Mill a h-Uile Rud
Encyclopedia
Mill a h-Uile Rud (ˈmiːʎ ə ˈxulə ˈrˠut̪) is a Seattle-based band who sing in Scots Gaelic
.
, and other Celtic language media.
Although Oi Polloi released the first Gaelic Punk album 'Carson?
' in 2003, Mill a h-Uile Rud's 'Ceàrr
' was the first CD of all new Gaelic songs ever released. Ceàrr was also the first CD produced with exclusively Gaelic liner notes and the official Mill a h-Uile Rud website was the first all-Gaelic band website. Ceàrr was recorded in a studio in Port Townsend Washington in 2005 for $400 (about £200) in just two days. The recording was virtually 'live' with the band doing only two takes of each song and choosing the best takes for the CD. In 2006, the band recorded three other songs in a slightly more professional setting, and these songs have appeared on the compilation albums 'Ceòl Gàidhlig mar Sgian nad Amhaich' and 'Gàidhlig na Lasair.'
from Berkeley who sings in the punk band Rancid
. This Tim Armstrong was a member and the creative drive behind several punk bands in Brunswick, ME in the late eighties including Officer Friendly. After spending some years living in Scotland and meeting other Gaelic-speaking punks such as Ruairidh of Oi Polloi
both Tim and Sine, whose mother is from the Gaelic-speaking island of Benbecula
, started learning Gaelic.
In April 2005, Mill a h-Uile Rud embarked on a European tour with Oi Polloi
which took in Scotland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland. Much of this tour was filmed by BBC Alba
for a Gaelic television documentary on Mill a h-Uile Rud and Gaelic punk. They have also played in Stornoway, on the sparsely populated Isle of Lewis, the largest town in the Western Isles of Scotland. They also recorded a live session for the BBC Radio nan Gaidheal
nighttime 'Rapal' program which is broadcast nationally in Scotland. In 2005, Tim moved to Scotland full-time to study sociolinguistics
and language revival
, and as such, the band is less active, although they still play from time to time when Tim is back in the Seattle. Tim is also involved in the Gaelic techno
/hip-hop act, Nad Aislingean, and the Gaelic rock band, Na Gathan
. Sgrios remains quite active in the Seattle folk-punk scene and is involved in a number of bands in the city while Sìne now runs a goat cheese farm outside of Seattle. Only their roadie, Erin, still lives on the remote punk commune in the mountains outside Seattle where the band was formed.
, Tim explained, "In the beginning we were so naive," and that it wasn't until later that they appreciated the novelty of what they were doing. Song topics frequently deal with sex which is unusual for contemporary Gaelic music. However the band and others contend that this is in keeping with Gaelic bardic tradition and traditional poets from past centuries such as Iain Lom
and Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair
. As a band, Mill a h-Uile Rud are highly critical of much Celtic Punk
that, in their opinion, sells a cheesy, beer-soaked stereotype of Gaelic culture. They are also noted for their hard-core stance on Gaelic use in and around the band. In a Gaelic music scene where the language is often exploited as a showcase without much actual practical use outside of the songs themselves, Mill a h-Uile Rud stand out for not only singing in Gaelic, but using it in packaging, on their websites, on the stage and with each other. Mill a h-Uile Rud have also never allowed any official translations of their songs.
They have also translated the Ramones' "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker
" into Gaelic and play it in their live set.
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
.
The band
The name translates as 'Destroy Everything' though the band only uses the Gaelic original. The band sings entirely in Scots Gaelic which has proved something of a novelty in Scotland and has gained them considerable coverage in English, Scottish Gaelic, Irish GaelicIrish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
, and other Celtic language media.
Although Oi Polloi released the first Gaelic Punk album 'Carson?
Carson?
Carson? is an EP-length vinyl record by the Gaelic punk group Oi Polloi. This release is significant as it is the first album of all-original rock songs in Scottish Gaelic, beating the EP CD, Ceàrr, by Mill a h-Uile Rud, to release by one month. Runrig's first album, Play Gaelic, was also all in...
' in 2003, Mill a h-Uile Rud's 'Ceàrr
Ceàrr
Ceàrr was the first album by the Celtic Rock band Mill a h-Uile Rud. Ceàrr was the first CD of all-new Gaelic songs ever released and was also the first CD produced with exclusively Gaelic liner notes...
' was the first CD of all new Gaelic songs ever released. Ceàrr was also the first CD produced with exclusively Gaelic liner notes and the official Mill a h-Uile Rud website was the first all-Gaelic band website. Ceàrr was recorded in a studio in Port Townsend Washington in 2005 for $400 (about £200) in just two days. The recording was virtually 'live' with the band doing only two takes of each song and choosing the best takes for the CD. In 2006, the band recorded three other songs in a slightly more professional setting, and these songs have appeared on the compilation albums 'Ceòl Gàidhlig mar Sgian nad Amhaich' and 'Gàidhlig na Lasair.'
Biography
The band formed in 2003 and retain their original line-up of Tim Armstrong (vocals, guitar), Sgrios a h-Uile Rud (vocals, bass) and Sìne Nic Anndrais (drums). This Tim Armstrong from Seattle is a different person from the Tim ArmstrongTim Armstrong
Timothy Lockwood Armstrong is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work with punk rock bands Rancid, Operation Ivy, Downfall, and the Transplants. He is also the owner and operator of Hellcat Records.-Personal life:Armstrong was born November 25, 1965 and was...
from Berkeley who sings in the punk band Rancid
Rancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
. This Tim Armstrong was a member and the creative drive behind several punk bands in Brunswick, ME in the late eighties including Officer Friendly. After spending some years living in Scotland and meeting other Gaelic-speaking punks such as Ruairidh of Oi Polloi
Oi Polloi
Oi Polloi are an anarcho-punk band from Scotland that formed around 1981. Starting as an Oi! band, they are generally associated more with the anarcho-punk genre. More recently the band have become notable for their contributions to the Scottish Gaelic punk subgenre...
both Tim and Sine, whose mother is from the Gaelic-speaking island of Benbecula
Benbecula
Benbecula is an island of the Outer Hebrides in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,249, with a sizable percentage of Roman Catholics. It forms part of the area administered by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar or the Western...
, started learning Gaelic.
In April 2005, Mill a h-Uile Rud embarked on a European tour with Oi Polloi
Oi Polloi
Oi Polloi are an anarcho-punk band from Scotland that formed around 1981. Starting as an Oi! band, they are generally associated more with the anarcho-punk genre. More recently the band have become notable for their contributions to the Scottish Gaelic punk subgenre...
which took in Scotland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland. Much of this tour was filmed by BBC Alba
BBC Alba
BBC Gàidhlig is the department of BBC Scotland that produces Scottish Gaelic language programming. This includes TV programmes for BBC Alba and BBC Two Scotland, the BBC Radio nan Gàidheal radio station and the BBC Alba website.-Television:...
for a Gaelic television documentary on Mill a h-Uile Rud and Gaelic punk. They have also played in Stornoway, on the sparsely populated Isle of Lewis, the largest town in the Western Isles of Scotland. They also recorded a live session for the BBC Radio nan Gaidheal
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal is a British radio station, broadcasting in Scottish Gaelic. It is operated by the BBC as part of its portfolio of television and radio services broadcasting to Scotland....
nighttime 'Rapal' program which is broadcast nationally in Scotland. In 2005, Tim moved to Scotland full-time to study sociolinguistics
Sociolinguistics
Sociolinguistics is the descriptive study of the effect of any and all aspects of society, including cultural norms, expectations, and context, on the way language is used, and the effects of language use on society...
and language revival
Language revival
Language revitalization, language revival or reversing language shift is the attempt by interested parties, including individuals, cultural or community groups, governments, or political authorities, to reverse the decline of a language. If the decline is severe, the language may be endangered,...
, and as such, the band is less active, although they still play from time to time when Tim is back in the Seattle. Tim is also involved in the Gaelic techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
/hip-hop act, Nad Aislingean, and the Gaelic rock band, Na Gathan
Na Gathan
- History :Na Gathan were formed in 2007 and first came to national attention in Scotland when they appeared in a piece on the Rapal music program on BBC2 that documented their involvement in organizing the Celtic Connections unofficial fringe held in Glasgow early in 2008...
. Sgrios remains quite active in the Seattle folk-punk scene and is involved in a number of bands in the city while Sìne now runs a goat cheese farm outside of Seattle. Only their roadie, Erin, still lives on the remote punk commune in the mountains outside Seattle where the band was formed.
Views and lyrical topics
Mill a h-Uile Rud broke new ground in Gaelic music, but they now admit that when they started they didn't fully understand the Gaelic music scene. In an interview aired on BBC AlbaBBC Alba
BBC Gàidhlig is the department of BBC Scotland that produces Scottish Gaelic language programming. This includes TV programmes for BBC Alba and BBC Two Scotland, the BBC Radio nan Gàidheal radio station and the BBC Alba website.-Television:...
, Tim explained, "In the beginning we were so naive," and that it wasn't until later that they appreciated the novelty of what they were doing. Song topics frequently deal with sex which is unusual for contemporary Gaelic music. However the band and others contend that this is in keeping with Gaelic bardic tradition and traditional poets from past centuries such as Iain Lom
Iain Lom
Iain Lom MacDonald was a Scottish Gaelic poet.-Biography:Iain Lom's family were the MacDonalds of Keppoch. In Gaelic society, since there might often be a number of men with the same first names in any given clan, they were given sobriquets which might be based on a peculiar characteristic or...
and Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair
Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair
Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair was a Scottish poet, lexicographer, political writer and memoirist, respected as perhaps the finest Gaelic language poet of the 18th century...
. As a band, Mill a h-Uile Rud are highly critical of much Celtic Punk
Celtic punk
Celtic punk is punk rock mixed with traditional Celtic music. The genre was founded in the 1980s by The Pogues, a band of punk musicians in London who celebrated their Irish heritage. Celtic punk bands often play covers of traditional Irish folk and political songs, as well as original compositions...
that, in their opinion, sells a cheesy, beer-soaked stereotype of Gaelic culture. They are also noted for their hard-core stance on Gaelic use in and around the band. In a Gaelic music scene where the language is often exploited as a showcase without much actual practical use outside of the songs themselves, Mill a h-Uile Rud stand out for not only singing in Gaelic, but using it in packaging, on their websites, on the stage and with each other. Mill a h-Uile Rud have also never allowed any official translations of their songs.
They have also translated the Ramones' "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker
Sheena is a Punk Rocker
"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" is a song by the punk rock group The Ramones. It first appeared on their third LP, Rocket to Russia, in 1977, and was also included on later pressings of the group's second album, Leave Home...
" into Gaelic and play it in their live set.
Discography
- 2004: CeàrrCeàrrCeàrr was the first album by the Celtic Rock band Mill a h-Uile Rud. Ceàrr was the first CD of all-new Gaelic songs ever released and was also the first CD produced with exclusively Gaelic liner notes...
(Clàran Droch-Shùil) - 2005: Ceòl Gàidhlig mar Sgian nad Amhaich ("Steòrnabhagh"; one track on a four-band compilation single)
- 2006: Gàidhlig na LasairGàidhlig na LasairGàidhlig na Lasair is an alternative rock and punk compilation album, by the bands Oi Polloi, Mill a h-Uile Rud, Atomgevitter, Nad Aislingean and The Thing Upstairs. It was released in 2006 by Problem Records...
("Steòrnabhagh," "Oran Sabaid Sabhal Mòr Ostaig" and "Crath do Thòn"; three tracks on a five-band compilation CD)
English
- article on Mill a h-Uile Rud in Hi-Arts magazine of the Scottish Highlands and Islands
- scholarly article on Gaelic music that discusses Mill a h-Uile Rud and their hard-core stand on Gaelic use
Gaelic
- official website
- article on Gaelic punk in The Scotsman newspaper
- article on Mill a h-Uile Rud in The Scotsman newspaper