Treacherous Orchestra

Emerging from the vibrant melting-pot of Glasgow's 21st-century folk scene, Treacherous Orchestra have taken Scottish dance music into a totally and thrilling new dimension.

Having grown up under the influence of pioneering fusion acts such as Shooglenifty, Martyn Bennett, Peatbog Faeries and Salsa Celtica, this 12-piece act draw simultaneously on deep traditional roots and contemporary influences. Using their collective force, Treacherous Orchestra fuse people, concerts, styles and influences into a musical "Supergroup" that now find themselves in massive demand at Festivals up and down the country and further afield.

The band play their music with ferocity, verve and passion and as avid folk festival fans will recognise, they are made up of seasoned musicians who are already treading notable paths and reaching international recognition as arrangers, composers and performers with other outfits or in their own right. They include two of today’s most profiled and fiercest young pipers, Ali Hutton and Ross Ainslie (both influenced by the late Gordon Duncan); accordion player John Sommerville, drummer Fraser Stone and bassist Duncan Lyall (all three who appeared at the Festival with Box Club in 2009); fiddler Adam Sutherland (Peatbogs/Session A9); Barry Spad Reid on guitar; Éamonn Coyne on banjo (also no stranger to Shetland!); Kevin O’Neill on flute; Martin O’Neill on Bodhrán (who appeared in Shetland several times prior to joining the Stevie Wonder band in 2010!); Steve Byrnes on guitar and Innes Watson on fiddle/guitar. Innes was hailed “Instrumentalist of the Year” at the 2011 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.

Together their repertoire consists almost entirely of original tunes. They combine ferocious energy and sophisticated musical arrangements with explosive results that has earned them a fearsome reputation as an incendiary live act. They will perform in Shetland for one night only on Friday 4th May at the Clickimin (the only stage big enough!) - a one off gig that is surely not to be missed……