Battlefield Band, inspired by their rich heritage of Celtic music and fired by the strength and vibrancy of today's Scottish cultural scene, which indeed they have done much to create and fuel, they have led, and been at the forefront, of a great revival in Scottish music. Refusing to be limited musically by suffocating antiquarianism, or the music business' fashions, the Battlefield Band have mixed the old songs and music with a new self-penned repertoire, all played on a fusion of ancient and modern instruments - bagpipes, fiddle, synthesiser, guitar, flutes, bodhran and accordion
Named after the Glasgow suburb of Battlefield, where the group was formed by four student friends, Battlefield Band have been on the world''s roads for just on 30 years now, distilling their own unique form of the Scottish spirit and bottling it in concert and onto disc - Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Syria, Jordan, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, U.S.A., Canada, Uzbekistan and the U.K. They have broken down barriers and pioneered many new directions which others have followed. Angry, joyful, raucous, contemplative, their music is most importantly - accessible to all.
During those years there have obviously been line-up changes and indeed the band are remarkable for the smooth and organic way in which these changes have taken place. Their continued creativity, freshness and enthusiasm is due to the positive way they have viewed, and used, these changes - and of course the new musicians themselves have been of prime importance. Musical evidence of these changes can be heard on their many albums made over the years.
Battlefied Band past members: Alistair Russell, Brian McNeill, John McCusker, Davy Steele, Karine Polwart, Dougie Pincock, John Gahagan, Jamie McMenemy, Pat Kilbride, Ged Foley, Jim and Sylvia Barnes, Jenny Clark, Duncan MacGillivray, Iain MacDonald.
Albums: Battlefield Band (Topic, 1977 & Temple, 1994), At The Front (Topic, 1978 & Temple, 1994), Stand Easy (Topic, 1979 & Temple, 1994), Home Is Where The Van Is (Temple, 1980), There’s A Buzz (Temple, 1982), The Story So Far (compilation, Temple, 1982), Anthem For The Common Man (Temple, 1984), On The Rise (Temple, 1986), Celtic Hotel (Temple, 1986), After Hours (compilation, Temple, 1987), Home Ground (Temple, 1989), Threads (Temple, 1995), Rain, Hail Or Shine (Temple, 1998), Leaving Friday Harbor (Temple, 1999), Happy Daze (Temple, 2001), Time and Tide (Temple 2002), The Best of the Battlefield Band (2002), Out for the Night(2004), Road of Tears (2006)
Current Battlefield Band Line up:
Mike Katz (Highland pipes/small pipes/various whistles/bass guitar) the unmistakeable piper who joined the line-up in late 1997and has contibuted massively to the music and accessibility of the band.
Alan Reid (keyboards/guitar/vocals) from Glasgow, one of the founder members of the band and an invaluable factor in their success and longevity, does much of the bands singing and songwriting, particularly on contemporary Scottish themes.
Alasdair White (fiddle/whistle/banjo/bazouki/Highland and small pipes/bodhran/...and probably anything else he can lay his hands on!), is the most recent addition to the band. Already a superb fiddle player and multi-instrumentalist, Alasdair hails from the island of Lewis, one of the Gaelic speaking Outer Hebrides.
Sean O'Donnell (vocals/guitar) an accomplished guitar player and singer from Derry, Northern Ireland, who has been playing music since the age of 16, and also plays bass, bouzouki and cittern. He moved to Scotland in 1996, quickly becoming actively involved in the live music scene, having played with the award- winning Scots Irish band Bionic, as part of The Emily Smith Band as well as the Michael McGoldrick Band, Deaf Shepherd, and Daimh.
If nothing else, this band could teach many of the folk world's so called luminaries a thing or two when it comes to giving the audience what they really want - entertainment, instrumental virtuosity and above all, camaraderie. I've been to see quite a few folk concerts recently and I can honestly say that I haven't enjoyed myself so much in ages. Long may they continue. Pete Fyfe (Steppin' Out & Rock 'n' Reel) |
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