Chicken Fried, a fresh take on the much-loved Zac Brown Band song, is the latest single from award-winning Highland accordionist and vocalist Calum MacPhail, set for release on Friday 24th November 2023.
Calum, who hails from Fort William, is a founding member of the award-winning trad folk powerhouse band Hò-rò and began releasing solo music in 2017. In 2021, the talented musician won the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards Original Work of the Year for his single 7 Years Old.
Chicken Fried is Calum’s first single since the release of his successful debut solo album at last… in April 2023, and features Calum MacPhail on vocals, Sean Cousins on guitar, Calum MacQuarrie on bass, Conor Smith on steel guitar, and Ciaran Ryan on banjo, with backing vocals by Meghan and Calum Campbell.
The group’s instrumentation and vocals lend a fresh sound to the well-known song, first released in 2008, lifting it from its country roots and giving it a Celtic edge. It’s still easily recognisable but now carries Calum’s signature sound, fitting seamlessly into his discography alongside his original songs and previous covers, including his 2022 version of The Bellamy Brothers’ Let Your Love Flow.
Calum MacPhail said: “This is one of my favourite country songs of all time, I’ve always loved listening to it and playing it so it only felt right to cover it for my next single. The sound is in keeping with my previous releases, which I would describe as Celtic country pop, but of course this single leans more to the country side of things, with my own Scottish twist. It was so much fun to record this song and make it my own while still keeping true to what I love about the original – I can’t wait for people to hear it!”
The single was recorded at GloWorm Recording Studios in Glasgow thanks to funding from Creative Scotland.
Chicken Fried will be available to download and stream on all major platforms on Friday 24th November 2023, and will be accompanied by a music video.
For more information on the album, visit www.calummacphail.com.
