBC Scots Trad Music Awards.