Meet The Shimmy Grand…

Gregor Blamey – accordion and piano

Gregor plays accordion and piano and is the musical powerhouse of Shimmy Grand. All of the arrangements are Gregor’s work and his creativity is the basis of their unique sound.

Gregor began playing piano at the age of seven and after studying at the Junior Department of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama was accepted into the Senior Department and gained a BA Honours degree in 2003. After graduating, he studied jazz piano for two years at St Andrew’s University and went on to become an employee of ‘Carnaval Cruise Lines’ as a show-band musician and cocktail pianist.

Gregor has enjoyed a varied musical career over the last few years: Performing as an accompanist with numerous professional companies, ensembles and soloists; giving solo recitals for various music groups including performances of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and playing throughout Scotland as a wedding and event pianist.

Gregor’s Grandparents were close personal friends to the late Sir Jimmy Shand Snr. This meant that the accordion has never been far from his heart with Scottish dance music and ceilidh dancing a constant source of enjoyment. Playing with Gerry Sludden in the Highland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland led to forming Shimmy Grand in 2011.

As well as being a founding member of Shimmy Grand, Gregor is a member of the Scottish Tango Ensemble, a regular pianist and accordionist with Pacific Wedding Band and a Sergeant in the Highland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Gregor also enjoys teaching piano and is currently employed by Falkirk Council.

Gisela Hans – fiddle

Gisela hails from Cape Town, South Africa where she started playing the violin at the tender age of 4 yrs. Throughout her schooling, her violin playing flourished, and she quickly developed a distinctive flair and individual playing style of her own which she retains today.

She was awarded a coveted full scholarship from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music to study at the RSAMD in Glasgow, and graduated in 2004 With a BMus (Hons).

During her 4 years at the RSAMD, she was approached by the renowned Scottish band Belle and Sebastian, to be a session player. Subsequent tours with them took her all over the world and she has played to sell-out crowds in USA, Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, Japan and Australia.

She has also played at several festivals, including Glastonbury (UK), Fuji Festival (Japan) and Benicassim (Spain). Album appearances and live studio and television recordings followed, with Gisela even landing a starring role in the music video for the single ‘Wrapped Up In Books’.

An experienced and well-travelled performer, Gisela now combines a busy and varied freelance career with tutoring violin for Falkirk District Council.

David Burke – fiddle

David plays fiddle in the band and is well travelled and experienced in playing both traditional and classical music. He has played in concerts throughout Scotland including an appearance at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo as well as memorable tours of Canada and Argentina.

David started playing the violin when he was 8. He was a proud member of the Lothian Schools Orchestra and led viola sections of the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. He studied music at Edinburgh University playing an active role in the university symphony, chamber and string orchestras as well as the chamber choir. He toured extensively throughout Europe with all of these orchestras including performances at The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and The Royal Albert Hall in London during the BBC Proms season. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music, he completed a PGCE at Moray House and is now a secondary school music teacher.

In addition to playing with Shimmy Grand, David has also provided strings on a snow patrol album and currently performs with Team Solripe with whom he has performed at Celtic Connections, aboard the QEII and as a supporting act to The Animals.

Gerry Sludden – percussionist, ceilidh dance caller and DJ

Gerry is the percussionist with the band, playing cajon and drums. He is also the DJ, compere and ceilidh dance caller, and ensures that everyone knows exactly how to perform each dance with his relaxed, humorous style.

Gerry began his musical journey in the brass band world before joining the Highland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland with whom he has performed all over the world.

While playing at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in 2005, he developed an interest in the evocative sounds of world percussion – leading specifically to learning the cajon.

Along with Gregor, Gerry began working on arrangements for ceilidh band which utilised the cajon – it was this project that led to Shimmy Grand being formed in 2011.