Helen Forbes

Helen Forbes from Dundee is regarded as one of Scotland's finest tin whistle players. Her father, Peter, a well known Highland piper who later took up uillean pipes, was a major influence on her playing but she was also lucky enough to be taught by Mary Bergin in Spiddal and also by her at the Willie Clancy School in Miltown Malbay. At the moment Helen plays with the totally "Mad Parrot Ceilidh Band" but she has also played with Fon A Bhord, The Kickass Ceilidh Band, The Careful Movers, the all-girl Blo Na Gael, Heritage and the Foundry Bar Band. She has also performed on a large number of recordings including fellow Dundonian Michael Marra's acclaimed album Posted Sober. As well as playing with the band Helen performs a fair number of solo gigs sometimes accompanied by her partner Lou Lewis who's really a song writing rock guitarist (ex Headboys) but hey...who's counting. She also does LOTS of teaching. Dundee Wighton Centre on Saturday mornings, Kennoway Community School on Sunday afternoons, Feisean Nan Gaidhael during school holidays, festival workshops and the rest of the time she's a music lecturer at Dundee College.