ABOUT US

Reely Jiggered, 02 ABC Winners of SoundWave Music Competition, are bursting with talent, alive with creativity and live to perform. They are inspired by Celtic Folk music, intrigued by World beats and melodies and are an interesting and unique fusion of funk, rock, pop and jazz taking folk music to new heights. 

Highly successful artists in their own right, founder members Alison McNeill (fiddle & vocals), Fiona McNeill (guitar, bodhran, vocals) and Scott McLean (percussion) are joined on occasion by Alex Shearer (bass) and Stuart Taylor (keys) bringing together their own musical tastes and talents to create a new brand of folk music. 

To go to one of their gigs is to be taken on a heady musical journey with furious fiddling, haunting traditional melodies, self-penned songs and eastern reel twists by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland trained Alison McNeill and sound designer sister Fiona McNeill. They are a uniquely rich visual and aural experience with a soaring diva soprano, the beauty of acoustic instruments, revved up by driving bass lines, wah-wah pedals and rocked up rhythms. Reely Jiggered is a powerhouse of diverse musicians who use their different musical backgrounds to create an exotic, unusual, inspiring and unique musical signature. 

As one of Scotland’s most interesting bands, they have headlined at International Festivals including Celtival (Italy), Volmarstein (Germany), Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotland), Eden Festival (Scotland) and Musica en Verano (Mexico), Cosmovitral (Mexico), The Lyre (Tokyo) and Minami Aizu Concert Hall (Japan).  

 

They have toured Pakistan three times for the British High Commission promoting gender equality in Lahore, Islamabad and Sialkot. In Scotland, they have appeared in top venues such as Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, 02 abc, The Garage and the Oran Mor,   

Their self-titled debut album, released in 2011 to critical acclaim, received airplay in Australia, Germany, Mexico and America and has been featured on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio Scotland. Their second album "Kaleidoscope" was “Album of the Week” in September 2014 on Celtic Music Radio with Alan Grant describing it as “such a stunning collection of music by the most talented of musicians. It’s a while since I’ve been so excited about an album that I feel will live forever…”  

“Tricky Terrain” is Reely Jiggered’s third album released in 2020. The album takes its inspiration from the band’s travels and their home by the River Clyde. Alison McNeill’s compositions and lyrics are a reflection of the landscape, the people, the light and the water. New works are supported by atmospheric arrangements of songs of a past resident of the band’s coastal home – Robert Burns. Dai Jeffries of folking.com said of their version of Auld Lang Syne “If we had a track-of-the-year award this would get my vote.” This album is current, exploring politics, mental health and world issues. Sewn into this latest output is a celebration of Scottish Culture and Cultural Diversity.  

Reely Jiggered are passionate about the fusion of world music and enjoy creating cross-culture events. They have worked with Indian dancers, the Bangla Centre in Glasgow, Syrian refugees in Inverclyde and La Cameraderia in Mexico. They have set up projects working with young people keeping Live Music, Culture and Heritage alive in the community and beyond.