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North Sea Gas are Dave Gilfillan PHOTO (Centre) Ronnie MacDonald (left) Grant Simpson (right). On
occasion within Scotland, North Sea Gas are augmented by the wonderful talents
of Gerry McKenna.
North Sea Gas has now been performing for 27 years, during which time
they have enjoyed great acclaim for their high standards of
professionalism.
With a combination of instruments including guitar, mandolin, bodhran,
banjo, whistle, mandola, bouzouki, mouth organ complementing fine
vocals, harmonies and a keen sense of humor, an entertaining evening
is guaranteed. Their interesting and varied career includes live
performances in a variety of venues from compact hotel lounges to
national theatres, as well as private functions, oil rigs, folk clubs,
performing arts centers, open air concerts and colleges.
Over the years their exciting blend of Scottish and Irish music has
appealed to audiences all over Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia,
Australia, Canada and the United States. For nine consecutive years,
North Sea Gas has attracted large audiences to concerts held during
the Edinburgh Festival.
In 1993, the band received both the Gold and Silver Disc awards from
the Scottish Music Industry for their album "Caledonian Connection".
This was followed in 1994 and 1995 by Silver Disc awards for albums
"Keltic Heritage" and "Live from Edinburgh" making it three in a row.
1996 has seen their album "Scottish Destiny" attain yet another Silver
Disc Award.
In the spring of 2000 their album "Spirit of Scotland" was released
and the fall of 2002 marked the release of the band's 12th album,
"Dark Island", which received the band's 6th Silver Disc. With 2005
celebrating the 25th anniversary of the band, "Lochanside" was
released in May. In 2006, North Sea Gas' recordings were added to the
Folklore Library, School of Scottish Studies, at the University
of Edinburgh. August 2007 saw the release of their latest album "Rosslyn"
So, if you like entertaining Folk music; if you like to sing along; if
you like to laugh but also to listen, look no further than North Sea
Gas.
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Dave Gilfillan
Lead Singer, guitar, banjo, mandola and founding member of North Sea
Gas. Being a professional musician for the last seventeen years, Dave
has built up a reputation for rousing sing along vocals and big
heartfelt ballads, add to that a sense of on stage fun and tongue in
cheek humor and you can easily see why his brand of folk music has
taken him all over the world.
| Full Name |
Dave Barrie Gilfillan |
| Date of Birth |
Oct. 21st |
| Place of Birth |
Edinburgh Scotland |
| Favourite NSG songs |
"Yellow on the Broom", "Ballad of St. Anne's Reel", "Loch Tay
Boat Song", "Leezie Lindsay" and lots more |
| Favourite Folk Artists |
Tannahill Weavers, The Dubliners, Eric Bogle |
| other music |
Meatloaf, Paul Simon, and many more |
| First Instrument you learned to play? |
Guitar |
| Do you have a "proper"job besides
musician? |
I have been a full-time musician for the last 23 years
but I am a qualified carpenter. |
| What brought you into making music? |
From a very early age I was singing and enjoying
music. To sing on stage seemed a natural thing to do. |
| Pastimes? |
Watching Football (I support Heart of Midlothian
F.C.). Drinking Beer; Walking my dogs I have two dogs,
one is a King Charles the other a Welsh Springer
Spaniel. Crosswords. |
| Interests? |
Ancient history and politics |
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Gerry Mckenna
Gerry has been a part time member of the band for many years, where he
has been playing bass, keyboards, banjo or guitar. As you can see he
is an accomplished musician. He is now playing with the band on a
regular basis.
| Name | Gerry McKenna |
| Date & Place of Birth: | 23rd August, Edinburgh. |
| What brought you into making music? |
The guitar bands of the 1960's |
| What was the first instrument you learned to play? |
Guitar |
| What's your favourite North Sea Gas song? |
All God's Creatures |
| What other bands / artists do you enjoy listening to? |
The Beatles, Dillards, Eagles and anything from the 60's |
| Do you have a "proper" occupation besides being a
musician? |
I am Manager of a Music Shop. |
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Ronnie MacDonald
Ronnie Macdonald was a member of the gas 23 years ago. He returned to Scotland 6 years ago
after having spent 15 years in Australia where he had is own band and rejoined north Sea Gas.
| Full Name |
Ronnie MacDonald |
| Date of Birth |
Dec 22 |
| Place of Birth |
Glasgow, Scotland
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| Favourite NSG songs |
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| Favourite Artists |
Battlefield and the Idle Diddlies (Australian band)
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| First Instrument you learned to play? |
Guitar
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| Do you have a "proper"job besides
musician? |
No
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What brought you into making music?
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| Pastimes? |
Reading and Drinking.
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| Interests? |
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Grant Simpson
| Full Name |
Grant Simpson |
| Date of Birth |
Oct 13th |
| Place of Birth |
Lossiemouth, Scotland
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| Favourite NSG songs |
Joseph Baker, Our Town
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| Favourite Artists |
Brian McNeill and Filska
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| First Instrument you learned to play? |
Fiddle |
| Do you have a "proper"job besides
musician? |
No, full time musician.
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What brought you into making music?
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I grew up with music.
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| Pastimes? |
Rugby and Scottish History.
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In the Press
- 2008-05-09: Interview at "Sound of Scotland", Kincadine, Ontario
- 2006-08-17: German article (PDF, 1.8M) on NSG's Germany tours and fans
- 2003-08-19: Mairi Anderson reports from the Fringe Festival 2003 (PDF format, free reader available from Adobe)
- Radio Interview on the Bob Knight Ceilidh Show (June 2005, from http://www.wunh.org/, 10MB)
- Radio Interview on the Bob Knight Ceilidh Show (June 2005, from http://www.wunh.org/, 25MB). This version
includes several songs that were broadcast on WUNH during the session.
- Live Performance recorded at the "Bound for Glory" Folk Radio Show, Cornell, Ithaca in May 2007 (features 20 songs from albums past and present)
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