Freereelin' Profiles

The Band

Lesley and Stuart, who have been friends and collegues since 2003, came together with Davy in 2010 to form the band after Lesley had a chance meeting with Davy following a Blazin Fiddles concert 100 miles from home, where they discovered they only lived about 1/2 a mile apart. A few beers and a few sessions later and Freereelin' was born.

Davy Lees

Davy has extensive experience in the music industry. He hails from the Lanarkshire steel town of Motherwell where, during the late seventies, he was a member of the well respected Auld Howff Band In which he provided vocals, played Guitar and Flute. He is indeed a former Scottish Amateur Flute Champion He has toured Europe extensively and has played at Le Triskel Festival In Breste, and Ballerup Festival, In Denmark.

Davy is a very accomplished performer with a vast repertoire of songs ranging from traditional Scottish, including many Robert Burns Compositions to popular contemporary Folk standards. His television appearances include ITV "Secret Scotland" His Radio Broadcasts include Moray Firth Radio "All Scottish", and the hugely popular "Strings and Things" which he presented on Radio Avon FM.

Stuart McQueen

Stuart has been drumming for about 28 years (must have started when he was 1!) and has played in a wide range of different settings including brass bands, orchestras, church bands, pipe band, musicals and two other ceilidh bands (sssshhh...). Sometimes he even manages to get it all in time! Mostly this has been using the full kit however does compliment this with bodhran and Cajon (and has even been known to play the shaky egg and triangle! Ask him about that one?!) As well as this he plays a little guitar for some of the quieter numbers. Living in Clackmannanshire with wife and 3 kids, who all love music and are budding drummers, he works there as a lawyer - but please don't hold that against him!

Lesley Thompson

Lesley was born in Sussex, and grew up in Rochdale near Manchester. Since early adulthood, she has been very happily settled in Scotland, most recently putting down roots in Cupar, Fife. With a classical music background in her childhood, Lesley began her transition into folk in 2002 when she and her husband Gary were asked to play the fiddle for the Inverkeithing Step Dancers in Fife. This led to her introduction to the Sounds Braw ceilidh band, with whom she has played since 2003. She has been involved in various solo charity events and scores of ceilidhs, weddings and performance events, solo and with Sounds Braw since. She began to teach fiddle and violin in 2010 on returning to work after having children, and she now composes many of her own tunes.