Gabe McVarish & Friends

Gabe McVarish (fiddle), Ross Martin (guitar), Duncan Lyall (bass)
Angus MacKenzie (Highland and/or Borders pipes and whistles)
Luke Daniels (two row button accordion) 

From California, twice Junior US Scottish Fiddle Champion, Gabe McVarish returned to his ancestral homeland of Arisaig in the mid-nineties. His playing in Europe, the Americas, and North Africa has earned him the reputation of being one of the hottest tickets in the fiddling world. RSAMD graduate Gabe has played with Clíar, Croabh Rua, Dibidil, Corner House, Hoogie, Its Jo & Danny, The Black Rose Ceilidh Band, Fiddlers 5 and Phamie Gow, Ewan Robertson, Dannsa, and is a founder of sensational Gaelic band Dáimh. Gabe will be joined by some of his talented friends to help start the night in a rousing fashion.

“smooth, perfectly controlled fiddling... effortless, the true mark of great musicians.” -Alex Monaghan, Living Tradition

“Gabe McVarish really shines on fiddle... McVarish has a very strong style of playing, with a lilting up-bow. I would not be the least bit surprised to find that McVarish has Shetland roots.” -Cheryl Turner, Rambles.net

Shooglenifty

Malcolm Crosbie (guitars), Garry Finlayson (banjo and banjax)
Angus R. Grant (fiddle), Luke Plumb (mandolin, banjo, bouzouki)
Quee MacArthur (bass and percussion) and
James Mackintosh (drums, machines and darabuka)
with special guest Charlie McKerron.

World famous inventors of Techno Ceilidh, Acid Croft and Hypnofolkadelia, Shooglenifty's original, exciting sound launched the band on an international career: a wild up-tempo mix of traditional talent and super funky phonics melding heritage and hedonism into one unbreakable whole. On home turf, they’ll not just Heat the Hoose but also shake it all about. The ultimate test for the Assembly Rooms' famous chandeliers.

“This virtuoso band started building crescendos from the start, each one higher than the last, until the final, shuddering chord left the crowd breathless and cheering wildly.”- London Evening Standard

“This is tradition standing on its head... doing cart wheels and pole vaulting over every barrier in sight...” - The Irish Times