Alastair Savage and Gregor Blamey, The Fiddle Music Of Scotland - Braemar Village Hall

Alastair Savage is originally from Ayrshire and has performed traditional and classical music throughout his life. He was winner of the Land O Burns Scots fiddle competition in his youth and has been a member of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra since 1997 touring Japan, China, South Korea, USA, South America and throughout Europe. As traditional fiddle soloist he has broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Radio Scotland, on national radio in the USA and has made seven critically acclaimed albums featuring the great Scots fiddle composers of centuries past alongside his own unique compositions. The most recent of these is the album Where The Good Ship Lands released in August 2024 alongside acclaimed cellist Alice Allen. His music has been used by BBC Alba for documentary purposes and in 2021 he was shortlisted for a Scottish Award in New Music in recognition of his compositional work. As a session musician he has recorded with many top artists crossing different musical genres including Belle and Sebastian, Karen Matheson, Justin Currie and Ricky Ross.

Alastair will be accompanied on piano and accordion by Gregor Blamey, originally from Fife. He studied piano at the RSAMD (now the RCS) and after graduating, he furthered his studies by completing the Certificate of Jazz and Jazz Diploma courses at St Andrews University. Gregor has enjoyed a varied musical career as a pianist, giving solo recitals and regular performances playing throughout Scotland as a wedding and event pianist. Gregors military career began in 1998, firstly on trumpet, then French Horn and currently Euphonium. He is currently a Warrant Officer Class 2 and Band Sergeant Major within the Highland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, which is an Army Reserve Band based in Perth. As well as being a freelance musician, Gregor also teaches piano within Dollar Academy.