Brian McNeill explained

Brian McNeill
Birth Date:6 April 1950
Birth Place:Falkirk, Scotland
Instrument:Violin, guitar, viola, mandolin, bouzouki, cittern, concertina, hurdy-gurdy
Genre:Folk rock
Occupation:Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer
Years Active:1969–present
Associated Acts:Battlefield Band
Website:Official website

Brian McNeill (born 6 April 1950, Falkirk, Scotland) is a Scottish folk multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer and musical director. He was a founding member of Battlefield Band which combined traditional Celtic melodies and new material.

Biography

McNeill learnt music on the violin before taking up other instruments including guitar, fiddle, viola, mandolin, bouzouki, cittern, concertina, and hurdy-gurdy, as well as singing. He played fiddle with Battlefield 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 the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow.[1] [5]

As a novelist he has published three books, The Busker (1989),[2] [3] To Answer the Peacock (1999),[2] [3] and In 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" for Eric 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 album The Back o' the North Wind features songs about industrialist Andrew 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

Discography

With Battlefield Band

Solo albums

External links

Notes and References

  1. Weir . Rob . On the Road Again: BRIAN MCNEILL & Scottish Wanderlust . Sing Out! . Autumn 2010 – Winter 2011 . 54 . 1 . 56–59 . 0037-5624 .
  2. News: McNeill offers up the Scottish legends . 1 May 2019 . Asheville Citizen-Times . 14 July 2016 . Asheville, North Carolina . B2.
  3. News: Romanski . Kara . Taking the road less traveled. Brian McNeill and his wife enjoy the scenic routes in life . 1 May 2019 . Daily Record . 15 October 2010 . Morristown, New Jersey . 7 TGIF!.
  4. News: Sponsorship shortfall hits Songsearch . 5 May 2019 . . 10 September 1987.
  5. News: Scott . Robert Dawson . Accordionist is new head of traditional music course . 1 May 2019 . The Times . 30 January 2008 . 26 .
  6. News: Sawyers . June . Allure of emigration. Brian McNeill's 'North Wind' profiles Scottish wanderlust . 1 May 2019 . Chicago Tribune . 5 December 1991 . Chicago, Illinois . 3, S5.
  7. News: Bird . John . Americans may be in for quite a shock . 5 May 2019 . Newcastle Evening Chronicle . 23 February 1991 . Newcastle, Northumberland, England . 18.
  8. The Great Scots Musicography, 2002 Mercat Press, Edinburgh
  9. Web site: Website Powered by FATEA. Fatea-records.co.uk. 2020-07-05.
  10. Web site: FATEA - Home. Fatea-records.co.uk. 2020-07-05.
  11. Carnahan . Danny . Hail Caledonia: A Brief History of Scottish Song in America . Acoustic Guitar . May 2018 . 5 May 2019.
  12. Web site: The Falkirk Music Pot . March 2016 . . 5 March 2016.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Brian McNeill".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.