biography
Aly and Phil have been touring together since 1988 to packed concert halls though they did not record their first album The Pearl until 1994. Since then they have toured extensively playing festivals and concert venues in the UK, Canada, Europe and the United States -where they spent a year touring coast to coast.
Aly Bain is the best known and most significant Scottish fiddle player in the celtic tradition- arguably the finest of all time. He was a founder member of Boys of the Lough, and in 1994 was awarded an M.B.E. in recognition of his services to music. He was further honoured in 1999, receiving the degree of Doctor of Music from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Aly's fundamental work on his TV programmes such as The Transatlantic Sessions cannot be underestimated - they are globally influential.
Phil Cunningham is a world famous accordion player and composer. He first emerged aged just sixteen joining his brother John in the highly acclaimed band Silly Wizard. He has been nominated by The Scotsman as one of Scotland's 'most influential people'. In recent years Phil's work load has included numerous commissions for TV and film and an increasing amount of work as musical director for television and large theatrical events. In 2002 Phil received an M.B.E. for his contribution to Scottish music.
Together their bond is unique, each effortlessly working off each other whether playing fiery traditional reels or self-written slow airs that tug at the emotions - it just doesn't get any better!
"We started playing music together after having great fun recording one of Aly's early TV shows. Public response to these sessions was such that we decided to tour together and so our partnership was born. The annual tour has grown and has become something of an institution with the concerts selling out faster each year". BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 'BEST DUO' Award
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