I found Tom, or as he is known far and wide online, "Fandabi Dozi", admittedly through the KZfaq algorithm. As always, they know too much about me, and they knew my love for all thing history, Celtic and specifically Scottish spans far and wide. His videos on his 180,000k subscriber+ ‪@FandabiDozi‬ KZfaq channel of survival in what would have been historically accurate 17th century equipment intrigued me. I was traveling to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, to study and record with Scottish studies major Sam Shackleton, whom i'd recorded year previous ( • Sam Shackleton, "Cucko... ). Sam, himself well versed in the history of bards, the traveling musicians of old times, recommended we reach out to Tom and venture in the Highlands, a place ripe with history.
The Scottish cowboy, or as they called them drovers, would run cattle from grazing the highlands all the way down to England's markets. They'd have to avoid major towns of course; no one wants a herd of cattle tromping through their garden. So they roamed the lonely stretches of hills and mountains, the backroads and rough trails, with their songs and stories. Very reminiscent of the cowboys of the American West, and rightfully so, as many of them immigrated to the United States during the Highland clearances. This Loch that Tom brought us to, with its charming little cottage and epic views, was inspiring to say the least. By day we roamed the shoreline, by night we enjoyed Guinness and fireside tunes, and I couldn't help but feel a connection to the times before. Albeit a more comfortable version of that.
More discussion of the history is coming in an episode with Tom on his channel, stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy this song by Sam, off his new album. You can find more from Sam here;
/ sorleythebard
www.samshackleton.com/links
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