Alan Reid

Alan Reid has taken Scottish folk music all over the world since 1975. He joined Scotland’s Battlefield Band in 1969 and subsequently recorded almost 30 albums with this influential, innovative and enduring Celtic band. 

He began composing songs and tunes in the 1980s and from 1990 was the band’s principal songwriter. His songs are noted for their storytelling element whilst being strongly rooted in Scots folk tradition. His first songbook “Martyrs, Rogues and Worthies” was published in 2001 and in 2009 he was nominated in the ‘Composer of the year’ category in the Scots Traditional Music Awards.

In 2010 he left the band to concentrate on his duo with singer/guitarist Rob van Sante, recording a further five albums and continuing to tour at home and abroad. In 2016 Alan was inducted, along with his former Battlefield Band colleagues, into the Scots Traditional Music Hall of Fame, a recognition of the band’s contribution to Scots folk music. 

Now solo, and with extensive performing experience, Alan’s engaging concert features songs from his long career. Whether singing or playing piano, guitar or accordion, Alan delivers the very best in modern and traditional Scottish folk music and in a manner that delights audiences everywhere.