One of the most highly rated duo’s in the country, Adam Bulley and Chas Mackenzie deliver a fiery, energy fuelled array of acoustic music styles. Weaving effortlessly between Bluegrass, Gypsy Jazz, Folk and Pop, their performances are sure to capture the imagination.
Originating from Ivybridge, Devon, mandolinist and guitarist Adam Bulley studied a BA in Music Performance at Perth College, passing with Distinction in 2003. From 2007-2013 he was a member of highly acclaimed folk/bluegrass group The Southern Tenant Folk Union. Touring extensively around the UK and Ireland, including performances on the Late Late Show, Radio 4’s “Loose Ends” and the BBC Andrew Marr Show. In recent years Adam has been working extensively with world reknowned guitarist Martin Taylor as well as Ivor Novello award winning song-writer Scott Matthews.
Chas MacKenzie grew up on the West Coast of Scotland, in the seaside town of Oban. Having spent 10 years as a founding member of popular band “The Shoes”, touring regularly around The UK as well as support slots for the likes of Bob Geldof. In recent years Chas has become an in demand sideman, working and touring with gifted musicians Angus Lyon, Duncan Lyall and recently with award winning Singer-Songwriter Scott Matthews.
Having formed the duo as “Wingin’ It”, Bulley & MacKenzie entered the Danny Kyle stage at Celtic Connections in 2007 going on to win the competition. In 2011 they were commissioned to write 10 minutes of new music to celebrate the life of the renowned piper Gordon Duncan, which was then performed to a sold out Perth Concert Hall and critical acclaim. This composition formed the centrepiece to the duo’s first full length studio album “For the Many” which was released to great reviews in 2014.
2016 saw Adam and Chas performing alongside the legendary, multi-Grammy winning revered guitarist Larry Carlton as well as performing a headline set at the prestigious Ullapool Guitar Festival. Adam and Chas also make up half of the genre defying Halton Quartet who performed to great acclaim at the 2016 Scottish Traditional Music Awards at the Caird Hall in Dundee.
Propelling the acoustic guitars and mandolin to new levels of expression and excitement their live show is at once an informal, life affirming and memorable musical experience.
“Astonishingly Good”
Martin Taylor, MBE
“Above all, these guys are entertainers. The technique is masterful, the musical discipline exemplary, but what comes across most strongly is not the dazzling display of flatpicking, but that they are having real fun on stage, and that they can communicate this effortlessly to the audience”
Richard Lindsay – Ullapool Guitar Festival
‘they were a dazzling, jazzy, very funny, breath of fresh air. They left some traditionalist mouths hanging open, but the boys absolutely nailed it.’
Stuart Morrison, The Herald