News release

A unique blend

Hinterlands, the new CD from Wendy Stewart and Gary West, pairs two of Scotland`s finest players on two of Scotland`s oldest instruments - the harp and the bagpipes. Wendy and Gary delve into their tradition and deliver a unique blend of song and melody performed with subtlety, skill and panache.

Hinterlands will be launched at the opening concert of the Edinburgh International Harp Festival in Merchiston Castle School on Friday 3 April.

Wendy and Gary have been playing together since they met in the 1980s in the Scottish folk group Ceolbeg, one of the leaders in the celtic revival. Wendy explains: ‘We have done a lot of playing together since Ceolbeg days, and have really enjoyed exploring the unique blend between bagpipes and harp.’

Not only do their instruments blend well, but their voices do too. Many fans, used to hearing Wendy and Gary as part of Ceolbeg, will be unaware of their vocal talents. Talents used to great effect on this beautifully crafted CD.

Starting with a 1600s graceful Port from the Straloch manuscript and a lively Lancashire hornpipe, songs and melodies carry the listener right up to the 2000s with a previously unrecorded Gordon Duncan tune. Continents are covered too with Burns` comment on the African trade, `The Slave`s Lament`, musically linked to a Cuban Habanera and the final track, the haunting piobaireachd `The Company`s Lament`, immortalising the East India Company.

Gary continues: ‘For our first recording together, we wanted to select songs and tunes that have a special significance for us, whether they’re in honour of good friends, family or personal to our own part of Scotland, or just special to us because we enjoy them. We hope that they’re as enjoyable to listen to as they were to perform.”

The album was recorded at Watercolour Music in Ardgour, with the help of engineer Nick Turner and musicians Christine Hanson on cello and Jim Walker on percussion

To find out more and to order review copies and publicity photographs of the artists, please contact: Elaine Bruce on 07940 160153 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Gary on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Wendy on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Wendy Stewart and Gary West: Hinterlands (Moulincairn CD001, 2009) Friday 3 April