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Musicians in 2007
in no particular order |
(Our ubiquitous MC)
Stephen Quigg has played at countless venues throughout Scotland,
England and Ireland. His solo concerts at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
were packed and received fine reviews.
He has gained a huge following, particularly in the Highlands of
Scotland, where his repertoire ranges from sensitive traditional ballads
to foot stamping Scottish folksongs.
One of the secrets of Stephen's success is his "way" with an audience.
His introductions are relevant and often hilarious, keeping him in demand
as a compere at concerts and festivals.
Apart from singing, Stephen plays guitar, banjo and bodhran. In 2001
Stephen was asked to join the internationally acclaimed McCalmans, and has
become a popular addition to the band.
http://www.boroughloch.demon.co.uk/quigg/
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(Featuring in the Friday Night Feature Concert)
Over the years Old Blind Dogs have evolved and grown into one of
Scotland's favourite folk bands.
The present line up includes Aaron Jones, (Bass, bouzouki and backing
vocals), Rory Campbell (Border (Reel) pipes, whistles and backing vocals),
Jonny Hardie (Fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and backing vocals), Fraser Stone
(Drums and percussion).
Check their website for details of their reknowned discography and
world wide appearances.
http://www.oldblinddogs.co.uk/
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(Featuring in the Friday Night Feature Concert)
Bruce is a singer whose style is very accessible, yet unique, blending
the words and melodies of Scotland and beyond with harmonic influences
that betray his Welsh ancestry. His love of the great folk songwriters of
the 60's to the present day is also apparent in his presentation and
choice of music and his warm, rich voice and sympathetic 6 & 12 string
acoustic guitar technique have received much critical acclaim.
A former winner of the prestigious Edinburgh Folk Club Song-writing
competition, Bruce was known for many years as an interpreter of great
songs by great writers. However, his own songs now sit happily alongside
those of "the greats" in his performances
http://www.brucedavies.com/profile.html
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(Featuring in the Friday Night Feature Concert)
North Sea Gas are Dave Gilfillan, Ronnie MacDonald, and Grant Simpson.
On occasion within Scotland, North Sea Gas are augmented by the wonderful
talents of Gerry McKenna.
North Sea Gas has now been performing for 26 years, during which time
they have enjoyed great acclaim for their high standards of
professionalism.
Over the years their exciting blend of Scottish and Irish music has
appealed to audiences all over Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia,
Australia, Canada and the United States. For nine consecutive years, North
Sea Gas has attracted large audiences to concerts held during the
Edinburgh Festival.
http://www.schuerkamp.de/zope/nsg
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(Featuring in the Flotilla Tribute Concert)
Robin Watson and Gordon Menzies have been together as Gaberlunzie since
the early 1970s and are well known for producing an exciting blend of
modern and traditional songs.
Essentially Scottish, with an emphasis on rhythm and harmony,
Gaberlunzie has a wide appeal to audiences both at home and abroad. They
have travelled extensively in Europe, Canada, United States, and the
Middle East, taking with them not only Scottish music but also that other
extra special ingredient - Scottish humour.
http://www.gaberlunzie.com/
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(Feature band for the Setterday Nicht Ceilidh)
Mak-a-Rak-it are based in the heart of Morayshire in the village of
Fochabers and have been playing together since 1993. They are a five-piece
ceilidh band playing traditional Scottish and Irish music and song.
The band can be found playing at weddings, festivals and corporate
functions throughout Scotland where the emphasis is on fun and enjoyment.
http://www.makarakit.co.uk/
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a young Shetland band who will be joining us for the festival weekend
fresh, and hopefully not too jet lagged, from a tour of Australia.
The Swingin' Fiddles are Maggie Adamson and Laura Lockyear on fiddle,
Astryd Jameson on the piano and Brian Nicholson, the more senior member of
the group on guitar. They have all being playing since a young age and
their lively approach to music has taken them to Norway, America, Canada,
Ireland, several British festivals and most recently to Australia.
They play a mixture of traditional and contemporary tunes with a couple
of wee "swing" tracks thrown in as you might expect from their name.
www.swinginfiddles.com
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a young leading folk band from Ireland who will be joining us for
festival weekend.
The Rapparees are Gerard McNeill who plays the banjo, fiddle and drums,
Connor McCaffrey plays the banjo, bodhrun and sings, Joe McKeague main
vocals, fiddle and guitar, Damien Mcerlean plays guitar, viola and
washboard and Kevin Mawdsley plays the fiddle and tin whistle.
This will be their first time playing their very energetic and lively
show in Scotland and if their CD is proof of their performance I can't
wait to hear them live!! (NOTE: they were great and they will be back in
2008 - more...)
www.therapparees.net
www.myspace.com/therapparees
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“Calum Stewart is one of Scotland’s leading young traditional musicians.
He manages to combine the search for fresh, new and innovative music with
a deep commitment to the Scottish Tradition.” Rob Adams
"...impressive, clear, crisp, beautiful flute playing that really
captures your imagination." Ceňl Beň Traditional Roots magazine
"...a musician whose technical accomplishments as a performer are
matched and enhanced by his passion for the music he plays." Robbie Hannan
http://www.calumstewart.com/
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Andy May
Performing with Calum Stewart
Andy is from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. He studied Jazz at the
University of York. Andy is a pianist and also an accomplished
Northumbrian Piper. He has won several competitions, and now judges.
As well as performing with Calum Stewart, and the Calum Stewart 3, Andy
performs with English Folk band Jez Lowe and the Badpennies, and
with Anglo-Scandinavian group Baltic Crossing. He is also a
talented composer.
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 During the
past couple of years Jiggerypipery have earned a well deserved reputation
for being a dynamic and exciting live act, as seen at many venues
throughout the UK.
 The
chemistry of the band mixes Robertson’s distinctive 60 years of highland
pipe playing, learned from his famous father, Pipe Major "JB" Robertson
with the hard core, driving drumming of ex Boomtown Rat, Simon Crowe.
Blend this with ex. Waulk Electrik bassist Peter Bingham, fiddle playing
from Carl Allerfeldt, the cittern of Tony Bayliss and you have an exciting
and listenable concoction of highly charged Celtic Funk.
http://www.jiggerypipery.co.uk/
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 Isla was born in North East Scotland and
is one of Britain's foremost traditional singers. She is known to millions
for her numerous television appearances and is one of Europe's most
experienced broadcasters.
Forming her own production company, Story Shop Productions, Isla
produces award winning documentary films, radio programmes and music
albums for international release.
She even has an entry in wikipedia the online dictionary
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isla_St_Clair
www.islastclair.tv
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 The Elgin Strathspey and Reel Society was
inaugurated in 1970 and, with Willie McPherson as musical Director and
Bill Brian as Leader, it went from strength to strength.
In the last few years the Society members have promoted themselves and
their music, nationally and internationally. A travel fund has made it
possible to play in Denmark (twice), and Ireland.
www.elginfiddler.co.uk/society.html
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Alex Green
 Alex Green from Aberdeenshire is the maestro of the tin
whistle. He is appreciated by a much wider audience through playing at
many Traditional Music and Song Association festivals throughout Scotland.
He has released one of the few recordings dedicated to Scottish whistle
playing: Whistle O'er the Lave O't.
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Sheena Wellington
 Sheena
Wellington's singing of “A Man's A Man For ‘a That” at the Opening
Ceremony of the first Scottish Parliament for three hundred years was by
critical and popular acclaim the highlight of that very special day.
She will be performing at the Ballads and Bairns Concert on Friday
afternoon and presenting certificates.
http://www.sheena-wellington.co.uk/ |
Rod Paterson
 (Tutor for the
Ballads and Bairns project)
(Vocals, Guitar and Mandola with "Jock
Tampson's Bairns"
Widely recognised as the foremost male traditional singer in Scotland,
Rod has already produced a large body of recorded work to support that
point of view as well as stage productions, including The Ship and The Big
Picnic, and featured on many radio and TV productions, including The
Transatlantic Sessions with Emmylou Harris and Phil Cunningham.
He has two solo albums to his credit together with the three Easy Club
recordings, the new definitive series of discs of the songs of Robert
Burns (of which Rod is a renowned interpreter), Fergusson's Auld Reekie
and many other album recording sessions.
He's also a member of another excellent Scottish band, Ceolbeg, and has
written a number of songs and adaptations of traditional material. |
Norman Chalmers
 (Concertina,
percussion, whistles, mouth organ with "Jock
Tampson's Bairns")
(Tutor for the Ballads and Bairns project)
An original stylist of the concertina in Scottish music as well as
being a fine whistle player, Norman also plays melodeon, clarsach and
flute.
A trained photographer, he is the Folk/World editor of the List
magazine, and Folk reviewer for Scotland on Sunday.
Very experienced in Scottish Theatre and as a player with The Easy
Club, Ossian and The Cauld Blast Orchestra, he is also on the staff of
Glasgow's Royal Scottish College of Music and Drama, teaches at Feisean,
and runs groupwork courses every summer at Skye's Sabhal Mor Ostaig. |
Christine Kydd
(Tutor for the Ballads and Bairns project)
 Christine
is a full-time professional musician. Her time is divided between
performance, teaching, theatre work, promoting traditional and related
music and recording/ media appearances. She has an Advanced Diploma in
Voice Studies.
Christine is the Scots Song Tutor at the School for Excellence in
Traditional Music at Plockton, Wester Ross. Scottish teenagers audition to
attend this special project, coming from all over Scotland. Pupils attend
the High School and have additional music tuition, record and perform
their work.
Christine also teaches privately and travels all over the UK to teach and
perform at festivals, clubs and Summer Schools.
http://www.ck.musicscotland.com/
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Sinsheen
 A
singing duo consisting of Christine Kydd and Barbara Dymock.
Combining power, passion and pedigree, these dynamic, relatively young
veterans of the Scottish music world contrast stark harmony vocals with
light instrumental and percussive backing. Together they explore and
innovate, gracefully twisting the tradition and colluding with the
contemporary.
The songs of Sinsheen are a voice for irreverent women everywhere, with
a brash sense of humour, but a healthy respect for the roots of
traditional Scottish music. Songs vary from self-penned via trad to the
odd genre-swapping version of a dyed-in-the-wool Scottish favourite. The
subject matter is extraordinarily varied and rich: try work, struggle,
love, getting the bairn tae sleep, politics, the blues, and dreams.
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Dave Francis
 (Manager of the
Ballads and Bairns project)
Dave Francis comes from Aberdeenshire, where he cut his teeth playing
in dance bands such as the Desperate Danz Band. Since moving to Edinburgh
during the 1990s he has become a central figure in traditional music, from
performing with Mairi Campbell in the successful duo
The Cast, to occupying key positions in the Scottish Arts Council
traditional music section and the Edinburgh Folk Festival.
Dave and Mairi released The Cast’s third CD in the Autumn of 2005, and
Dave is a member of the renowned
Bella McNab’s Dance
Band. |
Paul Anderson
 Paul
Anderson, a farmer's son from Tarland, is already a legend and revered
virtuoso in the time-honoured tradition of Scottish fiddle Music. Paul
began his training with Andy Linklater on a fiddle found under his
grandparents' spare bed. He was promised he could keep it if he learnt to
play it. It's the same instrument he plays today!
Paul's experience includes leading the acclaimed Banchory Strathspey
and Reel Society and playing fiddle with Shetland folk rock band, Rock,
Salt and Nails, however his main interest is performance and composition
of traditional Scottish fiddle music. Having won most of the fiddle
championships in Scotland, his crowning glory was winning the Glenfiddich
Scottish Fiddle Championship at Blair Castle in 1993. A regular on
Scottish television and radio, Paul has toured extensively and has
recorded seven solo albums.
http://www.footstompin.com/artists/paul_anderson |
Gaye and Trish (The Scottish Nightingales)
 G&T,
better known as Gaye & Trish (Gaye Anthony and Trish Norman) sang in
Castles for the National Trust for Scotland for several years developing
their repertoire and harmonies. They continue to organise and take part in
Concerts during the Doric Festival, which celebrates the speech and song
of the Grampian area.
At the 1999 Boat Festival they sang songs of the sea and the fishing
and made the acquaintance of Nanne Kalma and Ankie Van der Meer of 'Liereliet',
who were also taking part in the Festival that year. This led to Nanne and
Ankie recommending them to other Festivals, leading to bookings in Poland,
Brittany and especially to Workum. It was there that Shanty Jack heard
them, leading to appearances in Hull, Portsmouth and so on ...
They have released two albums. 'First Verse', mainly Scottish songs,
was released in 1999 and 'Fish and Ships', self-explanatory, in 2001.
http://www.shanty.co.uk/G&T/
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Moray Concert Brass
 Moray
Concert Brass has played in many prestigious events in Scotland and also
in France, Germany, Italy and Austria. This year it will be playing to
welcome the arrival of the Flotilla.
The band began in 1992 with only 20
members. It now has a membership of over 70 players aged between 9 and 18
involved in 40-50 engagements each year.
Needless to say the band has picked up many prestigious awards along
the way and it has made four recordings to date with a fifth in the
pipeline.
 The band is
very popular with members and gives all involved an understanding of
discipline, self respect, teamwork and also helps them build lifelong
friendships. The band gets essential support from the "Friends of Moray
Concert Brass".
More details at
www.morayconcertbrass.co.uk
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Huntly Pipe Band
The Huntly Pipe Band was formed almost 60 years ago and one of its
founder members, Jimmy Horne, now well into his eighties, still plays
regularly. The youngest playing piper is 13 years old, with learners even
younger.
The band wears the Gordon tartan with green jackets and waistcoats to
reflect the fact that the Gordon Highlanders were formed in Huntly in the
18th Century. The band plays at a variety of events throughout the summer
and is always up for new experiences.
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Buckie and District Pipe Band
 The Buckie and
District Pipe Band was founded in 1988 and is still going strong today.
New recruits are always welcome in the ranks.
The Band attends many events throughout the local area almost every
weekend during the summer months, as well as many other events during the
rest of the year. These include local galas and fetes, charity events and
of course, the annual Highland Games. The band is in regular attendance at
the Dufftown, Aberlour, Nethy-Bridge and Grantown Highland Games.
The Band has also been known to travel abroad by invitation, with such
events being very successful, although perhaps slightly surprising to
foreigners!
http://www.buckiepipeband.co.uk/
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Scottish Co-op Band
 The
Scottish Co-op Band is the only band from Scotland to win the National
Championships of Great Britain (twice - in 1990 and 1996) and they were
the 2003 Scottish Champions (a title they have held on 26 occasions in
their history). The Co-Op Band has toured Australia (including Sydney
Opera House), New Zealand, Norway, Germany, Holland and Switzerland.
http://www.rampantscotland.com/tattoo2003/tattoo200318.htm
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Turriff Silver Band
A welcome return from the mellifluous Turriff Silver Band |
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