Rallion are; Fiona Cuthill (fiddle, whistles, recorder), Marieke McBean (vocals, guitar, bodhran), Steve Lawrence (guitar, bouzouki, percussion), Andrew Lyons (fiddle, cittern)
Fiona also plays in a duo with Stevie Lawrence on guitar and bouzouki.
Influences
Although I play folk music, the attitude I have towards my music probably comes from my love of rock music, which I have listened to my whole life. I like anything with a bit of passion and grit, great melodies, good songwriting, shredding guitar solos, vocals to die for - and if there is a bit of the "bad boy" about, then even better....
Some of my favourites are; Tyketto, Danny Vaughn, Little Angels, Apocalyptica, Evanescence, Terrorvision, Skin (Neville MacDonald), Thunder, Skid Row, Metallica, Aerosmith, Rammstein, Whitesnake, Guns n Roses, GUN, Motley Crue etc.
This guy below is Danny Vaughn - possibly the best voice I have ever heard in my life.
And these guys below are the ones to blame for getting me into rock music - Little Angels. Fantastic band, but sadly no longer on the go - like most of my favourite bands...
This band below are awesome live. Apocalyptica. They are all highly trained classical cellists from Finland, but they now play heavy metal on their cellos.
Sounds Like
This Rallion playing at Edinburgh Folk Club in March 2009. Video by Albrecht Volk.
This is Rallion playing at the Millrace Folk Festival in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. August 2008. Video by Colleen Ford.
Fiona is a fiddler from Glasgow who was classically trained by Bill Baxter (who played with the famous Halley Orchestra) and then discovered the world of folk music after leaving school. Since then, she has been involved primarily in the ceilidh scene, playing all over the country with a variety of ceilidh bands. She also teaches fiddle at Glasgow Fiddle Workshop. "Fiona Cuthill's fiddle playing is superb" fRoots, November 2008.
She is now a member of Rallion, a four-piece folk band from various parts of Scotland, who play a mixture of traditional and more modern songs and tunes with a contemporary twist. Their trademark is their double fiddle sound. (www.rallion.co.uk/www.myspace.com/rallionband). Rallion have played at many festivals and venues all over the country and also in Europe and Canada, leaving many happy audiences in their wake...
"Any head banging, heavy metal musician would envy the driving, chest thumping beat this group can pound out of their traditional instruments. Clapping and foot stomping was irresistible every time they played. They rock! " Jay Moore, Cambridge Now, Ontario, Canada.
"Rallion demonstrated why they are acclaimed as one of Scotland's most exciting traditional folk bands.Driven by double fiddles, guitar/cittern and bodhran, the foursome enjoyed their first visit to Canada by making an auspicious festival debut." Robert Reid, The Record, Ontario, Canada.
Fiona has also played with six-piece band Canterach, whose line up includes the Great Highland Bagpipe of Lorne MacDougall, and the vocal talents of Ross Kennedy. Here they are playing live in Germany in March 2007.
Fiona has been playing gigs with Borders based band, Real Time for the past year, helping them out while they recruit a full-time fiddler. She has appeared on their latest album, Border Skies, and travelled all over Germany and the UK playing gigs.
In addition to this, she was a member of Early Music group, Whirligig, in the 1990's, with Steve Lawrence (ex-Iron Horse) and her twin sister, Jenny. This project evolved out of her love of the recorder and this instrument features prominently in the band's CDs. Whirligig have relaeased 2 CD's with this lineup on the KRL label.
Her musical relationship with Steve Lawrence has resulted in several appearances on CDs as a session musician, and now in Rallion... Steve and Fiona also appear as a duo, describing their music as contemporary, self-penned tunes on fiddle and guitar, with a touch of rock attitude thrown in for good measure! This rock attitude has resulted in Steve and Fiona supporting and playing with Prog Rock legends, Abel Ganz, and appearing on a wide range of CDs as guest musicians.
Rallion are due to release their second album in 2009 on the Big Sky label.
Rallion "For No-One and Everyone" reviews;
The Living Tradition - Issue 72
Good stuff this!
Marieke's voice is delightful, which is hardly surprising as she was classically trained from the age of eleven. So is Fiona's fiddle (and occasional viola) playing. Outstanding guitar from Stevie thoughout, driving or sensitive at need and technically really sound.
Festival bookers should check out their very good website at www.rallion.co.uk and bring them to a wider audience as quick as you like. I reckon they'll go down well.
Phil Thomas
fRoots - April 2007
Promising debut of 4-piece group (fiddles, bouzouki, vocals, guitar, recorder/whistle) performing mainly Scottish traditional material. The two fiddles of Andrew Lyons and Fiona Cuthill are the pulsing heart of the band: their atmospheric playing has colour, texture and panache.
The Folk Mag - March 2007
A very impressive first album from this young semi-pro Scottish band based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. There are some excellent tunes written by band members - a slow air by Andrew and a set of four tunes by Fiona Cuthill. I look forward to seeing them at a festival this summer.
Tradmusic.com
"An album of great strength and persuasion, with powerful folksong in meaningful mode. Jazz intonations, vocals free from any twee folkritude, instruments played with flair, dash and precision, plus some excellent compositions alongside the traditional pieces."
Rock n' Reel - Mar/April 2007.
Rallion are a four-piece Scottish outfit specialising in folk and traditional material. For No-One and Everyone, their debut album certainly has a memorable title and you get the feeling the attitude crosses over to the material they perform. Whether it's something like the more recognisable opener "The Blacksmith", their epic and brash reading of ballad "Susanna Martin", their distinctive jazz flavoured reading of "P Stands for Paddy", or their sensitive and often scintillating tune sets, most notably "Back on Track" (all tunes composed by fiddle player Fiona Cuthill), they demonstrate a writing and performing versatility that's addictive.
A Leap In The Dark Review - Rambles.net
Also worthy of mention is Fiona Cuthill, whose fiddle playing is quite superb. Her original composition "Waiting for the Dawn" is a mournful Celtic tune. Fiona's fiddle leads on additional pieces such as the traditional "Lindisfarne" and "Burnbrae." Now that I've heard A Leap in the Dark, my money would be looking for more by Maggie Harrison and Fiona Cuthill.
Discography;
Whirligig - Celtic Dawn (Lochshore)
Whirligig - What If A Day (Lochshore)
Steve Lawrence and Hudson Swan - Amalgamation (Lochshore)
2001 - A Musical Celebration of 550 Years of the University of Glasgow (Lochshore)
The Waverley Collection - The Clydesiders and Special Guests (Downtown Records)
Arise and Shine - A Christmas Cantata by David Mitchell (Kirkton Records)
A Taste of the Church Hymnary - (Hymn Book Revision Committee)
Stevie Lawrence - The Hidden Gem (Big Sky)
Here's Tae Lochaber, A Celebration of Scotland in Film and Music (SFF Records)
A Leap In The Dark, Acoustic and Celtic Music for Inspiration and Reflection (Zebo Productions)
Glasgow Fiddle Workshop - Pub Session Tunes (GFW)
Glasgow Fiddle Workshop - Slow Airs (GFW)
Glasgow Fiddle Workshop - Pipe Tunes (GFW)
Rallion - For No-one and Everyone (2006 - Big Sky)
Abel Ganz - Shooting Albatross (2008)
Real Time - Border Skies (2008 - Big Sky)
Judy Barker - Chanter's Weave (2008)
Glasgow Fiddle Workshop - "Best of" CD (2008)
Donald Campbell - A Piper's Tapestry (Principal of Glasgow University's personal piper, 2008)
Jayne Sarah - "Perfectly Impossible" (2008, Big Sky)
Craig Jeffrey - Don't Blow Away (2008, Big Sky)
Drew Scott (Big Sky, 2008)
Billy McIssac - Songs for Lochaber (2009)
One of Fiona's compositions also appears on the latest release, Dans les Airs, from Quebecois band, Le Vent du Nord. The tune is featured in their song, Les Larmes aux Yeux, and is named after the band themselves.
Hi Fi! So, I was checking my Last.fm stats tonight and noticed that 'Waiting For Dawn' came in as my 9th most played track in the past 12 months - which is huge, considering the vast number of tracks I play & that I didn't get it until August. Such an amazing tune! L.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
thank you so much for the add. if you get a chance, will you check out my page tell me whatcha think about my music and pics? i would really appreciate it. have a great day! and follow me on twitter as well at twitter.com/yenisley.. muah!!
I think most of us have been neglecting MS, but as FB has gone doolally, I think we should reconvene here. I listen to good music all the time, Fi! Mike and I are both raving about the Kittiwakes at present.
My layout has screwed up and I don't know why!! And I'm bored of my clouds now... I wish I had Kat's patience to tart my profile up a bit... her page always looks so lovely!
Hello,and thank you for a great time at the session last saturday!:-) I managed to get home fine,and the day thereafter was not to bad either. It's great fun to get some inspiration,and to find out what the traditional way to do a tune is,since there is not that many people in Stavanger,if any,that has really studied Celtic music from someone that really knows firsthand how to play it.."three notes on the upstroke,and one downstroke" :-) Nice to hear some Norwegian tunes on your page,and I hope I get to see Rallion live sometime too! All the best from Stian!!
The Kelvingrove Music Festival is a much missed fixture on the Scottish Music Scene and hopefully we can create a fitting tribute to the days when rock music got the support that it deserved from both the fans and the media!
If you have any material relating to the Festival or the bands that played there we'd love to see it and include it on the forthcoming Kelvingrove Festival website!
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