Louise Bichan is a USA-based Scottish musician and photographer who uses both mediums to tell stories old and new.
Growing up in the remote but culturally rich Orkney islands, a place where creativity abounds and playing music has been a part of the social fabric for centuries, gave Louise a solid grounding in music. She started playing fiddle at the age of 7 after witnessing the magic of live music: “I remember the butterflies in the tummy feeling when watching concerts at the Orkney Folk Fest as a kid, wanting to be a part of it all.” The sense of community and belonging it gave her was infectious; she pestered her parents to let her learn.
In the years since, she has honed her craft, first amongst the cream of Scottish folk at Glasgow’s renowned session scene and performances with talent like Orkney group Fara and award-winning singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni, before a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, Boston, where she developed her style further.
Masterfully blending traditional and classical arrangements, her music is thoughtful, and complex, curious and playful. She composes in response to her roots and the world around her; weaving through stories of connection, to people, nature, the past and the possibility of the future.
Latest release
The Lost Summer
Adhyâropa Records
5th April 2024
"demon fiddling" Ian Anderson, Podwireless
Spring 2024 saw the release of The Lost Summer (Adyhâropa Records) a new record of instrumentals, featuring Ethan Setiawan on mandolins, Brendan Hearn on cello and Conor Hearn on guitar, with some special guest musicians. The album is long listed for Album of the Year at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards.
Discography
Louise Bichan The Lost Summer (Adhyâropa Records) 2024
Hildaland Sule Skerry (Adhyâropa Records) 2023
Ethan Setiawan Gambit (Adhyâropa Records) 2023
Corner House How Beautiful It's Been 2022
Corner House Caribou Party 2021
Between Islands Between Islands 2020
Bellwether EP 2020
Making Tracks 2019 Live Tour 2020
Martin Butler Poems and Songs from the Woodlands Edge 2020
Louise Bichan & Ethan Setiawan Self Titled EP 2019
Peter Eldridge, Kenny Werner Somewhere (Rosebud Music) 2019
Corner House Smart Folks 2019
Corner House Corner House 2018
Various Un-Herd Volume 61 2017
Louise Bichan Out of My Own Light 2016
Orkney Folk Festival Fiddle Gathering 2016
Fara EP 2014
God Help The Girl God Help The Girl (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Milan) 2014
Richy Carey All at Sea 2013
French Wives Dreams of the Inbetween (Electric Honey) 2012
Rachel Sermanni Underneath Mountains (Middle of Nowhere) 2012, Eggshells single (Middle of Nowhere) 2012, Blackcurrents (Middle of Nowhere) 2012, Bothy Sessions (Middle of Nowhere) 2011
Skalder Cora 2009
Hadhirgaan Keep it Up 2003
Honours
2024 Centennial March (Glen Burnie Lodge) nominated for Original Work of the Year at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards
2024 The Lost Summer long listed for Album of the Year at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards
2022 Freshgrass Festival & Berklee American Roots Program Bluegrass Concerto commission (with Corner House)
2019 Making Tracks Fellowship
2019 Berklee College of Music String Department Chair Award
2017 Berklee College of Music American Roots Award
2015 Berklee College of Music Worldwide Scholarship Tour Award
2015 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award semi-finalist
2005 Ronnie Aim Memorial Prize for composition
Notable performances
Reviews
The Lost Summer
"One of the very best practitioners of bow and strings" Seuras Og, At the Barrier
“From stately to poignant to capering to charmingly easygoing” Megan Westberg, Strings Magazine
"taking trad material to new places" Stuart Munro, Boston Globe
"captures the beauty of Scotland sonically" Len Holton, From Albion and Beyond
“sophisticated” ★★★★ Jon Bennett, RnR Magazine
"demon fiddling" Ian Anderson, Podwireless
"curious and playful" Cindy Howes, Folk Alley
"grittily majestic groove" Sean Smith, Boston Irish Reporter
"glorious" Jonathan Aird, Americana UK
"lilting" Michael Witthaus, The Hippo
"crackin’, fantastic stuff” Tim Walker, BBC Radio Lincolnshire
"beautiful" Anna Massie, BBC Radio Scotland
"tasty fiddling" Dai Jeffries, Folking
"wonderful" Nick McMaster, Radio Lewes
"a fine set" ★★★ Tim Cumming, Songlines
“terrific” Stephen Ottner, FolkAce, Kennet Radio
"The fiddle rocks low, and the mandolin laps like surf on the shore" Katherine Abbott, The Berkshire Eagle
“outstanding, fabulous” Gareth Patterson, Both Sides the Tweed Folk Show
Out of My Own Light
“The Margaret S Tait Project builds a musical bridge between memory and motherlandand it’s a powerful document.” ★★★★
New Internationalist Magazine
"This is a truly beautiful piece of art." ★★★★ Songlines Magazine
"Abstract, emotive and atmospheric" Jim McCourt, The Living Tradition
“Atmospherically filmic” ★★★★ The Scotsman
"It's vividly evocative: "Sydney the Pilot" has the poignant quality of an old photograph, and the lovely slow twirl of Bichan's melody to "Quoyburray" is like handwriting." ★★★ The Independent
"Sketching with sound in a way that is truly cinematic...stately chamber music, evoking travel and turmoil with savage beauty." ★★★★★ Northern Sky
"Here's a record to wrong-foot expectations! Captivating." ★★★★ R2
“Powerful and evocative” ★★★★ Sunday Express
"Wistful and heartfelt." ★★★ The Guardian
"Bichan’s vividly expressive and evocative chamber-folk score underpinned a wonderfully engaging, absorbing illumination of past lives and family ties." Sue Wilson, The Scotsman
"a stand out talent" Darol Anger
"dexterous and, big-toned" Jim Gilchrist, The Scotsman
"Sickeningly talented and mad as brushes. A potent combination." Kevin Macleod, speaking of Fara
"'Rhena's 80th', a gritty, crooked tune written by fiddler Louise Bichan worms its way into your brain and makes you hit the replay button." Elaine Bradtke, The Living Tradition