Calum McIlroy | Aidan Connolly & Bryan O’Leary | Live at the Rogue

Calum McIlroy is a guitarist, mandolinist, and singer from Aberdeenshire, hailed for his lyrical, plectrum-driven arrangements of traditional and original music. A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, McIlroy released his debut EP “This Ill Deeds” (2020), earning critical praise and a nomination for the Scots Singer of the Year Award at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.

In 2024, he won the coveted title of BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, and was also invited to sing for King Charles and Queen Camilla as part of the Scottish National Parliament’s 25th Anniversary celebrations.

Beyond his solo endeavours, he is one third of the trio Fell Line, alongside Megan MacDonald and Chloë Bryce. His collaborations include performances with the likes of Mike Vass, Anna Massie, Lauren MacColl, Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton, and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

McIlroy’s solo performances are made up of solo guitar arrangements of traditional Scottish and self-composed tunes, as well as songs from Scotland and beyond. Fiddle player Aidan Connolly and accordionist Bryan O’Leary are two leading performers of traditional Irish music.

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Aidan Connolly, from Dublin, has received widespread acclaim for his distinctive fiddle playing, and was nominated for Best Folk Instrumentalist at the RTÉ Folk Awards in 2022. He also performs the role of John Sheahan in the internationally touring stage show Dubliners Encore. His recordings have received critical praise in publications such as The Irish Times and The Irish Echo.

Bryan O’Leary, a native of Tureencahill in County Kerry, is widely regarded as one of the leading accordion players of his generation. He was named TG4 Young Musician of the Year in 2015. Bryan is the grandson of the legendary Sliabh Luachra accordion player, Johnny O’Leary, and his playing continues a rich family tradition rooted in the distinctive repertoire of polkas and slides associated with the region.

The duo perform regularly at concerts and festivals in Ireland and internationally, and are also active as teachers of traditional music through workshops, masterclasses and educational programmes. Their performances present the distinctive fiddle and accordion tradition of Sliabh Luachra, alongside stories and insights into the musicians who shaped the style.