Jump To Section:
- Chicago Scottish Festival & Highland Games: An interview with Cleghorn
- Can you share a little of the history behind the band?
- How did you all initially become interested in Celtic music?
- What is the best part about performing your music live?
- What are you most looking forward to about performing at Chicago Scottish Festival & Highland Games?
- Have you ever visited Scotland?
- What is your favourite aspect of Scottish Culture?
- What makes your Celtic Band so special?
Chicago Scottish Festival & Highland Games: An interview with Cleghorn
We hope you enjoyed our last interview with The Rogues! Sarah and Anna are now in Chicago ready for the Chicago Scottish Festival & Highland Games this weekend and it is time to meet another of the bands performing. Today's interview is with Cleghorn, America's Celtic Band, who originally started out as a Father-Son duo. Read on to find out what the band had to say about their history, the art of performing live and Scottish Culture today.
Can you share a little of the history behind the band?
Cleghorn is America's Celtic Rock Band and we are going on our tenth year! The musical engine of the band is renowned fiddler Dylan Cleghorn and his father, the legendary Texas guitarist John Cleghorn. Cleghorn's unique brand of "Celtic Rock" mixes their original songwriting with high energy traditional fiddle and bagpipe tunes. Last year Danny Rasaily joined Cleghorn as our Drummer. Danny grew up in Katmandu, Nepal and he loves America!
How did you all initially become interested in Celtic music?
It's part of our heritage. Our last name is Cleghorn and the name traces back to 1380 Scotland.
What is the best part about performing your music live?
We love all the people. Our music and personalities appeal to all ages. We want the audience to escape with us.
What are you most looking forward to about performing at Chicago Scottish Festival & Highland Games?
The Chicago Scottish Festival has been very good to us over the years. It's one of our favourites! Cleghorn has a fan base in Chicago that is second to none, even if it rains! We love the people of Chicago... we hope to see you there!
Have you ever visited Scotland?
Almost... we thought we were heading out to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, but sadly it did not work out.
What is your favourite aspect of Scottish Culture?
Cleghorn identifies with the Scottish inner quest for personal freedom. We feel like the roots of American freedom go back to William Wallace. And in Texas, quite a few Scots sacrificed their lives at the Alamo. We understand and desire that kind of courage.
What makes your Celtic Band so special?
There are two trains of thought when performing music. One, "Go where the people want to go", or two, " Take the people where you want to go". We subscribe to the second train. We bring original singer-songwriting to the table with a unique flair of rock guitar and traditional Celtic fiddle and bagpipe mixed in!
Keep your eyes peeled for our next interview in the lead up to the Chicago Scottish Festival. If you manage to catch any of the performances over the weekend we would love to see your pictures so be sure to get in touch and don't forget to say hello to Anna & Sarah in our Tartan Tent!
