Graham Mackenzie & Innes Watson

Graham is standing, holding his fiddle on his shoulder and looking to the right. There are autumn trees and their reflection in water in the background
Innes is sitting on a rock playing guitar and looking to his right. there are two hills behind him.

Highland fiddler and composer Graham Mackenzie is an innovative musician originally from Inverness. A graduate from the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he was twice a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, as well as being a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year. His debut album, ‘Crossing Borders’, was released in 2016 and in the same year, Graham was nominated as ‘Composer of the Year’ at the Scots Trad Awards.

Graham’s second studio album, ‘The Dawning’ co produced with Mike McGoldrick, launched at Celtic Connections 2023. Influenced by Scottish, Irish and Cape Breton styles of fiddle playing, combines self-penned tunes alongside repertoire which has shaped him as a musician. Graham will launch his second book of his own music at the Fiddle Festival.

Innes Watson, from Glasgow, is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist with over 21 years of contemporary and traditional Scottish music performance, recording, teaching and producing experience cumulatively. He grew up in the Scottish Borders in very supportive musical surroundings encouraging an extremely eclectic mix of skills, abilities, interests and accolades that combine to make Innes one of the most highly-regarded and sought-after musicians on the folk scene today.

He has taught at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (having graduated from there with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Scottish Music in 2006) and is a firm favourite for adult and youth learning organisations up and down the country. He has appeared on at least 42 albums released in Scotland in the last 16 years and has worked with some of the most notable performers in the country. In 2011 he won the title of “Instrumentalist of the Year” at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards and has featured heavily therein with bands and as accompanist to dozens of performers.

In addition to their Sunday Showcase, Graham and Innes will be hosting the following workshops:

Graham Mackenzie - Exploring a New Tune (Intermediate/Advanced) - Join Graham for a workshop exploring newly composed tunes with a focus on technique, tone and ornamentation.

Innes Watson - Rhythm in Melody (Intermediate to Advanced) - There is rhythm inside every tune. Learn how to make tunes groove and feel rhythmically interesting.

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