Album: Stamina Island

Release Date: 18 September 2026

For more than 35 years, Scottish group Shooglenifty have pioneered their fiery and infectious fusion of traditional Scottish folk music, beats, basslines, electronica and alt rock, creating a distinctive sound they call ‘acid croft’. Across nine studio albums, tours spanning the globe, boundary-pushing collaborations and a reputation for exhilarating live performances, they have amassed a devoted global following and become one of Scotland’s most distinctive musical exports. Following the loss of founding member Angus R. Grant in 2016, Shooglenifty reshaped its line-up with Kaela Rowan (vocals, percussion and ukulele) and Eilidh Shaw (fiddle) becoming integral to the band’s musical chemistry. The subsequent arrival of Ciarán Ryan (banjo and mandolin) and Euan McLaughlin (bass) alongside founding members James Mackintosh (drums) and Malcolm Crosbie (guitar), has helped forge a revitalised line-up that reaches a new creative peak on Stamina Island, the band’s pivotal tenth studio album.

Stamina Island is an exuberant celebration of endurance, longevity and joie de vivre.  Released on 18 September, the nine original tracks are alive with the band’s trademark vitality and imagination. They bring their high-energy performances to summer festivals ahead of a Scottish tour in October.

The album is preceded by the first single, Dig Deep, released on 3 July. A gritty, funk-infused groove led by Ciarán’s distinctive banjo riff with a driving backbeat and Kaela’s infectious vocals, Dig Deep delivers a powerful message about finding inner strength and resilience in challenging times.  Accompanying the single is a video directed by Ruth Barrie. Rich in colour and atmosphere, the visual concept reflects the song’s search for inner light and hope in darker times.

Dig Deep follows Bairns O Gaza, a Bandcamp-exclusive EP unveiled earlier this spring. While known for joy and positivity, Shooglenifty felt it important to acknowledge the current global, moral and political malaise. The emotive song is written and sung by Kaela and draws on a vocal system used by pipers alongside the ancient, often haunting Celtic tradition of keening. The EP includes two remixes: one from Glasgow maverick Howie B featuring the expressive vocals of Palestinian singer Bashar Murad, and another atmospheric reimagining from prominent Scottish DJ Dolphin Boy. The emotionally charged song is dedicated to all the children affected by war around the world.