Never short of innovative ideas in their music, the Outside Track have taken it a step further by becoming the first traditional music group to release a charity single.  The single, The Mountain Road, is released on Monday 23 April and all the proceeds are going to charity.

The band’s harp player, Ailie Robertson, explains: “We have chosen two charities, one in the UK, and one in Ireland.  The choice for the UK was inspired by the title of the song, so we have gone for the Mountain Rescue, who do such a wonderful job without any subsidy and offer mountain rescue any day, any hour, any weather.  In Ireland we have opted for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children,  which as well as offering services to children, also aims to improve relationships between parent and children.  That’s also a nice link to the song, which is about family. We really wanted a mix of charities that would reach as many people as possible, and I think we’ve achieved a great blend.”

The song, The Mountain Road, is a traditional Irish song and was arranged by the band.  It is one of the tracks from their forthcoming album Flash Company. Norah Rendell, singer and flute and whistle player in the band, explains: “We chose this song for the single because on our recent tour, it was the one that everyone was always singing.  Bands we met on tour got it stuck in their heads, and audiences would always sing along.

The new single is a digital release and is available from – Itunes, BandCamp, CDbaby, and Amazon.  The band are touring in the States in April and early May and then in the UK in May.

Ailie Robertson continues: “It would be fantastic if we raise lots of money for the charities at the same time as raising the profile of traditional music.  We’re hoping that people will see the 99p for the single as a cheap way to support the charities and they get a lovely song too!”

The Tour Dates

10 May            Queens Hall, Edinburgh

11 May             The Byre Theatre, St Andrews

12 May             Moniaive Folk Festival, Moniaive, Dumfries and Galloway

13 May             City Halls Recital Room, Glasgow

15 May             Poolewe, Wester Ross, West Coast Arts

16 May             Irvine Folk Club, Irvine

18 May             The Maltings Theatre, Berwick

22 May             St Andrew Blackadder Church, North Berwick

23 May             Eden Court Theatre, Inverness

24 May             Aros Centre, Isle of Skye

25 May             Skippinish Ceilidh House, Oban

26 May             Lyth Arts Centre, Lyth

The Band

A stunning synthesis of virtuosity and energy, The Outside Track’s marriage of Canadian, Scottish and Irish music and song has been rapturously received around the world. Hailing from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton and Vancouver, its five members are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on its foundation. Using fiddle, accordion, harp, guitar, flute, step-dance and vocals these five virtuosos blend boundless energy with unmistakable joie de vivre.

Each player within The Outside Track is a master of their chosen instrument with the band stacking up an impressive amount of international awards. This amount of talent alone would be enough to recommend the band but in this case the end result is so much greater than the sum of the parts.

The line up comprises Norah Rendell (Canadian Traditional Singer of the Year nominee),  Mairi Rankin (Beolach), Ailie Robertson (Live Ireland Winner, BBC Young Trad Finalist),  Fiona Black (BBC Fame Academy Winner), and Cillian Ó’Dálaigh.

The band have enjoyed 5 years of extensive touring in the UK, Europe, Canada and the USA, including appearances at Celtic Connections, Celtic Colours, Goderich, Mission, Memoire et Racines, Sidmouth, and Whitby Festivals

Source: The Outside Track