Ryan J. MacNeil, NS

     Originally from Big Pond and now residing in Port Hood, Cape Breton, Ryan is known as a powerful yet graceful player. This accomplished musician has mastered his instruments (highland bagpipe, border pipes and whistles) and brings a unique personal flavour to the music he plays. MacNeils electrifying upbeat playing is strongly rooted in Cape Breton's dance oriented tradition. In the past several years Ryan has become increasingly renown as a talented composer. His tunes have been performed and recorded by many musicians, both locally and abroad.

     To top it all off, Ryan manufactures a line of his own whistles! The "MacNeil whistle" comes from a culmination of technical training. Ryan used his playing experience and practical skills to develop a whistle which rivals any other on the market. Its strong mellow tone and the easy playability are quickly making it the choice of players worldwide. For information about Ryan J's whistles or if you're looking for some of his tunes visit www.macneilwoodwinds.com.

     Born to Irish parents in Birmingham, England in 1969, Aidan O’Brien first began to take music seriously at secondary school. Here he studied the trumpet and gained access into the Birmingham School’s Wind Orchestra. Whilst teaching himself guitar, Aidan was also receiving lessons on the 5 string banjo at school and before long was drafted into his first band ‘Invermore’, alongside elder brother Paul. The band enjoyed great success, including supporting such acts as Christy Moore, Moving Hearts, The Furey Brothers and Stockton’s Wing at venues all over the Midlands.

     The life of the band was cut short however when the O’Brien family re-patriated to Ireland. Aidan wasted no time in forming his own band at his new school and it was at this point that his focus shifted from the trumpet and banjo to the electric guitar. Soon he was playing with some big names on the Irish scene including Rob Strong and his son Andrew (now known for his part in the Alan Parker film ‘The Commitments‘). He toured the length and breadth of Ireland with Brush Shields and later too with Christy Dignam of the Irish band Aslan.

     Aidan then returned to the country of his birth to join up once again with his brother Paul. They had numerous acts on the function and gigging scene in Birmingham and London where often they would play one gig straight after another, such was the demand for their talent! It was around this time that Aidan found himself thinking more and more about the intoxicating sound of the Uilleann Pipes he’d heard growing up in Dublin and he made the decision to learn how to play this notoriously difficult instrument himself.
He acquired a practice set of pipes from Brian Howard and began to teach himself to play with nothing more than a tutor book and his own finely tuned ear. He threw himself into learning - playing up to as much as 16 hours a day and quickly realised that the pipes were definitely for him. He soon progressed to a full set of pipes from Alan Moller in North Wales. An early project Aidan was involved in was working with John Richardson (ex Rubettes) on his album ‘Celtic Drums.

     During Aidan’s time in Palmerstown, Dublin, he became friends with Padriag, one of the Duggan brothers from the renowned Irish band Clannad. He was understandably honoured to be invited to record on the Duggan’s solo project - ’Rubicon’ in 2004. In 2006 he took part in a full orchestral production of Joe O’Donnell’s album ‘Gaodhol’s Vision’ which featured at the Warwick Arts Festival.

     For the last 7 years, as well as marrying and having two children, much of Aidan’s time has been devoted to visiting every primary school in the city of Birmingham, delivering the message that live music is an exciting thing to be a part of. He has encouraged children’s interest in Irish music even further through teaching Tin Whistle.

     Currently, Aidan has a hectic schedule working on his own solo album - an eclectic mix demonstrating all his musical influences to date, as well as taking part in further projects with both John Richardson and Joe O’Donnell. He is also in the process of setting up a monthly Piper’s Club in Birmingham where he hopes to be able to share his piping experience and skill with a new generation of enthusiastic beginners.