Features

Read about my musical and photographic adventures


In the press

The Strad
I was asked to write about the inspiration behind some of the tracks on The Lost Summer and pair it with some of my photography.
The Boston Globe
Boston music round up in The Ticket
Strings Magazine
“From stately to poignant to capering to charmingly easygoing” Megan Westberg, Strings Magazine A four page feature in Strings Magazine's May/June 2024 issue
The Berkshire Eagle
Katherine Abbott wrote a piece about Out of My Own Light and The Lost Summer in the Berkshire Eagle, ahead of a show at The Foundry in West
Songlines Magazine
A write up in Songlines magazine for The Lost Summer. "a fine set that's from the tradition but fully contemporary." ★★★ Tim Cumming, Song
Folk Alley's "Best New Folk, Fresh Cuts Friday"
A premier for Coldstream, the first single from The Lost Summer "curious and playful" Cindy Howes, Folk Alley
At The Barrier
An in-depth review of The Lost Summer by Seuras Og in At the Barrier. "One of the very best practitioners of bow and strings" Seuras Og, At the
Americana UK track premier
A premier for Deltingside, the third single from The Lost Summer. "glorious" Jonathan Aird, Americana UK
Boston Irish Reporter
An article in the Boston Irish Reporter about The Lost Summer, written by Sean Smith.

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



Performing on TV and radio

Live on 207 Maine TV

Corner House live on WTJU

On BBC Hogmanay Live with Rachel Sermanni


Podcasts

Hear about my artistic and creative journey in these podcasts, which I had the honour of being featured on.

The Tune Project with Lauren Abels

Photo Business Help, with Natalie Jennings

I Want You To Meet with Jasmin Faulk-Dickerson

"Wisdom of Wyse Women" with Kristi Derkacy

 

Using Format