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NEWS: I'm very pleased to say that the band has been nominated for "Dance Band of the Year" at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2022! The winner is decided by public ballot, so if you like what we do, we'd very much appreciate a vote, at this link:
NEW RELEASE January 2022: "Sir Walter Scott, the Heart of Mid-Lothian" available *now* from rscds.org. I'm excited to announce a new album of dance music recorded in the style of Scott's era, with Alistair McCulloch on fiddle, Andrew Forbes on piano and Màrtainn Skene on cello, to accompany the RSCDS's latest book of dances honouring the 250th birthday of one of the heavyweights of Scottish culture.
Màrtainn is a traditional musician, from Lochaber, living in Glasgow, out of the West Coast tradition of dance music. He was a semi-finalist in BBC Radio Scotland's Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2019 competition, and the band were nominees in the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards 2018.
Gigging at the moment is an enjoyable mix of the Màrtainn Skene Dance Band, the Donald Black Band and the Willie Scott Band, regular involvement with the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, and group tuition in Gaelic arts for school-age kids through Fèisean nan Gàidheal.
It's been an honour to be invited to record with Tide Lines, WHYTE, Donald Black and others most recently, and always inspiring to work with other musicians.
Màrtainn Skene at Celtic Connections 2020 as part of An Lòchran's Aiseirigh concert celebrating the work of Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair
Màrtainn Skene at Celtic Connections 2020 as part of An Lòchran's Aiseirigh concert celebrating the work of Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair
Màrtainn Skene at Celtic Connections 2020 as part of An Lòchran's Aiseirigh concert celebrating the work of Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair
Màrtainn Skene at Celtic Connections 2020 as part of An Lòchran's Aiseirigh concert celebrating the work of Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair