Biography
Emerging in the early years of the new millennium, the Scottish pipe and drum ensemble was assembled by Stuart Cassells (b. 1979, Falkirk, Scotland; pipes), Willie Armstrong (b. Scotland; pipes), Kevin MacDonald (b. Scotland; pipes), Steven Graham (b. Scotland; drums) and Malcolm McEwan (b. Scotland; drums). Because Cassells, Graham and McEwan had all trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the lineup possessed an unusually strong concentration of accomplished young musicians. Their fresh takes on longstanding piping repertoire gained extra force from a high-energy stage presence, which secured an appearance alongside the rock band the Darkness at the 2004 T In The Park festival. Around the same time the group issued a ten-track album that surveyed a wide selection of piping material, among them two pieces by the late Gordon Duncan.
In early 2007 the ensemble made a surprising appearance on the BBC talent programme When Will I Be Famous, delivering a medley that combined Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ and Survivor’s ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ with traditional elements. The performance brought an uncontested victory and a £10,000 prize. Buoyed by the resulting surge of public interest, the group released a second studio album later that year. Cassells has also pursued a solo career.
In early 2007 the ensemble made a surprising appearance on the BBC talent programme When Will I Be Famous, delivering a medley that combined Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ and Survivor’s ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ with traditional elements. The performance brought an uncontested victory and a £10,000 prize. Buoyed by the resulting surge of public interest, the group released a second studio album later that year. Cassells has also pursued a solo career.
Live
