View source for Aly Bain

{{Short description|Scottish fiddler}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{BLP sources|date=November 2010}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Aly Bain
| image           = Ali Bain, Cambridge Folk Festival 50th Anniversary (14851529023).jpg
| caption         =
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1946|05|15|df=y}}
| origin          = [[Lerwick]], [[Shetland]], Scotland
| instrument      = [[Fiddle]]/[[viola]]
| genre           = [[Folk music|Folk]], [[Traditional music|Traditional]], [[Celtic music|Celtic]], [[World Music]]
| occupation      = Musician
| years_active    = 1968&ndash;present
| label           = [[Whirlie Records]]
}}
'''Aly Bain''' [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (born 15 May 1946) is a [[Scottish people|Scottish]] [[fiddle]]r who learned his instrument from the old-time master [[Tom Anderson (fiddler)|Tom Anderson]]. The former [[First Minister of Scotland]] [[Jack McConnell]] called Bain a "Scottish icon."<ref name =Herald2006>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12436325.The_true_northerner_Wherever_he_goes__fiddler_Aly_Bain_remains_unchanged___even_at_60__says_David_Belcher/|title=The true northerner Wherever he goes, fiddler Aly Bain remains unchanged – even at 60, says David Belcher|date=2006-05-13|website=Herald Scotland|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref>

==Career==
Bain was born in the town of [[Lerwick]], in the [[Shetland Islands]] of [[Scotland]]. In the early years of his career, he was—briefly and unofficially—part of the band [[The Humblebums]] with [[Gerry Rafferty]], [[Billy Connolly]] and Tam Harvey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13576993.Cultural_collective_rolls_back_the_years_after_absence_of_40_years/|title=Cultural collective rolls back the years after absence of 40 years|last=Bynorth|first=John|date=2015-08-06|website=Herald Scotland|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref> He was one of the members of the band "Gordon Hank and the Country Ramblers", which also included Gordon Smith, Ian Stewart and Jack Robertson in 1967 and was based in Shetland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/four-nations-folk-set-showcased-6920966|title=Four nations' folk is set to be showcased: North East roots music scene|last=Nichol|first=Alan|date=2014-04-04|website=Newcastle Chronicle|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.codamusic.co.uk/product-detail/5517/Aly+Bain/And+Young+Champions|title=Aly Bain – And Young Champions|website=Coda Music|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref>

He became nationally prominent as a founding member of [[The Boys of the Lough]],<ref name = Gazeteer/> a Scots-Irish folk group, with whom he played for over 30 years.

Simultaneously, Bain pursued a solo career in collaborative and television projects with [[Pelicula Films]] director Mike Alexander and producer Douglas Eadie, working on several international television series: ''The Down home Recordings'' (which described how fiddling music spread from Scotland and Ireland to America<ref name = AllMusic>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/aly-bain-mn0000012643/biography|title=Aly Bain – Biography & History|last=Harris|first=Craig|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=2016-06-11}}</ref>), ''The Shetland Sessions'' (recorded at the Shetland folk festival in 1991<ref name = AllMusic/>), ''Aly Meets The Cajuns'', and six series of the ''[[Transatlantic Sessions]]''.<ref name="Biography2013">{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=Aly Bain Biography |url=http://www.transatlanticsessions.com/perch/resources/alybainbiog.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818045642/http://www.transatlanticsessions.com/perch/resources/alybainbiog.pdf |archive-date=2016-08-18 |access-date=2016-05-24 |publisher=Whirlie Records}}</ref>
 
Since the early eighties, Bain has regularly collaborated and recorded with prominent, international musicians, including: [[Phil Cunningham (folk musician)|Phil Cunningham]], [[Jerry Douglas]], [[Emmylou Harris]], [[Norman Blake (American musician)|Norman Blake]], [[Mark O'Connor]], [[Jay Ungar]], [[Mary Black]], [[Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh]], [[Dan Tyminski]], [[Rosanne Cash]], [[James Taylor]], [[Eddi Reader]], [[Paul Brady]], [[Darrell Scott]], [[Michael Doucet]], [[Martha Wainwright]], [[Kate & Anna McGarrigle]], [[John Martyn]], [[Danny Thompson]], [[Iris DeMent]], [[Karen Matheson]], [[Karan Casey]], [[Donal Lunny]], [[Joan Osborne]], [[Allison Moorer]], [[Bruce Molsky]] and [[Allan MacDonald (musician)|Allan MacDonald]], bringing traditional music to a wider audience.

In 1989, Bain played at the [[Carnegie Hall]] in New York, USA, to a capacity crowd.<ref name = Gazeteer>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst1602.html|title=Alexander (Aly) Bain, 1945 -|date=2016|website=Gazetteer for Scotland.|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref>

In 1993, his [[autobiography]] ''Fiddler on the Loose'', co-written with Alastair Clark, was published by "Mainstream".<ref>{{Cite book|title=Aly Bain: Fiddler on the Loose|last1=Bain|first1=Aly|last2=Clark|first2=Alastair|last3=Clarke|first3=Alastair|date=1993-11-10|publisher=Mainstream Publishing|isbn=9781851584314|location=Edinburgh}}</ref>

In 1999 Bain played at the first opening of the [[Scottish Parliament]] in Edinburgh.<ref name = GreatScot>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/great-scot-awards-2013-legendary-2644041|title=Great Scot Awards 2013: Legendary folk duo Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham scoop Lifetime Achievement Award|last=Roberts|first=Lesley|date=2013-10-26|website=Daily Record|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref>

In 2000, Bain played at the funeral of the Scottish first minister [[Donald Dewar]].<ref name = GreatScot/>

In 2006, a television programme celebrating Bain's 60th birthday was broadcast by the BBC, documenting his life and works.<ref name =Herald2006/> The same year, Bain was inducted into the Scots Traditional Music Hall of Fame.

In 2009, Bain collaborated with [[Nicola Benedetti]] to create a television programme for [[BBC Scotland]]: ''When Nicola Benedetti Met Aly Bain'', broadcast the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00r5yb0|title=When Nicola Benedetti Met Aly Bain, ArtWorks Scotland – BBC Two|publisher=BBC|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref>

In 2010, Bain made a further hour-long television programme for [[BBC]] with [[Pelicula Films]] and [[Billy Connolly]]: ''Fishing for Poetry'', celebrating the life and works of the Scottish Poet [[Norman MacCaig]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/tv-review-billy-connolly-and-aly-bain-fishing-for-poetry-i-how-not-to-live-your-life-1-832778|title=TV review: Billy Connolly and Aly Bain: Fishing for Poetry I How Not to Live Your Life|date=2010-11-08|website=The Scotsman|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref>

In 2012, Bain and Cunningham celebrated their 25th anniversary of touring as a fiddle and accordion duo. Bain also tours with Swedish multi-instrumentalist [[Ale Möller]] (with whom he has recorded two albums) and with American old-time fiddler, singer, guitarist and banjo player [[Bruce Molsky]]; as a trio, they released their first album in 2013.

==Honours and awards==
Bain has received many honours for his services to music.
 
In 1989, he received a [[Silver Disc]] from the Record Industry Association for his ''Aly Meets the Cajuns'' recording. A further Silver Disc followed in 1991 for ''[[The Pearl (Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham album)|The Pearl]]'', recorded on his own Edinburgh Record Label, [[Whirlie Records]].<ref name = Biography2013/>

In 1994, he was awarded the [[Member of the Order of the British Empire|MBE]] for his musical accomplishments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/5051588.display/|title=Nightjar presents Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham|date=2010-03-10|website=Evening Times|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref>

He also has received five honorary [[Doctor of Music]] (DMus) degrees from: [[Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama]];<ref name = Gazeteer/> [[Stirling University]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stir.ac.uk/media/services/calendar/other/Staff.pdf|title=University of Stirling Calendar; Staff and Committees; Honorary Graduates, 4 July 2003|publisher=University of Stirling|access-date=2016-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617084741/https://www.stir.ac.uk/media/services/calendar/other/Staff.pdf|archive-date=17 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[The University of St Andrews]] (2003);<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2003/title,42742,en.php|title=Honorary graduates November 2003|website=University of St Andrews|access-date=2016-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617095739/https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2003/title,42742,en.php|archive-date=17 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[The Open University]] (2005)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.open.ac.uk/students/ceremonies/sites/www.open.ac.uk.students.ceremonies/files/files/Honorary%20graduate%20cumulative%20list.pdf|title=Open University list of honorary graduates| publisher=Open University|access-date=2015-05-24}}</ref> and [[Edinburgh University]] (2009).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2009/07/05/honorary-music-degrees-for-aly-bain-and-phil-cunningham|title=Honorary music degrees for Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham|date=2009-07-05|website=The Shetland Times|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref>

In 2005, he and [[Phil Cunningham (folk musician)|Phil Cunningham]] won the [[BBC]]'s "Best Duo of the Year" award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/02_february/14/folk.shtml|title=BBC – Press Office – Radio 2 Folk Awards 2005 winners|date=2005-02-14|publisher=BBC|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref>

On 27 November 2007, Bain and Cunningham were awarded [[Doctor of Letters]] from [[Glasgow Caledonian University]] for their contributions to music and to the education and encouragement of young musicians.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gcal.ac.uk/news/news/graduation/slide3.html|title=Graduation Honorary Awards : News Headlines|website=Gcal.ac.uk}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 2010, Bain won the [[BBC Radio 2]] [[Folk music|Folk]] "Good Tradition Award".<ref name = Biography2013/>

In the 2013 [[BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards]], Bain was honoured with a lifetime achievement award.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tait|first=Jim|title=Lifetime achievement accolade for Aly in Radio 2 folk awards|url=http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2013/02/01/lifetime-achievement-accolade-for-aly-in-radio-2-folk-awards|access-date=7 February 2013|newspaper=[[The Shetland Times]]|date=1 February 2013}}</ref>

He has also received several [[honorary doctorate]]s in the US.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

==Personal life==
Bain has three daughters – Annalese, Jessica and Sophie who were respectively 25, 24 and 8 years old in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://northings.com/2003/08/07/aly-bain-paying-a-price-for-success/|title=Aly Bain – Paying a Price for Success|last=Moncrief|first=Jane|date=2003-08-07|website=Northings.com|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref>

He endorsed the independence campaign in the [[Scottish independence referendum, 2014]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2013/07/19/bain-supports-independence/|title=Bain supports independence|website=Shetnews.co.uk|date=19 July 2013}}</ref>

== Discography ==
=== Solo albums ===
*''Aly Bain'' (1984)
*''[[Lonely Bird]]'' (1992)
*''[[The Best of Aly Bain:Volume One:A Fiddler's Tale]]'' (2008)

=== From television series ===
*''The Legendary Down Home Recordings''
*''[[Aly Bain Meets The Cajuns]]'' (1994)
*''[[Aly Bain and Friends]]'' (1994)
*''[[Aly Bain and Young Champions]]'' (2005)
*''The Shetland Sessions [Vol. 1]'' (1992)
*''The Shetland Sessions [Vol. 2]'' (1993)

=== Transatlantic Sessions ===
*''[[Transatlantic Sessions]] 3 [Vol.1]'' (2007) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''[[Transatlantic Sessions]] 3 [Vol.2]'' (2008) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''The Original [[Transatlantic Sessions]] [Vol.1]'' (2008) (with [[Jay Ungar]] and various artists)
*''The Original [[Transatlantic Sessions]] [Vol.2]'' (2008) (with [[Jay Ungar]] and various artists)
*''The Original [[Transatlantic Sessions]] [Vol.3]'' (2009) (with [[Jay Ungar]] and various artists)
*''[[Transatlantic Sessions]] 4[Vol.1]'' (2009) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''[[Transatlantic Sessions]] 4[Vol.2]'' (2010) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''[[Transatlantic Sessions]] 4[Vol.3]'' (2010) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''[[Transatlantic Sessions]] 5[Vol.1]'' (2011) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''[[Transatlantic Sessions]] 5[Vol.2]'' (2012) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''[[Transatlantic Sessions]] 5[Vol.3]'' (2012) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''[[Transatlantic Sessions]] 2[Vol.1]'' (2013) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''[[Transatlantic Sessions]] 2[Vol.2]'' (2013) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''[[Transatlantic Sessions]] 2[Vol.3]'' (2013) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''[[Transatlantic Sessions]] 6[Vol.1]'' (2013) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)

=== With Mike Whellans ===
*''Aly Bain – Mike Whellans'' (1971)

=== With Willie Johnson ===
*''Shetland Folk Fiddle Volume 2'' (1976)

=== With The Boys of the Lough ===
*''[[The Boys of the Lough (album)|The Boys of the Lough]]'' (1973)
*''Second Album'' (1973)
*''Recorded Live'' (1975)
*''Lochaber No More'' (1975)
*''The Piper's Broken Finger'' (1976)
*''Good Friends-Good Music'' (1977)
*''Wish You Were Here'' (1978)
*''Re-Grouped'' (1980)
*''In the Tradition'' (1981)
*''Open Road'' (1983)
*''Far from Home'' (1986)
*''Welcoming Paddy Home'' (1986)
*''[[Farewell and Remember Me]]'' (1987)
*''Sweet Rural Shade'' (1988)
*''Live at The Carnegie Hall'' (1989)
*''The Fair Hills of Ireland'' (1992)
*''The Day Dawn'' (1994)
*''The West of Ireland'' (1999)

In 2009 ''Paidriag O'Keefe's/Con Cassidy's'' from ''In The Tradition'' was included in [[Topic Records]] 70 year anniversary boxed set ''[[Three Score and Ten]]'' as track fourteen on the third CD.

=== With Tom Anderson ===
*''The Silver Bow'' (1976) (1995) (2008)

In 2009 ''Soldier's Joy'' from ''The Silver Bow'' was also included in ''Three Score and Ten'' as track seven on the fourth CD.

=== With Phil Cunningham ===
*''[[The Pearl (Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham album)|The Pearl]]'' (1995) 	
*''[[The Ruby]]'' (1997)
*''[[Another Gem]]'' (2000)
*''[[Spring the Summer Long]]'' (2003)
*''[[Best of Aly and Phil Volume One]]'' (2004)
*''[[Roads Not Travelled]]''  (2006)
*''[[Portrait (Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham album)|Portrait]]''  (2010)
*''[[Five and Twenty]]'' (2012)
*''[[Best of Aly and Phil Volume Two]]'' (2013)

=== With Ale Möller ===
*''[[Fully Rigged]]'' (1999)
*''[[Beyond the Stacks]]'' (2007)
*''[[Meeting Point (album)|Meeting Point]]'' [[Aly Bain, Ale Moller and Bruce Molsky]] (2013)

=== With Kvifte, Sommerro, Yndestad and Solberg ===
*''[[North Sea Music]]'' (2006)

=== With BT Scottish Ensemble ===
*''[[Follow the Moonstone]]''  (1995) arr. [[Henning Sommerro]]

=== DVDs ===
*''[[Another Musical Interlude]]'' (2004) (with [[Phil Cunningham (folk musician)|Phil Cunningham]])
*''Transatlantic Sessions Series 3'' (2007) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''The Original Transatlantic Sessions: Series 1'' (2008) (with [[Jay Ungar]] and various artists)
*''Transatlantic Sessions Series 4'' (2009) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''Transatlantic Sessions Series 5'' (2011) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''Transatlantic Sessions Series 2'' (2012) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)
*''Aly Meets The Cajuns'' (2012) (with [[Dewey Balfa]] and various artists)
*''Transatlantic Sessions Series 6'' (2013) (with [[Jerry Douglas]] and various artists)

== References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060422092218/http://www.philandaly.com/ Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham Official Website]
*[http://www.whirlierecords.co.uk Aly Bain Official Website (.uk)]
*[http://www.whirlierecords.com Aly Bain Official Website (.com)]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bain, Aly}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Lerwick]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Scottish folk musicians]]
[[Category:Shetland fiddlers]]
[[Category:British male violinists]]
[[Category:Shetland music]]
[[Category:The Boys of the Lough members]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish violinists]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century British folk musicians]]  
[[Category:21st-century British folk musicians]] 
[[Category:20th-century Scottish musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish fiddlers]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish fiddlers]]