The Bowling Harbour Ceilidh Band
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| The band formed some years ago at a session
on board a boat at Bowling Harbour at the
Western end of the Forth and Clyde Canal
(now famous for its Falkirk Wheel boat lift). A small group of live-aboard boat owners first met at a barbecue following the annual "lift out" and from there progressed to occasional informal sessions on each others boats at which a moderate amount of the amber liquid was consumed. At one of these sessions a video was made by one of the boat owners, who circulated copies to all present and these videos in turn were shown to wider circle of friends and acquaintances. On the basis of this video we received our first public appearance at a barn dance in Bearsden followed by a booking to do Hogmanay and New Years Day at Stronlossit Hotel Roy Bridge (near Fort William) and the band started to meet once a month at the Railway Inn in Bowling to develop the art of playing to an audience. This tradition is still maintained and we still play there on the last Friday of every month. (8.30 to 12.30 Over the years the band has performed at many venues including Hotels, pubs, clubs, Birthday parties, Weddings, Anniversary parties and at the occasional large scale event such as the Port Patrick Boat Festival and the Bridge of Allan Vintage Car Rally. The band has also participated in The McEwan Sessions and have played all over Scotland from Fort William to Dunoon and Onich to Kircudbright. We have recently provided part of a backing track to a film and we are producing our first cd and a video called Music from the Wee Room which should be available soon. The band plays a wide range of material including Traditional Scottish songs and pipe tunes with a fair smattering of Irish, English and American tunes. This is supplemented with more contemporary music written by the bands and their friends. As the three "more mature" members of the band all own boats, sea shanties and songs of the sea feature strongly in our repertoire. The band enjoys a music session and tries to encourage other musicians who come along to any of their less formal events to join them. |
 The four core members of the band are Allan Linklater (accordion and mouthie); Ken Linklater (penny whistle and vocals); Peter McAlister (guitar and vocals) and Alastair Linklater (bodhran and bongos). |