Biographies
Dougie Torrance has been involved in composing and recording music since he first picked up a guitar as an 18-year-old student studying teaching in Ayr. Having spent time in bands playing on the music scene in Glasgow, he’s a relative new comer to the folk and traditional music genre. The stories that are told in folk music by artists such as Paul Brady and Christy Moore have strongly influenced his song writing and he travels regularly to Ireland with a guitar a permanent fixture in his luggage.
Dougie recorded and produced Folky MacFolk Face’s first EP Under the Winter Sun at his home studio in Glasgow and has also recorded and produced the band's first full album When Night Falls. The new album "On the Edge" has also been produced by Dougie who has been able to work with artists including Adam Sutherland, Xosé Liz, Paula Gomez and Trish Strain.
Eabhnat Ní Laighin first spotted a fiddle high up on a shelf in a music shop in County Wexford, Ireland at the age of eight and knew it was the instrument for her. After a two year wait she acquired both a "family heirloom" from her Grand Aunt's attic and an inspiring teacher.
Eabhnat played in a folk group and various orchestras in Ireland including Wexford Symphonia. She also had a brief spell in the University of Limerick Orchestra before being asked to leave for excessive giggling during rehearsals.
Her musical influences include The Chieftains, Planxty & Altan among others. When she moved to Scotland she joined the Glasgow Caledonian Fiddle Orchestra for a year where she was introduced to the Scottish style of playing.
Jackie Mullen learned to play the guitar as a young girl. Ever since then she's listened to and admired singer song writers such as Cat Stevens, Paul Simon, Neil Finn, Nanci Griffith, Roddy Frame and Joan Baez.
Jackie learned to speak Gaelic as an adult and this led to her interest and exploration of Gaelic song. She has spent many a summer at the Gaelic College on the Isle of Skye (her favourite place in the whole world) where she has taken courses in Gaelic song and traditional music.
Jackie began playing mandolin a few years ago and is currently learning to play the fiddle.
Jackie played in a function band with Nick several years ago but her heart lies in folk and traditional music.
Nick Watson enjoyed playing cello, piano and viola in his younger days at school but focused more on singing throughout his adult life. Soul, indie and big band music have been favourite styles of Nick's.
Influenced by Crowded House, Alison Krauss and his Great Aunty Marion, Nick's loving his change of direction into folk & trad music.
He has recently taken up the accordion and is enjoying working with Jackie yet again, on another musical adventure.