Bio
Take the finest exponents of their native Scottish fiddle styles, the finest backing in folk music, and some of the Highlands and Islands’ famed warmth and craic… distil for over 25 years, and you get Blazin’ Fiddles!
One of the most lauded and best-loved acts of the Scottish music scene, from the moment the multi award-winning Blazers take the stage to whisk you on a thrilling musical journey, you’re in the finest of company. The mastery of fiddle virtuosos, Jenna Reid (Shetland), Kristan Harvey (Orkney) and Rua Macmillan (Highlands), grounded by the second to none, driving accompaniment of Angus Lyon (piano) and Anna Massie (guitar), will leave you reeling.
For over a quarter of a century, no other band has quite captured Scottish fiddle music’s variety, energy and sensitivity like Blazin’ Fiddles. Atop many musical twists and turns, the group’s quicksilver playing is matched by lightning sharp humour and uproarious stories from their many tunes and travels. Whatever the hall – whether of the Royal Albert or highland village variety – they’ll turn it into the liveliest and warmest of hootenannies.
Meet The Band
Jenna Reid
Fiddle
Shetland Fiddler Jenna Reid has enjoyed many successes in her career as a musician and composer: she was named Up and Coming Artist of the Year and Composer of the Year and received nominations for Instrumentalist of the Year and Tutor of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards, as well as being a finalist in the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Composer Awards.
Over the past two decades, she has released two music books and six solo albums, which have featured some of her most exciting collaborations: with her long term playing partner Harris Playfair and stunning string group Mr McFall’s Chamber.
More recently, Jenna has been enjoying writing as a children’s author, publishing ‘Telescope, Telescope’ in 2024. In between Blazers’ tours and music schools she can be heard on the BBC One airways as a freelance announcer.
Visit Website
Angus Lyon
Piano
Angus is a musician, producer & composer based in Scotland. He is a member of Blazin’ Fiddles & The Halton Quartet and has recorded & performed alongside Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Paul McCartney, Bobby McFerrin, Craig Armstrong, Findlay Napier, Eliza Carthy, Matt Costa, Bella Hardy & many more.
He is currently recording and producing music from his Lanarkshire studio, Gran’s House.
“Through his brilliant duo with fiddler Ruaridh Campbell, his work with the marvellously pigeonhole-resistant Halton Quartet and his achievements as producer on myriad recordings, accordionist and keyboard player Angus Lyon is one of the traditional music scene’s most creative talents. However, this is only one facet of his scope, and on this Celtic Connections New Voices commission, he reveals a Zappa-esque skill for a smartly turned melody, effortlessly blending banjo, vibraphone, fiddle and saxophone, a penchant for jazz fusion, and a weakness for Earth Wind & Fire-style party soul-funk” -The Herald
Visit Website
Kristan Harvey
Fiddle
Orcadian fiddler Kristan Harvey has been a well-known name on the Scottish folk scene since being crowned BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year in 2011. Having left Orkney in 2007 to study classical and folk music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly RSAMD), she remains in Glasgow working full-time as a performer and teacher around Scotland and further afield.
Kristan currently performs in several lineups, including Blazin’ Fiddles and FARA. Since moving to Glasgow, she has also enjoyed working with bands such as Blue Rose Code, The Robyn Stapleton Band, The Paul McKenna Band, The Rua Macmillan Big Band and her own outfit The Sanna, as well as performing with Admiral Fallow, Gretchen Peters, Belle and Sebastian, Rod Stewart and Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti.
For many years, she toured Europe with Irish dance show Irish Celtic, and has provided tuition for various projects including Orkney Traditional Music Project, Fèis Gleann Albainn, Blackford Fiddlers and Fèis Phàislig.
Visit Website
Rua Macmillan
Fiddle
Hailing from Nairn, Rua Macmillan is one of Scotland’s top fiddlers. Having studied with the likes of Aonghas Grant Snr, Pete Clark, Alasdair McCulloch and Sharon Hassan, Rua graduated with a B.A.(Hons) in Scottish Music from the R.S.A.M.D (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland). As well as being awarded the prestigious title of BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year in 2009, Rua has toured extensively throughout Europe and North America, including performances at some of the world’s most prominent folk festivals, including Celtic Connections (SCO), Cambridge (ENG), Ortigeuira (SP), and Winnipeg (CAN).
His debut album, ‘Tyro’ was voted instrumental album of the year in the Fatea Awards, and was picked by Songlines Magazine as a ‘Top of the World’ album. The Rua Macmillan Trio was nominated for “Folk band of the Year” at the MG Alba Trad Awards in 2012, and as “Live Act of the Year” in the Spiral Earth awards 2013.
In addition to touring, Rua is in great demand as an educator, and alongside running a successful teaching practice, teaches regularly with the RCS, Trinity Laban College, Falkirk Council, and internationally.
“As a stylist of Scottish fiddle he is second to none. As an arranger of traditional music in the modern idiom there is no one I’d listen to more!”
-Brian McNeill (Battlefield Band founding member)
“Quicksilver playing to leave you breathless and eager for more”
-Songlines Magazine (****)
Anna Massie
Guitar
Equally at home as accompanist or melody player, Anna is one of the trad world’s foremost guitarists. As well as being a skilled multi-instrumentalist and singer renowned for her work with Blazin’ Fiddles and RANT, she also presents BBC Radio Scotland’s award-winning flagship trad music programme, Travelling Folk (Trad Music in the Media, Scots Trad Music Awards 2023).
Four-time nominee for Musician of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards, 2021 winner of the Trad Music in the Media award for her Black Isle Correspondent work and 2022 Producer of the Year award, Anna is a highly talented musician, presenter and producer.
2024 saw her release her long-awaited solo album Two Down and embark on solo touring.
“…lively, often witty arrangements…compelling at the heart.” -MOJO
Visit Website
