Iain was born and brought up in Glenfinnan, a small village in Lochaber. Iain began playing the fiddle at the age of seven and progressed to the Bagpipes at the age of ten under the tutelage of Pipe Major Evan MacRae. Whilst still being taught fiddle by his Father,he went on to receive tuition from the well known Abriachan fiddler Donald Riddell. Since his teens Iain has played in many different musical formations and projects such as Gaelic Drama, Contemporary Dance, Dance Bands, Television and Radio and with local ‘greats’ such as Fergie MacDonald, Fearchar MacRae and Angus Grant and standing in when necessary for Aly Bain of the Boys of the Lough.
Following an HNC in Gaelic Language in 1996, he graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with a BA in Traditional Music. Since then he has been teaching at many ‘Fèisean, Festivals and Schools such as Oberlin College, Ohio USA, Boston, USA, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and has played on many albums. Iain now tutors fiddle at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music at Plockton High School.as well as maintaining a busy touring schedule with the acclaimed ‘Blazin’Fiddles’ as well as running Old Laundry Productions, his own recording studio business in Glenfinnan. We are delighted to have Iain back at Ceòlas.
