Award-winning Gaelic singer-songwriter Kim Carnie is set to release her highly anticipated second studio album, A’ Chailleach, on September 19th. This concept record is a bold and immersive journey, delving into female folklore, hidden histories, and spell work with a captivating new sound. The album follows her critically acclaimed debut, And So We Gather, described in KLOF Mag as “a confident and accomplished debut, celebrating the best of Gaelic song and stories which find a thrilling new voice in Carnie’s sublime vocals.” For A’ Chailleach, Carnie shifts her focus from traditional songs to her own compositions, breathing new life into forgotten Gaelic texts.
A’ Chailleach is an ode to the voices and stories of women across generations, weaving together themes of power, death, desire, and transformation.
Kim Carnie said: “This album celebrates the poetry and strength of female Gaelic voices. I wanted to explore themes that people don’t often associate with the tradition – love charms, incantations, personifications of death and old rituals – and bring those texts to life in a new sound world. It was a chance to write intentionally and with collaborators in mind, imagining the tone and shape of each track before it was even recorded.”
Each track has been visually paired with its own tarot card in a stunning collaboration with photographer Elly Lucas and stylist Kate Elliot Muir. Carnie’s innovative approach is immediately evident, from the haunting collaboration with Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita on the first single ‘Òran na Bèiste Maoile’ to the Bon Iver-esque soundscape of the opening track ‘Ulc a dhèan mo lochd’.
The album boasts an exceptional lineup of musicians, including Innes White, Megan Henderson (Breabach), John Lowrie (Staran), James Lindsay, Mark Scobbie (Mànran), and Ailis Sutherland. The guest artists are equally impressive, featuring the legendary dobro player Jerry Douglas, celebrated Gaelic vocalist Julie Fowlis, and Capercaillie’s Donald Shaw. With A’ Chailleach, Kim Carnie has not only created a beautiful and powerful record but also a unique sound world that celebrates the strength and magic of female Gaelic voices. The album will be supported by a UK and European tour, offering a chance to experience this bold new chapter in her artistry.
Track Listing: A’ Chailleach
- Ulc a dhèan mo lochd (The Wicked who would harm me)
- Òran na Bèiste Maoile (The Selkie)
- Eòlas Gràdhaich (Love Charm)
- Crònan (Croon)
- Luchd na Beurla (The English Speakers)
- Clò nan Gillean (The Lads’ Tweed)
- Hòro Bhodachain (Horo, Wee Old Man)
- Ceus-chrann nam Buadh (The Passion Flower of Virtues)
- Còmhradh ris a’ Bhàs (Conversation with Death)
Upcoming Tour Dates
UK Tour (September 2025)
- September 18 – Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
- September 19 – Behind the Wall, Falkirk
- September 20 – LAS, Portree
- September 21 – Taynuilt Village Hall, Taynuilt
- September 24 – Cottiers, Glasgow
- September 26 – Brewery Arts, Kendal
- September 27 – The Stables, Milton Keynes
- September 28 – Settle Victoria Hall, Settle
European Tour (November/December 2025)
- November 26 – Bürgerhaus Bornheide, Hamburg
- November 27 – Maschinenhaus in der Kulturbrauerei, Berlin
- November 28 – Neue Schmiede, Bielefeld
- November 29 – Malzhaus, Plauen
- November 30 – Kulturzentrum Dieselstraße, Esslingen
- December 2 – Löwensaal, Hohenems
- December 3 – Zehntscheuer, Ravensburg
- December 4 – Kulturzentrum Englische Kirche, Bad Homburg
- December 5 – Breite 66, Saarbrücken
- December 6 – Kulturkirche St. Trinitatis, Bad Langensalza
- December 7 – Ansgarkirche, Elmshorn
- December 9 – Baltoppen Live, Ballerup
