The Unusual Suspects

Corrina Hewat and David Milligan are the artistic and musical masterminds of The Unusual Suspects. They first came up with the idea almost a decade ago, but it wasn't until Glasgow's Celtic Connections Festival offered them a platform to put their 'folk-orchestra theory' into practice, that this monster band became a reality.

Celtic Connections thought Corrina and David’s idea was so good they commissioned it in 2003 with a line-up of 32 musicians – the concert became the stuff of legend being hailed as ‘one of the top twenty gigs of all time’ in the Scotsman, and since then they have been invited back on four occasions, toured and performed at Festivals from Canada to Croatia.

Mike Harding described the band as “one of the most exciting I’ve ever seen” during the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, and from there they took the band on a Tune Up tour from Wick to London, on the way recording a live album ‘Live in Scotland’ on Foot Stompin Records CDFSR1727 receiving critical acclaim. Playing at the Scots Trad Music Awards and a showcase in WOMEX in 2005 led them to perform across Europe and to Canada to work at the Celtic Colours Festival. Eurofest was a crowning moment playing to a crowd of 300,000 at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, followed by the honour of representing Scotland in their ‘Year of Scotland’ celebrations with two major performances and a ten-day extravaganza of Scottish music at the Lorient Interceltique Festival in Brittany.

An Unusual Suspects concert is one big exhilarating party with traditional Scottish music at the core presented with elements of contemporary, jazz and world music twists. Audiences really do span the generations, and The Unusual Suspects appeal to anyone who enjoys celtic, world music, jazz and folk… From the most delicate solo fiddle to the most foot-stomping ceilidh!

The next step – the release of their second album Big Like This BBRCD017 at Celtic Connections 2011 to be followed by a UK-wide tour.

Players: Catriona Macdonald, Anna Massie, Eilidh Shaw, Patsy Reid, Calum MacCrimmon, Donal Brown, Mairearad Green, Ryan Quigley, Colin Steele, Nigel Hitchcock, Rick Taylor, Ewan Robertson, Alyn Cosker, Donald Hay, Tom Lyne, Dave Milligan and Corrina Hewat

“The Unusual Suspects are the best thing in Scottish music since the Celtic Connections festival itself.
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THE TIMES

" It's big, bold, brassy, and adventurous... This whirlwind of sound takes Scottish music to unimagined heights."
THE LIVING TRADITION MAGAZINE