Brìghde Chaimbeul

Brìghde Chaimbeul is a leading figure in Celtic experimentation and a virtuoso of the Scottish smallpipes, a type of bellows-blown bagpipe that is softer and more muted than the Great Highland bagpipe. Coming from a Gaelic-speaking community, she is deeply rooted in its language and culture, which inform her musical approach. Recognised at a very young age as a prodigy of traditional music, she has gradually moved towards a more experimental exploration of her instrument, developing a unique way of writing and arranging for the smallpipes, highlighting their rich, continuous drones and creating hypnotic, immersive atmospheres. Her playing, both virtuosic and fluid, draws on piping traditions from around the world while incorporating ambient, avant-garde, and electronic influences in her recent work. Her talent has earned her numerous distinctions, including the BBC Young Folk Award, the BBC Horizon Award, and a nomination for the SAY Award. She has collaborated with many artists, including Caroline Polachek, Colin Stetson, Gruff Rhys, and Radie Peat. Her smallpipes are made by the renowned makers Fin Moore and Hamish Moore.