From Loch Lomond Scotland, our full story weaves together many threads from the worlds of Traditional, Classical, and Contemporary Music, where historically all three genre of music were interlinked in Scotland’s musical identity.
LINSEY AITKEN
A highly regarded cellist, pianist and vocalist encompassing many genres and styles from Classical to Traditional music.
Inspired by leading German ‘cellist May Libersohn of the’ Scottish National Orchestra’, she studied ‘cello and piano under the personal tuition of leading international musicians – cellist Anna Shuttleworth, harpsichord maestro Alan Cuckston, and virtuoso pianist Gusztav Fenyo
At Harrogate Arts School she studied Singing, Music and Performing Arts, and then went on to complete a degree in cello and piano performance at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama [RSAMD] alongside Scotland’s foremost Lute player Rob McKillop, and Martin Bennet who became a legend in Scottish music before his untimely death. Linsey was one of eight UK ‘cellists invited to play at the London Royal School of Music Centenary Concert in Royal Albert Hall London.
Working as a freelance cellist and pianist all round Scotland, she then became a champion of Kodaly Methodology teaching and inspiring people ranging from baby music classes to youth orchestras, university and all walks of life.
As part of that her musical vocabulary grew and extended to all genres of music and by 2009 she had becomea founder member of Scotland’s Cross Border Band led by the legendary Erne Parkin.
In spring 2010 Linsey Aitken on cello and vocals joined The Ideal Band, taking over from Seylan Baxter.
Subsequently Linsey and Ken commenced touring as a duo throughout UK, Europe and USA.
In 2014 she created The Loch Lomond Ukulele Orchestra which now has over 70 members ranging in age from 8 to 80, all of whom thought they could not sing or play an instrument, now bringing joy to all and raising considerable funds for charity.
KEN CAMPBELL
Scottish singer/songwriter with a well established pedigree over 30 years, with five albums to date, festivals, concerts, TV and radio throughout Europe and beyond.
Starting with Glasgow band ‘Molendinar, in 1980 Ken and Chris Miller performed at Lorient lnterceltic Festival in France.
Arfolk, the same label that the ‘Battlefield Band’ recorded their first album with in similar circumstances, offered Chris and Ken a contract as a duo.
Immediately offered gigs round the UK, they sent a demo to Topic Records in London and in 1981 ‘The Pipers Maggot’ was released as companion album to Dick Gaughan’s classic album ‘Handful of Earth’. Ken and Chris, then joined by Alasdair Robertson, called the new trio ‘The ldeal Band’ after Scotland’s famous ‘Bob Smith’s Ideal Band’ of the 1930’s.
“Through the 1980’s ‘The Ideal Band’ along with ‘Battlefield Band’, ‘Ossian’, ‘Tannahill Weavers’ and others had a huge impact on the perception of Scottish Music.” – Living Tradition
In 1984 ‘A Measure of Freedom’ was released by Lismor Recordings, and a lot more festivals and touring followed.
He subsequently toured with Cauld Wind Piper Hamish Moore, recorded two solo albums [“Going Solo” – Fellside & “Hand Pict” – Watercolour] whilst also working with cellist, singer, Wendy Weatherby, Stevie Lawrence [Rallion/Red Hot Chilli Pipers/Iron Horse] and Blair Cowan [Lloyd Cole & the Commotions].
He subsequently performed alongside Hamish Moore and Mairi Campbell in Barga Italy in 2008, and in 2009 got the ‘‘The ldeal Band’’ on the road again with a wealth of new songs, northumbrian pipes were brought back in, more touring followed, an album was released on Fellside and Dr John Barrow at Stoneyport Associates, took them under his personal wing arranging concerts and tours.
In spring 2010 Linsey Aitken on cello and vocals joined The Ideal Band, and a new six track CD and videos were released in January 2011.
Subsequently Linsey and Ken commenced touring as a duo, with a new CD ‘Kith & Kin’ released in 2014, and a subsequent second CD ‘Shore to Shore’ released in July 2018, both of which were recorded at Watercolour Music in Scotland.
From different musical genre – combining vocal harmony with an unusual combination of instruments,
and pedigrees ranging from Celtic traditional music, contemporary song writing, to classical, baroque and orchestral.
A unique songbook – self penned and traditional songs and tunes, covering a host of subjects, contemporary and historic, from Columba and Mid Argyll, Dundee whaling songs, Scots abroad, to chorus songs and world events, with a Scottish related theme.
Collaborations – In 2010 as the Ideal Band, they toured Russia. Back in Scotland they organised major concerts at Edinburgh Festival and Arts Centres, playing with their guests the world famous Rostov Balalaika combining their music and song with traditional music and dance from the Cossack region of Russia.
In January 2011 they organised and fronted a series of multi cultural concerts as part of the St Mungo Festival in Glasgow,being joined by musicians from Ghana, Ireland, Scotland etc. Other collaborations have included concerts with award winning Gaelic singer Maggie Macinnes, Piper/Pipemaker Hamish Moore, and Nick Keir of the McCalmans, with more to follow