Perthshire’s own Andy M Stewart was one of the most legendary singer/songwriters in the entire Celtic music scene. He originally rose to fame as the ebullient lead singer of trailblazing Scottish folk band Silly Wizard, and also went on to have a successful solo career which earned him a place in the Traditional Music Hall of Fame in his own right (he had previously been inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of Silly Wizard).

Self-penned songs such as The Rambling Rover, Queen of Argyll, Valley of Strathmore, Where are You Tonight I Wonder, and Take Her in Your Arms are classics of the folk tradition to this day, widely recorded by a range of artists around the world.

However, it wasn’t just his own works he was known for. He was a peerless interpreter of traditional songs of Scotland and Ireland during his time with the Wizard and throughout his solo career.

The Boston Globe once described him as “…one of the finest interpreters of Scottish folk songs.”

Andy M was particularly fond of Scotland’s world-renowned national bard, Robert Burns. Therefore, when astutely asked by German label Wundertute to record an album of Burns songs in 1989, he readily agreed. Accompanied by the fantastic Mánus Lunny, Charlie McKerron and Donald Shaw (of the seminal Scots band Capercaille), he produced this gem of a record. For various reasons, the album was never promoted as well as it should have been. Fast forward to late 2025, and this lost treasure of an album has been remastered and reissued by Andy M’s son, Donald Stewart, and his lifelong friend and former Silly Wizard bandmate, Martin Hadden. Martin’s son Calum, graphic designer at Birnam CD, has further enhanced the release with a stunning and sympathetic new design for the packaging.

This wonderful collection includes classic interpretations of some of Burns’ best-known songs, including the heartfelt and soaring Ca’ The Yowes, the stunningly beautiful A Red, Red Rose, the sterling

Rantin’ Rovin Robin, and the rousing To The Weavers Gin Ye Go. Available now on CD only, this fitting tribute to not one, but two, of Scotland’s finest ever artists will also be made available digitally on Burns’ Night, January 25th 2026.

CDs from Bandcamp, Amazon and Birnam CD Shop