• Hugh was born in 1973 in the town of Wick, Caithness, in the far north of Scotland, and moved to Tain, Ross-shire, when he was two.
  While in Tain he learned to play the single row melodeon at the age of ten with help from Cam MacKay, a family friend and himself a fine melodeon player.
  A year or so later he moved onto the 3-row button accordion under the guidance of Willie Graham, another local box player who is still playing regularly at ceilidhs and accordion clubs at the age of 88.

• The biggest influence on his playing has been Ali MacGregor, piano box player and leader of the Tain Scottish Dance Band.
  When he was 14 he joined Ali's band, playing regularly at ceilidhs, concerts and country dance rallies.

• One of the highlights of his learning years was a visit to Auchtermuchty, in Fife, to see Jimmy Shand.

• He also played in a few Highland Music and Dance youth groups, and toured Europe with them  - to countries such as Germany, France, Bulgaria, Italy & Russia.
  He made his first recording at 16, entitled 'Button Box', a solo effort with backing from Ali MacGregor. This album was given quite a bit of exposure on the local radio station Moray Firth Radio, and on BBC Radio Scotland. He's done a few broadcasts on BBC Radio Scotland's 'Take the Floor' program with the Tain Scottish Dance Band & appeared on Gaelic TV shows on Grampian TV, the local TV station.  He won both the Junior and Senior Open Accordion Championships (on the same day) at Keith Music Festival one year.

• He currently plays a Hohner Shand Morino and a 2 row B/C Castagnari button accordion. Hugh plays at a good number of Scottish Highland Games and Celtic Festivals around North America and also plays with the Houston based progressive, edgy Celtic group, Murder the Stout.
  Since moving to Texas Hugh has recorded two albums with Bungalow Studios in Houston, "Feet to the Floor" (2003) is a solo album and "Far from Home" (2005) his latest album is a mix of Celtic music recorded in collaboration with some of Texas' finest musicians.
  Hugh has been living in Houston, Texas, since 1998.

CONSTANT BILLY

“A new day has dawned. There's a new band in the neighborhood, Constant Billy.” Take the traditional music of Britain and Ireland. Shake and stir in a little Rock, Classical and Swing using “an incredible, eclectic repertoire of intricate harmonies” from “probably the best all-around folk a-cappella singers in Houston.” Add in the accompaniment of Bodhran, guitar, tin whistle, recorder and bouzouki to create “stuff you just don't hear every day.” Add a dash of “hilarious between-songs banter,” and you have a duo that will leave you reeling. Constant Billy is Today's Trad.

Emily Standish - vocals, tin whistle, recorder and percussion. After years with Houston Symphony Chorus, and as featured soloist with several theater groups including Houston Revels and Trinity Opera Theater, Emily began singing with smaller ensembles in 1997. Has worked with the popular folk group Furagh Larq and the Early Music a cappella group Voces Dei. A powerful and passionate performer, Emily “sings with a purity of sound that is a joy to hear" and has "A voice like honey melted into crystal." Bill Galbraith - vocals, guitars, and bouzouki. Began playing in a rock group at 12, switched to Trad in 1977 as a founder of Freeborn, the first professional Celtic band in Texas. Moved on to the folk-rock group Four Bricks out of Hadrian’s Wall and sang doo-wop in Dr. T and the Tuxtones. Later worked with the a cappella band Nobody’s Reel. Has performed at festivals and clubs in Britain and America, and has extensive TV and radio credits including appearances on National Public Radio's All Things Considered and live internet performance.

Story teller, including historical skits
Singer
Author of a number of books, including "Scottish Alphabet"

 
Rickey E. Pittman, Grand Prize Winner of the 1998 Ernest Hemingway Short Story Competition, is originally from Dallas, Texas. He earned a BA in New Testament Greek and an MA in English from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas.
After moving to Monroe, Louisiana, Pittman was added to the Louisiana Roster of Artists in 1998.
Working closely with regional art councils, he was commissioned to write historical plays for Franklin (1997) and Madison (1998) parishes. In addition to freelance journalism, editing, and nonfiction writing, he has published short stories, poetry, and three books. His first book was Red River Fever. His children's book, Jim Limber Davis: An Orphan in the Confederate White House and his short stories book, Stories from the Confederate South are his most current books with Pelican Publishing.
Since 1994 Pittman has taught English at high schools and universities in Louisiana and Texas and currently teaches freshman English composition at Delta Community College in Monroe, LA.

Professor Brent DeWitt

Punch & Judy Show; Clown

At the age of seven, Brent DeWitt began his apprenticeship in the circus. Taught in the European tradition, he learned magic, puppetry, animal training and music as well as theatre.

All of this training is readily apparent in the polished professionalism of his show.
From entrance to exit, the dedication to his craft shines through.

"I design my show and acts for the entertainment of everyone, from the young to the young-at-heart."
 

Lary Fowler, aka Leghorn the Piper

Thirty years is a long time to carry a desire, but that is how long Lary carried the desire to play the bagpipes.  

Lary's musical roots go deep and his love for music is something passed onto him by his parents.
 

     He began playing his mother's clarinet when he was in the fourth grade in Jones, Oklahoma, but switched to the baritone sax in the eighth grade. In high school, he moved on to the bass drum and served as drum major his senior year. After graduating High School in 1965 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was promptly assigned to an Army Band where he played the clarinet and the saxophone.  Lary's musical career came to an immediate halt after leaving the army. Time for music was reduced to playing the radio.
 

Lary's thirty year desire to play the bagpipes began when he attended a performance of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in 1971. The summers of 1986 & 1987 found Lary working at Scarborough Faire outside of Waxahachie, Texas.  This exposed him to the music and other pipers.  The dream did not become reality until he came across the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards album that he had purchased years ago after attending their concert in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Little did he know he would receive a set of bagpipes for Christmas.
 

Lary's attempt to teach himself to play the bagpipes in the beginning proved frustrating but his ability to read and understand music became clear once again.  He began taking lessons with five time world champion piper, Robert G. Richardson, but switched to Lars Sloan, the founder of the Hamilton School of Piping in Houston, Texas. Sloan is also known for his lively stage presence with the Grammy nominated group, The Rogues and Scottish  Mayhem.  Lary has progressed quickly and has already received numerous calls to perform and has been presented with certificates and awards for his achievements.

JALAPENO HONEY