The Ballachulish Hellhounds

The Ballachulish Hellhounds

The Ballachulish Hellhounds are a Scottish country blues trio signed to Big Rock Candy Records. They start out in the Highlands and are now based in Glasgow. Their music is described as Scottish Americana, drawing on country blues, bluegrass and related traditions from Scotland and North America.

Background and live work

The trio has been active on the Scottish live circuit for several years, playing major festivals and venues across the country. Their appearances include Wickerman, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Dean Castle, The Edinburgh Festival, Glasgow’s West End Festival, The Grand Old Opry, Barfly, Nice ’N’ Sleazy and the Southside Festival in Glasgow. They play Belladrum multiple times, including a third appearance in 2010. They also perform at Rhythms of the World in Hitchin and play a support slot on the main stage at The Kilmarnock Edition Festival with The Saw Doctors and Seth Lakeman.

Recordings

The band’s debut album is “Songs from the Great Atlantic Ocean”, released in 2010. The album receives airplay on BBC Radio and Radio Clyde. The band describes it as a collection of songs reflecting the musical exchange between Scotland and North America over the last couple of centuries. It includes references to The Carter Family, Doc Watson, Scottish fiddle tunes adapted for guitar, and original songs by the band. The record also features traditional material such as “Shady Grove” and “Going Back to the Blue Ridge Mountains”, alongside new pieces including the instrumental “From Glencoe to Virginia”.

After the debut album, the band plans a second album focused mainly on original songs, with the likely inclusion of one or two old traditional country blues tunes. An exclusive four-track vinyl EP is also scheduled for release in autumn 2010.

Tours and wider activity

In 2010 the Hellhounds embark on their first full UK tour, starting in Inverness and ranging from the Highlands to Hertfordshire and beyond. They continue to present their own version of Scottish Americana across the British Isles.