Scotland’s biggest band to play at Eccles
Bring the plaid but leave the pipes.
Scotland’s Battlefield Band should take care of that with its annual Celtic Night celebration at the Ellen Eccles Theatre Friday night at 7:30.
Battlefield Band pioneered the integration of bagpipes with fmore contemporary instruments. The musicians mix the old songs and tunes with new self-penned material, playing them on a unique mix of ancient and modern instruments: Bagpipes, synthesizers, fiddles, guitars, cittern, bass, whistles and bouzouki.
The band sold out of its 2001 performance at the theater.
“People were dancing in the aisles and we knew right then we had to bring them back,” said Lisette Miles, executive director of Cache Valley Center for the Arts.
“Their reputation as Scotland’s No. 1 band is known throughout the world,” she said.
They have many fans and awards to prove it.
According to a press release, their most recent award was presented Sept. 13, 2003, when they were awarded “Best Live Act” at the first annual Scot Trad Music Awards. The winners were announced in The Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh, which was on BBC Radio in Scotland. The awards celebrate Scotland’s thriving traditional musical scene. The nominees were chosen by a panel of Scotland’s traditional music experts and winners were chosen by popular public vote. The winners were open to listeners around the world.
The band was founded by a group of friends in 1969 and named after the “Battlefield” section of Glasgow. Battlefield Band now performs throughout the world, playing to audiences in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Canada, as well as more than 60 cities annually in the United States.
“It’s our experience that, no matter where we play, that we’ll take some of the audience home with because their eyes are open to the fact that they’ve not ever heard stuff like this before,” said Alan Reid, the band’s cofounder.
Under the banner “Forward with Scotland’s Past,” Battlefield Band has been performing on the international scene for 35 years. Through the years the band has been inspired by their rich heritage of Celtic music and fired by the strength of the modern Scottish cultural scene.
During the past decades some members have gone on to play in other bands and pursue other interests, while new members have brought new ideas, attitudes and influences.
“[Our] continued success is due to the smooth and organic way in which these changes have taken place,” said the band in a statement. “The continued creativity, freshness and enthusiasm are due to the positive way they have viewed, and used, these changes.”
Two members are native Scotsmen, one is an American who makes his home in Scotland, and one is an Irishman who has lived in many countries. The result is a band that is founded on the ancient traditions of Scotland – a tradition the band hopes will live on.
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday and tickets are $25, $21 and $15. Call 752-0026 or visit the ticket office at 43 S. Main St. for tickets or more information.
-acbailey@cc.usu.edu