Aly Bain And Phil Cunningham
What more can you say about these two stellar musicians who have become a national institution with their incomparable mastery of fiddle and accordion, bringing excellence in traditional music to venues across the country?
Having toured together since 1986 to packed concert halls all over the world, the duo recorded their first album ‘The Pearl’ in 1994 and followed it with many more highly acclaimed albums including ‘Five and Twenty’ CD to celebrate their 25th Anniversary in 2016. They also have two ‘Best of’ collections released of their work.
The pair have won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards – BEST DUO Award and been nominated in the Scottish Traditional Music Awards for ’Live Act of the Year.’
Aly was a founder member of the ‘Boys of the Lough’ and his passionate fiddle playing has also found its way onto recordings by the likes of Eddi Reader and Richard Thompson. He was responsible for launching ‘The Transatlantic Sessions’ TV series in which both he and Phil continue to feature. Accordion player Phil has been named as one of Scotland’s 25 most influential people and his mastery of the instrument has led to him working with the likes of Mark Knopfler, James Taylor, Rosanne Cash and Midge Ure. Together they are simply the best traditional musicians you are ever likely to hear.
Aly and Phil make a welcome return to play at this year’s MOK Fest with their well-honed skills and hilarious banter that has delighting audiences everywhere
Ellie Beaton & Gillie O’Flaherty
Hailing from the small village of Rothienorman in the North-East of Scotland, Ellie Beaton is one of Scotland’s most exciting singers. Having been brought up immersed in the deeply rooted traditions of the North-East of Scotland, she is well acquainted with the rich Aberdeenshire styles of singing.
The last two years have proved busy for Ellie when in January 2021, she became a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, aged only eighteen. Her success was shown later in the year at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, where she was awarded’ Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year’.
She will be joined by Ullapool guitarist, Gillie O’Flaherty, who is currently in his second year on the Bachelor of Music in Traditional Music course at the Royal Conservitoire of Scotland. The pair met through hearing each other playing music through the traditional music session scene in Glasgow.