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Eilidh Steel and Mark Neal are a Scottish music duo playing traditional and contemporary tunes and songs with many of their own compositions on fiddle, guitar and vocals. Continuing in the traditions of Scottish music with many influences from Argyll and the West Coast of Scotland, they blend the historical and modern perspective using older and newer compositions. Both Eilidh and Mark are prolific composers writing tunes and songs, taking influences from a wide range of music from piping and fiddling to indie/funk/jazz and everything else around… In addition to playing, Eilidh and Mark are both experienced teachers in their instruments, and are available for workshops and master classes in single instrument or mixed instrument settings.

Mark Neal

Mark is a multi instrumentalist focusing on playing guitar and singing, but can be found playing many other instruments including cittern, flute, whistles, percussion, mandolin etc… around the Edinburgh session scene. Originally from East Kilbride he has lived in Edinburgh since moving there to study for a physics degree and then a musical acoustics PhD in 1993. When not playing gigs or teaching Mark also runs the recording studio “The Sonic Lodge” and does sound system installation and consultancy. Mark has always been interested in all types of music and has played with a number of different bands in many different genres. He enjoys blending the traditional songs and tunes with influences from a number of different styles, creating something contemporary but still linked to its musical heritage. Mark manages and plays in the folk/rock ceilidh band Teannaich and has in the past played in a number of other bands including funk band Hejira. Both Eilidh and Mark are members of the band Heeliegoleerie. He is also a dance caller at many of the regular ceilidhs around Edinburgh with and extensive repertoire of Scottish dances new and old. Mark is an experienced tutor both individually and in group settings for guitar, mixed instruments and occasionally whistle, percussion and ceilidh dance.


 

Eilidh and Mark

Eilidh and Mark have toured extensivly around Europe as well as play gigs from the Royal Concert hall at Celtic Connections, outdoor gigs to over 4000 people in Verona, support to pop band Madness and being the backing band for legendary actor Ewan McGregor.

Eilidh Steel

Eilidh is a fiddle player and composer who grew up in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute where she started playing fiddle at the age of six. She studied Traditional Music Performance at North Highland College in Alness, Ross-shire, then completed a BA Honours in Scottish Music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow in the summer of 2006. Eilidh is a prolific composer and many of her tunes are now being played and performed throughout the world. Eilidh has always been influenced and interested in the music from her home area of Argyll researching this as part of her degree, and this along with many of her other musical interests forms part of the duo’s repertoire. Eilidh also teaches fiddle both in groups and individual settings. She has considerable experience teaching classes and workshops with many festivals including: The Scots Music Group, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra,(R.S.N.O) Feisean Nan Gael, Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin, Scots Fiddle Festival and Celtic Connections.