Arran Maiden
Ceilidh / Irish Band

Line up: Standard lineup: 4 Piece- Accordion/Caller, Fiddle, Electric Guitar, Drum Kit plus sound/lighting engineer & optional DJ.


Highlights
*High energy Ceilidh band with over 9 years experience!
*Repertoire includes Gay Gordons, Strip The Willow and many more popular tunes!
*Dedicated sound and lighting engineer included plus optional DJ!



Arran Maiden originally formed in Edinburgh in 2002. Now the Ceilidh band of choice for rock stars, soap stars and famous politicians, they have gone on to perform at ceilidhs all over Scotland as well as making regular trips to England, Ireland and Europe.

Arran Maiden are renowned for their rock style & high energy performances. They can be found performing anywhere from Scotland’s most desirable castles, stately homes and hotels, to local village halls and barn dances.

In June 2005 they broke the world record for the biggest ever Eightsome Reel when they played for 5000 dancers on Edinburgh’s meadows!

Arran Maiden's standard lineup includes 1 x Accordian/Caller, 1 x Fiddle, 1 x Electric Guitar & 1 x Drum Kit. A dedicated sound and lighting engineer also works with the band at all events.

Meet Arran Maiden

Norman (Accordion / midi / effects pedals / Caller)
Born in the Highlands, Norman has been playing the button accordion since early childhood. He turned fully professional shortly after moving to Edinburgh in 2002. In 2004 he won the all Scotland button accordion championship and he has since gone on to establish himself as one of Scotland’s most accomplished folk accordionists.

His own compositions regularly feature on TV and radio in both the UK and abroad, from the television documentary ‘The Reivers and the Making of the Borders’ to the recent American Express MasterCard TV commercial which used a sample of his playing on the soundtrack. He was also commissioned to compose the soundtrack for ‘Chain’ a short film by the crime writer ‘James Crosbie’ which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008.
Later that year he released his debut album “The Perfect Squeeze” which was produced by Ross Kennedy and features some of Scotland’s finest musicians including Moishe’s Bagel violinist, Greg Lawson and Donald Shaw of the Celtic super group, Capercaillie.

When He’s not on tour with Arran Maiden Norman can often be found making furniture in his Woodeye Furniture workshop in East Lothian.

Paul (Fiddle/effects pedals)
Paul started to play the fiddle at school when he was 8. He worked through all of the classical grades achieving his Grade 8 with distinction when he was 17. However, It was always Scottish Music which interested him the most. He cites his biggest inspiration as being when attending a summer fiddle school with the great Shetland fiddler, Catriona MacDonald when he was 14. It was here that Paul was advised to tell his fiddle teacher to ‘get groovy!’. Since then he has toured extensively throughout the U.S.A, Canada, France, Argentina and Brazil. Paul lived in Ireland from 2007 till 2009, greatly expanding his Irish music repertoire. He joined the Arran Maiden as a full time member in 2010 and has since been collaborating with Norman on a number of exciting new arrangements.

Colin (Drums)
Since having completed a music degree in 2002, Colin has spent 9 years teaching percussion in private schools in Scotland, and has also been involved as a tutor for numerous music workshops, such as Feis Dhun Eiheann and Midlothian council music projects. Colin has a wide range of playing experience, from rock bands to Samba bands, Big Bands, small jazz style trios, ceilidh bands and function bands. Combing this eclectic array of groups has seen Colin play a wide variety of gigs and concerts. Colin’s influences range from Led Zep to Wolfstone and everything in between.

Since joining Arran Maiden in 2009, Colin has notched up hundreds of gigs with the band, both locally and on foreign soil.

Nawaz (Electric Guitar)
Nawaz beat off competition from over 20 guitarists who auditioned for the band in the summer of 2011. His versatility, dexterous playing, and stage craft made him the perfect choice for the high energy Arran Maiden Rock show.

Nawaz has studied the guitar from a young age and has a wealth of experience in many styles of music including blues, jazz, funk and most importantly rock! His versatile and high level of playing has allowed him to work as a session musician on many projects with numerous established international artists.

Disco James (Sound/lighting engineer & DJ)
Disco James has spent the past 10 years forging close links with Arran Maiden. He has become an integral part of their show by providing DJ services when required and, more importantly, his sound engineering skills.

Since starting out in the early eighties James has gained vast experience presenting at graduation balls, weddings, parties and corporate events as well as supporting major pop acts.

He uses state of the art equipment and carries an ever increasing collection of over 50000 music tracks. He always asks his clients to provide a list of preferred music and no matter how specialist or obscure he will try his best to get every single one requested.

James also runs an equipment hire company which gives the band access to a huge range of additional sound/lighting as well as portable stage blocks, smoke machines etc.

Prestigous Venues Include:
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh
Blair Castle, Blair Atholl
Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Musselburgh race course
Prestonfield House Hotel
Lough Rynn Castle, Co Leitrim
Pollockshields Burgh Hall, Glasgow
Porchester Hall, London
Newton Hotel, Nairn
Langley Castle, Hexham

Please note; Discounts and/or smaller packages available for weekday bookings (Sunday - Thursday) Please ask for info and a quote.