The Pirates of the Hebrides take to the stage

By Lauren MacLeod

Peat and Diesel are a popular Hebridean band (Credit: Peat and Diesel website)

You’re in amongst a lively, energetic crowd. Bouncing up and down, jamming away to what sounds like a rock twist on traditional music. You look up on the stage and low and behold, you see the infamous Peat and Diesel performing live at one of their sold-out gigs.   

But where did it all begin?   

Well, it all started when three island lads; Calum (Boydie) Macleod, Uilly Macleod and Innes Scott, born and raised in Stornoway decided to form this iconic band six years ago. Picking out names for their group at Boydies house on a Saturday night, ready to start their musical journey by performing sets in the local pubs round the town, entertaining those who went out to have a good time.   

In a recent Peat and Diesel documentary with the title ‘Peat and Diesel: ‘Hitch your wagon to a star’, produced by BBC Alba, that aired at the beginning of this year, Innes Scott, Peat and  Diesel accordionist, stated that he was extremely proud of what all three of the band members  have managed to achieve together as they set of to go on their debut tour. Throughout the documentary, it showcases all the gigs that they did over the last year and the behind the scenes of what they were getting up to before setting the stage to perform in front of their fans.   

Uilly Macleod, the drummer in Peat and Diesel, kindly shared some of his stories about the band.  

Uilly said: “Myself and Innes used to play in a band which was solely for weddings and we kind of got bored of it. We were nearly together for ten years and then we decided that we were going to just pack it up. Innes was ready to give up the accordion. A few months went by and  Boydie cornered Innes for a practice and then got me, we started practicing.   

It was never meant to be like a festival band, playing to big crowds on these stages. It was always meant to be playing at the Sea Angling or a gig in The Lewis in Stornoway and that will be it. The following weekend, Roddy Mackay from EDF in Uist got in touch with us. That was our first festival, bear in mind we have only played one gig.   

He posted ‘Heorna Mhòr’ it kind of blew up online and on social media. Everybody was sharing it with their friends, their cousins away, people that moved away from the island.” (SIC)  

They have played at different venues and festivals such as Belladrum, HebCelt, EDF, and the Barrowlands They also have toured the UK, Ireland, and Germany. They were also given the opportunity of a lifetime to perform live at Glastonbury back in 2022 which was a massive thing to tick off the bucket list for them.   

Uilly said: “The scale of it was unreal, like you have to be there to grasp it…it’s so, so big.  It’s absolutely massive, it’s nearly the same as Point. Point is Glastonbury”.  

According to an online music review, published by Grace Edward on the Glasgow Guardian with the headline, ‘Celtic Connections 2023: Peat and Diesel’ on 1st February 2023, they  became such a hit after the release of their second album gaining a whopping 43,477 monthly streams on the Spotify platform as they were on tour.   

The drummer admitted that he didn’t really find it weird being recognised by people at home as he did a few stints for Isles FM. The Island is such a small community as everyone knows everyone.   

Uilly said: “I noticed it more when I first came out to inverness, walking down the high street, people would come up to talk to you even if you’ve never met them in your life”. 

With all the praise they get, they do have their own struggles with mental health. Uilly  commented that it can be a bit overwhelming for him and his band that they want the ground to swallow you up. Describing it as “chalk and cheese”, one minute you are getting on with your normal, daily lives, the next everyone knows and speaks to you.   

On Peat and Diesels’ official website, the homepage gives a little background story behind the band and even says that within the space of a day, they sold-old of tickets for the Barrowlands  venue in Glasgow with their ‘Peatlemania’ fan base.  

Covid-19 appeared just when Peat and Diesel reached a new level as they had a lot of things planned for 2020. However, just like everyone else, they put a stop to what they were doing and were in complete limbo, this was considered to be their worst nightmare.   

Uilly said: “We were set to probably have our biggest year at the start of covid, the biggest stuff we were ever to have done so we had to put a pin in it. It was hard for everyone; it wasn’t just hard for us”.   

Uilly MacLeod is the drummer for the popular band (Credit: Getty Images)

Everyone on the island was soon to be cheered up as Boydie, Innes and Uilly wanted to give the islanders what they needed: a good Ceilidh.   

Uilly said: “By the end of Covid everybody was just wanting to meet up with each other, have a dance and a gig. We did one at Christmas time on the back of a lorry going through town.  We had barriers up on the lorry trying to keep two meters apart, it was hilarious.”   

In light of this, they made it to the other side of Covid and are in the midst of planning some things for this year and 2025. The bucket list seems to keep growing. When asked about his  favourite place to play a gig at, Uilly admitted that you can’t beat the Glasgow Barrowlands, his dream place to perform would be the states as he is a big fan of country music and just to experience the different lifestyle would be cool.  

If anyone is thinking about starting a music band, make sure to have fun and have some good craic.