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One of the best Songbooks in contemporary Scots music, three of Scoltland's most experienced musicians
" Wonderful, without the Ideal Band the Festival would have never been such a success and a true joy. Your music truly unites people, fantastic ambassadors for Scotland, and very talented musicians ! "What amazing songs you've composed" ~ City Days Festival, Russia, September 2010
“A simply beautiful sound, each song an absolute gem” ~ Maverick
" Thank you for a great show. It amazed us, the number of people who asked more about you guys after the concert, a great commercial for your next concert here! "~ Stirling April 2011
Ken Campbell - vocals, guitar, laud, northumbrian pipes
Linsey Aitken – cello, vocals
Gavin Paterson – piano, guitar, mandolin, vocals
Six new live tracks on CD + live videos at - www.theidealbandscotland.co.uk
CD on Fellside Recordings FECD226, touring throughout the UK and overseas.
"A welcome revival of the Ideal Band, distinctive vocals and original songs, a smattering of trad.arr distinctive flavours of cello and rich undertone of piano. Warmly welcomed by all who waited so long for a follow up." ~ R2 [Rock and Reel magazine]
"Absolutely gorgeous songs, if you get a chance to see them live, make time to enjoy an evening of great songs and music " ~ Amazon.co.uk September 2009
"A welcome showcase of extraordinary varied talents, strong yet sensitive singing, collected gems from old sources and a canny ear for current songs from Scotland." ~ Folk Roots
Ken Campbell
Scottish singer/songwriter with a well established pedigree over 25 years, with five albums to date, festivals, concerts, TV and radio throughout Europe and beyond. Starting with Glasgow band “Molindinar”, then a much commended duo with Chris Miller [‘Pipers Maggot’ - Topic Records, London] he then established the highly successful “Ideal Band” following in the footsteps of Glasgow’s “Bob Smith’s Ideal Band” of the 1930’s.
He subsequently toured with Cauld Wind Piper Hamish Moore, recorded two solo albums [“Going Solo” - Fellside & “Hand Pict” - Watercolour] whilst also working with Wendy Weatherby, cellist, singer, Stevie Lawrence [Rallion/Red Hot Chilli Pipers/Iron Horse] and Blair Cowan [Lloyd Cole and the Commotions] before re-forming ‘The Ideal Band’ in 2009.
Linsey Aitken
A highly regarded cellist and vocalist crossing genres from classical to folk. Trained on cello and piano at the RSAMD, she has performed professionally all over the UK from the Royal Albert Hall to the sands of Calgary Bay in Mull.
Collaborating regularly with composer Alan Craig, flautist/composer Louise Burnet, member of classical trio “Trois Femmes” and various quartets, she has taught at Edinburgh University, teaches Kodaly singing methodology working with young musicians from 3 years through to RSAMD. Founding member of folk band ‘The Cross Border band’ she played and sang her way round Scotland, the Edinburgh Festival and other International festivals before joining ‘The Ideal Band.’
Gavin Paterson
Pianist and multi instrumentalist. One of Scotland’s most accomplished and professional all round musicians and musical directors. Over 25 years experience within every genre from folk/roots/soul/rock music right through the entire musical spectrum.
Musical Director and member of the sensational twelve piece ‘Dexys Bootleg Runners’, founding member of ‘21 Red’ Scotland’s most highly regarded and established function band since 1985.
He recently launched ‘Domino Gumbo’ a 7 piece band that blends the sounds of classic 50's R&B with accordion and washboard from Cajun and Zydeco. 2010 saw him involved in music festivals in New Orleans, the ‘Cajun Country’, Tennessee, the Appalachians and at Clancy Brothers Festival in Ireland.
www.theidealbandscotland.co.uk
www.facebook.com
www.myspace.com/kencampbellscotland
www.stoneyport.co.uk
A band, a brand, and much more besides
A Unique Trio – from different musical genre - Combining three part harmony with an unusual combination of instruments, and pedigrees ranging from Celtic traditional music, contemporary song writing, to classic New Orleans, through to classical, baroque and orchestral.
“We have always thought that a combination of musicians and instruments from different genre's creates a totally different approach, whilst using traditional music as the base line”.
A unique songbook - of self penned and traditional songs, covering a host of subjects, contemporary and historic, ranging from Columba and Mid Argyle, Dundee whaling songs, Scots abroad, Whisky, to chorus songs and world events, but above all with a Scottish related theme. Entertainers to the core who know how to relate and interact with audiences.
A core acoustic trio - adding percussion and bass for larger concerts. Performing at folk and music festivals, arts centres, community festivals and concerts. Recording for radio, TV, and live concerts, with a growing following and further tours planned throughout the UK and overseas.
Multi Cultural Collaborations - In 2010 they toured Russia, and back in Scotland organised major concerts at Edinburgh Festival and Arts Centres, playing with their guests the world famous Rostov Balalaika, combing The Ideal Band and music, song and dance from the Cossack region of Russia. In January 2011 they organised and fronted a series of multi cultural concerts as part of the St Mungo Festival in Glasgow, being joined by musicians from Ghana, Ireland, Scotland, which will be expanded and toured next year. Other collaborations have included concerts with award winning Gaelic singer Maggie MacInnes and Nick Keir of the McCalmans, with more to follow.
Arts Centre Shows - There success with original material and multi cultural shows is now growing into planned touring shows for Arts Centres, theatres and other venues, incorporating collaboration with contemporary and classical musicians.
The Ideal Band story
weaves together many threads from Scotland's famous 'Bob Smith's Ideal Band' of the 1930's, through the 1980's when 'The Ideal Band' along with 'Battlefield Band' 'Ossian' Tannahill Weavers' and others had a huge effect on the perception of Scottish music, right through to today.
The original Bob Smith’s Ideal Band from Glasgow toured, and recorded on the Beltona Label in the 1930’s playing Scottish and European music . These recordings were re-released by Topic Records of London in the 1980’s.
The original Bob Smith’s Ideal Band from Glasgow toured, and recorded on the Beltona Label in the 1930’s playing Scottish and European music . These recordings were re-released by Topic Records of London in the 1980’s.
ln 1980 Chris Miller and Ken Campbell performed as a duo at Lorient lnterceltic Festival in France, using two sets of Northumbrian Smallpipes, fiddle, guitar and cittern. Arfolk, the same label that the ‘Battlefield Band’ recorded their first album with in similar circumstances, offered Chris and Ken a contract as a duo.
Immediately offered gigs round the UK, they sent a demo tape to Topic Records and in 1981 ‘The Pipers Maggot’ was released as a companion album to Dick Gaughan's classic album 'Handful of Earth'
Chris and Ken were then joined by Alasdair Robertson, calling the new trio 'The ldeal Band' tipping their hats to Bob Smith and fellow Glaswegians of the 1930's
In 1984 'A Measure of Freedom' was released by Lismor Recordings, and a lot more festivals and touring
followed over the years, to the point where they were struggling to fit everything in. ‘The Ideal Band’ went into recess, like the old Scottish Parliament, whilst they concentrated on other musical partnerships and solo projects.”
In 2009 the opportunity arose for Ken Campbell to get ‘The ldeal Band’ on the road again with multi instrumentalist Gavin Paterson, a new line up and a wealth of new songs.
An album was released on Fellside and Dr John Barrow at Stoneyport Associates, took them under his personal wing arranging concerts and tours.
In spring 2010 Linsey Aitken on cello and vocals came on board, northumbrian pipes were brought back in, mandolin added, more touring followed, and a new six track CD and videos were released in January 2011.
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