Archives

Grouse Ceilidh Band

Grouse Ceilidh Band is one of the finest ceilidh bands in Scotland for weddings, graduations, corporate events, and ceilidh nights. This band has amassed years of experience entertaining audiences all over the country

A night of dancing with the Grouse Ceilidh Band includes classic ceilidh dances such as the Gay Gordons and the Dashing White Sergeant in addition to newer, popular dances. Unfamiliar feet needn’t worry, as all dancers are guided step-by-step by our expert callers ensuring a fun and inclusive night for everyone!

The band members come from the four corners of Scotland, each bringing their own unique musical style and influences from each part of Scotland from where they grew up. The musicians are all alumni from the prestigious Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honours in Applied Music at the University of Strathclyde and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Bachelor of Music in Tradition Music in Glasgow.

Through years of playing together in various ensembles, Ali, Mairi Thérèse, Matt and Pablo have unrivalled onstage chemistry and natural charisma together. In addition, their honed natural prowess makes Grouse Ceilidh Band one of the best modern ceilidh bands Scotland has to offer.

Standard Ceilidh set with Disco Set:
1 Hour 15min Ceilidh Set
30 Min Break with Backing Music on iPad
1 Hour 15min Ceilidh Set
1 Hour DJ Set
This format works very well and will ensure your event is a success.

Covers Set:
If you would like ceilidh and a popular music set with a singer the band offers this for an extra fee.
Testimonials:
I had the Grouse Ceilidh Band playing at my Team Xmas party in Liverpool. They were just great! They had everyone up on their feet from the start, walked us through the various steps before each dance and their music was great. Special mention must go to the beautiful bagpipes.

Ann Pickering, HR Director at 02

Murdo MacLeod

Murdo MacLeod is a former footballer and manager who made twenty appearances for Scotland representing his country in the 1990 World Cup,

Now a TV pundit, journalist and accomplished after Dinner Speaker he had a hugely successful professional football career playing and starring for teams such as Dumbarton, Glasgow Celtic and German giants Borussia Dortmund.

He has written articles for the Daily Record and has been a football pundit on STV, BBC, and Newstalk Radio in Ireland.

He played a crucial role for Glasgow Celtic in only his first season for them. After signing for Celtic from Dumbarton in 1979 for 120,000. On the 21st May 1979, Celtic played Rangers at Celtic Park, and a victory would win them the league. Murdo scored the 3rd Goal in that match which clinched the league for the Celts and took the trophy to Parkhead after a memorable encounter.

In his playing career, Murdo was part of the Borussia Dortmund team that won the ‘GERMAN CUP’ and the German Supercup.

Murdo played for Glasgow Celtic for nine years in that time helping the team to five league titles, two FA cups, one league cup.

He has the distinction of being credited with the Greatest old firm goal ever with a title-winning goal against old rivals Rangers to win the league title.

Jackie Bird

Jackie Bird is a freelance TV, Radio presenter, and event host. She is one of Scotland’s most popular and recognised television personalities.
Jackie is best known as the former anchor of BBC Scotland’s news programme Reporting Scotland and host of Hogmanay Live in Scotland.

Jackie is in demand as a live presenter and host for conferences, fashion shows, awards, charity events and debates.
Jackie is also a Newspaper columnist and has written and produced the comedy series The Lewis Lectures and Having it All for BBC Radio Scotland.
On 13 June 2012, Jackie was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (D Litt) in a graduation ceremony at the University of Glasgow

In October 2014 she celebrated 25 years of working on Reporting Scotland. She is the longest-running newsreader on the programme.
Jackie Bird is one of the best-known faces and voices in Scotland and has reported from landmark events that have shaped a quarter of a century of Scottish life.
She has covered major events including the Dunblane killings; the devolution debate and opening of the Scottish Parliament; and the Lockerbie bombing inquiry. She was even present at the Scotland football team’s last foray into a World Cup – and hasn’t given up hope of another.
Jackie has anchored Reporting Scotland from locations as diverse as Helmand, Hollywood, Washington, Wimbledon, Sri Lanka, Seville and a leaking barge on the River Seine.
Jackie works extensively on radio, writing and presenting current affairs output. She has also written and produced a sit-com series, sketch shows, music programmes and an acclaimed series on the history of the Scottish Suffragette movement.
When not broadcasting Jackie is a confessed ‘obsessed athlete and is a qualified aerobics teacher and swim coach, a Triathlete competitor and keen half marathon runner, a skilled dinghy sailor and water-skier.

Michelle McManus

Michelle McManus Singer, TV Presenter Event Host, Actor, Journalist, and Songwriter.

Bright, determined, confident and hugely talented, Michelle McManus took the record industry by storm when, against the odds, she won Pop Idol on the 20th of December 2003 with more than 6.5 million votes.

Michelle has also been a radio DJ and is a former international darts player who rose to fame after winning the second series of the UK talent show Pop Idol

She has hosted her Saturday night radio show on the top-rated independent station in Scotland – Radio Clyde and has her series – ‘Let’s Do The Show Right Here’ – on BBC Radio Scotland.

Michelle McManus is a lively, charming and highly professional event host and presenter.

Following her win, Michelle released her debut single All This Time which went to number one on both the UK Singles Charts and Scottish Singles Charts, thus making her the first Scottish female to debut at the top of the UK Singles Charts. “All this Time” spent three weeks at number one in the UK and spent eleven weeks inside the UK Top 100

She released her second single, The Meaning of Love, which debuted at number sixteen on the UK Singles Charts number seven on the Scottish Singles Chart and number twenty-nine on the Irish Singles Charts. Her debut album, The Meaning of Love was released in February 2004 and debuted at number one on the Scottish Album Chart number three on the UK Album Chart and number sixty-four on the Irish Album Chart. The Meaning of Love went on to receive a Gold certification from the BPI for sales of over 200,000 in the UK alone.

In 2007, Michelle established her own independent record company, McManii Records and subsequently released her comeback single “Just for You” The single served as the lead single for McManus’ second album, Dancing To a Different Beat which was set to be released in 2008, however, was eventually shelved In 2012, She teamed up with Scottish band Manran on the single “Take You There” which was released in support of STV Children Appeal”Take You There” charted at number seventy on the Scottish Singles Charts.

McManus was also a presenter of STV’s lifestyle magazine show The Hour, originally alongside Stephen Jardine and later, Tam Cowan

Neilston & District Pipe Band

Neilston & District Pipe Band performs for Parades, Weddings, Conferences, Gala Days & Special events.

The band was founded in 1970, in the townships of Neilston and Barrhead. The dress worn is the traditional kilt and plaid with accompanying dress and cross belts (no. 1 uniform). Pipe Major Russell Mechan leads the band.

Neilston Pipe Band has played all over the world including Canada USA, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Spain, Bangkok, Tokyo, China & the Philippines.

Reports of a pipe band in Neilston date back around 200 years. Records of 1819 say that a group from Neilston played “Scots Wha Hae wi Wallace bled” (College of Piping Tutor, Book 1) at a rally of Scottish Radicals in Paisley on 11 September. On that occasion, the band sensed trouble with the police — a tradition we maintain to the present day — and escaped down Storie Street. However, it is equally probable that the band had to rush off to another gig.

In more recent times, a band formed in 1970, and that marks the start of today’s Neilston & District Pipe Band. It draws its members from the townships of Neilston and Barrhead, 15km southwest of Glasgow. The band has a pipe corps playing the great highland bagpipe, and a drum corps of snare, tenor, and bass instruments. Pipe Major Iain MacDonald leads the ensemble.

The tartan of the band’s kilts is MacKenzie — Army 5a — worn of old by the Seaforth Highlanders (72nd and 79th Foot) and, of course, Glasgow’s regiment, the Highland Light Infantry (71st and 74th Foot).

Garry Spence

Garry Spence is a DJ, Radio presenter and live event host, he presents the weekday drivetime show on Capital FM Scotland.

Garry also writes travel pieces for various Sunday newspapers, in addition to DJ-ing all over Scotland.

Garry is in high demand as an event host and has hosted and presented corporate events, charity fundraisers and award ceremonies for some of the best-known companies and charities in Scotland.

Garry’s career on Radio started at Moray Firth Radio in his native Inverness. He presented the daytime shows in England at Vibe 105 (now KISS) before heading back to Scotland to join the team at XFM and then Galaxy.

Garry Spence presents the Drivetown show on Capital FM now the country’s most listened to drivetime show. Garry has played some of Glasgow and Edinburgh’s largest venues.

He has also supported David Guetta and Afrojack on the Scotland legs of their world tours – and, of course, he takes to the decks at The Shed every Friday.

Phil Melbourne

Comedy Entertainer Phil Melbourne has toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe

He has worked for many of the worlds cruise lines. Phil’s’ act is non-offensive and a fast-moving combination of quick-fire comedy, observational humour and audience participation.

Based in Glasgow he continues to wow audiences throughout the country and has taken his brand of comedy all over the world.

Phil has Risen through the showbiz ranks quicker than a nudist through a nettle patch.

From his early days as a Pontins bluecoat, Phil Melbourne entertained young and old in an attempt to learn his craft and learn he did.

Phil loves a challenge and has adapted his comedy routines for stand-up, theatres, after dinner speaking and pantomime.

He continues to wow audiences with his unique sense of comedy receiving rave reviews where- ever he performs including this one from The Stage newspaper:

“Every good comedian has to be topical and Phil Melbourne is bang up to date”.

Dave Wolfe

Dave Wolfe is a comedian and after-dinner speaker regarded as one of the funniest speakers working in the UK today. Dave has the unique ability to tailor his material to suit perfectly any audience.

Wolfie, as he is also known, made his television debut in 1979 after appearing on ITV’s Search for a Star, since then he has worked extensively on both television and radio, however he has dedicated much of the last twenty-five years to working as a corporate comedian and touring the UK on the after-dinner speaker circuit.

Considered by many as one of the most significant corporate comedians of our time, Dave Wolfe is most well-known for his brilliant character assassinations, drawing on both audience members and public figures for inspiration.

However, Dave also prides himself on the versatility of his routine and ensures that he is always politically sensitive and tailors his act to suit each audience.

A member of SPARK and Variety Club of Great Britain Golfing Society, Dave is often called upon to appear at golf days and work as an after-dinner speaker at charity golf tournaments; thanks to his vast experience Dave Wolfe is perfectly poised to entertain at both corporate and fundraising events.

Dave’s work as a comedian has taken him around the world; many of his summer months are taken up with golf days while he has spent many an evening entertaining crowds in some of the most impressive comedy venues in the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall.

His TV experience includes ‘Only Joking’, 2 Royal Variety Shows, ‘Live from Her Majesty’s’, ‘Night of 100 Stars’, ‘Summertime Special.’

To book Dave Wolfe for your Golf Day Corporate event, Dinner or conference, call Neil Drover Agency on 0800 044 8112 or email events@neildrover.com

Shelley Blue

Shelley Blue duo for weddings functions & parties A completely self-contained band with female vocals, keyboards and saxophone.

Male/female duo with more than 25 years of performing experience at all types of functions from weddings, anniversaries, civil partnership ceremonies, birthdays, dinner dances, corporate events, bar mitzvahs, pubs and clubs, etc.

Julia is a highly dynamic performer with years of stage experience and her smooth, soulful voice and immaculate presentation make her a firm favourite among this popular duo’s regular clientele.

John’s silky saxophone adds a unique twist to the standard keyboard/vocals format while his accompaniment complements Julia’s voice perfectly. John will accompany singers at functions if required.

Over the years this highly versatile band have built up a broad-ranging repertoire of material ranging from 60’s/70’s standards up to and including current chart material.

One of Shelley Blue’s major strengths is their ability to find exactly the right selection of material to suit the client’s needs. Jazz, Country or Scottish Dance Music can easily be incorporated into their repertoire. Any special requests for e.g., bridal waltz, anniversary waltz, hora, etc, are more than welcome.

This highly versatile act can perform either as the main function band with it’s own lighting and PA system , or as background and/or instrumental music at the beginning of the function if required. This “all-in-one” package is very competitively priced.

The band also specialise in theme nights eg, 60’s lounge music/Austin Powers theme /70’s discomania where the appropriate costumes are also worn.

Shelley Blue’s list of clients include; Gleneagles Hotel, Piccolo Mondo Restaurant, Parklands Country Club, Cathay Cuisine Restaurant, Royal Troon Golf Club, Marine Highland Hotel (Troon), Marriot Hotel (Glasgow), Thistle Hotel (Glasgow), Hilton Hotel (Glasgow), Ingram Hotel (Glasgow), Il Castello Restaurant.

Josie Smith

Josie Smith is a freelance event host presenter, DJ, compere, writer and stylist based between London and Glasgow.

Josie is in demand throughout the UK and overseas for a myriad of media and fashion clients on a variety of projects. From corporate hosting at significant experiential events to charity awards, she is an experienced and enthusiastic presenter, passionate about music and fashion, and often combines the two through her DJing work.

Josie Smith’s experience as a columnist and stylist sees her regularly discuss fashion, style, showbiz and woman’s issues across the board on BBC Radio Scotland, Radio Clyde and STV for many years.

Currently, you can tune into her breakfast show on GO Radio, Scotland’s newest digital station. She is on every weekday morning from 6 am ’til 10 am.

Emma Hale

Emma Hale is a highly talented singer-pianist for weddings, restaurants, parties and corporate events.

Emma is a refreshing change in the age of synthetic music. Emma performs live and brings authenticity to every performance. Perfect for that special wedding day or easy listening and intimate parties

A top-class pianist with a distinctive soulful singing voice, Emma delights her audiences by performing many of the world’s unforgettable classics along with some of her original material.

Emma is a performer of the highest quality, and she has gained a deserved reputation as one of Scotland’s most excellent contemporary singer, pianists.

No matter what the event, Emma will tailor a performance to suit each occasion delivering as she always does a top-class performance.

She has an extensive repertoire of songs and has over the years received plaudits from experienced hoteliers & dozens of happy customers throughout the country.

Pete Clark

Pete Clark is one of Scotland’s finest fiddlers, Pete now lives in Perthshire not far from the birthplaces of the great Scottish fiddler Niel Gow. The beautiful Perthshire landscape has been the inspiration for many of Pete’s compositions.

In addition to his highly successful solo career, Pete has been a member of several notable bands including Heritage and Smeddum and is currently a member of the highly successful Benachally Ceilidh Band and the Niel Gow Ensemble.

Pete has performed and recorded with many famous musicians and bands including Dougie MacLean, Rod Paterson, Rab Noakes, Jim Malcolm, John Watt, Trilok Gurtu and Nazareth.

Pete’s debut CD ‘Fiddle Case’ was chosen as one of 1996’s albums of the year on BBC – Pete Clark – Scottish Fiddle Scotland’s ‘Travelling Folk’. His top-selling CD ‘Even Now’ features the music of Niel Gow whilst ‘Mackintosh at Murthly’ features the compositions of Robert Mackintosh. His most recent album ‘Now & Then’ showcases some of Pete’s compositions alongside a few gems from those of the great Scottish fiddle composers, Niel Gow, Willam Marshall and James Scott Skinner.

He directs his own biannual fiddle courses in the village of Birnam, coaches and conducts the Dunkeld & District Strathspey & Reel Society and is founder and director of the annual Niel Gow Festival, which earlier this year celebrated its 15^th anniversary.

Pete has previously taught and performed in many countries including the USA, Canada and Japan, and is visiting lecturer on the fiddle music of Scotland at the University of St Andrews. He is also a regular contributor to “Fiddler Magazine”, published quarterly in the USA. Pete is also an instructor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.

Review: Pete Clark– Niel Gow’s Fiddle

By Rob Adams Folk & Jazz critic Arts Ents 9th December 2017R

“The 18th-century Perthshire fiddler and composer Niel Gow can have had no bigger champion in modern times than Pete Clark. A Fifer who years ago settled not far from Gow’s home in Inver, near Dunkeld, Clark has devoted albums to Gow’s music, leads an ensemble named after him and for the past 17 years has directed an annual festival in Gow’s honour”