31 year old Scottish bass player Lawrie MacMillan is an unclassifiable musician. Equally at home performing live or in the studio, his recognition as a first-call sideman owes as much to his genre-spanning experience as to his reputation as a teamplayer.
Best known for his work with the chart-topping group Stiltskin fronted by vocalist Ray Wilson, (who in the late 1990s also fronted the band Genesis, replacing their longtime iconic frontman, Phil Collins), Lawrie's touring schedule with Ray Wilson & Stiltskin is primarily based in and around mainland Europe, although their travels have included performances in South & Central America.
His touring, recording & broadcasting experiences have included acclaimed Celtic/World music group Ironhorse, with performances from a Disneyworld residency in Florida to a collaboration with Chamber Orchestra Sogdiana in Uzbekistan and several significant appearances at the Celtic Connections international festival.
On a sad yet proud note, Lawrie was the touring bass player with the late Stuart Adamson's post-Big Country country/rock project The Raphaels, a band co-led by Grammy Award winner Marcus Hummon, accompanying Stuart in what would be his final performances.
Closer to home, Lawrie regularly performs with friend and guitar virtuoso Willie Logan, featuring Willie's own unique style of blues. This page always has a song example available.
Also worth noting are Lawrie's experiences performing worldwide with various jazz lineups from quartets, latin and Big Band. However much these experiences enhance his diversity as a musician, he prefers to keep his tux and tropical shirts out of sight and out of mind :-)
Although his overseas work schedule can be spread out for up to 6 months of the year, when home Lawrie provides private bass guitar tuition (details available on request) and builds on his considerable reportoire whilst depping/subbing for many of Scotland's finest established groups, from pub rock to corporate function bands.
Lawrie also enjoys recording with the widest range of songwriters and producers time will allow him, and hosts a weekly jam night at The Corner bar in Dunfermline (please feel free to request more information about this).
He has been featured as Glasgow Royal Concert Hall's house bass player on the BBC2 Ealtainn series, and his recent sessions include an in-the-works spiritual song-based album by The Entangled. Current releases include a live Stiltskin album; Urban/RnB vocalist Raff's new EP, Gotta Get It Right, which is currently being featured on an Adult entertainment soundtrack in Brazil (sexy basslines!!); blues guitar virtuoso Willie Logan's Fragile Creatures, progressive guitarist Geoff Geer's Lost Connection and Classic FM TV regular Chris Smith, who's unique classical-inspired album Fantasy, features Lawrie's fretted and fretless bass contributions.
Lawrie has (not so) recently been seen in the bass chair backing the hugely successful STF Production of the Queen/Ben Elton musical, We Will Rock You at the Rothes Halls, Glenrothes.
And since nobody seems to read this far into my biography...I'm gonna add some current info anyway having just spent the last couple of months playing overseas and recording in various studios. I put three tracks of bass down for the amazing singer/songwriter Ross Adam and for the fans, some basslines on Ray Wilson's latest material. Also worth mentioning is a double bass track I did for Chrystal Tears. Sensitive Friend can be heard on loopmaniac's page, as found in my top friends.
I also feel compelled to mention that my favourite comedian, Tim Minchin told me in an email that my playing is "solid as fuck." My favourite compliment so far. Youtube him and see him at this year's Edinburgh Fringe. You won't regret it...
