Stornoway recording studio Wee Studio has hit the headlines today (Sunday 20 February), with recognition from The Scotsman newspaper of an initiative to gather Gaelic and traditional music out in the cloud.

Clàradh san Sgoth (Cloud Music) is the brainchild of Keith Morrison, born out of a time of extreme frustration when musicians were unable to travel to use studio facilities – or even to perform.

After attempting various methods of working with musicians remotely, Keith hit upon the formula of offering musicians the loan of professional-quality recording equipment, including a laptop which could be controlled by Keith using streaming software.

That meant he could add his technical expertise and professional software to the undoubted talents of the musicians, giving them the best possible chance of getting noticed.

The project launched in August last year, with funding from Creative Scotland, and by October the full complement of 10 Gaelic and traditional musicians from across the Highlands and Islands were signed up as participants.

They include Lewis singers Alice Macmillan, Calum Friseal and Iona Mairead Davidson and accordionist Graham Maclennan, as well as South Uist piper and singer Chloe Steele and Lisa MacNeil, a singer and musician from Barra.

With three kits of technology, each safely packed in a transportable flight case, the musicians have been able to work with Wee Studio at home to record tracks, which can then get out into the marketplace.

Keith said today: “Very proud that our Clàradh san Sgòth project is working better than we could have ever imagined – we can now record anyone from anywhere!”

The pictures show musicians Chloe Steele and Graham Maclennan, two of those to benefit from the cloud project (Wee Studio Stornoway)