HAMISH BURGESS - MAUI CELTIC ARTIST, BAGPIPER,
CELTIC CONCERT PROMOTER, CELTIC RADIO SHOW HOST
ORIGINAL CELTIC ART BY HAMISH BURGESS, NEW LAST MONTH ...
'LINDISFARNE SPIRALS' © Hamish Burgess 2009
'MAUI CELTIC OCEAN' '09 © Hamish Burgess 2004 and 2009
MORE INFO & ART ON OUR GALLERY PAGE.
A British citizen of Scottish parents, Hamish Douglas Burgess, also known as Jim or Seumas, is now also a U.S. citizen living on the island of Maui, in the Hawaiian Islands, where he has promoted Scottish and other Celtic culture for the last 9 years.
He is the owner of Maui Celtic, a business and organization which is a is a cross-cultural link for music events, genealogy, Celtic art and heritage, and information on Celtic nations. The number three, symbolic of life, death and rebirth was sacred to the ancient Celts, and represented by the triple spiral. Maui Celtic celebrates the triple aspect of mind, body and spirit, through history, artwork and music. The triscele can be found in our imported Celtic jewelry and on Maui Celtic logo wear, at our online store.
We supply Hawaiians, local folks of Celtic descent, and visitors to our beautiful island chain, with quality goods imported from the ancient Celtic lands. Silver and pewter jewelry as well as our specialty gifts can be found at local fairs on Maui, in Honolulu at the St. Patrick’s Day blockparty and in Waikiki at the Annual Hawaiian Scottish Festival, the first weekend of April.
Our website is a great source of information on the history of the Celtic Nations or for Celtic events in the Hawaiian Islands.
He promotes Celtic culture as a volunteer presenter of his popular weekly Celtic music radio show on non-profit Mana'o Radio, traveling to many countries interviewing musicians for the program, broadcast locally Sunday mornings on Mana'o Radio 91.5fm Maui 8am- 10am Hawaii time, and worldwide on the web at www.manaoradio.com - more details on our Events page.
As Scottish Ambassador for The Princess Ka’iulani Project, in 2009 Hamish also took the story of Hawaii’s most beloved Hawaii/Scot back to her father’s homeland, where he was a featured guest on Liz Clark’s show “Travels with My Auntie Liz” on Celtic Music Radio Scotland, and broadcasting icon Archie Fisher’s “Travelling Folk” show on BBC Radio Scotland, both in Glasgow.
He was honoured to be an instigator of having Douglas Herring’s now famous Hawaii Tartan actually made into kilts being worn here in Hawaii, before it was officially recognized by the State.
He has travelled the world extensively for 28 years, exploring the cultures of everywhere he lived and visited, settling in the Hawaiian Islands due to their beauty, and great surfing and diving conditions, and the spirit of 'aloha', a sentiment he felt at home with, similar to the friendly hospitality of the old Celtic lands. He worked for many years as a scuba instructor, starting in the U.K., moving through the Mediterranean then the Caribbean Islands, and then the U.S., finally ending up in the Hawaiian Islands.
Previously while living in Cornwall, U.K. he was a graphic artist and screenprinter, also
owning his own clothing company, Split Personality. Since permanently leaving Britain in 1992, he has focused
more on his Celtic roots, and his artistic side.
Coming from Celtic stock (Scottish - he is both a Douglas and Strachan), and living for many years in a Celtic area of Britain (Cornwall), he has a love of Celtic art and music instilled in him, producing Celtic artwork in different media (see the Gallery page), photography from the Celtic Lands, and playing the bagpipes. He regularly spends time in the ancient Celtic areas of Britain, Ireland and Europe, studying ancient works of Celtic art, and visiting other artists. Recent works have included album covers, book illustrations, commissioned celtic art, commissioned original celtic tattoos, temporary celtic tattoos and a forward for renowned celtic artist Courtney Davis' latest 'Celtic Tattoo Workbook' (Volume 2).
Hamish is also a well-known local bagpiper, and was a founding member of The Maui Celtic Pipes and Drums, a non-profit bagpipe band serving the Maui community, now renamed "The Isle of Maui Pipeband". He is now a solo player and is often hired for weddings and cultural events throughout Hawaii, and community events such as the Lahaina Banyan Tree Birthday Party, and Maui Chefs Present. In the summer of 2000, Hamish (Jim) Douglas Burgess and Michael Riedel travelled to Scotland to represent Maui and the Hawaiian Islands in "The Millennium Pipe March" , where 10,000 pipers and drummers marched through Edinburgh. This was the biggest gathering of pipers ever, and raised money for the Marie Curie Cancer Research charity. The lads were well received in their kilt uniforms and kukui nut leis!
Hamish follows in his brother Dud's footsteps, who is an accomplished artist himself, and is one of Britain's best Celtic tattooists, with clients travelling from all over Europe and even America to have his specialist work done at DNA Tattoo Studio (formerly Atlantic Coast Tattoo Studio), in Newquay, Cornwall, U.K. Hamish apprenticed in tattooing there for several years, and has since obtained a tattoo license in the State of Hawaii, and has worked at Alley Cat Tattoo Studio in Wailuku, Maui.
A leg tattoo by Hamish, commissioned as a painting
Tattoo is an often overlooked ancient Celtic artform. Go to the Celtic Art page for an article on ancient tattoo, by Hamish and his brother Dudley.
Hamish's latest work is a new line of temporary tattoos, that can be seen at our 'online store'. The Tattoos and packaging are drawn by Hamish and put together right here on Maui. So far we have two triscele designs and an armband. More to follow soon. They are easy to put on with water and last up to a week. Fun and safe, they are great for kids, with full instructions on the tattoo.
His biggest art piece until recently was his original "Celtic Chariot", a stationwagon covered in
Celtic knotwork, spirals, and Pictish designs, which was a regular local sight on
Maui for a few years. His second "Celtic Chariot" finished in 2008 is above.
Another unusual piece is a free-standing wood framed glass window, 6' high by 1'wide, with a celtic marine life scene from the reef to the surface, painted in enamels in a Neo-Celtic style (see the Gallery).
SEPT 2008 MAUI CELTIC ARTIST HAMISH BURGESS CREATED HIS BIGGEST PIECE TO DATE..... HIS SECOND 'CELTIC CHARIOT'. 
THE EPIC PIECE FEATURES ORIGINAL CELTIC DRAGONS ON THE SIDES, AND A KNOTWORK PANEL ON THE TAILGATE. This sees a return to his favourite style of large scale works, and of course is the new Maui Celtic company vehicle. MORE IMAGES ON THE GALLERY PAGE
TRADITIONAL CELTIC MUSIC PROMOTER
Hamish is also a promoter of traditional Celtic music, producing concerts on Maui with partner Jennifer Fahrni, ranging from pubs and church halls, to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
Feb 2009 they produced the return of ALASDAIR FRASER & NATALIE HAAS to the McCoy Studio Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. It was a spectacular night with special guest Hawaiian musician Wilmont Kamaunu Kahaialii, who joined Alasdair & Natalie in a tribute to Hawaiian/Scottish Princess Ka’iulani. There was also a legendary after-party Celtic music session at Wow-Wee Maui's Kava Bar & Grill until the wee hours.
2008 successes include a 4 concert tour of Maui by talented Celtic music duo TIM READMAN & SHONA LE MOTTEE, a witty Geordie songsmith/guitarist and a smoking hot fiddler from 'Lord of the Dance'.
2007 year saw a sell-out concert with ALASDAIR FRASER & NATALIE HAAS - FIRE & GRACE, at the MACC, said by some to be "the best concert they had ever seen there" !! An amazing performance from the two virtuosos, who received two standing ovations and encores. A great courtyard show beforehand featured KILTS ON THE BEACH (from Oahu and Maui), and THE ISLE OF MAUI PIPEBAND.
"THE EASTER SUNDAY RISING !" was a great music festival at Mulligan's on the Blue featuring SWITCHBACK from Chicago, one of America's most exciting Irish roots duos, and Maui's own 'The Haiku Hillbillys', 'The Maui Pipes and Drums', and 'The Celtic Tigers'.
He has twice now produced two great shows for MICHAEL BLACK (of the famous Irish Black Family), the dinner show at 'Mulligan's on the Blue' Wailea selling out and becoming a legendary night on Maui, with visiting guest LIAM CLANCY joining Michael on stage for a few rousing songs !
AN EVENING WITH THE CLANCY'S, at Charley's in Paia, was promoted on behalf of Debbie Casey of Irish Music Cruises (www.irishmusiccruises.com), who brought the artists to Hawaii. It was a triple act concert featuring EVANS and DOHERTY, AOIFE CLANCY and ROBBIE O'CONNELL, and special guest, Irish music legend LIAM CLANCY. This special one-off event was a highlight of Celtic music on Maui, and is still talked about !
Hamish also promotes a yearly sell-out concert by World Champion bagpiper JACK LEE, this year with top drummer J.Reid Maxwell. He has organised a mini-tour of Maui by top celtic band MOLLY'S REVENGE (with a great live radio session and several gigs around the island), and a great concert by Scotland's leading smallpipe maker and player FIN MOORE and fiddler SARAH HOY.
He also presents a yearly ROBERT BURN'S NIGHT at "Mulligan's on the Blue" in Wailea. Those that missed it will hear about it !
CELTIC MUSIC RADIO SHOW HOST
Hamish is also the presenter and host of The Maui Celtic Show on Mana'o Radio 91.5 fm on the 'Sunday Solstice' program, when he plays 2 hours of great Celtic music from 8-10am. For those of you not living on the
island of Maui, the radio show is available live online at www.manaoradio.com ! Local time is 8-10 am (Hawaii), which for the winter will now be 10am-12pm US/Canada West coast, 11am-1pm Mountain time, 12-2pm central time, 1-3pm East Coast, and 6-8pm in Ireland and the UK.
Hamish Burgess and Liam Clancy at Mana'o Radio, Wailuku, Maui
He often has interview clips with special guests such as Liam Clancy, Paddy Moloney (Chieftains), George Millar (Irish Rovers), Michael Black, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, Joanie Madden, Robbie O'Connell and Ed Miller to name but a few.........Hamish often does themed shows, where he talks about the traditions of the Celtic people and the music. These have included themes on the Celtic festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, the Summer Solstice and the Winter Solstice. Also modern themes of Thanksgiving Day, St.Andrew's Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, St.Patrick's Day, Valentines Day, Easter, and Canada Day and Independence Day. Other subjects have included Robert Burns, Sea Shanties, Celtic Emigration, and Irish Rebel Songs, and a musical tour of the Celtic Lands. He has even done some Celtic Rock Shows on a Saturday night slot.
Pictish Warriors - Alan & Hamish - Crannog Centre, Loch Tay, Scotland.