New Celeste

New Celeste

New Celeste is a folk group from Glasgow, Scotland, active from 1975 to the present. The band forms in the mid-1970s from players in the Glasgow music scene and combines folk with rock and jazz influences. Its work is described as both acoustic and electric folk.

Early line-up and style

From the start, New Celeste stands out for its rock and jazz approaches to traditional material and for a fast, energetic stage act. The original band tours widely in Britain and then across Europe. Its early members include guitarist Graeme Duffin, drummer Iain Bayne, guitarist Nigel Clark and violinist Rod Dorothy.

Recordings and first period

The group records three albums in its first phase: High Sands and the Liquid Lake, recorded in Holland; On the Line, recorded in Berlin; and New Celeste Live, recorded in France. The band breaks up in 1983, after which the members go in different directions. Graeme Duffin joins Wet Wet Wet, Iain Bayne plays with Runrig, Nigel Clark joins Hue & Cry, and Rod Dorothy joins Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia.

Later version of the band

In the 1990s, guitarist and singer Iain Fergus forms a contemporary version of New Celeste with several new musicians. This line-up records two CDs for Lismor/Iona Records in Glasgow: The Celtic Connection and It’s a New Day. These recordings feature original material that blends Celtic traditional styles with jazz, rock and world influences. The group then performs at concerts and festivals throughout Europe.

Compilation release

A compilation titled Best New Celeste appears on Park Records, bringing together some of the group’s best tracks from across its vinyl and CD releases over three decades, along with two bonus tracks.