Brian McNeill (born 6 April 1950,Falkirk,Scotland) is a Scottishfolk multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer and musical director. He was a founding member ofBattlefield Band which combined traditional Celtic melodies and new material.
Brian McNeill | |
|---|---|
 McNeill performing in August 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1950-04-06)6 April 1950 (age 75) Falkirk, Scotland |
| Genres | Folk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instrument(s) | Violin, guitar,viola,mandolin,bouzouki,cittern,concertina,hurdy-gurdy |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Website | Official website |
Biography
editMcNeill learnt music on theviolin before taking up other instruments including guitar, fiddle,viola,mandolin,bouzouki,cittern,concertina, andhurdy-gurdy, as well as singing. He playedfiddle withBattlefield Band from its formation in 1969 until 1990.[1][2][3] In 1987, he won the UK National Songsearch competition for amateur and professional performers, having been runner-up in 1986.[4]
From 1996 until January 2008, McNeill was head of the traditional music course at theRoyal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow.[1][5]
As a novelist he has published three books,The Busker (1989),[2][3][6]To Answer the Peacock (1999),[2][3] andIn the Grass.[2] He has also produced an acclaimed audio-visual show about Scottish emigration to America,The Back o' the North Wind.[2][6][7]
Apart from his visible contributions, McNeill is influential in Scotland and abroad as a producer. He has many production credits in the UK and North America including "Emigrant and Exile" forEric Bogle with John Munro.[8]
McNeill's songs often feature lyrics based on Scottish historical themes, and he continually has celebrated the culture of his fellow Scots, including those who have emigrated to North America. His albumThe Back o' the North Wind features songs about industrialistAndrew Carnegie and the man who initiated the conservation movement in the United States,John Muir.[6][2]
Brian McNeill won the inaugural Fatea Lifetime Achievement award in 2007[9] and was the producer of 2017's instrumental album of the year, "Matt Tighe", the eponymous debut album of the young English fiddler that Brian had inspired at one of his many Cambridge Folk Festival appearances.[10]
Books
edit- The Busker, Macdonald, 1989,ISBN 0-356-17943-5
- To Answer The Peacock, Black Ace Books, 1999,ISBN 1-872988-32-6
- In the Grass, Author House, 2012,ISBN 9781467884594
Discography
editWith Battlefield Band
edit- 1976[#01]Farewell to Nova Scotiadebut studio album (first released on Escalibur label asScottish Folk)
- 1977[#02]Battlefield Bandstudio album #02 (first released on Topic label)
- 1978[#03]Wae's me for Prince Charliestudio album #03 (first released on Escalibur label)
- 1978[#04]At the Frontstudio album #04 (first released on Topic label)
- 1979[#05]Stand Easystudio album #05 (first released on Topic label ; reissued asStand Easy/Preview in 1980)
- 1980[#06]Home Is Where the Van Isstudio album #06
- 1982[#07]The Story So Far 1977-1980compilation album #1 of the 3 first studios albums released on Topic label
- 1982[#08]There's a Buzzstudio album #07
- 1984[#09]Anthem for the Common Manstudio album #08
- 1986[#10]Music in Trust Vol 1Soundtrack album #01
- 1986[#11]On the Risestudio album #09
- 1987[#12]After Hours: Forward to Scotland's Pastcompilation album #2 of the five last previous albums
- 1987[#13]Celtic Hotelstudio album #10
- 1988[#14]Music in Trust Vol 2Soundtrack album #02
- 1989[#15]Home Ground – Live From Scotlandlive album #1 (recorded live inAberdeen,Scotland during the group's Scottish tour in Spring 1989)
- 1998[#00]Live Celtic Folk Music(live recording of a concert at the 1980 Winterfolkfestival, held inDordrecht, Netherlands; released only on a foreign label)
Solo albums
edit- 1978Monksgate
- 1985Unstrung Hero
- 1985The Busker and the Devil's Only daughter
- 1991The Back O' The North Wind (Greentrax Recordings)[6][3]
- 1994Horses for Courses(with Tom McDonagh)
- 1995No Gods (Greentrax Recordings)[11]
- 1995Stage By Stage(with Iain MacKintosh)
- 1999To Answer the Peacock (Greentrax Recordings)
- 2000Live and Kicking(with Iain MacKintosh; includes "The King of Rome")
- 2009The Baltic tae Byzantium (Greentrax Recordings)[3]
- 2010The Crew o' the Copenhagen(with Drones & Bellows)
- 2015The Falkirk Music Pot (Greentrax Recordings)(featured as "Brian McNeill & Friends celebrate his home town's music") (22-track double album)[12]
References
edit- ^abWeir, Rob (Autumn 2010 – Winter 2011). "On the Road Again: BRIAN MCNEILL & Scottish Wanderlust".Sing Out!.54 (1):56–59.ISSN 0037-5624.[permanent dead link]
- ^abcdef"McNeill offers up the Scottish legends".Asheville Citizen-Times. Asheville, North Carolina. 14 July 2016. p. B2. Retrieved1 May 2019.
- ^abcdeRomanski, Kara (15 October 2010)."Taking the road less traveled. Brian McNeill and his wife enjoy the scenic routes in life".Daily Record. Morristown, New Jersey. p. 7 TGIF!. Retrieved1 May 2019.
- ^"Sponsorship shortfall hits Songsearch".The Stage. 10 September 1987. Retrieved5 May 2019.
- ^Scott, Robert Dawson (30 January 2008)."Accordionist is new head of traditional music course".The Times. p. 26. Retrieved1 May 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^abcdSawyers, June (5 December 1991)."Allure of emigration. Brian McNeill's 'North Wind' profiles Scottish wanderlust".Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. p. 3, S5. Retrieved1 May 2019.
- ^Bird, John (23 February 1991)."Americans may be in for quite a shock".Newcastle Evening Chronicle. Newcastle, Northumberland, England. p. 18. Retrieved5 May 2019.
- ^The Great Scots MusicographyISBN 1-84183-041-0, 2002 Mercat Press, Edinburgh
- ^"Website Powered by FATEA".Fatea-records.co.uk. Retrieved5 July 2020.
- ^"FATEA – Home".Fatea-records.co.uk. Retrieved5 July 2020.
- ^Carnahan, Danny (May 2018)."Hail Caledonia: A Brief History of Scottish Song in America".Acoustic Guitar. Retrieved5 May 2019.
- ^"The Falkirk Music Pot".Greentrax. March 2016. Retrieved5 March 2016.