Big announcement, bigger eyebrow raises
The Scottish trad scene woke up to drama when Skipinnish said singer Norrie “Tago” MacIver won’t be part of the band in 2026. The band’s post framed it as a new chapter, but Norrie’s own message hours later suggested the split wasn’t exactly a group hug and a handshake.
What each side said (spoiler: they don’t quite match)
Skipinnish thanked Norrie for everything he brought to the group and wished him well, dropping hints about upcoming tours and a busy year ahead. They reminded fans of Norrie’s solo tour next March and an appearance on BBC Alba’s Cèilidh na Bliadhn’ Ùire.
Norrie, meanwhile, posted a picture of himself on stage and made it plain: this was not his choice. He said the band had decided to move on without him, that there was no farewell gig, and that he needed time to process the news. Cue lots of sympathetic replies from fans.
Quick history class (for context)
Skipinnish started in 1999 when Angus MacPhail and Andrew Stevenson were students in Glasgow. Since then they’ve toured the globe and released around 10 albums, building a proper following. Norrie had been their frontman since 2016, and before that he sang with another trad outfit, Manran.
Just weeks earlier the band had played the OVO Hydro in Glasgow and hailed it as the high point of 26 years of Skipinnish — so the timing of this surprise split caught plenty of people off guard.
Fans and the fallout
Responses on social media were swift and noisy. Hundreds of fans replied to both the band and Norrie, many siding with the singer and questioning how a departure could look so sudden. It’s one of those moments where the comments section turned into its own tiny soap opera.
What’s next?
The band hasn’t announced who will pick up the mic next, and Norrie is lining up solo dates. Skipinnish say there are “great tour announcements” on the way, so expect more news — probably with fewer hugs and more PR statements.
Bottom line
This one’s not over. Whether it becomes a peaceful handover or a long-running saga remains to be seen, but for now the trad world has a new talking point — and Norrie’s fans are rallying. Grab the popcorn.
