Gill Higgins (Curlew)

Curlew (Gill Higgins, she/her) is a celtic alt-folk multi instrumentalist. She incorporates acoustic string, wind and percussive instruments, field recordings, synthesizers and loop pedals. She is interested in the interaction of nature and machine and the way that music can unite strangers.

 

Curlew supported The Twilight Sad at Glasgow’s The Old Fruit Market (sold out), and has joined Honeyblood (sold out) and Carla J. Easton on tour. She has had soundscapes exhibited in Glasgow Botanic Gardens’ Kibble Palace as part of Glasgow Science Festival ‘24, and has upcoming performances a this years Edinburgh Festival.

 

“...it is a nigh on silent packed audience that is hooked as she skilfully and beautifully blends layers of vocal and music through use of loop pedals. Switching between harmonium and keyboard, her set is a bewitching one...” Geoff Shaw, Resound

 

In her session work and as a band member, Curlew has written, arranged, performed, toured and recorded vocals, harmonium, synth and piano with the likes of A. Wesley Chung (LP records), Broken Chanter (Olive Grove Records/Last Night in Glasgow), Carla J. Easton (Olive Grove Records), Elisabeth Elektra (alongside Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai, and Johnny Scott of Chvrches), Honeyblood (FatCat Records/Marathon), Man of the Minch (The Bothy Society/Olive Grove Records), Paix, Ruby Gaines (IceblinkLuck), Siobhan Wilson (Suffering Fools Records), Blochestra, Something Broken and Skinny Dipper (Olive Grove Records).

 

Gill writes harmonies and harmonium parts and performs with folk band Fidra, and her songwriting and musical directing in her folk-pop band CLR theory is met with critical acclaim. Their album WAVES was launched to a sold out Celtic Connections crowd, they have performed live on BBC Scotland Nan Gadheal and Afternoon Shows, they have sold out all of their headline shows to date and had festival appearances at The Reeling and Under Canvas Festivals.

 

"Beautiful and evocative" BBC Scotland Record of Note, Roddy Hart