JAMES HARPER
BAND
Bursting on to the Scottish Music scene in 2015, the bagpipe-driven James Harper Band are set to debut their explosively energetic live show at PIPING LIVE! this summer.
The band was formed by multi instrumentalist James Harper and Guitarist Pablo Lafuente in early 2015. The energetic four piece folk ensemble of Bagpipes, Guitar, Fiddle and Drums are set to firmly cement themselves along side some of Scotland's finest traditional acts.
Collectively, the members of The James Harper Band have performed at sold out venues at the Celtic Connections and PIPING LIVE! festivals, The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, The Usher Hall, and have travelled to places such as China, Germany, Amsterdam, Brazil, and Switzerland. With such experience and as students of The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, they are not an act to miss.
Given the bands Irish, Scottish, Jazz and Folk influences and with multiple recording sessions underway, the debut James Harper Band EP is bound for success.
Orcadian fiddle and mandolin player Graham Rorie is an up and coming musician in the Scottish traditional scene. Tutored in Orkney by Douglas Montgomery (The Chair, Saltfishforty) Graham was a member of the Kirkwall Grammar School fiddle group “Hadhirgaan”. With Orkney band Broken Strings (as a founding member) Graham won the Orkney Folk Festival Open stage in 2011 and his first Danny Kyle Award in 2012. Broken Strings launched their debut album later that year and supported Four Men and a Dog in the Old Fruitmarket at Celtic Connections.
Graham has performed with many other Orkney bands including No Soond, Teebro, Orkney Folk: The Gathering and The Jo Philby Band. With the latter, Graham enjoyed two Scottish tours. Now a student in Glasgow at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on the Scottish Music degree, Graham has performed with Phil Cunningham, Ay Bain, Barbara Dickson and the RSNO for the St Andrews Day celebrations in the Royal Concert Hall as well as in the City Halls for the Scottish Music course showcase featuring students from the Berkley College of Music, Boston. Graham, whilst being predominantly a traditional musician is also experienced in the classical music genre, performing with Orkney Orchestra and Orkney Camerata. He also achieved his ABRSM Grade 8 violin and performed with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. Graham teamed up with fellow Orcadian, guitarist Aidan Moodie to form Gnoss in 2015.
GRAHAM RORIE
FIDDLE
STEPHEN HENDERSON
DRUM KIT
Stephen is an energetic percussionist currently based in Glasgow, Scotland. Though Only 21 years of age, Stephen has performed alongside artists such as LA Singer James Tormé, son of Mel Tormé, Brodie Jarvie, Ross Stanely and Brandon Allen, and pefromed at such festivals as The Glasgow Jazz Festival, The Shetland Folk Festival and The Cheshire Folk Festival.
Stephen's style on the Drum Kit is a unique blend of Jazz, Funk and Blues, which he has perfected as a member of The National Youth Jazz Orchestra under the musical direction of Andrew Bain and Malcolm Edmonstone which allowed him to gain experience from artists such as Mike Walker, Iain Dixon, Chris Batchelor and Rick Taylor. As well as this, Stephen is a full time student studying on the BMus (Jazz) Course at the Royal Conservatoire Of Scotland. Stephen also plays in critically aclaimed folk-rock outfit Dosca.
"Stephen is a remarkable player: awe-inspiring, intelligent, cool, professional, committed and extremely meticulous in every musical enviroment he finds himself in." - Tommy Smith
"One Talented Cat." - James Tormé
PABLO LAFUENTE
GUITAR
Pablo is a 19 year old Guitarist and Fiddle currently based in Glasgow. Though only 19 years of age he is a regular in the vibrant Glasgow session scene which is at the forefront of scottish music. Originally from Stirling, Pablo, as a student of The National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music (Plokton High School) was taught by Innes Watson and receives further tuition from him as a student on The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's BA (Scottish Music) Honours degree.
Pablo has played with such acts as Dante, Tiger Style, Outside Track and as part of a duo with fiddle player Charlie Grey, supported BBC Radio 2folk award winners, of best band 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2013, Lau. He has also performed live on television on STV Glasgow, toured Canada, and performed at such festivals as Solfest, Celtic Connections and more.