Biography (short)
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.
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.
Biography (long)
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.
Press
"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
"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
"taking trad material to new places" Stuart Munro, Boston Globe
"The fiddle rocks low, and the mandolin laps like surf on the shore" Katherine Abbott, The Berkshire Eagle
"Sketching with sound in a way that is truly cinematic...stately chamber music, evoking travel and turmoil with savage beauty." ★★★★★ Northern Sky
“Powerful and evocative” ★★★★ Sunday Express
"This is a truly beautiful piece of art." ★★★★ Songlines Magazine
"Wistful and heartfelt." ★★★ The Guardian
"A stand out talent" Darol Anger
Selected performances include
Honours
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
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
Out of My Own Light
Louise's first release depicts the story of Margaret Tait's 1950 voyage to Canada and back, in order to decide between two suitors. Retracing her steps, some 60 years later, Louise tells the story of her late Grandmother through original music, photography and video.
The Lost Summer
“sophisticated” ★★★★ Jon Bennett, RnR Magazine
"demon fiddling" Ian Anderson, Podwireless
The 5th of April 2024 saw the release of 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 Lost Summer is on the long list for Album of the Year at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards.
Tech rider
Download a stage plot/tech rider for Louise Bichan with Brendan, Conor and Ethan here.
Louise would love the ability to project video and images during the show, should that be a possibility. Ideally, imagery could be projected over the heads of the band, who would all be seated for the performance. A laptop could be provided, to play the videos from, or a USB drive with the necessary files.
