Who's Who in Scottish Music - C

Last updated: 10th November 2007

Any further information about any of the groups mentioned on these pages would be appreciated (Email me).

Caern, The 1969: Edinburgh based threesome Bill Hill, Tom Smith and Jean Brooks took their name from the Scots word for a "small collection". All three had had acclaim as solo artists, but decided to join forces and turn professional in 1968. They toured with Jimmy Shand, appeared on television, and released an LP on Emerald Gem records in 1969, "Introducing The Caern, a Collection of Scotch Folk" Cassiopeia 1972: Glasgow-based group Cassiopeia were Ann Candlish, Sandy Craig (who were the founding members). For a brief time Steve Middel joined them. Between them they played guitar, banjo, mandolin and autoharp, and wrote some of their own material. In 1973 Anne and Sandy renamed themselves Mystik. Ceolbeg Popular folk group who recorded a number of albums from the 1980s on. See their discography. Clansmen, The were George Stewart and Ernie McPherson and performed at Carlogie Folk Club in Carnoustie in the late 1960s. Their regular gig was warming up the audience before the main act went on. They did a lot of charity concerts and entertained hospitals. They counted The Corries as one of their main influences. Latterly mandolinist John McLaggan joined the group. Cuillins, The Jenny Allen (guitar, vocals) and Gwen Mills (vocals) used a map and a pin to come up with their name. They played a mixture of traditional folk song and contemporary in clubs around their native Dundee in the late 1960s.

Causeway Folk, The Group from Newmilns, Fife (had an entry in the 1973 Scottish Folk Directory). Ceolbeg Group from Dundee who have had great critical success. They originally formed in the 1970s and finally split up in 2202. They recorded six albums and included many musicians in a constantly changing line-up. Some of their recorded output can be see at their discography page. Craven, The 1972: Three-piece from Forfar, The Craven were Hamish Dewar (vocals, African drum, recorder), Arthur Dryden (vocals, guitar) and Bobbie Steven (guitar, harmonica, penny whistle). Arthur had been playing with Malcolm McEwen and Selby Cochrane (of Justus) and was inspired to start his own group. In May 1973 the line-up had changed to vocalist Lynda Skea of Forfar (who replaced Hamish Dewar), Arthur Dryden and Arthur's cousin Ian Dryden (who replaced Bob Steven). Craven took part in a recording project with the SNP in 1981, releasing a single with two other acts. Cruachan (1) In October 1971 Cruachan appeared on the Grampian TV programme "High Time", (they sang The Road and Miles to Dundee) and by 1972 they were were residents at the Blairgowrie Folk Club. At this time they were a duo, Ewan Sutherland (guitar, vocals and bodhran), Dougie McLean (mandolin and guitar). They had stints abroad, notably Germany. Before Cruachan, Dougie was playing mandolin with David Wilkie of Alyth, akthough he and Ewan had known each other for some time. Their repertoire was mainly Scottish songs and Corries-type material. "What we really want to do is to revive similar material not yet so well known" explained Ewan. By 1972 they seemed to have found a more definite musical direction with the addition of vocalist Andy Stewart from Rattray. Andy handled most of the vocals, with Ewen on harmony. Andy also played improvised bodhran, but Dougie was still the multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, banjo, mandolin and banjo-mandolin. Dougie McLean later joined The Tannahill Weavers before embarking on a very successful solo career. Andy M Stewart found fame with Silly Wizard. Cruachan (2) Extant 1986-92. A three-piece from the west of Scotland, This Cruachan consisted of Jim Shearer (vocals, whistles, harmonica, bodhran), Mike McCormack (vocals, guitar, mandola, mandolin), and Steve Lawrence (vocals, guitar, bouzouki, dulcimer, low whistle). Lawrence had replaced Ross Kennedy, who left to join The Tannahill Weavers. As far as I know, Cruachan released at least three recordings, the first being Cruachan - Traditional Music and Song (1987, Hillside Studios HS001). Stevie Lawrence went on to become involved in many musical outfits including Hot Toddy and The Iron Horse. Later members of the band were John Malcolm (vocals, guitar), Nigel Munro (mandolin, mandola, vocals) and David Munro.