Barnaby Brown from Scotland and Gianluca Dessì from Sardinia plunder the indigenous classical traditions of their native isles to weave a contemporary sound. "Bandre" is the vocal version of the most exciting embellishment in pibroch, the crunnludh, and the duo Band-Re employ a subtle crossover of Scottish, Sardinian, Arabic, and Balkan flavours to cast an entrancing spell, rich in melody and infused with mesmerising textures.

In April 2006, Band-Re launched its debut album, Strathosphere:

 "Beautiful compositions, impeccable execution and highly intelligent arrangements - an album of great atmosphere, the power of which lies in its purity." Riccardo Tesi

Band-Re reintroduce one of the most exhilarating sounds of European civilisation: the triplepipe. Still alive and kicking in Sardinia, the triplepipe flourished in Ireland and Scotland before the arrival of the bagpipe. It appears on medieval stone carvings played by monks, opposite the harp, lyre, and fiddle (images at www.triplepipe.net, including the latest find in Westminster Abbey). Fascinated by the possibility of a link between the triplepipe and Highland pibroch, Barnaby Brown moved to Sardinia in 2002 and immersed himself in the launeddas tradition.

There he met Gianluca, a virtuoso Sardinian guitarist, ethnomusicologist, and promoter of Sardinian music around the world and Irish music in Sardinia. "Gianluca displays a rare sensitivity for pipe music ornamentation. Does he have a Sgiathanach grandmother?" wrote Iain MacInnes (BBC Scotland). He works with many of Sardinia's leading artists and recently formed the trio Tumbu with Orlando Mascia and Bruno Camedda.

Barnaby grew up in Glasgow, studied music at Cambridge University, and was principal flautist of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. A piper from the age of 8, he was one of the first to apply the principles of the early music movement to pibroch. He plays a reproduction of a chanter originally owned by Iain Dall, the Blind Piper of Gairloch ( c.1656 - c.1754) and his historically-informed performance style has caused a stir in the piping establishment, leading to two appearances at the Edinburgh International Festival. His articles, workshops, and lecture-recitals worldwide are stimulating the rediscovery of a musical tradition that was more flexible and richer in breadth than the one cultivated by piping competitions. He teaches Composing & Arranging to Scottish Music students, and Scottish Music to future music teachers at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Band Re are:

Barnaby Brown (Scottish smallpipes, triplepipes, whistles, vocals)
Gianluca Dessi (guitar, bouzouki)

Workshop Ceòl Mór with Barnaby Brown
For anyone wanting to learn about 16th-century Irish piping Barnaby will conduct a workshop on the Sunday morning. It will be all-singing, no instruments required. We will chant Irish bagpipe music in the traditional manner using Colin Campbell's 1797 "canntaireachd" manuscript.

At least 3 works will be covered: "One of the Irish Piobarich", "The End of the Little Bridge",  and "Taom-boileinn na Coinneamh - The Frenzy of the Meeting", also known as "Brian O'Duff's Lament" / "An Irish Lively Tune".