Falkirk’s Brian McNeill’s musical half century marked with new album

Accomplished Falkirk musician Brian McNeill is marking a landmark in his career with a new album.
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For those who have followed his career from the earliest days it may come as a surprise that it is a half a century since he began making music professionally.

His latest album, out on April 1, is No Silence and, as well as writing all the songs and several of the tunes, he plays the majority of the instruments.

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As a multi-instrumentalist that repertoire includes guitar, baritone guitar, fiddle, octave fiddle, mandocello, bouzouki and concertina – all played in his own inimitable style.

But this album really is a labour of love and after recording the album in his own home studio, it was then mixed and mastered by Brian and Nick Turner at Watercolour Music, Ardgour. Brian then went on to design the album cover.

Songs on No Silence include Two Minute Silence, The Yew Tree, Sell Your Labour, Not Your Soul, John Harrison’s Hands, When the Laverock Sang and Prince of Darkness.

While the instrumentals include The Collsfield House Set, The Modest Miss France Set and The Burning of Auchendoon.

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The Modest Miss France is a tribute to his wife Jacqueline and was the first tune he ever wrote.

Born and brought up in Falkirk and a former pupil of Camelon High School, Brian’s career began in September 1969 when he formed the Battlefield Band, playing the fiddle and being part of the line up of this traditional Scottish music ensemble for the next 21 years.

Over the years he has also played with Clan Alba, which was formed in the mid-1990s, and as a core member of the UK fiddle phenomenon, Feast of Fiddles.

He has also toured with such stalwarts as Dick Gaughan, Tony McManus and the late Iain Mackintosh.

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In 1987, he won the UK National Songsearch competition for amateur and professional performers, having been runner-up in 1986.

Six years ago he became involved in ​The Falkirk Music Pot, a project which saw Brian work with Falkirk district musicians and schoolchildren, as well as youngsters in Africa, to explore our area’s cultural heritage.

It included the wonderful Kelpies Suite consisting of seven pieces of song and music.​

The new album goes on sale just days before Brian’s 70th birthday but he shows now signs of letting up in either writing or performing his music.

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Several events are already line up for the coming months including the Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games in May and the New Forest and Cambridge Folk Festivals, although these dates will undoubtedly be under threat during the current coronavirus pandemic and with travel bans in place.

But no matter what, Brian McNeill will continue doing what he does best – making music and delighting all those who appreciate his sounds.​

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