TUNE COMMISSIONS

Given the chance to record (2020 studio album) VANA live. 'Ross Ainslie & the Sanctuary band live at the Gorbals' became a vehicle for more than a simple recording of musicians playing an album live off the floor together. It has also given the opportunity to explore the deeper meaning behind Ross's compositions and his life in music. This insight has been reflected in the stories of all the band members, the high and lows of lives led in music.

The root of inspiration: the what, the when and the why for - music is more than vibrations in time. It reflects the inner worlds of the individuals who write and perform it, this film seeks to explore these mystical charms whilst simultaneously showcasing the intense skill of musicians, revelling in the opportunity to play complex music together and as one.

Ross Ainslie - Whistle, Pipes, Cittern
Greg Lawson - Fiddle, Mandolin
Paul Towndrow - Sax
Steve Byrnes - Guitar
Hamish Napier - Piano, Keys, Harmonium
James Lindsay - Bass, Moog
James Mackintosh - Drums, Percussion

Recorded at Gorbals Sound by Kevin Burleigh
Mixed at GloWormRecording by Andrea Gobbi
Mastered at GloWormRecording by Andrea Gobbi

Recorded Live at Bannview Studios
Engineered by Andrea Gobbi
Mixed and Mastered by Andrea Gobbi at GloWormRecording
Design by Somhairle MacDonald
Painting 'a coalesence of biological solidarity' by Somhairle MacDonald

Brighde Chaimbeul - C Smallpipes
Ross Ainslie - C Smallpipes
Steven Byrnes - Guitar and Mandola

Ross Ainslie - Whistles, Cittern, Highland Pipes, Small Pipes, Bansuri,
Greg Lawson - Fiddle
Paul Towndrow - Sax
Steve Byrnes - Acoustic Guitar and Drums
Hamish Napier - Piano and Harmonium
James Lindsay - Bass

Guests:

Malcom Jones - Electric Guitar (Track 9 and 10)
Duncan Chisholm - Fiddle (Track 8)
Steve Cooney - Acoustic Guitars and Bass (Track 8)
Damien O’Kane - Banjo (Tracks 1, 6 and 7)
Graeme Stephen - Electric Guitar (Track 4)
Shahbaz Hussain - Tabla (11 and 12)
Matthew Noone - Sarod (Track 11 and 12)
Jock Urqhuart - Words (Track 13)
Cormac Bynre - Percussion
Eric Alfonso - Congas

All music was written by Ross Ainslie PRS/MCPS
except Rapa Nui written by Ross Ainslie and Jamie Maclean PRS/MCPS

Produced by Ross Ainslie, Andrea Gobbi and Steve Byrnes
Engineered by Andrea Gobbi at GloWorm Studios
Mixed by Andrea Gobbi, Ross Ainslie and Steve Byrnes at GloWorm Studios
Additional recording by Ross Ainslie at Great White Studios
Design by Somhairle Macdonald at Schmo Towers
Photography by Mark Harris

This third album from Ross brings together a lot of his influences over the years playing in bands like Salsa Celtica and India Alba.
Ross has always been a fan of Mike Oldfield album ‘Tubular Bells’ and this album is based on the same idea and designed to be listened to like a journey.
Sanctuary is a term Ross likes to use when describing what music is for him, coming up to five years sober now Ross has been through some big changes and ways of coping with certain situations without alcohol.
“I’ve found that I’m spending a lot of time on my own these days, being a travelling musician a lot of the social time is centred around drinking so I found it hard to be around so I would retreat to my room a lot, at first it took some time to get used to my own company but as the years have gone on I’ve found it to be a very productive and creative space, if I’m having a particularly bad day music is always the thing that will pick me up so that’s why this album is called Sanctuary”.

‘Inner Sanctuary’ is a track heavily influenced by his travels to India, it features a debut performance on Bansuri from Ross. The musicians on this album were selected very carefully and are all very comfortable in many genres, this track shows Greg Lawson playing with an Indian style.

‘Home in Another Dimension’ features one of Ross’s favourite musicians in the world, the one and only Zakir Hussain on tabla and also British/Indian Sarod maestro Soumik Datta. This track demonstrates a different style in writing for Ross with a definite Eastern flavour.

‘Let the Wild Ones Roam’ is a straight ahead rocking set of reels with the guys in their natural habitat. Damien O’Kane adds some amazing banjo to this track.

All the music on the album is composed by Ross apart from Surroundings which was composed by Ross and Jamie Maclean.

SANCTUARY FEATURES

Ross Ainslie - Highland and C Small Pipes, Whistles, Bansuri, Cittern, Banjo (track 1)
Steven Byrnes - Acoustic Guitar
Hamish Napier - Piano and Keys
James Lindsay - Bass
Greg Lawson - Fiddle
Cormac Byrne - Drums and Percussion

GUESTS

Zakir Hussain - Tabla (Track 7 + 10)
Soumik Datta - Sarod (Track 7)
Damien O’Kane - Banjo (Track 2 + 11)
Jock Urquhart - Words (Track 12)

Produced by Ross Ainslie, Andrea Gobbi and Steven Byrnes
Engineered by Andrea Gobbi at GloWorm Studios
Mixed by Andrea Gobbi at GloWorm Studios and Carrier Waves
Mastered by Stuart Hamilton at Castlesound Studios
Design and Photos by Somhairle Macdonald

In January 2015 Ross was commissioned by Celtic Connections to write a piece for the New Voices series. Ross decided to go outside his comfort zone and try out songwriting for the first time and “Remembering” is what he achieved.

“Remembering” features five songs and three tune sets, from “Head High” which is a song about remaining positive and not dwelling in the past that features some words by the living legend Jock Duncan to a kind of psychedelic, thrash grass suite called “Nowhere To Go” which is in three sections. “Lullaby For Mel” was written for Ross’s friend that he lost far too early and it shows his flair for writing a beautiful slow melody. The album opens with a song called “Change” that reflects on Ross’s drinking days and the decision to go sober. Overall “Remembering” is an open and honest piece of music.

Produced by Ross Ainslie and Andrea Gobbi
Recorded live at TPot Studios, Path of Condie, Dunning
Additional recording at Carrier Waves Studios, Glasgow
Engineered by Andrea Gobbi
Mixed at Carrier Waves Studios by Andrea Gobbi and Ross Ainslie
Mastered by Stuart Hamilton at Castlesound Studio
Photos by David Owen Blackley
hernameismurderproductions.com
Design by Somhairle Macdonald
somhairle.co.uk

https://youtu.be/-vZSuyC3rEw

All Music and Lyrics composed by Ross Ainslie PRS/MCPS
except Dreaming Daisy composed by Ross Ainslie and Hamish Napier PRS/MCPS

MUSICIANS

Ross Ainslie - Highland Pipes, Whistles, Cittern, Vocals (Head High)
Ali Hutton - Acoustic Guitar
Gordy Duncan Jr - Drums, Vocals (Change)
Hamish Napier - Keys, Vocals (Dreaming Daisy)
James Lindsay - Bass
Jock Duncan - Words
John Somerville - Accordion
Laura-Beth Salter - Mandolin, Vocals (Head High, Nowhere To Go and Dreaming Daisy)
Laura Wilkie - Fiddle, Vocals
Matheu Watson - Electric Guitar
Steven Byrnes - Vocals (Fly Higher)

Debut Album!

Over the years Ross has played with many bands/artists including Treacherous Orchestra, Salsa Celtica, Dougie Maclean, Zakir Hussain, Trilok Gurtu, Carl Barat, Mike Mcgoldrick, India Alba, Ali Hutton, Jarlath Henderson, with his teacher Gordon Duncan and many more.
This album is a snap shot of Ross's influences that he has gathered over the years!

Ross Ainslie - Pipes, Whistle, Cittern, Mandolin.
Ali Hutton - Electric and Acoustic Guitar.
Duncan Lyall - Electric and Upright Bass.
James Mackintosh - Drums.
Innes Watson - Fiddle.
John Somerville - Accordion.
Angus Lyon - Accordion and Keys.
Gyan Singh - Tabla.

Following on from the success of their debut album ‘Symbiosis’ Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton will release their second album ‘Symbiosis II’ this spring. Winners of the best duo category at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2017 and nominees for the same award in 2018, Ross and Ali have been busy in the studio creating an album full of new and original material.
Packed full of their own compositions, partly commissioned by some of their fans, Ross and Ali have welcomed lots of their fellow friends and musicians to record on this album.
Revolving around skilfully played guitar, cittern, whistles and bagpipes, which are the bedrock of the award winning duo, the arrangements also include a full string section, the extensive use of synthesisers, drum kit and bodhran. The result is a much bigger sound with more adventurous and epic arrangements.

Ross Ainslie - Highland Pipes, Whistles, Cittern and Banjo
Ali Hutton - Highland Pipes, Whistles, Acoustic, Electric and Tenor Guitar
Duncan Lyall - Moog and Synth
Martin O’Neill - Bodhran and Drums
Steven Byrnes - Drums
Patsy Reid - All Strings
Gus Sicard - Pipe Band Snare Drum

Produced by Andrea Gobbi, Ali Hutton and Ross Ainslie
Engineered by Andrea Gobbi at GloWorm Recordings and Carrier Waves
Mixed by Andrea Gobbi at GloWorm Recordings and Carrier Waves
Additional Engineering by Barry Reid and Keir Long
String Arrangements by Patsy Reid
String Recordings by Jamie Pryke
Mastered by Stuart Hamilton at Castlesound Studios
Design and Thunder by Somhairle Macdonald

Ross and Ali met at the Vale of Atholl pipe band when they were 12 years old. The boys were guided by one of the most influential pipers in the last 30 years Gordon Duncan. Gordon instilled a great passion in the guys for playing pipes with other instruments and they have gone on to play in many leading Scottish bands including Treacherous Orchestra, Old Blind Dogs, Salsa Celtica, Dougie Maclean, Shooglenifty, Capercaillie. After all the years playing in different bands and line ups the guys decided to concentrate on music together.

Duncan Chisholm: "There is one word that comes to mind when listening to the incredible new album from Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton, the word is connection.
Music is all about connection, it is the passing and sharing of emotions that drives us all to create.
In this case you have two complete musical minds, connected first and foremost as lifelong friends. They are connected by the same ingenious teacher, connected in their outlook to life, their shared passion for pipes, for Scotland and Scottish music.
They are connected in their zest for travel, the inspiration they take from other cultures and in turn how they inspire all those who hear them wherever in the world that might be.
They represent the best of what their generation is bringing to the bright sparkling colourful music that emits from our shores in the 21st Century.
This album shows the best of what Ross and Ali are. They are two friends connected in their love of life, two friends who have travelled the world together, growing as people together while learning their craft to an outstanding level.
The tunes are great, the playing is fantastic and the connection between them is undeniable......a glorious album”

Ali Hutton - Highland Pipes, Whistles, Guitar, Tenor Guitar and Harmonium
Ross Ainslie - Border Pipes, Whistles, Cittern, Banjo and Harmonium
Duncan Lyall - Double Bass, Electric Bass and Moog
Martin O’Neill - Bodhran
Gus Sicard - Pipe Band Snare Drum

Produced by Andrea Gobbi, Ali Hutton and Ross Ainslie
Engineered by Andrea Gobbi at Carrier Waves Studio
Additional recording by Ross Ainslie at Great White Studio
Mixed by Andrea Gobbi, Ali Hutton and Ross Ainslie at Cumbernauld College
Mastered by Barry Reid at La Chunky Studio
Design by Somhairle Macdonald at Schmo Towers

After a four year break, BBC Young Musician Award winner, Jarlath Henderson and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominated, Ross Ainslie re-join forces, to release the long awaited follow up to their debut album, the critically acclaimed, “Partner’s in Crime”.

Air-Fix was recorded in a live setting over a four day run in Gorbals Sound Studios, Glasgow giving the album a definite “band sound”.

released October 28, 2013

The boys are joined by their regular touring band, Ali Hutton on guitar, Duncan Lyall on bass, James MacIntosh on drums and Innes Watson on fiddle. They have also recruited Hamish Napier on piano & Wurlitzer and Jarlath’s sister Alana on Vocals.