Acid Folk is just one of the terms that's been applied to the various fusions of dance and folk, and the band that coined the phrase are Shooglenifty.

Hailing from Edinburgh, Shooglenifty, are a six piece that have pioneered their own variation on a rapidly expanding theme. Whilst Capercaillie pioneered the folk remix album, Afro Celt Sound system the percussion ceilidh crossover and Salsa Celtica, Salsa with a Scots accent, Shooglenifty were adding funk into the fusion.

The band's big break came in '95 when they got to play in front of a quarter of a million people at the Hogmany Bash. Subsequently English festivals followed together with trips to places like Poland, Spain and India, the later at the expense of the British Council.

Cultural events have featured highly in the bands steady rise. They opened the Tokyo '98 export drive, sharing the stage with Tony Blair. Another remarkable gig was when they opened the 1997 Heads Of The Commonwealth Concert in Edinburgh. Joined on stage by Ghanaian percussionist, Mustapha Tetty Addy, the band managed to get Nelson Mandela, Prince Charles and Robin Cook all clapping along to one of their tunes.

Talked about wherever they perform, be it Canada, Australia or the UK, Shooglenifty are staking up to be one of this year's highlights.

The Gallery