Fiddle player Alastair Savage was born and raised in Ardrossan, on the Ayrshire coast. His early inspiration came at his Father’s knee, where the sound of the accordian introduced Alastair to the traditional music of his homeland. He studied fiddle and guitar as a child, playing both traditional and classical music, before heading to Douglas Academy Music School in his mid teens to study classical violin more intensely. Alongside this, he was also the winner of The Land O’Burns Scots Fiddle Competition. He then went on to study at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music in London, before returning northwards to join the BBC Scottish Symhony Orchestra. Alastair always kept in touch with his trad roots whilst studying, playing reguarly in ceilidh bands and other folk groups.
Alastair is still a member of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, but also works regularly with other groups throughout the country, both as a chamber musician and as a traditional fiddle player. He was one of the principal players in the True North Orchestra for the 2010 Celtic Connections festival, and is also a familiar face to audiences of the Scottish Ensemble and chamber group Daniel’s Beard.
As a traditional player, he has broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio 3 and as a composer, his music has been used by BBC Alba.
Alastair and the band have 3 albums to their name already, featuring predominantly Alastair’s music. Alastair has recently released an unaccompanied fiddle album, Alone With History.