I sat on grass vibrating from the drumming, among the growing
number of worms coming to the surface; I soon understood why. Saor
Patrol are amazing. They have a vibrant and unique blend of bagpipes
and drums that brings traditional Scottish music from the past into
the present and well beyond. They’ve called their style ‘Celtabilly’
which seems to suit it admirably.
Charlie Allen, a 6’3” giant of a man, has a really relaxed piping
style which sounds as if he’s been playing all his life (although
long accomplished on accordion and fiddle, he’s only been piping for
a few years). Encouraged by other pipers he had developed his own
powerful and energetic but laid back style, which is pushed to the
limits by the drums.
Wayne Manning has a wide range of experience with different
bands. His skill on the oversized snare drum and his enthusiasm
radiate out to the audience. When not drumming he’s involved in
crafts working with wood and stone.
Kev Johnston plays one of the middle sized drums and is
described as ‘a good helmsman in a drumbeat’. He spends his spare
time split between his passion for motorbikes and creating ceramics,
including making terracotta sword handles for a swordsmith in the
north of Scotland.
Robbie MacFarlane plays the
other middle sized drum adding further depth to the rhythms. He’s
also a dab hand on a Bodhran and couldn’t resist borrowing mine
between performances.
Stevie Kirkpatrick rounds off the line-up on the bass drum.
He’s played with a range of bands and musicians from hard rock, R&B
through to traditional Folk. His more simple but powerful rhythms
knit the band together, adding a depth, energy and foot-stomping
rhythm to the band. He’s also heavily involved in crafts, being an
artist, graphic designer and swordmaker. He’s also a historical
researcher and tour guide.
At Ely the band were joined by three young dancing girls –
dressed in authentic costume in muted colours. They dance the old
style of Scottish stepping – none of your stiff Highland Fling here.
They’re taught by a dancing master who specialises in this older
form of Scottish step dancing; far more relaxed and natural than the
sort we’re more familiar with today. Every now and again they danced
on, did their lively stepping for a while, then danced off – like a
fresh breeze skimming through the heather, adding yet another
dimension to the visual and musical feast.
Chatting to the lads after their performance I discovered a
little more about them. Saor (pronounced ‘shore’) comes from the
Gaelic word ‘Saorsa’ meaning freedom or liberty. They’re based in
Edinburgh but have played at festivals throughout Europe and the
United States and appear at events ranging from medieval banquets to
bike shows. They appeal to a wide audience, from deep routed
folkies, to rock fans and anyone interested in rhythm. I felt sorry
for the one person near me in the crowd who said that “all their
tunes sound the same”. If only they’d listened a little more
closely to pick out some of the detail, or even listened to the
varied pipe tunes.
For
ease of transportation they use salsa drums as they stack like
Russian Dolls and are relatively light so they can be carried round
all day attached to their belts. Real Scottish war drums are made
from massive slices of tree trunk and are too heavy to pick up, so
they’re only used for studio work.
Their talents
go beyond their love of music and crafts. The whole gang give combat
and battle displays, in which they’re highly trained. They have
skills with a wide range of weapons including broadsword, dirk and
dagger, small grip and two-handed longswords, maces, war hammers,
staff, spear, a whole range of axes, and much more.
So it’s hardly
surprising that they’ve been stunt men and stunt co-ordinators in
numerous films including Gladiator, Highlander and,
the most recent, Arthur. Although the moves may be
choreographed for films and specific events, they’re based on real
katas and moves developed through the Scottish Federation of
Medieval Martial Arts in Edinburgh. They train far beyond the call
of duty so that they can provide a real insight into the realities
of close combat. They fight ferociously and don’t pull their
punches, but their training pays off as they rarely suffer any
injuries.
When the MacDonald Clan held their first full High Council
meeting in 500 years, not only did Saor Patrol provide the music,
they had the great honour of doubling up as bodyguards for the Clan
Chiefs.
The individual members of Saor Patrol are all volunteers with
the Clanranald Trust for Scotland. The trust is a charity,
established in 1995, with the aim of promoting Scottish culture and
heritage through education and entertainment. There’s a small staff
and a large number of dedicated volunteers who donate their time and
help to raise funds. The fundraising includes period re-enactment
battle displays, corporate themed entertainment, major film-work,
and public donations, while aiming to present a true recreation of
their nation’s past. Some of their activities include interactive
school visits with visual displays and discussions about historical
Scottish life, allowing children to take a closer look at some of
the weapons and costumes of the time.
Charlie is the Chief Executive of the trust and is proud that
they’re received planning permission to build a full-size
