Truly a feast of piping with three of Scotland and Ireland's finest pipers - John McSherry (Ireland), Francis McIlDuff (Ireland ) and Malin Lewis (Scotland). A fantastic line-up for the second night of this year's Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival.

John McSherry

John McSherry has been a major figure in Irish music for almost 20 years. He is hailed as one of the finest exponents of the art of uilleann piping in the world today, described as "true master" by Irish Music Magazine.

He is a composer, producer, arranger and established studio session musician of world renown, having recorded and performed with the likes of Sinead O’Connor, Rod Stewart, Nanci Griffith, Gary Kemp, The Corrs and Clannad - gracing the latter's Grammy award-winning album 'Landmarks'.

A founder member of top traditional music bands Lunasa, Tamalin and Donal Lunny's Coolfin in the 1990s, John has subsequently produced a string of critically acclaimed and innovative albums, both solo and collaborative, as well as co-writing 'The Wheels Of The World: 300 Years of Irish Uilleann Pipers' (Jawbone Press, 2015), a benchmark publication in traditional music history and appreciation.

John continues to push the boundaries of Irish music, working with such musical luminaries as Joe Dart, Tyler Duncan and Michael Shimmin with his current band The Olllam.

Francis McIlduff

Francis McIlduff, a member of the legendary McPeake family from Belfast, was exposed to traditional Irish music from an early age. He debuted with the family band Clann McPeake in the 1980’s, and since then has gone on to play in a variety of reputable outfits including Alias Ron Kavana, Afterhours, Sin É and more currently At First Light. The “double pipes” sound that he and John McSherry create together helps give At First Light their trademark sound. Francis also plays whistles, guitar, bodhrán and other percussion.

Malin Makes Music

BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2022 Finalist, Malin Lewis, is a piper, fiddler, highly talented composer and instrument maker from the West coast of Scotland. Malin's music is inspired by everything they are exposed to in life. Most recently they have been studying folk music in Helsinki and learning the traditions of the extinct Finnish Bagpipes. They play an eclectic mixture of original compositions and traditional tunes from all across Europe.

Megan Níc Fhionnghaile

Megan Níc Fhionnghaile is a fiddle player and singer from Gaoth Dobhair , a region celebrated for its traditional Irish music and the Irish language. She is currently studying Irish Music at the Irish World Academy in the University of Limerick. Megan will be accompanied by Cillian Mac Cába; a fantastic young guitar player hailing from Monaghan Ireland.

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