Mairi Campbell & Dave
Francis are the multi-talented
Scottish duo known as The Cast,
whose albums The
Winnowing and Colours
of Lichen have attracted generous
critical acclaim. Their
inventive use of vocal and instrumental
harmonies brings a fresh approach
to the most venerable traditional
material.
In 1999 The Cast performed
their classic rendition of Auld
Lang Syne, as heard on their
debut album, The
Winnowing, on the U.S. television
special Kennedy Center Honors.
The program honored fellow Scot Sean
Connery. Mairi Campbell was also
featured singing Stevie Wonder's "We
Are The World" in the show's finale.
Among the many prestigious guests
attending this annual holiday event
were The President and Mrs. Clinton.
Mairi Campbell was
born in Edinburgh and after studying
at the Guildhall School of Music
in London her interest in Celtic
music brought her back to Scotland. She
and Dave formed a duo in 1991, and
in this context she performs her
own songs alongside traditional material. She
has played viola with the innovative
Kreisler String Orchestra in London
and has spent some time in Cape Breton
studying the music and dance of the
island.
Dave Francis learned
his music playing for dancing in
the village halls of North East Scotland. After
completing a tour of the United States,
he relocated to Edinburgh and teamed
up with Mairi. In April 1996
Dave became Director of the Edinburgh
Folk Festival and in September 1997
he was appointed by the Scottish
Arts Council as Traditional Music
Coordinator. Dave has long
had an interest in traditional dance
and theatre and his play The Lang
Reel was well received in 1987. The
other main strand of The Cast's work
has been in teaching and encouraging
Scottish traditional dance styles.
Mairi Campbell & Dave
Francis are the multi-talented
Scottish duo known as The Cast,
whose albums