The Tannahill Weavers are a popular band who perform traditional Scottish music. They are notable for being one of the first popular bands to incorporate the sound of the Great Highland Bagpipe (the Highland bagpipes are primarily a solo instrument) in an ensemble setting, and in doing so helped to change the sound of Scottish traditional music. The band was formed in 1968, practising in the back room of the McKay family's rented Council house at 41 St. Ninian's Road, Hunterhill, Paisley, and released its first album in 1976. As of 2008, they continue to tour and release new recordings. They are named after Scottish poet Robert Tannahill and have recorded several of his songs.
Current Line up :
Roy Gullane (1968-Present): Guitar, vocals—founding member
Phil Smillie (1968-Present): Flute, whistles, bodran, vocals—founding member…according to Alex Campbell's sleeve notes on their first album, Phil was "the band's original roadie".
Les Wilson (1981-1982, 1990-Present): Bouzouki, guitar, keyboards, vocals
John Martin (1990-Present): Fiddle, viola, cello, vocals
Colin Melville (2000-Present): Highland bagpipes, Scottish smallpipes, tin whistles
Past memebers:
(below dates are based on album appearances, unless more acturate information is available)John Cassidy (1968-?): whistles, vocals—founding member
Neil Doherty (1968-?): vocals, guitar, mandolin, penny whistle—founding member
Jim McGowan (1968-?): vocals—founding member
Stuart McKay (1968-?): vocals, guitar, penny whistle—founding member
Hudson Swan (1972-1982): Bouzouki, fiddle, vocals, glockenspiel, mandolin
Dougie MacLean [1] [2] [3] (1976-1977): Fiddle, mandolin, tenor banjo, vocals, guitar—Dougie returned to tour with the Tannahill Weavers at least once, as I saw them in concert (with Dougie) around 1985/86 after Alan MacLeod left the band…
Mike Ward (1978-1980) Fiddle, guitar, vocals
Alan MacLeod (1978-1985) Bagpipes, whistles, bodhran, flutes, assorted chanters
Willie Beaton (1980-1982?): Fiddle, vocals
Bill Bourne (1983-1986): Vocals, bouzouki, acoustic and electric guitars, fiddle, keyboards, bass pedals
Ross Kennedy (1986-1989): Bouzouki, fiddle, bass pedals, vocals
Iain MacInnes (1986-1991): Highland bagpipes, Scottish small pipes, whistles, vocals
Stuart Morison (1987-1989): Fiddle, bones, guitar
Kenny Forsyth (1992-1995): Highland bagpipes, Scottish small pipes, whistles
Duncan J. Nicholson (1996-2000): Highland bagpipes, Scottish small pipes, whistles
Gordon Duncan: Highland bagpipes, tin whistles
Willie Begg †
Davie Carmichael: banjo †
Davy Shaw †
†"The Tannahill Weavers - A Page for the Legends".