Norrie ‘Tago’ Maciver

Worksheets     9Creative arts - Creative arts

Norrie "Tago" MacIver is a singer/songwriter from Carloway in the Isle of Lewis and is currently living in Fife after many years away from home.

At the age of 15, Norrie was accepted to the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton, where he spent 3 years learning from some of the best musicians in Scotland.

Norrie has grown up with many different styles of music including Scottish folk/dance music and Rock but it is his love for country music that shines through in his own material. His own compositions are in a country style, and even Latha Math was originally a country song. His influences range from Runrig to The Eagles and from Brad Paisley to Darrell Scott.

His own brand of “Gaelic Country” has helped him gain fans all over the world and it helped him towards arranging the songs for his first solo album.

Norrie moved down to Glasgow to attend the RSAMD where he graduated with Honours in 2009. During his time in Glasgow, Norrie was the lead singer of the award winning band Bodega, who in 2006 won the BBC radio 2 Young Folk Awards. This allowed the band to play at some of the biggest festivals in the UK including Cambridge Folk Festival. Bodega also went on to win Folk band of the Year at the MG Alba Scot Trad Music awards in 2008.

Since arriving in Glasgow, Norrie has played and toured all over the world including America, Canada, Australia and South Korea, as well as throughout Europe, and he also got a taste of touring at home in Scotland with the band Skerryvore.

Norrie has recorded many albums as the lead singer with both Bodega and Manran, and has also appeared as a guest singer on albums for artists such as Daimh, Skipinnish, Rachel Walker and Julie Fowlis.

In 2010 Norrie became the lead singer of Manran who made a name for themselves by releasing the single Latha Math, which was written by Norrie himself, and the band went on to sell over 5000 copies of the single in the first week on iTunes. In December 2011 Norrie was voted Gaelic singer of the Year at the MG Alba Scot Trad Music awards. Manran were also successful that year winning Album of the year at the same awards. As part of Manran, Norrie toured extensively through Europe and America as well as the UK.

2014 saw Norrie record and release his first solo album ‘Danns an Rathaid’ which he released on his own record label, Tago Records. He was joined on the album by some of Scotland’s finest musicians including Brian McAlpine, who co-produced the album alongside Norrie and Julie Fowlis. The album features some of Norrie’s own songs, as well as songs he has put his own stamp on.

In December 2015, Norrie decided to leave Manran to focus on other projects and to have time for his solo career. In February 2016, Norrie joined Skipinnish as their new lead singer.

 


Timeline


Timeline

Activities

I can interview Norrie to develop my knowledge further.

  • As part of a small group, create a list of questions you could ask Norrie to further develop yout understanding of Norrie’s career.
  • Send Norrie the questions electronically to interview him.

 

Share on social networks:

Collège de Samatan Département du Gers ACPPG Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Sgoil an Taobh Siar Comunn na Gàidhlig Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg


Erasmus+ This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.