GiveWay is a group of four Scottish sisters named Johnson who have been playing together professionally since 1998, when the oldest were barely in their teens. They include Fiona, an accomplished fiddle player, vocalist, guitarist, pianist and whistle player; Kirsty, a skilled pianist, accordion player and singer; Amy, a talented drummer and accordion player; and Mairi, an accomplished piano and keyboard player, vocalist and bass player.
The band plays a mixture of Scottish traditional music, and haunting airs, to lively jigs and energetic reels, with the occasional original song as well. After playing in competitions and clubs all over the UK, the girls got their real break when they won a prestigious “Danny Award” at Celtic Connections in 2001. Later the same year the band placed first in the BBC Radio “Young Folk Awards.” Appearances at Celtic Connections, Cambridge Folk Festival, Tonder Festival, Denmark, and Celtic Colours (Cape Breton), followed.
The band was also invited to take part in the BBC 1 “Hogmanay Live” television show, sharing the stage with a host of major UK artists, including Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain. In 2003 the band signed to Greentrax Recordings and their debut album “Full Steam Ahead” was released to stunning reviews. The second, “Inspired,” produced by Phil Cunningham, was released in 2005 and covered traditional Irish and Scottish tunes, as well as foot-tapping and jazzy folk songs.
In 2008, the band recorded a single, “The Water is Wide,” produced by Brian Hurren of Runrig. A new album is scheduled for release in Spring 2009.
For more information, visit; http://www.myspace.com/givewaymusic
