old blind dogs

The skill, talent and verve with which they played, belied their laddishness and the crowd responded with thunderous applause. Folk is the new rock and roll. "Shoots and Roots Festival April 1999 (Evening News)

Over the years Old Blind Dogs have evolved and grown into one of Scotland's favourite folk bands. In the early day's Dave Francis was involved on percussion and Carmen Higgins on fiddle. In 1992 Davie Cattenach joined the band and they toured as a four piece and recorded four great CDs with Scotland's record label KRL - New Tricks, Close to the Bone, Tall Tails and Legacy. In 1996 Fraser Fifield became the fifth member of the Old Blind Dogs, adding to the bands cutting edge sound with his tasty jazz licks on the sax and his superb playing of the small pipes. Their first album as a quintet - entitled Five, aptly enough, and released in 1997 - completed their five-album deal with KRL. Then in early 1997 Graham 'Mop' Youngson (ex - Wolfstone) replaced Davie Cattenach with his funky, hard-hitting rhythm kit. The band was busy in 1998 touring in America, Germany, Spain, Denmark and the UK.

1999 has seen the Old Blind Dogs embracing the New Year with a new and evolved line up. Sadly lan Benzie retired from the band in January. lan was the lead singer with OBD since the band was born in 1990 and will be missed by the band members and fans. Fraser Fifield has also moved on to develop other musical projects. The Old Blind Dogs continue on with the introduction of another great Scottish singer and songwriter Jim Malcolm and Rory Campbell (Deaf Sheppard) on small pipes and whistles.

Jim Malcolm is a performer of traditional Scots music and song with particular strong links to the ballads of Perthshire and Angus. In addition he is a fine exponent of simultaneous guitar and harmonica playing. His debut album, Sconeward, has been well received by critics both at home and abroad. A new album, Rohallion, went straight to the top of Greentraxs best seller's list.

Rory Campbell will be most recognized through his contributions in another great Scottish Folk band - Deaf Sheppard. Rory's piping has been described as 'crisp and tight', 'pipe tunes with inexorable energy' and a 'glorious blare of sound'. Rory will continue to play with Deaf Sheppard and will pin the Old Blind Dogs for tours being planned in 1999.

Discography: New Tricks, Close To The Bone, Tall Tails, Legac and Five. The new album - The World's Room - was released with Green Linnet records in October 1999.

The Band :
Jonny Hardie : Fiddle, manddin and backing vocals.
Buzzy McMillan : Electric bass, low whistles and backing vocals.
Jim Malcolm : Lead singer, guitar and harmonica.
Rory Campbell : Small pipes and whistles.
Paul Jennings : Percussion