James Graham

’S ann à Loch an Inbhir ann an Asainte ann am fìor iar-thuath Chataibh a tha Seumas. Thòisich e a’ gabhail pàirt ann am Mòdan aig 9 bliadhn’ a dh’aois fo stiùir Choinnich MhicCoinnich, ceannard-sgoile Sheumais. Bha buaidh mhòr aig a sheann-antaidh, Seòrdag Mhoireach, a bha a’ fuireach faisg air ann an Aichillidh Bhuidhe, air Seumas.

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Cheumnaich Seumas le Urram ann an Ceòl na h-Alba o Acadamaidh Rìoghail Ceòl is Dràma na h-Alba ann an 2003. An sin, chuir e mion-eòlas air a’ phìob agus òrain Ghàidhlig le oideachadh bho Ceana Chaimbeul agus a leithid.

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Ann an 2004, choisinn e duais Neach-ciùil Traidiseanta Òg na Bliadhna aig BBC Alba – a’ chiad fhireannach agus a’ chiad sheinneadair Gàidhlig a choisinn an duais. On uair sin, tha e air nochdadh ann an sreathan soirbheachail air telebhisean agus rèidio, mar Transatlantic Sessions 4. Ann an 2007 choisinn e am Bonn Òir aig a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail ann an Loch Abar. Tha e a’ seinn mar phàirt den cheathrar Ghàidhlig Cruinn, a chaidh a mholadh airson òran na bliadhna aig Duaisean Ceòl Dùthchais Rèidio 2 ann an 2015.

 

James is from Lochinver in the Parish of Assynt in the far north-west corner of Sutherland. He started competing at Mods from as early as 9 years old under the guidance of his Primary School head-teacher, Kenny Mackenzie and was greatly inspired also by his great Aunt Seordag Murray, a native Gaelic speaker from the nearby village of Achiltibuie

James graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 2003 with an Honours degree in Scottish Music. There he studied bagpipes and Gaelic song under respected Gaelic singer and scholar Kenna Campbell.

In 2004 he won the BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award - the first male and first Gaelic singer to do so. He has since appeared in several successful and award winning television and radio music series such as Transatlantic Sessions 4 and won the Mòd Gold Medal at the Royal National Mod in Lochaber in 2007. He is currently a member of Cruinn, a Gaelic singing quartet who were nominated in the category of best folk song in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, 2015.

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Blas Festival 2017 Appearances

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North Kessock Hall - Friday 1 September  

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