Skipinnish

Skipinnish brings the Highlands to Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry on 27 May 2026. Formed in 1999 in Glasgow by accordionist Angus MacPhail and piper Andrew Stevenson, the band builds its sound on traditional Scottish dance music, with accordion, bagpipes, whistles and fiddle at the core. First a duo, Skipinnish grew into a full live outfit, opening its line-up over the years to singers and players from the Scottish folk scene, including Robert Robertson and later Norrie MacIver on lead vocals.

Their repertoire moves between traditional tunes and contemporary folk shapes close to folk-rock, while staying rooted in the ceilidh pulse and melodies drawn from the Hebrides. Mostly sung in English and tied to Gaelic culture, their songs sit alongside instrumental sets driven by pipes and fiddle. The band has released its music on its own Skipinnish Records, from the early self-titled album to The Sound of the Summer, Atlantic Roar, The Seventh Wave and Steer by the Stars. On stage, these pieces take a collective form where dance energy and melodic writing meet, carried by tight arrangements and strong choruses.