Stonehaven Folk Club

​

PETE ABBOTT is a highly regarded and respected singer/songwriter & guitarist.  Pete is the driving force behind the band and leads from the front, bringing to the performances his own relaxed and confident style.  Whilst being a seasoned solo artiste, his sheer enjoyment of sharing the stage with two great musicians and friends is there for all to see, and that enjoyment is transmitted to the audience in abundance. The emphasis of Pete’s performances is always on ‘entertainment’, ensuring that the band not only deliver high class musicianship but also a ‘good time’ for their audience.  His own seemingly effortless performance is captivating.

GREGOR BORLAND'S fiddling heritage is definitely impressive – a student of two legends of the Scottish fiddle, Donald Riddell and Hector MacAndrew and 8 times Scottish Fiddle Champion Gregor now teaches the same style of fiddle to students all over the world and passes on the legacy to many who seek it.  His pedigree as a professional fiddle player is undeniable, having toured all over the world with various high profile musicians and bands from a young age, but he’s also equally at home on bass guitar or mandolin.  The vast experience Greg has gained in music has given him a greater understanding of musical production and arrangements and he consequently takes on the role of producer and arranger for Other Roads.

DAVE WALMISLEY was born on a tobacco farm in Zimbabwe, moving to the UK at the age of 17, but still holds dear his African roots. He is well known on the UK folk scene of his association with the band ‘Risky Business’ who disbanded in 2004 but who still get together to play some gigs when occasion demands it.  He was delighted to be asked to join Other Roads and continue his real love of ‘getting out there’ and playing music!  A talented multi instrumentalist, singer and songwriter, he adds his own touch of class to the band’s arrangements and has a great ear for harmonies as well as taking the occasional lead vocal.  Dave’s wonderful on-stage humour has made him a very popular member of the band since his introduction.

Vicki Swan & Jonny effortlessly blend traditional material with contemporary sounds. Their performances showcase new interpretations of old songs alongside original self penned tunes and new contemporary songs that are entirely at home in the tradition.

Out of this combination they have developed a sound that is both familiar and fresh.  Strong believers in letting the music tradition live and breathe through sensitive interpretation, Vicki and Jonny allow the melody to sing without any constraints.

Be entranced by the haunting nyckelharpa, amazed at the cow horn (one of the worlds earliest communication devices) and meet some of the bagpipes that didn’t come from Scotland.

Suitable for all ages, their evenings are packed with toe tapping tunes and songs of love, death, trains and dressing up (not always at the same time) all presented with sparkling gentle humour, lots of smiles and skillful musicianship.

​

​

​

Name many of the most notable recordings and/or performers in Irish music and it’s a fair bet that John Doyle had something to do with them - Liz Carroll; Eileen Ivers; Karan Casey; Solas; Michael Black; Mary Black; the trio of McCusker, McGoldrick and Doyle; and now Usher’s Island (Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, Mike McGoldrick, Paddy Glackin and John Doyle), not to mention the hugely popular Transatlantic Sessions. This list is a veritable who’s who of the greatest names in Irish music, and these are just a very few of the stellar artists for whom John Doyle’s signature guitar sound, singing or songwriting is essential.

John’s long awaited new solo album, Path of Stones, will be released on Compass Records on 25/10/19.

Impossibly in demand in the studio and on the road, immensely talented and blessed with an acute ear, a wicked sense of rhythm and seemingly endless stream of magic in his playing, composing, performing and producing, John Doyle is solidly establishing himself as one of the most versatile, creative and prolific voices in folk and traditional Irish music.

Award winning folk trio Said the Maiden have been sending waves through the folk scene since 2013, playing all over the UK and Europe, alongside some of the biggest names in folk.  After the departure of violin player, Hannah Elizabeth, the group re-launched in 2019 with award winning singer/songwriter Minnie Birch. Lauded by BBC Radio 1 and Joan Armatrading, Minnie brings her gentle intricate guitar style, warm vocals and unique song writing abilities to add a new dimension to the groups sound.  Together, the trio weave together rich vocal harmonies, with a dusting of guitar, banjo and flute, to perform traditional songs from the UK and US, plus a few of their own self-penned folk style numbers. 
The trio has opened for many great artists including The Full English, The Fisherman's Friends, Jim Moray, Megson, Martin Carthy, Clannad, Cara Dillon, False Lights and Fairport Convention.  They were also honoured to join legendary fiddler the late Dave Swarbrick on a successful UK solo tour in the spring of 2014, and released their debut album 'A Curious Tale' in June of the same year.  The group went on to release their EP, ‘Of Maids And Mariners’ in 2016 which was met with critical acclaim across the folk community.
Said The Maiden was awarded Bristol Folk Festival’s prestigious Isambard Folk Award in 2015 and were also voted ‘Best Act’ by the public at the 2015 Great British Folk Festival’s Introducing Stage, consequently returning in 2016 for an appearance on the festival’s main stage. 
Further recognition in 2017 for Said The Maiden included winning the Folking Awards ‘Rising Star’ prize, and an NMG Award nomination for best Acoustic, Country & Folk act.  The trio also made their first international appearances, at the 60th Jazz & Joy Festival in Worms, Germany and at Costa del Folk in Portugal.
Autumn 2017 saw the release of Said The Maiden’s eagerly anticipated second studio album, Here’s A Health, coinciding with a national headline tour.  The new album has been met with great critical acclaim across the folk, roots and acoustic music community, receiving fantastic reviews and national BBC radio airplay.  
Said The Maiden are now looking forward to hitting the road in the Autumn with songs old and new.  2020 promises more exciting gigs and a new recording project in the pipeline!

Rebecca Connelly is an award-winning singer-songwriter who has been performing music in the USA & UK for over 10 years. She brings passion & determination to all aspects of her music career - so much so - she won best female artist at the So Cal live music competition in Los Angeles.

Holding Residency at the Riviera Resort in Palm Springs made famous by the Rat Pack, she performed for the likes of Harrison Ford at the Aviation Summit as well as Avril Lavigne, Vinnie Jones and the original cast of Top Gear. 

The release of her EP recorded at TreeHaus Studios with Grammy Award Winning producer Justin Gariano propelled Rebecca to perform at the prestigious House of Blues in Hollywood & tour her homeland of Scotland including a performance in Scotlands Capital city of Edinburghs Rock 'n’ Roll Half Marathon, the infamous Hootananny in Inverness & the Perthshire Amber Music Festival.  

Her 2019 Scottish Tour saw here play to sell out shows across Scotland.

Working with Dave Macfarlane at Ice Breaker studios in Perth throughout 2019, Rebecca's long awaited second album is due for release Feb 2020.

Wonderful Fairytale – the long-awaited fourth album by English folk singer/songwriter Bill Jones – breaks a fifteen-year studio silence and heralds a triumphant return for this talented artist. As FATEA magazine said, “This is an assured, perfectly sequenced, beautifully arranged and performed set of songs that speak to the listener. The playing and the singing have a gravitas and consummate power, this is a performer who has come back as a major talent”.

​

Bill had a great start to 2020 taking in The Ram Folk Club (Thames Ditton), The Treehouse Bookshop (Kenilworth), and a new project and three gigs as a duo with Gareth Davies-Jones as Jones & Jones: The Story & The Song.  With a packed summer schedule of UK festivals and a USA mid-west tour ahead, in March 2020 everything disappeared in the face of COVID-19. 

​

Based in England’s North East but with roots in Staffordshire and India, Bill (Belinda) grew up playing jigs and reels in her dad’s ceilidh band, while singing pop and rock round the house. Her 2000 debut Turn to Me swiftly won the BBC Radio 2’s Horizon Award, and as Bill’s reputation grew, Panchpuran (2001) and Two Year Winter (2003) followed. Through Bill’s heavy touring schedule and as a third of the American/Irish/British Faire Winds trio (with Anne Hills and Aoife Clancy) Bill built a reputation as a singer with an exceptional voice and an entertaining stage presence.

And now, fifteen years after taking a short break, Bill is back, “with an exceptional album that confirms that this gifted performer still has so much to offer.” – Neil McFadyen, Folk Radio.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

The Carrivick Sisters are one of the UK's top young bluegrass and folk acts. Twins Laura and Charlotte perform their original songs and instrumentals along with a few carefully chosen covers on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, and clawhammer banjo. Their busy touring schedule is rapidly building them a reputation for engaging and entertaining live performances with tight sibling vocal harmonies and multi-instrumental virtuosity. Having grown up in South Devon, an area rich in folk lore and legends, much of their original material is inspired by their local surroundings and history.

As well as touring all over the UK, the Carrivick Sisters have performed at major festivals in Canada and mainland Europe. They have released five studio albums ("My Own Two Feet" - 2006, "Better Than 6 Cakes" - 2007, "Jupiter's Corner" - 2009, "From the Fields" - 2011, and "Over the Edge" - 2013) to much critical acclaim and airplay worldwide. Their 6th album, "10 Years Live" was recorded live at The Convent in Stroud and is a 10 year retrospective and celebration, with half of the album being old favourites chosen by fans and the other half previously unrecorded material.

The Carrivick Sisters first started performing as a duo in 2006, originally as buskers before starting to play more and more proper gigs, turning professional when they left school in 2007. In 2007 they won the South West Busker’s and Street Entertainer’s Competition, gaining themselves their first spot at Glastonbury Festival. In 2008 Laura achieved 2nd place at the RockyGrass Fiddle Contest in America. The Carrivick Sisters were finalists in the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2010 and were named Band/Duo of the Year in the 2011 FATEA Awards. Most recently Charlotte won first place in both Old-time banjo and fiddle at FOAOTMAD's festival in Gainsborough 2012.

Blessed with a glorious baritone voice, a graceful mastery on guitar, and a hearty laugh that delights any room, Dan McKinnon has carved out his own unique, musical path. From early beginnings in the coffee houses, pubs and bars of Atlantic Canada, to yearly tours throughout the UK, Dan’s performances reveal an enduring respect for the past, tempered by a profound attachment to the present. His keenly observed stories and passionately delivered songs convey a deep inquisitiveness into the human condition combined with the rich heritage of the Maritimes.