Friday 13 June, 10pm, Machine Room
From humble beginnings in the Highlands of Scotland, to playing around the world, Elephant Sessions celebrate their 13th year as band in 2025.
Creating a progressive blend of intricate tunes, with a bass and drum heavy backline, their music combines the very best of trad, funk and electronica, resulting in a new and exciting sound.
Since exploding on to the scene, the band have made live appearances at some of the most notable venues and festivals across the U.K, Europe, North America and Australia, including Glastonbury, Byron Bay Bluesfest, Colours of Ostrava and multiple headline sell-outs at Celtic Connections.
“Elephant Sessions have attained the holy grail of finding a sound both unique and flexible. It’s a simple premise; layer traditional Gaelic folk elements, fiddle and mandolin, over electro, dance, funk and rave samples. And it delivers joyous and engaging dance music.” – On Magazine
The band’s first three albums were released to critical acclaim and amassed widespread radio play across the world.
Their new album ‘For The Night’ further built upon this success, charting at #3 in the Official Folk Album Chart and winning Album of the Year at the BBC Trad Music Awards 2022.
Elephant Sessions is comprised of Euan Smillie (fiddle), Alasdair Taylor (mandolin), Calum MacQuarrie (bass) and Greg Barry (drums, samples).
“The versatility of Elephant Sessions is its strength. Passionate about their culture and their origins, these Scots are using their instruments like weapons to destroy clichés… We love them” – Rolling Stone Magazine
“Absolutely superb…” – Chris Hawkins (BBC Radio 6 Music)
“Elephant Sessions redfine the limits of folk and traditional Scottish music with their choice of tempos and dynamics, pushing the boundary song after song” – Discovery Music
“With a solid guitar, bass and drum backline and duelling fiddle & mandolin they pound out dance tune after dance tune” – Is This Music