Women shinty players from Oban have been helping Highland accordionist, broadcaster and former Scotland international shinty star Gary Innes to record a charity single.
Feel the Power will raise funds for the women’s game and will be released on Friday September 6, the day before The Mowi Valerie Fraser Camanachd Cup Final – the blue ribbon event for the sport on the distaff side.
All proceeds from Feel the Power will be donated to the Women’s Camanachd Association to help with equipment and the general development of the sport.
Recorded in GloWorm Recording Studios in Glasgow, the group from the Oban Lorn Ladies Shinty Club, alongside a player from the Glasgow Mid Argyll team, joined some of Scotland’s top musicians in the studio to contribute their vocals and clapping prowess to the track.
Alongside the choir of shinty players, other musicians appearing on the track include Mischa Macpherson on lead vocals with Kim Carnie and Siobhan Miller on harmonies as well as Mark Scobbie from Manran on drums, James Lindsay of Breabach on bass, Innes White on guitars and Rory Matheson on keyboards.
Mr Innes was asked to be the Camanachd Association’s first ever official ambassador and wanted to mark this accolade in a meaningful way.
Having released his single The Caman Man to critical acclaim in January 2017, he felt it was time to give the female shinty community an anthem as well and ensure that the proceeds would help advance the sport he loves.
After celebrating the birth of his first child, Gracie, in April, he now feels even more passionate about ensuring the longevity of the sport for her generation.
Mr Innes said: “Women’s shinty has gone from strength to strength over the past few years, both on the field in terms of the talent and discipline and off the field in the area of sport development.
“I have always felt that the growth and longevity of women’s shinty is incredibly important, but now I have a potential budding female shinty player in my life, in the form of Gracie, it’s even more important to me that the sport is still going strong and accessible to her if she’d like to take it up in later years.
“I’d like to thank all the musicians who gave up their time for free to record the single and also the girls from Oban and GMA.
“They certainly got into the spirit of it once the nerves wore off.”
