Originally from Nairn in the Highlands of Scotland, Norman has been
playing button accordion since early childhood. Shortly after moving
to Edinburgh in 2002 he turned fully professional. Norman was the all
Scotland button accordion champion 2004.
His compositions have received air play on both local and national radio
stations and are becoming increasingly popular in folk music circles
with musicians such as Sandy Brechin, Kevin McLeod, Mike and Ali Vass,
Busk Till Dawn and German band Dan due to record some of the tunes on
their forthcoming albums. He is also working on his own album which is
planned for release early 2006.
He was recently approached by Friday Harbour radio in Argentina and
asked to present a Scottish folk music special, The fifty minute show
came live from Edinburgh fringe festival and featured some of Scotland's
top musicians and bands. The show proved to be so popular that it was
recently re-aired.
Carrie Thomas: (Fiddle/Caller)
Carrie's first introduction to the folk music scene was through
the youth gaitherin out of which she formed the ceilidh band 'Cuchulain's
Raven' which became notorious in Edinburgh for its unpronounceable
name and half hour long strip the willow sets!
She originally trained in classical music before taking up folk
and receiving tuition from some of Scotland's finest fiddlers including
Alasdair Fraser and Gavin Marwick. She also performs with 'Busk Till
Dawn' as part of a duo with well known harpist and singer Rosie Morton.
Billy Oke: (Drums)
When Billy joined the band his rock/funk drum grooves brought the sound
right into the 21st century and his obligatory drum solo spot has become
a legendary part of the bands performance.
Billy was a pupil at Broughton High music school Edinburgh where he
studied both percussion and bass guitar. He is also in much demand as
a bass guitarist and plays with several groups including The Sensational
Jimi Shandrix Experience and funk/jazz band TEWOR (The Enchanting Wizards
of Rhythm).
One of the highlights of Billy's musical career to date was being asked
to perform at the opening of the Scottish parliament where he played
percussion in a piece called Mackay's memoirs which was composed by Martyn
Bennett
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