Alan Bell

Alan comes from a family of accordionists in Angus where he played with bands led by his uncles throughout his school and university years.

After a gap from serious playing, during which time he developed an appreciation of the dancer’s point of view through dancing with London RSCDS demonstration team and later Corryvrechan, Alan picked up the accordion again to become a regular musician for Corryvrechan performances.

In 2005 Alan led a five piece band to play for Corryvrechan at the International Folk Festival in Moscow.

Accompanists

Chris Oxtoby

Chris has been playing accordion for Scottish dance for nearly 20 years. Prior to that, she ran her own English dance band, and was a member of London Folk (an English Dance display team).

Chris was a member of the dance band Sound Company, one of the premier Scottish Dance bands in the South East for 14 years, until the band decided to take a break, and is currently launching a new band called ‘Strathallan’ in the New Year.

She plays for country dances, society balls, and weddings, mainly in the South of England, but plays regularly in Europe and the Channel Islands. She made six successful commercial recordings, and is equally at home playing Scottish, English and American music.

Festivals have formed an important part of the Chris’ diary. She has performed at many major folk festivals, including the annual Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival - probably the premier showcase event for Scottish traditional music, with Sound Company.

Over the last couple of years, Chris has travelled to Moscow and France with Corryvrechan (the Scottish Dance display team), leading the band of five musicians and a piper on the most recent trip.