John Paul Speirs

John Paul Speirs is currently playing electric bass with the Finlay MacDonald band, The Everything Treatment and the Michael Deans Quintet. He is also aiming to release an album of his own left field compositions next year. His sub-underground smash "Top Dog" was recently released on touchtones 3, a compilation on the Tummy Touch label. His music has taken him to Georgia, Morroco, Europe and the U.S.John Paul Speirs began playing bass and guitar at 14 and quickly started a band. Writing and recording through school, he hit Glasgow with inde funk juniors 'Tempus Fugit' who broadcast on Radio Scotland from King Tut's in 94. Around this time John Paul Speirs began his apprenticeship in “time” with jazz drummer Iain Copeland (Peat Bog Faeries) in acts such as Dissentangoed, The Chick Lyall Quintet and Swirler, featuring Kevin MacKenzie and Julian Arguilles, who supported, amoungst others, The Jazz Crusaders and Steve Williamson. In 1996 John Paul Speirs recieved an "Outstanding Musicianship" award while attending the Berkeley in Glasgow jazz course. Over the past ten years he has been a journeyman with many acts in the jazz, soul, funk and folk vein including The Fred Quimby Quartet, Sassafrass, Chong, Kaching (the swindle continues), Graham Wilson quartet, Promise, Bachue Big Band, Sunhoney, The Hi Heeled Sneakers, Adam Sutherland Band, Soap, Rev Doc and the Congregation, Rapido Mariachi, Speedway, and Hue and Cry. John Speirs has also written and produced music for Scottish Natural Heritage and other environmental education projects. John Paul Speirs also teaches bass guitar.