The Cask Strength Ceilidh Band

Website: http://www.caskstrengthmusic.com
Press contact: bookings@caskstrengthmusic.com
Booking agent: bookings@caskstrengthmusic.com

A blend of high-energy fun-filled ceilidh music and popular Scottish songs.

Cask Strength combines the talents of pianist/vocalist Hamish Napier with accordionist John Somerville and drummer Stevie Fivey. Between them they have visited over fifty countries worldwide playing to audiences at concerts, major music festivals, corporate events, weddings, national radio and TV.

The Cask Strength Ceilidh Band evokes the true spirit of Scotland's vibrant traditional music scene. The Glasgow-based trio conveys years of experience and success in the music business through a combination of master musicianship, steadfast professionalism and a duty to provide engaging entertainment for their audiences.

Cask Strength will add that special touch to your event: Corporate Dinner, Burns Supper, St Andrew's Night, Scottish Wedding, Student Ceilidh, Birthday Party, House concert or any other occasion. Guests are guaranteed a good time on the dance floor with the band talking through the steps in a clear and fun way. While the audience relaxes between dances, the band can provide the perfect musical backdrop with a range of songs and tunes from past and present.

Clients of the band have included Visit Scotland, BBC Scotland, British Chamber of Commerce, Celtic Connections Festival, Scottish Widows, The Scottish Parliament, Bruichladdich Whisky and the Scottish Tourism Awards (full list of clients here). The band has performed for private clients, including many happy wedding couples and event promoters.

Cask Strength is also available as an expanded line-up featuring pipes and fiddle and can also provide disco or background music on request.

John Somerville - Accordion

John Somerville hails from Abriachan on the north shore of Loch Ness, and began playing accordion at the tender age of ten. His unique driving and dynamic style has seen him heralded as one of the top instrumentalists in Scotland -- working with artists and bands as diverse as David Byrne, Franz Ferdinand, Box Club, Croft No. Five and Treacherous Orchestra.

He has received several national award nominations, including a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for "Best Band". A tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he has played at some of the worlds most respected venues including the Albert Hall and Queen Elizabeth Halls in London, as well as performances in Japan, Lebanon, USA and China.

Stevie Fivey - Drums/Percussion

Originally from Central Scotland, Stevie attained Grade 1 competition level at only 15 with World Pipe Band Champions Denny & Dunipace Pipes & Drums.

A graduate of revered Edinburgh music college Jewel & Esk, Stevie is in great demand as a leading Scottish percussion teacher at major Scottish youth festivals (Feis Rois, Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin, Splore) and the Merlin Music Academy.

Throughout the past ten years, Stevie has toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe with a variety of bands and shows. This has included performances for Billy Connolly and Prince Charles in prestigious venues such as The Scottish Parliament and Edinburgh Castle.

Hamish Napier - Piano/Vocals

Young Scottish Traditional Musician of the Year finalist and Trad Awards nominee, Hamish Napier toured internationally with award-winning folk quartet Back of the Moon.

Originally from Speyside, Hamish has collaborated with many of Scotland's leading musicians, including Capercaillie's Karen Matheson, Phil Cunningham, Martyn Bennett and Eddi Reader.

After attaining degrees in Physics and Music, he earned a scholarship to the world-renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston to study jazz piano. He currently lectures in composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

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