Jimi visits the land of 'The Wickerman'!

Here's a short music video from Jimi's recent visit to Southern Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway.

During the trip, Jimi visited a once important hill fort on the Solway Firth where the most southern Pictish carvings ever found are on display.

He also performed a pibroch recital beside the magnificent Neolithic era standing stones and chambered cairns at Cairn holy, overlooking Wigtown Bay.

On the journey to Cairn holy Jimi chanced upon a "10 meter high scarecrow made from wicker" standing in a field. "It was a quite remarkable sight to say the least" said Jimi. 

He added: "However, given that much of the classic 1970's horror movie 'The Wicker Man' starring Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward was filmed at places along the Solway coast perhaps the presence of such a structure is not too surprising!"

Surprising or totally normal? Judge for yourself by clicking on the link below to the vid. If you enjoy please remember to like and subscribe to Jimi's YouTube channel.

Music is a version of the classic Celtic air 'Theid Mi Dhachaid 'Chro Chinn T-Saille' with didgeridoo accompaniment from Jimi's album 'Global Gathering - the music of clan Macrae'. Available for download and streaming at all good music stores. 

Slainte! 

 

                                                                      https://youtu.be/5yrgXQpPkVE?is=lBa2PXjcRjU2AxMs

 

 

Pskov International History and Culture Forum.

 

Please find a link below to video footage of Jimi's performance at a very special 'chamber concert' in the Pokrovskaya Tower, Pskov during the annual Pskov International History & Culture Forum, held between June 10 and 15, 2026.

In the clip Jimi performs versions of well known Russian classical and folk melodies - 'Slav'sya' (Glory to the Tsar) 'Pol'ushko Polie' (Song of the Plains) 'Korobeiniki'(Tetrus theme) 'Pri Linka' (Cossack dance) and Kalinka.

This year's International History and Culture Forum was attended by musicians and academics from many countries including India, Italy, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, China, Canada, the UK and Russia. 

Jimi was very honoured to be invited to perform at such a prestigious event. He appeared in three concerts in Pskov and also two sold out shows in the towns of Pechory and Opochka.

A week of healthy discussion and music culminated at the sell out Pokrovskaya Tower concert when Jimi performed alongside top musical acts from India, Italy and China. 

Pokrovskaya Tower itself is a grand structure towering over the banks of the Velikaya River. It is widely considered to be one of the most impressive monuments of military defensive architecture in Russia, Europe and probably the world.

Its base diameter is about 28 metres and it's total height is 40m. At its base the thickness of its oval walls reach 6m. At its top the thickness is 3.5m.

Built in 1470 the tower witnessed fierce battles against invading armies, none more so than during the Polish invasion of Russia in 1581 which saw the tower play a key role in the defence of the city.

Today the tower has been made suitable for concerts and public events. It provides a classic atmosphere and is a truly amazing, historic venue.

"It was a huge privilege and honour to be invited to play my pipes there" said Jimi. "The acoustics were amazing and, as always in Russia, the audience were very knowledgeable and appreciative. I'd like to say a big thank you to everybody." 

https://youtu.be/Wu0QxiCvaYo?is=IIMUez3Q1xt8xIVA

 

                   

A visit to Mousa Broch - the best preserved Iron Age tower house in existence

 

Hi, hope all good. I was absolutely delighted to realise a lifetime's ambition by visiting Mousa broch during a recent trip to the Shetland Isles.

 Mousa Broch is the best preserved Iron Age tower in existence. Visitors can still climb the staircase to marvel at the commanding view and workmanship of this 2000 year-old building.

 Music is an arrangement of the classic pipe tune or piobaireachd 'An Daorach Bheag' (The Wee Spree) arranged and performed by myself (including vocals) from my album 'The Last King Of Pictland', which is available to stream and download at all online music sites.

Standing over 13.3 metres (44 ft) high on the now uninhabited isle of Mousa, the broch is still over 95 per cent complete - unlike all other brochs in Scotland where most of the original stonework has been removed over the years for reuse in other buildings and drystane dikes. Mousa broch features in a couple of the old Norse Sagas as a place of captivity and hiding, and in comparatively more recent times as the secret store for smugglers.

The island of Mousa is now an RSPB Nature Reserve and home to many breeding wildlife colonies of seals and birds. Through spring and summer, Mousa hums with populations, such as Black Guillemots and Arctic Terns, Harbour Seals, Great Skuas, Snipe, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Dunlin.

The RSPB have been studying Storm Petrels, Arctic Terns and Arctic and Great Skuas on Mousa since the early 1980s. Today, they also monitor Red-throated Divers, waders, Shags and Harbour and Grey Seals. Sheep and Shetland ponies also live on the island.

Big shout out to everyone at Mousa Boat Tours which sail from historic Sandsayre pier with trips operates daily (except Saturday) from late April to September. Sailings are all dependent on weather, so please check their website in advance. (https://www.mousa.co.uk/)

I hope you enjoy the music and video. Slainte Mhor!

                                                    

Jimi performs traditional music in Glen Nevis.

Piper Jimi McRae plays the classic traditional bagpipe tunes 'Lochaber No More' and 'The High Road to Gairloch' during a visit to Dun Deardail hillfort in Glen Nevis following a busy weekend filming a Hollywood movie in Glencoe. (more info soon) 

 

The version of 'Lochaber No More' performed here, though seldom heard nowadays perhaps, is a fine arrangement by influential early 20th Century piper PM Willie MacLean. 'The High Road to Gairloch' is a popular and uplifting Highland 2/4 march thought to have been composed sometime during the 16th Century. 

 

 McRae recorded the video live with his mobile phone during a visit to Dun Deardail fort and other locations near Fort William, Lochaber on April 27, 2026. Dun Deardail occupies a prominent knoll on the north facing spur of Sgurr Chalum in Glen Nevis, close to the popular West Highland Way with impressive views of Ben Nevis, the Mamores mountain range, Glen Nevis and much of Lochaber. Archeologists believe the fort was built sometime during the second millennium BC and occupied until the fourth or fifth Century AD, probably by local chieftans and tribal elites. Recent excavations have unearthed stone tools, metal objects and evidence that bronze and ironworking took place there. 

 

Exactly who lived there we will probably never know for sure. However, Dun Deardail is a popular spot to visit for walkers on the West Highland Way and a cracking spot to chill and sound the Piob Mhor if time and weather conditions allow. Slainte Mhor!

                                                                      https://youtu.be/6150hgJ_-mc 

 

Download and stream links for new track

 Hi, my new release "God's Gonna Cut You Down" (bagpipe version) is available to stream and download at all popular online music sites. 

Please click on the link below for a direct link to the track at your favourite site. (The pic is a screenshot of the top half of the link page. Youtube music, Amazon music, Tidal, Deezer, KKBox and Pandora are out of shot)

A Youtube video for the song can be viewed in the proceeding post here. 

Thanks again for the awesome support. Back with more exciting news soon.

 Slainte! 

 emubands.ffm.to/godsgonnacutyoudownbagpipeversion

 

New Song and Vid - 'Bagpipe version' of "God's Gonna Cut You Down"

Hi. Just sharing my latest music recording and video. 

Very pleased to be following in the footsteps of the likes of Johnny Cash and Moby with a 'bagpipe version' of the classic American folk/gospel song "God's Gonna Cut You Down". I hope you enjoy it.

 

This version was arranged and recorded by myself and occasional song writing partner guitarist Neil Warden. The video was filmed at the historic ruins of St Bridget's chapel/kirk near Dalgetty Bay in Fife, Scotland, April 2026.

 

"God's Gonna Cut You Down" (also known as "Cut You Down", "God's Gonna Cut 'Em Down", "Run On" and "Sermon") has been recorded in a variety of genres in recent years, including country, folk, alternative rock, electronic and black metal by numerous artists including Johnny Cash, Moby and Marilyn Manson.

 

 The lyrics warn evil doers that they cannot avoid God's judgment! 

 

This is a shortened version of the track recorded by Neil and I. A longer version will be available in due course.

Hope you enjoy.

Slainte!

                                                     https://youtu.be/ROIEcqMoxLY?si=VIeW3WxDiQQxx-Po 

 

Jimi joins acclaimed classical and rock music collaboration

Hiya, hope all good. Here's a quick update of some of what's been happening since my last post here. 

Probably the big news is that I've been invited and have now agreed to hook up with a collaborative outfit called 'Sinfonicca' which boasts an impressive list of classical and rock music soloists and which specialises in classic rock arrangements for orchestras and groups.  

'Sinfonicca' perform live and release albums. Here's a link to a YouTube video of their 'metal' version of 'Winter' from Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' from 2023 which has over 100,000 views. 

https://youtu.be/5WHUlkpxSAY?si=Y69C-xzW2MLVwFfG

The driving force behind 'Sinfonicca' is the Kirkcaldy born award winning author, publisher, record label owner and general arts and entertainment industry entrepreneur - Bob Curruthers, who was also the manager of rock bands Uriah Heep and Asia for a while. Talk about a blast from the past, lol.

Bob is an admirer of my sound and live performances. After a positive meeting I'm happy and honoured to say I'm joining 'Sinfonicca' on an exciting new project which will culminate in an album release and tour.

Team 'Sinfonicca' envisage my participation on up to six tracks, the first of which I've just completed.

In other news my latest collaboration with guitarist pal and occasional song writing partner Neil Warden will be out soon on YouTube. Expect a marked shift in musical styles following our fun 'lockdown' experiment - 'Hills Where I Begun', which was a personal take on the Borders ballads.

As anyone who follows me on social media possibly already knows I was very fortunate to be invited to Rome, Wales and Ireland to perform for players and spectators before and after Scotland's recent Six Nations rugby matches.

Here's a few pics and and links to vids from all three trips. The vids are all from Cardiff, Wales where I was delighted to perform alongside Cardiff Male Voice Choir (Cor Meibion Caerdydd) at a pre-match reception and also pipe during the Scotland and Wales clash at the quite magnificent Principality Stadium. This was my first time inside the stadium with the roof closed. Incredible atmosphere and game.

Cardiff Male Voice Choir are filmed singing 'Yma O' hyd' (we're still here) a stirring song with fine words telling how the original pre-Roman Britons and their language live on in modern Welsh. 

The video links are to my Facebook 'artist' page and are open to view. Hope you can access them if interested.

Special thanks to good pal and former Scottish international rugby prop forward Norrie Rowan for the company, craic and match tickets. Cheers Norrie. Great travel companion.

Lots more happening in other performance areas. Sworn to secrecy on much of this for now. Waiting for the green light to tell you all about it. Hopefully soon. 

 Slainte Mhor! 

Link to pre-match clip and Welsh national anthem -  https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AwdfaH36a/

Link to Welsh Choir                                            - https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14abVGEQb8W/