Mànran Explained

Mànran
Origin:Scotland
Genre:Gaelic traditions, Scottish folk music, rock
Years Active:–present
Current Members:Ewen Henderson
Gary Innes
Ryan Murphy
Marcus Cordock
Mark Scobbie
Kim Carnie
Aidan Moodie
Past Members:Norrie MacIver
Scott Mackay
Calum Stewart
Craig Irving
Ross Saunders

Mànran are a Scottish band that was established in June 2010.[1] Mànran is a Gaelic word for a melodic sound or a sweet tone.[2] Since 2010 they have performed in over 30 countries worldwide including several international folk & world music festivals, won awards home and abroad and were invited to do a special one-off concert for the 2012 London Olympics.[3]

The band embarked on their first trip to America in 2013 which was filmed by BBC ALBA for a one-hour-long documentary.[4]

Career

2011: Breakthrough

On 17 January 2011 the band released their first single "Latha Math" and were aiming to be the first Gaelic song in the 21st century to make the Top 40.[5] While the band reached 29 mid-week, they slipped out of the top 40 to Number 61 for the official chart on Sunday 23 January 2011. However, they did secure Number 6 in both the UK Indie Chart and the Scottish Singles Chart. In August 2012 they released "Take You There (Mànran & Michelle McManus song)|Take You There" with Michelle McManus to raise money for the STV Appeal 2012. Mànran and Michelle McManus performed the song live on 7 September 2012 on the STV Appeal show.[6]

2012–present

In September 2012, Calum Stewart left the band to be replaced by Irish Uilleann Piper/ Flautist Ryan Murphy.

The band recorded their second album The Test in early 2013 which they released in May of the same year. The album won a German critics choice award in December 2013. In August of that year the band made its debut in America at the world-renowned Milwaukee Irish festival in Wisconsin,[7] followed by a five-week tour that saw the band play in Chicago, Bay City, New Hampshire, Albany, California, Arizona and Iowa. After America, the band went to Australia to perform at the Australasian World Music Festival[8] to critical acclaim.

In 2014 they were awarded International Artist of the Year at the Australian Celtic Music Awards.[9] In 2017, Mànran released their third studio album An Dà Là, whose title song, criticizing the election of Donald Trump to the US presidency, was noted for "invok[ing] the voice of Gaeldom, spanning centuries as it flows between a lament for the past and an anthem for the future".[10]

In 2018 they performed at the Celtic Connections festival which was live-streamed to 125,000 people, and toured France, Germany and Denmark.[11]

In 2019 Mànran toured Australia for five weeks[12] and gaelic singer Kim Carnie and guitarist Aidan Moodie joined the band.[13]

In 2021, the band released their fourth album Ùrar.[14]

Discography

Albums[15]

YearAlbum details
2011Mànran
  • Released: 15 July 2011
  • Label: Mànran
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2013The Test
  • Released: June 2013
  • Label: Mànran
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2017An Dà Là
  • Released: January 2017
  • Label: Mànran
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2021Ùrar
  • Released: October 2021
  • Label: Mànran
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Singles[15]

YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[16]
UK Indie
[17]
SCO
[18]
2011"Latha Math"61 6 6Mànran
2012"Take You There"
(with Michelle McManus)
70Charity single
2016An Dà LàAn Dà Là
2017When You GoN/A
2018Là Inbhir LochaidhN/A
2019ThugainnN/A
2020Oran na Cloiche: Live at Heb Celt 2019N/A
2023Wild Mountain ThymeN/A

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About . Manran . 2012-08-22.
  2. Web site: 2019-03-05. Interview: Mànran. 2020-07-13. Whats on Highlands.
  3. Web site: Manran - The Test. 2020-07-13. Music Scotland. en-gb.
  4. Web site: BBC Alba - Manran. 2020-07-13. BBC. en-GB.
  5. News: Gaelic band launch charts bid. BBC News. 17 January 2011.
  6. http://local.stv.tv/coatbridge/news/187456-stv-appeal-charity-single-launched-to-raise-money-for-children-in-poverty/ STV Appeal charity single launched to raise money for children in poverty
  7. Web site: 2013. The Concert Stage - Mànran at Milwaukee Irish Fest - August 17, 2013. 2020-07-13. The Concert Stage.
  8. Web site: Dwyer. Michael. 2013-11-07. Melbourne Music Week: Australasian Worldwide Music Expo and Face the Music explosion. 2020-07-13. The Sydney Morning Herald. en.
  9. Web site: 2018. Manran & The Elephant Sessions. 2020-07-13. Highlife Highland, Strathpeffer Pavilion. en-GB.
  10. News: Mànran: An Dà Là - The Two Days (Featured Album Review) FRUK . Folk Radio UK - Folk Music Magazine . 17 January 2017.
  11. Web site: 2019-05-11. Mánran return after touring down under. 2020-07-13. Border Telegraph. en.
  12. Web site: 2019-04-17. Manran thrill music fans at Blue Mountains Theatre concert. 2020-07-13. Blue Mountains Gazette, Australia. en.
  13. Web site: Campbell. Rita. 2019-11-30. Manran hosts anniversary festival at Fort William shinty field. 2020-07-13. Press and Journal. en-US.
  14. Web site: MànranTV. 16 January 2021. Sat 16th Jan 2021 - How Mànran Records Are Made with Ross. School of Mànran. 30 January 2021. YouTube.
  15. Web site: Mànran. 2021-01-30. Spotify. en.
  16. Web site: Mànran > UK Charts. The Official Charts Company.
  17. Peak positions for Indie singles in the UK:
  18. Peak positions for singles in Scotland: