Hom Bru are a folk group from Shetland who formed in 1978. They moved to Edinburgh in 1980 and using the city as their base, toured all over Europe. In 1982 they moved back to Shetland and continue to perform regularly.
The band play a mixture of instrumental music, mainly traditional Shetland and Scandinavian tunes, and songs sung in Shetland dialect.
Personnel
Current members
Gary Peterson - tenor banjo, mandolin
Brian Nicholson - guitar, vocals
Davie Henry - mandolin, vocals
John Robert Deyell - fiddle
Previous members
Alec Johnson - bass, vocals
George Faux - fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocals
Steven Spence - fiddle
Peter Miller - bass, guitar, vocals
Ivor Pottinger - guitar
John Hutchison - guitar, vocals
Stewart Isbister - bass, vocals
Davy Tulloch - fiddle
Bob Maclaine - fiddle
Andrew Tulloch - guitar, vocals
Reviews
Discography
The First Swig
First Swig was Hom Bru's debut album released in 1978. The album was recorded by Douglas Bentley in his Viking Vision "studio" which was actually the front shop of his electrical retail premises. The recording was released on cassette only.
Track listing
Side 1: Nine points of roguery Greenland whaling Delta dawn Till the rivers all run dry Gardebylaten
Side 2: Never on a Sunday Fiddler's green Banks of Newfoundland The alamo Scotland the brave
Personnel
Davie Henry (vocals, rhythm guitar, mandolin); Alec Johnson (bass, harmony vocals); Gary Peterson (drums, mandolin); Brian Nicholson (vocals)
Obadeea
Obadeea features a recording of "The Unst Boat Song" which is sung in the old Norn language
Track list
Christmas Day/The bonnie Isle of Whalsay (Trad.)/Leather reeches (Trad.) Gardebylatten (Trad.) Lassie lie near me (Trad.) Chicago reel (Trad.)/The scholar (Trad.)/St Anne's reel (B. Scott) Ragtime Jane (J. Elliot) - listen The new song on the turnout (Lyrics trad, tune G. Faux) The brolum (Dr.C.Bannatyne)/Pete da mill (G. Peterson) Janine's shell (G. Faux), Sandy Bell's hornpipe (R. Smith) Unst boat song (Trad.) Garster's dream (Trad.)/Da brig (Stickle)/Da sooth end (W. Hunter) Sandy burn reel (F. Jamieson) Banks of the bann (Trad.) The eighth Black Watch on Passchaendale Ridge (S. Bremner)/John Murray of Lochee (J. Hastings)
Personnel
Pete Miller (vocals, guitar, electric bass); George Faux (fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocals); Gary Peterson (mandolin, tenor banjo, fiddle); Ivor Pottinger (guitar)
Rowin Foula Doon
Track list
Sylvia / Tulloch's farewell tae da Hagdale
Rowin' Foula doon - Da song o' da Papamen
Huckleberry hornpipe / Homesteader's rell / Donkey reel
Caladonia
Niamh's capers / Toss the feathers / The pinch of snuff
Shaskeen / Paddy Faheys / Fair Jenny
Miss Rowan Davies
Smugglers
I'll remember you this way
Moving cloud
Personnel
Peter Miller (vocals, guitar); Steven Spence (fiddle); Gary Peterson (mandolin, tenor banjo); Davie Henry (vocals, mandolin); Ivor Pottinger (vocals, guitar)
No Afore Time
Track list
Coopers Reels
Da Sang O' Da Delting Lass
Suzi's Waltz
Scarce O' Tatties Set
Da Sang O' Da Fisher Lad
Recuerdos De La Alhambra
Hornpipes
Da Trowie Song
Serendipity
Hoedown Set
High Rockin Swing
Da Lass O' Hascosay
Bonnie Nancy
The Harley Set
Simmer Dim
Personnel
Brian Nicholson (vocals, guitar, bass guitar); John Robert Deyell (fiddle); Gary Peterson (mandolin, tenor banjo); Davie Henry (vocals, mandolin); John Hutchison (vocals, guitar)