Bes McHardy's new tack

George McHardy, the butcher, was submerged in music from when he was born. The first ever Fiddlers' Rally was held here in Oban and was the idea of my father, Jessie MacLeod and Jimmy Spence, the father of Oban's Erik Spence.

'Looking into my family background, it materialises I have many predecessors who were musicians. Pipe Major James McHardy was piper to Queen Victoria at Balmoral. William McHardy was the subject for the fiddler J Scott Skinner's famous tunes The Iron Man and The Laird of Drumblair. History tells me that they were giants of men. What happened to me?

'My musical journey has led me to many stages, from live Pebble Mill TV, supporting and working with the best of

Irish artists such as Charlie Landsborough, Philomena Begley, Dominic Kirwan, Mary Duff, and Declan Nearney.

'It has been my pleasure to work alongside local men Alastair Brown, Colin Campbell, Alastair Downie, Alastair Curry, Hector MacFadyen, Michael Garvin, and Duncan Forgrieve, to name a few.

'I am forever grateful to the wonderful and talented musicians featured on the album: Archie McAllister on fiddle, Silas Sinclair on piano, vocals and accordion, Duncan Forgrieve on accordion, Ashley MacMillan on drums, Elissa Conway on backing vocals, and Lorne MacDougal on whistles.

'A huge debt of gratitude goes to Finlay Wells of Nutshell Studios in Oban, a musician and co-producer of this album.

'I would like to dedicate this album to a fine honest and family man: my friend who we had hoped would come to Oban, but sadly passed away and never made it. To you my old friend from Vilnius, Lithuania, Jaroslav Dovgialo! We will meet again my friend, in A Hebridean Sunset!'

The album is available from Alba Artshop in Oban, and online at musicscotland.com.