An Dannsa Dub (The Dub Dance in Gaelic) is the brainchild of dub vocalist & producer Tom Spirals and Scottish traditional musician Euan McLaughlin formed in 2020. The 6 piece live band fuses the mystical energy and instruments of traditional Scottish music and Gaelic song with the heavy, meditative, driving basslines digital dub music. The band is a unique mix of experienced traditional folk musicians and Dub Reggae specialists, using acoustic and digital instruments. The result is an explosive heavyweight blend of what the band call ‘Future Dub from Ancient Scotland’.
The first, self-titled, EP, supported by Help Musicians, 'An Dannsa Dub' , was released in Dec 2021 on 12” Vinyl and digital release and has received support across the BBC from the likes of Don Letts and Tom Robinson on BBC 6 Music, David Rodigan on Radio 1 xtra, Phoebe I.H. On BBC Introducing, on BBC Scotland and across BBC Alba. The E.P has also been shown support by well known artists with the Reggae and Dub sound system scene such as Mungo’s Hi Fi (UK), The 420 Sound (Australia) and O.B.F. (France) to name a few.
Summer of 2022 was the first opportunity to tour with the project and it would be fair to say they made the most of it. A beautiful whirlwind of Uk festivals culminated in receiving a last minute offer to play the opening concert of Boomtown Fair to an expectant crowd of 10,000 revellers. As if that wasn't enough, the title track from our first EP - " An Dannsa Dub " has been used as the soundtrack to the OFFICIAL Boomtown after-movie ! The band are currently working hard writing the next chapter of their tale, composing a full length album and planning to tour the UK and beyond in 2023.
The first, self-titled, EP 'An Dannsa Dub' , was released in Dec 2021 on 12” Vinyl and digital release and has received support across the BBC from the likes of Don Letts and Tom Robinson on BBC 6 Music, Phoebe I.H. On BBC Introducing, Bruce Macgregor on BBC Scotland and across BBC Alba. The E.P has also been
shown support by well known artists with the Reggae and Dub sound system scene such as Adrian Sherwood ( ON U Sound), Nick Manaseh, Mungo’s Hi Fi (UK) and O.B.F. (France).
The An Dannsa Dub EP was nominated as BEST ORIGINAL WORK in this years Scottish Traditional Music awards.
THE TALE OF AN DANNSA DUB
Legend has it , that two musicians were taken awa’ by the faeries to play for them at their ceilidh dance .. When the pair returned hame, naebody believed where they had been! All they had to prove it was a new collection of otherworldly tunes they had learned…
The concept behind the EP is based on an old Scottish story from the Orkney Islands, re-written by Tom Spirals and narrated by renowned storyteller Gillian Macdonald on the first track of the EP. The tale has also been brought to life as a music video , shot in stunning scottish locations including ‘The Crawick Multiverse’ , and features breathtaking dance choreography from Sanchez & Rigg aswell as a performance and vocals from Gaelic singer of the Year Ellen Macdonald .
MY BLOOD IT RUNS DEEP
An Dannsa Dub returns with the next part of their story and a fresh steppa anthem from ancient Scotland; ‘My Blood Runs Deep’, featuring vocals from rising Glasgwegian folk star Flew The Arrow.
The single wraps Flew the Arrows lyrical imagery of the Scottish landscapes and culture in a rich tapestry of heavyweight dub-wise production featuring live instrumentation from the An Dannsa Dub band. The 2 track EP also features a riddim mix, edited and prepared for action in the soundsystem arena . The EP is available to stream or download digitally and as a limited run of bespoke 10' vinyl hand cut by Pressure Mastering and designed by MostIll. Available exclusivley on bandcamp.
LIVE AT BOOMTOWN 2022
An Dannsa Dub plays to a 10,000 strong crowd in the Hidden Woods
This was our debut show in England - thanks to everyone who turned out and made it so special!
TIME MARCHES ON
Based on 'The Earthship' by Fraser Shaw
Recorded live at Kelburn garden Party 2022
