Thomas Barnes – Drumming
Tam’s drumming journey began at nine with the City of Newcastle pipe band, guided by Jimmy Regan. He advanced to grade 2 with Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary Pipe Band in 2012, learning from Gordon Smiles. In 2016, he joined the prestigious Scottish Power Pipe Band in grade 1 under Jake Jørgensen, contributing to their success by winning the British Championships in 2018 and leading the drum corps to victory at the Scottish Championships in 2019.
In 2024 Tam made his move to his current band Police Scotland and Federation Pipe Band.
Tam has performed at notable events like the Christmas Tattoo in Basel and a royal engagement for Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
Beyond performing, he has taught over 500 students. Additionally, he serves as a visiting assessor for pipe band drumming with the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) and is apart of the committee for the Society for International Rudiment Drummers.
Emma Durkan – Clarsach
Emma is a talented musician who began her journey at age 11 with the fiddle and later added the clarsach (Celtic harp) by 14. Now 32, she boasts extensive performance and teaching experience. Emma’s career took off with the North Ayrshire Traditional Music Group, performing at notable venues like Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and internationally in France, Spain, and Sweden. In 2007, she was named North Ayrshire Traditional Musician of the Year.
Educated at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Newcastle University, she specializes in folk music. Emma has performed at various venues, including Sage Gateshead and King Tut’s, and released an EP titled The Girl with the Cloak in 2017.
Passionate about teaching, she offers private lessons and group classes, inspiring students through workshops at festivals like Cambridge Folk Fest and Sidmouth Folk Week. Emma is dedicated to nurturing creativity in young musicians through her engaging teaching methods.
Scott Figgins – Bagpipes
Scott Figgins is a talented musician specializing in bagpipes, guitar, and whistle, actively contributing to Scotland’s folk and traditional music scene. He is renowned for his work with the fusion band Eriska, showcasing his compositions across three albums. In collaboration with Scott Garden, he released an acclaimed EP and is recognized as a sought-after session musician, lending his skills to various artists.
A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (2018) with an Honours degree in Traditional Music, Scott has performed internationally with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and alongside notable artists like Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain.
In 2024, he reached the semi-finals of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician competition. Known for his professionalism, Scott is available for solo performances and seeks new collaborative projects, eager to blend genres and push the boundaries of traditional music.