Skipinnish

Skipinnish bring the pulse of the Highlands to Islington Assembly Hall, London, on 10 May 2026. Formed in Glasgow in 1999 by accordionist Angus MacPhail and piper Andrew Stevenson, the band has grown from a tight duo into a collective rooted in Scottish tradition. Their sound leans on accordion, bagpipes, whistles and fiddle, weaving dance tunes and story-driven songs with a contemporary folk edge while keeping a clear line to cèilidh culture and the melodies of the Hebrides.

On stage, Skipinnish balance driving sets of reels and jigs with chorus-led songs carried by rotating lead vocalists drawn from the Scottish folk scene. The repertoire moves between new material and pieces drawn from albums like The Seventh Wave, Steer by the Stars, Atlantic Roar and The Sound of the Summer, all released on their own Skipinnish Records. Mostly sung in English, the songs keep a strong Gaelic thread in their themes and phrasing, touching on sea journeys, island life and shared moments on the dance floor. Expect tight interplay between pipes and fiddle, a rhythmic lift built for stepping, and melodies that reveal the band’s steady craft shaped over years of festival stages and Scottish halls.