News & Blog

All the latest from The Pishy Cloots

Gig recaps, new releases, behind-the-scenes notes, and more.

We Built a Website (Because Mikail is Secretly a Nerd)

The Pishy Cloots August 18, 2025

Surprise! The Pishy Cloots have a brand new shiny website, built entirely by our own fair hands. (Okay, mostly Mikail’s hands — turns out he’s secretly a bit of a nerd. If you want the geeky details, just ask him and prepare for a very long pint.)

Up until now, our...

Surprise! The Pishy Cloots have a brand new shiny website, built entirely by our own fair hands. (Okay, mostly Mikail’s hands — turns out he’s secretly a bit of a nerd. If you want the geeky details, just ask him and prepare for a very long pint.)

Up until now, our web address just pointed people to Facebook. Which is fine… unless you don’t use Facebook. We know plenty of people avoid it, and we wanted a way for everyone to connect with us without having to scroll past Auntie Sheila’s holiday snaps or a hundred cat memes.

So here it is: a simple yet super functional website that lets us show our lovely faces to the wider world, while also giving us a super-easy portal to manage content and use our imaginations more freely.

Gigs Page Magic ✨

One of the coolest things about the site is the gigs page. It’s hooked up directly to our band’s Google Calendar. That means whenever we add a gig to our calendar — bam! (no, it doesn’t really make that noise… but it absolutely could if we wanted it to) — the show appears instantly on our website.

Each gig listing comes with a neat little button that takes you straight to the venue’s website (tickets, info, the works), plus instant driving directions on Google Maps. No more hunting around. One click, job done.

All the Other Stuff Bands Need These Days

Apparently, if you’re a “serious” band, you need a Press Kit. So we put one there. It’s got everything promoters and press folk could possibly need, all in one tidy place.

We also built in a Newsletter Manager, because sometimes social media can be a bit of a black hole. Now our adoring fans (that’s you!) can sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, and the site helps us design, send, and manage subscriptions. Direct from us to you — no algorithms getting in the way.

Why This Matters

At the end of the day, the new website is about making it easier for you to connect with us. Whether it’s checking out when we’re playing next, downloading our press kit, or signing up for some Cloots news in your inbox, it’s all there now in one place.

So have a poke around, click a few buttons, and let us know what you think. And if you’re really curious about the nerdy coding details… buy Mikail a pint and he’ll talk your ear off.

The Pishy Cloots Take Scotland: Stonehaven Folk Festival & The Tall Ships Gig

The Pishy Cloots July 29, 2025

This July, The Pishy Cloots packed up our instruments (and questionable travel planning skills) and set off for Scotland — thanks to a residency deal with Duffy’s Tavern and Guinness distributor Peerless Beverages, who generously funded the trip. With the help of our Aberdonian pal (and future guest star) Elijah...

This July, The Pishy Cloots packed up our instruments (and questionable travel planning skills) and set off for Scotland — thanks to a residency deal with Duffy’s Tavern and Guinness distributor Peerless Beverages, who generously funded the trip. With the help of our Aberdonian pal (and future guest star) Elijah Fynmore, we plotted a whirlwind adventure: attend the Stonehaven Folk Festival, and then play our own gig during the massive Tall Ships Festival in Aberdeen.

The Journey Over

Let’s just say we made it harder on ourselves than it needed to be. From Stewart Airport in New York to Reykjavik, then Dublin, and finally Aberdeen, we endured a 20-hour journey. And in a questionable stroke of genius, we decided to “raw-dog” the flight — no books, no headphones, no in-flight entertainment. Just 20 hours of staring into the void. Lesson learned.

Stonehaven Folk Festival

We rolled into Stonehaven as festival-goers, but made it our mission to spread the word about our Aberdeen gig and meet as many incredible musicians as we could. Scotland surprised us with glorious weather (not a phrase you often hear), and even more so with the people we met.

Our days were filled with sessions at the Legion, where we found ourselves trading tunes with musicians from across Scotland. One of the highlights was leading a session at the harbour, playing for hours in the sunshine with new friends. The Stonehaven & District Men’s Shed crew kept us stocked with local tattie scones every morning at the campsite (absolute legends).

Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper trip without a bit of chaos: after hours of outdoor playing, the guitar electronics died — on a borrowed guitar. We rushed it to a shop in Aberdeen for repair, only to have the shop send the confirmation to the owner on file. Keith, if you’re reading this, we promise your guitar is fine (and sounding better than ever).

Tall Ships Festival, Aberdeen

The Tall Ships Festival was unlike anything we’ve experienced: 500,000 people descended on Aberdeen to see over 60 Tall Ships from around the globe compete in a race. We had the honour of playing at Krakatoa, a legendary venue right on the harbour.

Our support act, Gerry Kelly, wowed the crowd with his Americana guitar and banjo — and when the fire alarm went off mid-set, forcing a full evacuation, Gerry handled it like a total pro. He came back, nailed the rest of his set, and got a huge applause.

Then it was our turn: Ron, Mikail, and Elijah (our Aberdonian guest star) tore through a 2.5-hour set that had the crowd clapping, singing, and dancing along. By the end, we were all wrecked but buzzing — and we knew this trip had been worth every second of that 20-hour journey.

Family & Homecoming

For Mikail, this trip wasn’t just about the music — it was a homecoming. Born in Dundee and having spent a decade living in Aberdeen after university, returning to the Granite City brought back a flood of memories. Even more special was being reunited with family after so long apart.

Mikail’s mother flew in from Portugal, two aunts came along from nearby, and his brother made a surprise journey from London by train. It was the first time he had seen them since before COVID in 2018, making the night even more meaningful. Seeing them all in the crowd during the show was unforgettable, and the following afternoon was spent with the band, family, and old friends sharing a meal at Slains Castle in Aberdeen. A true highlight of the trip.

The People

The real magic of Scotland was the people. From Wattie and Stef jamming bluegrass at the campsite, to the characters at the Legion (“cowboy” and “gobshite” — you know who you are), to Shirley enforcing the no-hats rule with unflinching precision. Even our campsite neighbours turned out to be absolute legends. We’ve made friends we can’t wait to see again.

The Wrap-Up

This trip was a bit of a test run — to see how The Pishy Cloots would be received in Scotland. The verdict? Better than we could have hoped. Between the new friends, the booking contacts, and the memories, we’ve planted the seeds for an even bigger return next year.

And finally, a hot tip for any of you planning a Scottish adventure: skip the pricey hotels and book into the Hillhead Student Village in Aberdeen. In summer, they rent out student flats. We scored a week-long apartment for just $200 total. Bargain of the trip.

So here’s to Scotland — and here’s to next year being even wilder. Slàinte!