Edinburgh University Folk Society
Chris Upton

Chris formed his first ceilidh band at the age of 15 in the Scottish Borders. Since then he has played in numerous ceilidh...

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Edinburgh University Folk Society
Coll Williamson

Coll began his music career playing piano at the age of 10 before performing his first ceilidh at 14 and progressing to...

Full Bio
Duncan Cooper Fiddle
Duncan Cooper

Duncan began playing classical violin aged 8 but since his teenage years he has drifted towards Scottish traditional...

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Loris MacDonald
Loris MacDonald

Having been born and raised in the Shetland Islands it doesn’t come as a surprise that traditional music...

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Paul Sinclair
Paul Sinclair

Having enjoyed going to ceilidhs his whole life, Paul is no stranger to being flung around a dance floor, and brings...

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Sigurd Watt
Rory Millington

Rory has been playing the drums for the last 15 years competing throughout Europe as a pipe band snare...

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Chris Upton

Piano

Chris formed his first ceilidh band at the age of 15 in the Scottish Borders. Whilst studying at the University of Edinburgh he got involved in the student ceilidh scene and helped to form 7 Hills. In 2015 he appeared as a guest artist at the Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival, playing with and learning from Scottish, Irish and Norwegian artists. As well as traditional music, Chris's interests lie in Blues, American roots and bluegrass, which he explores through multiple instruments. While Chris isn't travelling to historic sites in Scotland for work, he remains active in the Edinburgh and Glasgow trad scenes.

Edinburgh University Folk Society

Coll Williamson

Accordion

Coll began his music career playing piano at the age of 10 before performing his first ceilidh at 14 and progressing to the accordion at university. While a member of the university’s folk music society, he developed his skill and style in both melody and chords on the box while hitting Edinburgh’s vibrant folk session scene. He has played in numerous ceilidh and wedding bands over the last decade at some of the best hotels and venues in Edinburgh including the Balmoral, Stramash and the McEwan hall. Through the international youth music project Ethno, Coll acquired his love for European and world folk music with performances at festivals in Flanders, Sweden and Catalonia. These days, he performs regularly while always looking to expand his varied repertoire and occasionally dabbles on the fiddle and smallpipes.

Edinburgh University Folk Society

Duncan Cooper

Fiddle

Duncan began playing classical violin aged 8 but since his teenage years he has drifted towards Scottish traditional music. He has a host of experience in playing, calling and organising ceilidhs at balls and weddings, as well as more casual events such as birthdays and university society ceilidhs. Duncan now works as a doctor in Glasgow after studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, where he was also the president of the Folk and Traditional Music society. In 2019 he spent 2 weeks in Estonia with a band called ‘Ethno on the road’. There he was able to play folk music from all over the world and experience life as a touring musician! Duncan continues to be active in the trad scene in both Edinburgh and Glasgow playing in bands and sessions.

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Loris MacDonald

Accordion

Having been born and raised in the Shetland Islands it doesn’t come as a surprise that traditional music has played a prominent part in Loris’ life from an early age. After beginning classical piano lessons at the age of 10, she entered the traditional music scene, taking up both the accordion and fiddle. She has previously performed at many events including the Shetland and Orkney Folk Festivals, North Atlantic Fiddle Convention and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. More recently, whilst completing her Law Degree at the University of Edinburgh, Loris has racked up a wealth of experience performing at ceilidhs for a range of events including weddings, birthdays and various other functions.

Loris MacDonald

Paul Sinclair

Fiddle

Having enjoyed going to ceilidhs his whole life, Paul is no stranger to being flung around a dance floor, and brings that same high energy to his playing and calling! With over two decades of experience in piano and fiddle, he's played countless ceilidhs and sessions across Edinburgh, from Holyrood Palace to the Scottish Parliament to Edinburgh Zoo, as well as across the rest of Scotland and the UK. When he's not playing for ceilidhs, he also performs with other trad groups at gigs and festivals across the world, including at the Orkney Folk Festival, Celtic Connections, Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, and LEAF Festival. Whatever the occasion, whether he's jumping up and down with the fiddle or stomping his feet while on piano, you can be sure of a good time! Since 2022, he's also been in charge of managing 7 Hills, so do drop him an email and say hello!

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Rory Millington

Drummer

Rory has been playing the drums for the last 15 years competing throughout Europe as a pipe band snare drummer while also playing with a variety of jazz, rock and functions bands on his drum kit, he always enjoys the challenge of playing a wide variety of drumming styles. Taking his drumming afloat Rory started playing with ceilidh bands on cruise ships around Scotland, performing traditional ceilidhs for the onboard guests and tourists. As of 2020 he joined The 7 Hills Ceilidh Band on land and has been performing throughout Scotland with them ever since.

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