The Paul McKenna Band

Combining their love for traditional and folk music as well as original songs and tunes the Paul MacKenna Band have been plaing to audiences throughout the UK since 2006.  With a contemporary approach to songs, although not straying too far from their roots, their arrangements are both fresh and innovative.  Their exciting sound is created through outstanding vocals, driving guitar and bouzouki, intense fiddle playing a warm pairing of flute and whistles and dynamic bodhran and percussion.

Press Quotes

"A band with the potential to dominate the Scottish/Irish traditional scene for the next twenty years and be spoken about in the same breath as Boys Of The Lough." Fatea Magazine

"The best band of their generation" The Living Tradition

"Great songs, great muscianship and, best of all, great enthusiasm. This outfit really enjoy their music and it shows. Audiences give an ecstatic response wherever they play." Edinburgh Folk Club
"A must see" The Garden Sessions

Band Bios

Paul Mckenna is an outstanding singer and mult-instrumentalist from Glasgow whose own music draws from the rich traditions of Scottish and irish music and blends it with modern rock  and contemporary song writing.  after only a few years Paul has gained the respect of some of the UK's top folk musicians and continues to impress listeners up and down the country.  He is currently studying towards a degree in Scottish Music at the RSAMD.

David McNee is an exciting talent from Glasgow.  A multi-instumentalist who favors a contemporary approach using traditional instruments such as mandolin and bouzouki to achieve a modern robust sound.  He is also quite busy producing albums for other talented Celtic musicians.

Ruairidh Macmillan is the 2009 "BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year.  Originally from Nairn in the Scottish Highlands Ruairidh is quickly making a name for himself in the world of Scottish Traditional fiddling.  Having been taught by the legendary Aonghas Grant snr he graduated with honors with a BA in Scottish Music from the RSAMDin 2008. He has toured extensively in Europe and is currently working on a solo album to be released in 2010 on the Greentrax label.  He also has a great deal o teaching experience currently holding posts at the Glasgow Fiddle Workshop and the RSAMD's Youthworks Dept as well as teaching privately.

Sean Gray began his involvement in the folk and traditiona music scene at the age of nine when he and his sister Robyn attended their first Folk Club.  Throughout their teens they played at various folk clubs and festivals through ot Scotland.  His final year of secondary school was spent at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music at Plockton High School in the western Highlands, where he studied flute with Dougie Pincock and guitar with Jack Evans.  Sean has paled along side many major acts such as Dick Gaughan, Back of the Moon, Jim Malcolm, Andy Irvine, Shooglenifty,Grada, the Findlay MacDonals Band, the Peatbog Faeries and Lyra Celtica to name but a few.

Ewan Baird comes from a family long involved in the folk scene.  He has  only been playing bodhran for  three years and in that time has developed a unique style of playing which is both impressive and the envy of many players. He also plays cajon and favors the DADGAD tuning for guitar and his style of playing adds to the unique sound of the Paul McKenna Band.