Doors Open 7:30pm
Starts 8:00pm
Finishes (approx.) 10pm
Join us on the eve of the Braemar Gathering for an evening of Scottish Trad with Ross Ainslie, Ali Hutton and Owen Sinclair.
Ross and Ali have a long history of shared musical roots from their days with the Vale of Atholl pipe band, at the age of 12. They were mentored by one of the most innovative pipers in the last 30 years, the late great Gordon Duncan. Gordon sparked a deep passion in Ross and Ali for playing pipes with other instruments and they went on to be founding members of the musical powerhouse Treacherous Orchestra as well as playing with bands such as Old Blind Dogs, Salsa Celtica, Dougie Maclean, Shooglenifty, Zakir Hussain, The Levellers and Capercaillie.
After much anticipation and encouragement from fellow musicians and fans alike, two of Scotland’s foremost musicians joined forces in 2016 to form one of the most formidable duos in recent Scottish music history. Following on from the success of their debut album ‘Symbiosis’, Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton released their second album ‘Symbiosis II’ in spring 2018 to huge critical acclaim. Winners of the best duo category at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2017 and nominees for the same award in 2018, Ross and Ali have been working hard on creating a repertoire full of new and original material. With panoramic soundscapes, the full 4-piece touring band revolves around skilfully played guitar, cittern, whistles and bagpipes, which are the bedrock of the award-winning duo’s sound, as well as musical arrangements that include strings, the extensive use of synthesisers, drum kit and bodhran –all resulting in a much bigger touring sound as they continue to build adventurous and epic arrangements. Ross and Ali have a long history of mutual musical roots, both being founding members of the award-winning powerhouse Treacherous Orchestra. The duo also started their musical careers with the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band at a very young age and are both protegees of the late great Gordon Duncan, whose influence is evident throughout their musical collaborations – arguably some of which have now surpassed that which even he could have seen in them. Gordon instilled a great passion in them for playing pipes with other instruments and they have gone on to play in many leading Scottish bands including Old Blind Dogs, Salsa Celtica, Dougie Maclean, Shooglenifty and Capercaillie. Ross and Ali’s live performances deliver music with an energy and passion that can only come with a shared and rich musical history – the music they create is both exciting and beguiling with an undeniable synergy that can only be forged from a lifetime of friendship. Ross Ainslie is one of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians and composers, playing pipes, whistles and cittern. He is renowned for his highly acclaimed solo material, and as a skilled performer and prolific collaborator. Ali Hutton is a hugely successful multi-instrumentalist on the Scottish music scene, having performed and worked alongside some of the most respected musicians and bands on the scene today.
“Skilful acoustic instrumental playing is elaborated and developed into bold, funky, adventurous arrangements that sometimes transform into full on Folk Rock, like Treacherous Orchestra on Acid”
fRoots
“Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton have once again proven themselves to be not only masters of Scottish traditional music but at the very forefront of the movement that continues to breathe new life into the music, inspiring the next generation. Symbiosis II is truly hypnotic.”
Folk Radio