Road Of Tears

Road Of Tears

• The path of emigration is a well-trodden one in the history of the Celtic nations, so it is no surprise that many songs and compositions have been inspired by the subject. Battlefield Band have touched on the subject in the past, but on this album, as they were rehearsing and recording, the concept of 'displacement of people' kept coming to the fore and eventually became the central theme
• The group have not tried to come up with any answers; just music and song, contemporary and traditional which illustrates how the issue has always been as relevant as it is today. Behind it all 'we're a' Jock Tamson's Bairns', as the Scottish saying goes.
• Look at your own background and no doubt you will find that emigration plays a big part in your family history. Take a look at Battlefield Band; one side of Alan's family is from Ireland and he has relatives in the USA, Canada and Australia. Mike's family went to the U.S. from Belarus but he's now spent more than half his life in Scotland. Alasdair's family went to Lewis from the Scottish mainland, with some past ancestors from England, and relatives in New Zealand and the U.S.
• Artists on this release: Battlefield Band Alan Reid (vocals, keyboards, accordion, melodica) Mike Katz (highland and small pipes, whistles, bass, bouzouki) Alasdair White (fiddle, whistles, bouzouki) Sean O'Donnell (vocals, guitar)