All the way from Scotland, this outstanding duo met on the thriving Edinburgh folk music scene back in 1997 and over the years they have developed a unique and exciting musical relationship which enthrals audiences with a mixture of traditional and original Scottish and Irish music and song. Their critically acclaimed album ‘Secret Orders’ has become a favourite amongst musicians and audiences alike.
Originally from Poole in England, Aaron has lived and worked in Scotland for nearly twenty-five twenty years. He spends much of his year touring in the USA and throughout the UK and Europe and has recorded on over sixty-five traditional albums. He continues to work regularly with some of the biggest names in ‘folk’ music both as a performer and as a producer and in 2005 was voted ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ at the Scots Trad Music Awards. Aaron is also the front man in Scotland’s ‘Old Blind Dogs’ who were voted Band of the Year in 2004 and 2007 at the Scots Trad Music Awards and won America’s IAP ‘Folk Album of the Year’ for their CD ‘Four on the Floor’. Their last release, on Nashville’s Compass Records label titled ‘Wherever Yet May Be’, was shortlisted for the same award.
Claire has established herself as one of the World’s leading exponents of traditional Irish flute and fiddle. As well as numerous All-Ireland Championships on flute and tin whistle, Claire is highly sought after as a traditional music tutor and teaches at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow and at Newcastle University. She released her debut solo album ‘Claire Mann’ in 2001 to great critical acclaim.
“...bouzouki ace.” Scotland on Sunday
“Her sheer musicality - the beautiful feel in her playing - is what really sets her apart” - The Planet, Radio National, Australia
“They were sensational last night. Apart from their technical brilliance and beautiful interpretations of tunes and songs, there is so much power, personality, passion and drive in their playing. A packed house was screaming for more”. Great musicianship and great playing…brilliant stuff!” - Mike Harding BBC Radio 2
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