you've found an online showreel for…
…a music person based in Glasgow, Scotland
I play, gig and record whenever possible, and have performed at venues, clubs and festivals across the UK and beyond…
Tartine de Clous
I'm part of a regular collaboration between French traditional group Tartine de Clous and Alasdair Roberts. The collaboration began as a one-off gig in Glasgow's Glad Cafe as part of Celtic Connections 2017 and then continued during residencies at both the Cube Microplex, Bristol and The Old Dentist, London and festival appearances in the summer of 2018. In late 2018 Okraina Records release Au Cube, a live record compiled from the Cube residency on double 10" and CD supported by a launch tour taking in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Switzerland.
The Tin Forest, National Theatre of Scotland
I played fiddle for The Tin Forest, National Theatre of Scotland's biggest production to date and their contribution to the Glasgow Cultural Commonwealth 2014. Working with Musical Director, Michael John McCarthy, musicians, Annie Grace, Signy Jakobsdottir, Gav Prentice and special guests Emma Pollock and Arthur Johnstone we produced music for the 14-day run. Glasgow's South Rotunda was transformed into a magical, cavernous art and performance space for the production. The Guardian, the Independent, the Herald, the Telegraph and the Scotsman all awarded the show ★★★★☆, with the Guardian describing it as a “gorgeously detailed promenade performance”. Footage of the show was used in montage during the coverage of the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony broadcast live on BBC One.
Alasdair Roberts
I've collaborated regularly with acclaimed singer, songwriter and balladeer Alasdair Roberts as a duo, with Gaelic singer Mairi Morrison and in the band line-up Alasdair Roberts & Friends. Jon Lusk, in a ★★★★☆ review for the Financial Times, described my playing as “able”, “tight”, “light” and “sweet” when Alasdair presented his collaboration with poet Robin Robertson, Hirta Songs at King's Place in London as part of the Outlandish Nights mini-festival in March 2014.
Askolenn
I play guitar and harmonium in Glasgow-based Breton trad band Askolenn and also produced their debut recording ceòl Breizh. Here the band are playing live in Saint Andrew's in the Square in Glasgow in April 2012 supporting legendary Irish musician Andy Irvine.
Blabbermouth, National Theatre of Scotland
I played fiddle in the house band for Blabbermouth, a 12-hour, live celebration of Scottish music and spoken word held in The Assembly Hall (the former home of the Scottish Parliament) on the eve of the Scottish independence referendum. Directed by Graham McLaren and billed as “A celebration of Scotland by Scotland's most celebrated people” the house band also contained Karine Polwart, Gav Prentice, Inge Thomson and Sarah Hayes. The Guardian's Mark Fisher included the show in his top 10 theatre productions of 2014.
Eildon, Lori Watson
An impromptu performance of Lori Watson's graphically scored piece Eildon at the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention 2012 in Derry, Ireland featuring myself, Lori Watson, Laura Risk and Carley Leith on fiddles, Jean Duval on flute and Fiona Black on accordion.
Traditional Music
I perform with a number of local ceilidh bands, calling dances and playing fiddle, guitar or piano, and also play on the wider Glasgow session scene. Here I'm performing with Thomas McCabe on button accordion & Alistair Cassidy on guitar at Glasgow's CCA in November 2014 as warm up for Mike Heron of Incredible String Band fame.
As an engineer I have particular specialisms in acoustic music, editing to score and sound to picture…
The Golden Boat, Crying Lion
I recorded and mixed the debut album from Alex Neilson's Crying Lion (a collaboration between members of Trembling Bells and Muldoon's Picnic) on Honest Jon's Records. I also contributed vocals to the title track. John Mulvey editor of Uncut Magazine included the record in his top 100 best albums of 2014.
Don't Go, Skins - Series 6 Episode 10
Bespoke incidental music for the Channel 4 drama. I tracked overdubs and did stem mixing for the song 'Don't Go' by singer/songwriter Rae Morris which was used to soundtrack a montage which served as the series finale. The song was mixed at Abbey Road and the episode first aired on 26th March 2012.
White as Jasmine, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
I was assistant for this 2008 recording of the works of composer Jonathon Harvey performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra on the NMC label. The recording was a Gramophone Award Winner and was listed by the New Yorker as the Best Classical Disc of 2008.
Start Again, Gabrielle Aplin
I tracked overdubs and mixed this song for singer/songwriter Gabrielle Aplin. The track features a number of notable Scottish musicians including producer/pianist David McGuinness, Rick Standley of Mr McFall's Chamber on bass and Bill Taylor on wire string harp.
All in Love Is Fair, Skins - North American series
Bespoke incidental music for the North American adaptation of the Channel 4 drama. Working with ex-BBC producer David McGuinness the brief for this episode was to create a comedic cover version of the Stevie Wonder classic. First broadcast on MTV in the US only, on 21st March 2011.
Solstice of Light, Glasgow University Chapel Choir
This extract from a collection of Peter Maxwell Davies' work featuring organist Kevin Bowyer is from the 3rd of 4 CDs I have recorded for the Glasgow Chapel Choir working alongside renowned producer John Butt OBE. In a ★★★★☆ review for the Scotsman Kenneth Walton described this disc as “a joy to listen to”.
Return Again, Madrigirls
I've produced three records for the excellent Madrigirls who specialise in a capella, folk and early music. This rendition of the traditional English song 'Baby Lie Easy' is from the second record, Return Again.
L'Inverno, Skins - Series 6 Episode 1
Bespoke incidental music for the Channel 4 drama. This percussion only version of Vivaldi's L'Inverno from The 4 Seasons bridges the gap between the series opening set in Spain and the return to England. First broadcast on 26th January 2012.
Organ Music, Alan Tavener
I recorded, edited and mastered this 2004 disc of Organ Music by renowned musical director Alan Tavener. This extract is from Herbert Chappell's 'Songs of Praise'.
From lecturing at my full-time job at Glasgow University, to tutoring community music, I’m an experienced instructor…
University of Glasgow
I contribute to teaching and assessment on a number of undergraduate modules at Glasgow University including Sonic Arts: Interacting with Sound and Digital Media & Information Studies. Also at Glasgow I provide technical support to two AHRC funded projects: Bass Culture in Scottish Musical Traditions and The Musicians' Union: A Social History and the Janey Buchan Political Song Collection.
KidO - Scottish Opera
KidO is an early years production by acclaimed writer/director Lu Kemp with music by Katy Lavinia Cooper. I designed sound and devised a set, in close collaboration with technical director Paul Noble and set designer Ali Maclaurin, where each audience member becomes ‘playable’ by means of circuits sewn in to the fabric of the set which connect to custom-built Arduino hardware which in turn triggers bespoke performance software built in C74's Max. The production tours Scotland in spring 2015. Mary Brennan writing in the Herald gave the show ★★★★☆.
University of the Highlands and Islands - composing to picture presentation
A demonstration of composing to picture created for a presentation at the University of the Highlands and Islands in 2010. This demo contains a short clip of Scottish trad band Blazing Fiddles from a live concert I recorded at the Magnum Theatre in Irvine in 2002.
Ceòl 's Craic Documentary
I produced this short documentary and was musical director for this collaboration between Gaelic students from Glasgow University and Breton trad band Askolenn for Ceòl 's Craic as part of Celtic Connections 2012.
Community Music
I also work on a voluntary basis with a number of local groups including Saint Andrew's in the Square fiddlers, the St James the Great branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and the Star Folk Club.