Shetland may not be full to overflowing with top-notch country music performers (well not in public anyway) but what there is can certainly be filed under the heading "Quality". May & Mackie Sutherland are a husband and wife team who front a driving country band that are equally at home on stage in a Shetland pub, public hall, larger local venues, venues throughout the UK mainland or even in the arena's of Nashville.
May and Mackie.
Nashville? Well, you see not only is May a very fine singer and part of a terrific country band, she is also the daughter of the late
Thomas Fraser , who was a fisherman from the small island of Burra Isle on Shetland's west coast, who's remarkable rise to country music prominence many years after his premature death, is one of the most remarkable Shetland music stories ever. .
In no small measure Thomas has helped put Shetland country music on the international map and in doing so literally, and totally deservedly, catapulted his family into the same spotlight as far afield as the USA, unwittingly instigating their involvement with country music dynasties such as the family of the late great
Jimmy Rodgers - 'The Singing Brakeman' - who May's late father was a great fan of..
Not that they can't musically hold their own in any case. Prior to this surprising and at times overwhelming development, the band had already toured regularly on the UK country music scene and released two albums - both now sadly very hard to get hold off..
The good news in that respect is they now have a new album available entitled 'Long Way Down the Road' which illustrates all the strengths of the band.... and then some..
With May's daughter
Rhonda on mandolin and vocals and demon young Shetland fiddle champion
Gemma Donald now regular members of the band, May & Mackie are about as good as it gets if you happen to be looking for a great night of country music to party to or just sit back and savour.For information on May's father
Thomas Fraser , click here Or visit the
Medicine Music Thomas Fraser Memorial Festival page for streams and interviews from last years festival click here .
This album and more info is available from May and Mackies nessmp3.com site click here .
