Hugh Morrison is never far from his Scottish hometown of Tain, Ross-shire as he coaxes highland melodies from his three-row button accordion. As a youth, Morrison trained on the melodeon and the three-row accordion under the tutelage of local players in Tain. While still a teenager he joined the Tain Scottish Dance Band, led by his mentor and greatest influence, Ali MacGregor. Morrison played regularly at ceilidhs, concerts, and country dances across Scotland, making appearances on BBC Radio and on Scottish television, both with the Tain band and solo. Backed by MacGregor, Morrison recorded his first full-length album, "Button Box," at just sixteen and enjoyed frequent coverage on BBC Radio Scotland. Since moving to Texas, Morrison has released three more solo albums and become a player in demand at Scottish and Irish festivals across America.
Morrison is at home with the real Scottish dance band style heard in many "Ceilidh dance halls" across Scotland. Scots ceilidh music is defined by the rollicking, cheery accordion melodies of great masters like Sir Jimmy Shand, with whom Hugh Morrison chanced to study. Unlike its better-known relative, Irish button accordion, Scots button accordion retains the hard-driving, working class rhythms of its origins in public dance halls. In addition to his grounding in ceilidh playing, Morrison is equally adept at the complex tunes of modern Celtic music. His recordings can be heard on Celtic music radio programs around the world, including the "Thistle and Shamrock" program and the BBC’Äôs Mike Harding show. Performing with regular collaborators Lone Star Stout, the trio creates rousing arrangements of traditional Scottish, Irish, and American music, incorporating original compositions that sit beautifully within a traditional Celtic repertoire.
At the 2009 International Accordion Festival, he will be joined by master Scottish fiddler, Judi Nicholson, and will be treating us to his little-known repertoire of ceilidh tunes from Ali MacGregor, as well as original songs. Also joining Hugh this year are veteran Celtic Music performers, and fellow Lonestar Stout bandmates, Jed Marum and Kendall Rogers.
Jed Marum provides the main vocals and plays guitar and banjo with the Lonestar Stout. He has released 9 albums for Boston Road Records since 1999 and those albums play regularly on broadcast radio, in television and films around the world. Jed is known around the US as a fine singer, songwriter and musician.
Originally from Kentucky, Kendall Rogers has become one of the most in-demand and one of the finest piano accompanists in Texas. In addition to keyboards, Kendall plays bodhran and piano accordion with Lonestar Stout. Kendall is a central figure in the region’Äôs English country dance scene, and plays as often as he can for the local contra dances, as well as working with Hugh, Jed and a number of other Celtic musicians.
