Fiona is a fiddler from Glasgow who was classically trained by Bill Baxter (who played with the famous Halley Orchestra) and then discovered the world of folk music after leaving school. Since then, she has been involved primarily in the ceilidh scene, playing all over the country with a variety of ceilidh bands, including The Scotch Schnapps (www.thescotchschnapps.co.uk). She also teaches fiddle at Glasgow Fiddle Workshop.
She is now a member of Rallion, a four-piece folk band from various parts of Scotland, who play a mixture of traditional and more modern songs and tunes with a contemporary twist. Their trademark is their double fiddle sound. (www.rallion.co.uk). Rallion have played at many festivals and venues all over the country and also in Europe and Canada, leaving many happy audiences in their wake...
"Any head banging, heavy metal musician would envy the driving, chest thumping beat this group can pound out of their traditional instruments. Clapping and foot stomping was irresistible every time they played. They rock! " Jay Moore, Cambridge Now, Ontario, Canada.
"Rallion demonstrated why they are acclaimed as one of Scotland's most exciting traditional folk bands.Driven by double fiddles, guitar/cittern and bodhran, the foursome enjoyed their first visit to Canada by making an auspicious festival debut." Robert Reid, The Record, Ontario, Canada.
Fiona has also played with six-piece band Canterach, whose line up includes the Great Highland Bagpipe of Lorne MacDougall, and the vocal talents of Ross Kennedy. Here we are playing live in Germany in March 2007.
Canterach Live in Germany
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And at the Lorient Festival in 2006.
And in The Goat, Glasgow, as part of Piping Live, 2006.
She has been playing gigs with Borders based band, Real Time for the past year, helping them out while they recruit a full-time fiddler. She has appeared on their latest album, Border Skies, and travelled all over Germany and the UK playing gigs.
In addition to this, she was a member of Early Music group, Whirligig, in the 1990's, with Steve Lawrence (ex-Iron Horse) and her twin sister, Jenny. This project evolved out of her love of the recorder and this instrument features prominently in the band's CDs. Whirligig have relaeased 2 CD's with this lineup on the KRL label.
Her musical relationship with Steve Lawrence has resulted in several appearances on CDs as a session musician, and now in Rallion... Steve and Fiona also appear as a duo, describing their music as contemporary, self-penned tunes on fiddle and guitar, with a touch of rock attitude thrown in for good measure! This rock attityude has resulted in Steve and Fiona supporting and playing with Prog Rock legends, Abel Ganz, and appearing on a wide range of CDs as guest musicians.
Rallion are due to release their second album later this year on the Big Sky label.
Rallion "For No-One and Everyone" reviews;
The Living Tradition - Issue 72
Good stuff this!
Marieke's voice is delightful, which is hardly surprising as she was classically trained from the age of eleven. So is Fiona's fiddle (and occasional viola) playing. Outstanding guitar from Stevie thoughout, driving or sensitive at need and technically really sound.
Festival bookers should check out their very good website at www.rallion.co.uk and bring them to a wider audience as quick as you like. I reckon they'll go down well.
Phil Thomas
fRoots - April 2007
Promising debut of 4-piece group (fiddles, bouzouki, vocals, guitar, recorder/whistle) performing mainly Scottish traditional material. The two fiddles of Andrew Lyons and Fiona Cuthill are the pulsing heart of the band: their atmospheric playing has colour, texture and panache.
The Folk Mag - March 2007
A very impressive first album from this young semi-pro Scottish band based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. There are some excellent tunes written by band members - a slow air by Andrew and a set of four tunes by Fiona Cuthill. I look forward to seeing them at a festival this summer.
Tradmusic.com
"An album of great strength and persuasion, with powerful folksong in meaningful mode. Jazz intonations, vocals free from any twee folkritude, instruments played with flair, dash and precision, plus some excellent compositions alongside the traditional pieces."
Rock n' Reel - Mar/April 2007.
Rallion are a four-piece Scottish outfit specialising in folk and traditional material. For No-One and Everyone, their debut album certainly has a memorable title and you get the feeling the attitude crosses over to the material they perform. Whether it's something like the more recognisable opener "The Blacksmith", their epic and brash reading of ballad "Susanna Martin", their distinctive jazz flavoured reading of "P Stands for Paddy", or their sensitive and often scintillating tune sets, most notably "Back on Track" (all tunes composed by fiddle player Fiona Cuthill), they demonstrate a writing and performing versatility that's addictive.
A Leap In The Dark Review - Rambles.net
Also worthy of mention is Fiona Cuthill, whose fiddle playing is quite superb. Her original composition "Waiting for the Dawn" is a mournful Celtic tune. Fiona's fiddle leads on additional pieces such as the traditional "Lindisfarne" and "Burnbrae." Now that I've heard A Leap in the Dark, my money would be looking for more by Maggie Harrison and Fiona Cuthill.
Discography;
Whirligig - Celtic Dawn (Lochshore)
Whirligig - What If A Day (Lochshore)
Steve Lawrence and Hudson Swan - Amalgamation (Lochshore)
2001 - A Musical Celebration of 550 Years of the University of Glasgow (Lochshore)
The Waverley Collection - The Clydesiders and Special Guests (Downtown Records)
Arise and Shine - A Christmas Cantata by David Mitchell (Kirkton Records)
A Taste of the Church Hymnary - (Hymn Book Revision Committee)
Stevie Lawrence - The Hidden Gem (Big Sky)
Here's Tae Lochaber, A Celebration of Scotland in Film and Music (SFF Records)
A Leap In The Dark, Acoustic and Celtic Music for Inspiration and Reflection (Zebo Productions)
Glasgow Fiddle Workshop - Pub Session Tunes (GFW)
Glasgow Fiddle Workshop - Slow Airs (GFW)
Glasgow Fiddle Workshop - Pipe Tunes (GFW)
Rallion - For No-one and Everyone (2006 - Big Sky)
Abel Ganz - Shooting Albatross (2008)
Real Time - Border Skies (2008 - Big Sky)
Judy Barker - Chanter's Weave (2008)
Glasgow Fiddle Workshop - "Best of" CD (2008)
Donald Campbell - A Piper's Tapestry (Principal of Glasgow University's personal piper)
One of Fiona's compositions also appears on the latest release, Dans les Airs, from Quebecois band, Le Vent du Nord. The tune is featured in their song, Les Larmes aux Yeux, and is named after the band themselves.
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