BIOGRAPHY
“Bruce MacGregor has something of the Midas touch. This has nothing to do with luck but everything to do with a deep love and understanding for his music and culture”
Fiddle On Magazine
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One of the most influential musicians of his generation, Bruce MacGregor has been a massive driving force in the revitalisation of Scottish folk music.
Founding the phenomenally successful Blazin Fiddles in 1998, his driving yet lyrical style of playing alongside his passion for the history and culture of the Highlands, has helped inspire a new generation of musicians and lovers of traditional music across the world.
Born in Inverness in 1970 Bruce was taught music by the legendary Donald Riddell CBE who also taught fellow Highland fiddlers Duncan Chisholm, Iain MacFarlane, Sarah Jane Summers and Adam Sutherland.
Most recently Bruce’s role as a composer has come into the spotlight with the launch of the “Highlanders Revenge and other tales” in January 2020. The book is a collection of 50 compositions with the story and inspiration for each tune alongside photographs from over 20 years touring with Blazin Fiddles.
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One of Scotland’s leading broadcasters, Bruce has been the host of the weekly 2 hour “Travelling Folk” on BBC Radio Scotland for almost ten years previously presenting The Culture Cafe and Music Cafe.
He is an award winning producer with his programmes on Scottish music including “The Strathspey King - the life of James Scott Skinner” and “The Captain’s Collection” both awarded Celtic Media Awards.
In 2001 he founded Blazin in Beauly a week long musical extravaganza making the Highland village the “Fiddle Town of Scotland” for a week every October. The music school now attracts lovers of Scottish Fiddle from around the world.
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With thousands of performances across the globe, Bruce has found himself playing for Sir Billy Connolly, Sir Sean Connery, Prince Edward and accompanying Ewan McGregor and Sharlene Spitteri, Eddi Reader, Justin Currie and duetting with world renowned violinist Nicola Benedetti.
His playing can also be found on the multi million selling game “Assassins Creed 3” and BBC Scotland’s long running TV soap “River City”. His skills as a composer have been drawn upon to compose for his Holiness the Dalai Lama on his visit to Inverness with many of his other tunes recorded by leading musicians in the folk world.
On St Andrew’s day 2017 he jointly opened “MacGregor’s Bar” in Inverness with his wife Jo De Sylva. The venue won “Best Bar in Scotland” at the Visit Scotland Thistle Awards alongside the Scottish Licensed Trade Awards for “Best Concept “ and “Best Music Bar”.
The couple also run the wedding and events venue Bogbain Farm.
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