Oct 20 2008

“"dual" CD”

Tha sinn air leth toilichte innse gu bheil a’ chlàr ùr againn “dual” deiseil a-nisd, agus bidh e ‘sa bhùth againn air an làrach-lìn an-diugh! Faodaidh sibh an clàr neo dìreach track neo dhà a cheannach aig www.juliefowlis.com/store ’S e pròiseact a tha seo air a bheil sinn air a bhith ag obair airson cha mhòr ceithir bliadhna a-nis, agus ’s e clàr a’ bhios a’ togail nan ceangalaichean (agus cuideachd a’ toirt nan eadar-dhealachaidhean am follais) eadar dualchasan Gàidhealach Alba agus Èirinn a thaobh òrain agus ceòl. Tha sinn air a bhith fortanach taic fhaighinn bhon sgeam “Deis” aig Buidheann Ealain Èirinn agus Iomairt Chaluim Chille.

We are delighted to announce that our new album “dual” is now ready and available to buy in our store online from today! You can purchase the album (with informative booklet inside) or you can even download a track or two, or the whole album direct from us at www.juliefowlis.com/store.

This is an album that myself and my husband Éamon worked on with top singer and instrumentalist Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh from Co Kerry, Ireland, and super-charged guitarist Ross Martin from Lochaber. In the album, we explore the close links (and also the differences) between Gaelic Scotland and Ireland. We would like to thank the “Deis” scheme from the Arts Council of Ireland and the Columba Initiative for all their valuable help and support.

Myself, Éamon, Duncan and Tony were delighted to do a session for the legendary Bob Harris last Saturday - you can still listen again http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/bobharris/

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Oct 10 2008

“Tosgaire Gàidhlig na Bliadhna/Gaelic Ambassador of the Year”

Tosgaire Gàidhlig na Bliadhna/Gaelic Ambassador of the Year

Tha mi air leth toilichte innse dhuibh gun d' fhuair mi duais shonraichte bho Riaghaltais na h-Alba an-diugh. Fhuair mi an duais bho Mhinistear a' Chultar Linda Fabiani, goirid mus tèid Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail na h-Eaglais Bhric 2008 a chur air bhog gu h-oifigeil leis a' Phrìomh Mhinistear Ailig Salmond, san Eaglais Bhric.

Tha an duais ùr seo ga toirt seachad do neach, do chòmhlan, no do bhuidheann sam bith a thathas a' meas a rinn an oidhirp as fheàrr thairis air a' bhliadhna a dh'fhalbh ann a bhith an àrdachadh inbhe agus iomhaigh na Gàidhlig aig an taigh no thall thairis. Is e seo a' chiad uair a thug Riaghaltas na h-Alba taic do dhuais aig a' Mhòd.

Bu mhath leam taing a thoirt dhan na daoine a thug cuideachadh agus taic dhomh thairis air na bliadhnaichean.


I am very humbled to tell you that I received an award this morning from the Scottish Government - a new award called "Gaelic Ambassador of the Year". This is the first time this award has been given out, and it was presented to me by Minister for Culture with responsibility for Gaelic, Linda Fabiani at the opening day of the National Mod in Falkirk, shortly before the official opening by First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond.

To be awarded with this at such an important time for the language is very meaningful to me - we are at a time of much promise and hope for the continuation of the language.

You can read the full press release here

I would like to thank all the genuine people who have worked with me over the years, the ones who really cared about the music and language, and especially to all the good folk who pass on the language, songs and tunes. Taing dhuibh uile.

Also - our soon-to-be-released single of "Lon-dubh/Blackbird" was also getting much play this week - on Mark Radcliffe, Aled Jones, Steve Wright and even on Terry Wogan this morning! Amazing. And Mr Wogan even spoke a bit of Irish after the song which was very nice.

A lovely day today so far - and now off to Germany for our first ever performance there. Keep an eye out for our sessions next week on the Bob Harris Show and Steve Wright show. Hope to see some of you out and about on tour in England as from next week!

We had a ball in the US - will post a diary update about it when I find some time! It was great to meet so many of you over there.

Loads of love

Julie xxx

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Sep 18 2008

“Julie blog”

Tha Julie air blog a’ sgrìobhadh air myspace – thoir sùil air an seo

Julie has written a blog on her myspace page you can read it here talking about her visit to the National Gaelic conference and the launch of the new BBC ALBA Gaelic digital channel.

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Aug 29 2008

“Clàr ùr - new album - "dual"”

 Thòisich mi fhèin, Éamon Doorley, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh agus Ros Màrtainn a' chluich còmhla mu cheithir bhliadhna air ais - airson cuairt sònraichte ann an Alba agus Éirinn. Chòrd e riunn glan. Bhon àm sin, chùm sinn ris a' phroiseact agus tha sinn air a bhith gu math trang a' clàradh fad trì miosan a-nisd, agus tha mi air mo dhoigh innse gu bheil clàr ùr againn. Thug sinn an aimn "dual" air a' phroiseact - facal a bhios a' ciallachadh eadar-fhighte anns a dà chànan.

Myself, Éamon, Muireann and Ross started performing together around four years ago, after Muireann and myself had a great sing-song backstage at the Tonder Festival in Denmark. The four of us got together for a one-off tour around Scotland and Ireland, and had a great time. We were performing material entirely in Irish and Scottish Gaelic plus instrumental music too, and we have stuck with it ever since, doing tours whenever we can find time. We have been busy in the studio for the last few months and are now delighted to announce that we have a new album!  It will be called "dual" a word which means to interlace, twine or braid, and can also mean one's inheritance.  The word means the same in both Irish and Scottish Gaelic. The album looks at the strong and ancient links and similarities between the music and song of Gaelic Scotland and Ireland, plus of course the differences that have developed over the years.

The album will be on general release from the end of October, but you can get a sneaky copy of the album next week. The "dual" project will be performing three shows at the Blas Festival, plus two more shows in the Hebrides and this will be the only way to get an early copy of the album in Scotland. Here's where we will be:

Sunday Sept 7th Phipps Hall, Beauly
Monday Sept 8th Aros, Portree
Tuesday Sept 9th The Limetree, Fort William
Friday Sept 12th An Lanntair, Stornoway
Saturday Sept 13th Talla Chàirinis, North Uist

The album will be released by Machair Records and we are grateful to the Arts Council of Ireland and Iomairt Cholm Cille for support and encouragement. Hope to see some of you at the shows!

PS We have put up a sneak preview of the first track on myspace.....hope you like it

Le tòrr gaoil,


Julie xxx

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Aug 20 2008

“A SHORT FILM ABOUT JULIE FOWLIS”

Julie and her team have put together a short promo film. You can check out the film now on YouTube.

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