Music at the Campbell Highland Games

2008 Musical Guests:

Brian McNeill
Hamewith

Gary Innes

Brian McNeill

Brian McNeill is one of the original “Bad Boys” of Scottish music. He was a founder member of the Battlefield Band, which along with contemporaries the Tannahill Weavers and Silly Wizard, changed forever the perception of Scottish traditional music. Originally from Falkirk, he left Battlefield Band in 1990 to concentrate more on writing and solo projects. He is a multi-instrumentalist, and the importance of his songwriting, mostly about Scotland's past and future, has long been recognised. “The Yew Tree”, “The Lads O' The Fair”, “Montrose” and “The Snows Of France And Holland” were among the best-loved of Battlefield Band's repertoire, and “The Devil's Only Daughter” won Britain's prestigious National Songsearch competition in 1987. In 1990 recognition also came in the USA, with the Texas Celtic Music Award for “The Rovin' Dies Hard”, and since then new compositions such as “Strong Women Rule Us All With Their Tears”, “Any Mick'll Do”, and “No Gods And Precious Few Heroes” have established him as one of Scotland's leading songwriters. His audio-visual show about Scottish emigration to America, “The Back O' The North Wind”, has also won critical acclaim and he is currently putting the finishing touches to the CD for the follow-up “Baltic Tae Byzantium”.

While constantly keeping busy as a live solo performer, Brian's production skills are also in great demand, and his name can be found on albums by many of the Celtic music scene's most important artistes , including local fiddler John Taylor's albums “After the Dance”, and “The Road Ahead”

Brian spent several years as Head of Scottish Music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, where he helped to ensure that Scottish music traditions are carried on by new generations of young musicians.
Click to Visit Brian's Website

Gary is one of the up and coming generation of Scottish musicians who are very ably carrying the tradition into the future. Originally from the wonderful village of Spean Bridge up in the Highlands of Scotland, he is now based in Glasgow but tours the world with his mischievous smile and purple accordion. The last couple of years have provided Gary with many opportunities and successes including some amazing trips abroad and various television appearances. A couple of years ago, Gary was in the final 4 of Scotland's Best Up and Coming Musicians at the Traditional Music Awards in Edinburgh. He is also one of Scotland's top Shinty players, and just a week after the Traditional Music Awards, he came runner up in BBC Radio Nan Gaidheal's Sportsman of the Year Award as a result of his Shinty successes.

He is performing at the Campbell Games in both capacities. In the morning he will play a set on the entertainment stage, and in the afternoon will be found on the Shinty field with the Northern California Camanachd Club. Camanachd, also known as Shinty, has been played in the Highlands of Scotland for over 2000 years. It's a game of the stick and ball variety, similar to Field Hockey and Irish Hurling. Those of you familiar with "Gaelic Rock" mega-stars Runrig may recognise Gary from the cover of their latest CD Everything You See.

As well as solo work, Gary is involved with 2 bands full time. One of these is The Darien Project who together have been growing from strength to strength and who have this year been involved in festivals in both Italy and France as well as gigs in their home country. The other is Box Club which is part comprised of 4 of Scotland's top young box (accordion) players who have just recently finished their critically acclaimed debut tour. Gary looks forward to touring with both bands in the near and far future.

Supporting Brian and Gary will be local band Hamewith, led by Scottish fiddler John Taylor. Familiar to anyone who frequents Highland Games, John has played throughout the US as a solo performer and for Scottish Country Dancing. In additon, he can often be seen performing with singer Ed Miller or Scots/Irish duo Men of Worth. Hamewith, which means “homewards” in the Scots dialect, evolved from sessions at the “King's Head” pub in Campbell. Although their music is primarily Scottish, the band members are from varied backgrounds, and this is reflected in their repertoire. Be prepared for a few surprises.

For more information on the Piping and Drumming competition, contact Patrick Teffs, (925) 275-0672, piperpuck@aol.com