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Old Blind Dogs

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Old Blind Dogs
Old Blind Dogs at the 2016 blacksheep festival in Germany
Old Blind Dogs at the 2016 blacksheep festival in Germany
Background information
OriginAberdeen, Scotland
GenresScottish folk, Celtic
Years active1990–present
LabelsGreen Linnet
Members
  • Ian F. Benzie
  • Davy Cattenach
  • Fraser Fifield
  • Jonny Hardie
  • Ewan McCall
  • Buzzby McMillan
Websiteoldblinddogs.co.uk

Old Blind Dogs is a Scottish musical group which plays traditional Scottish folk music and Celtic music, with influences from rock, reggae, jazz, blues, and Middle Eastern music rhythms.

Background

The three founding members of the band (Ian F. Benzie, Buzzby McMillan and Jonny Hardie) first met during a so-called "buskers' holiday" in the Scottish Highlands in 1990,[1] and after playing together for the summer decided to call themselves "Old Blind Dogs". Dave Francis and Carmen Higgins joined the band soon afterwards, but left in 1992 before the recording of the first album, New Tricks. Since that time, the line-up of the band has changed frequently, with only Jonny Hardie remaining from the original group.

The Old Blind Dogs were named "Folk Band of the Year" at the Scots Trad Music Awards.[1] Also in 2004, Jim Malcolm was named Songwriter of the Year. In 2001, the UK's Association of Independent Music selected their album Fit? as a finalist for the Celtic Album of the Year award.

The band have toured extensively, performing in Britain, the US, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Spain, Italy, and Russia.

Discography

  • New Tricks (1992)
  • Close to the Bone (1993)
  • Tall Tails (1994)
  • Legacy (1995)
  • Five (1997)
  • Live (1999)
  • The World's Room (1999)
  • Fit? (2001)
  • The Gab o' Mey (2003)
  • Play Live (2004)
  • Four on the Floor (2007)
  • Wherever Yet May Be (2010)
  • Room with a View (2017)

Band members

1990–92

  • Ian F. Benzie (guitar, vocals)
  • Jonny Hardie (fiddle, mandolin, guitar, backing vocals)
  • Buzzby McMillan (cittern, bass)
  • Carmen Higgins (fiddle)
  • Dave Francis (percussion)
  • Davy Cattanach (percussion) joined 1991

1992–96

  • Ian F. Benzie
  • Jonny Hardie
  • Buzzby McMillan
  • Davy Cattanach

1996–97

  • Ian F. Benzie
  • Jonny Hardie
  • Buzzby McMillan
  • Fraser Fifield (small pipes, saxophone)
  • Davy Cattanach

1997–99

  • Ian F. Benzie
  • Fraser Fifield
  • Graham Youngson (percussion)
  • Jonny Hardie
  • Buzzby McMillan

1999–2003

  • Jim Malcolm (guitar, harmonica, lead vocals)
  • Jonny Hardie (fiddle, guitar, backing vocals)
  • Buzzby McMillan
  • Rory Campbell (whistle, border pipes, guitar, harmonica, backing vocals)
  • Paul Jennings (percussion) left 2002

2003–2006

  • Jim Malcolm
  • Jonny Hardie
  • Rory Campbell
  • Fraser Stone (drums, percussion)
  • Aaron Jones (bouzouki, bass, backing vocals)

2007–2008

  • Jonny Hardie (fiddle, guitar, vocals)
  • Rory Campbell (border pipes, whistles, vocals)
  • Fraser Stone (percussion)
  • Aaron Jones (bouzouki, guitar, vocals)

2008–2016

  • Jonny Hardie (fiddle, guitar, vocals)
  • Ali Hutton (border pipes, whistles)
  • Fraser Stone (percussion)
  • Aaron Jones (bouzouki, guitar, vocals)

2016–

  • Jonny Hardie (fiddle, guitar, vocals)
  • Ali Hutton (Great Highland bagpipe, border pipes, whistles)
  • Donald Hay (percussion)
  • Aaron Jones (bouzouki, guitar, vocals)

In the following table, please note that although "Live" was released in 1999, the performers are those from the 1992–1996 line-up (Benzie, Hardie, McMillan, and Cattenach) and not those from "The World's Room" (a studio release from the same year).

Old Blind Dogs member timeline, 1990 – present
Name 1990s 2000s now
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Releases New Tricks Close to the Bone Tall Tails Legacy Five Live, The World's Room Fit? The Gab o Mey Play Live Four on the Floor Wherever Yet May Be
Ian F. Benzie guitar, vocals
Jonny Hardie fiddle, mandolin, guitar, backing vocals fiddle, guitar, backing vocals fiddle, guitar, vocals
Buzzby McMillan cittern, bass
Carmen Higgins fiddle
Dave Francis percussion
Davy Cattanach percussion
Fraser Fifield small pipes, saxophone
Graham Youngson percussion
Jim Malcolm guitar, harmonica, lead vocals
Rory Campbell border pipes, whistles, vocals
Paul Jennings percussion
Fraser Stone drums, percussion percussion
Aaron Jones bouzouki, bass, backing vocals bouzouki, guitar, vocals
Ali Hutton border pipes, whistles

References

  1. ^ a b Mills, Michelle (3 March 2016). "Scotland's Old Blind Dogs in concert in Pasadena". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
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