My name is Ross Ainslie, I’m a musician and composer living in Glasgow.
Over the last 2 years I've been writing my new album Pool, It's the last in a series of 3 albums in what I like to call 'Journey Albums'
The first 'Sanctuary' was recorded in 2017, second 'Vana' in 2020 and now in 2024 'Pool'.
On Pool, I have recruited my usual collaborators the Sanctuary Band, featuring Steve Byrnes on guitar and drums, James Lindsay on bass and moog, Hamish Napier on keys, Greg Lawson on fiddle, Paul Towndrow on sax, James Mackintosh on drums and percussion and new recruit Paul Jennings on congas and drums. The album will also feature a string quartet on five tracks and a brass section on one track.
At this point in starting this campaign we have the backing band already recorded, we spent 3 days up in Dunning, Perthshire at the amazing TPot studios rehearsing all the material then straight to Glasgow into Gloworm Studios and spent 3 days recording and 1 day editing. I really wanted to capture the backing band playing together to get the feeling of a band playing live but with control over the melody. Strings and Brass is going down next then I'll be putting all of my stuff down in April.
I realise that £20k is a lot of money to ask for but it's the reality of doing solo projects and paying everyone fairly, I won't be making any money personally from your donations it all goes to the amazing team involved in the creation of this album.
It's been a real labour of love writing and recording these 'Journey Albums' it's a form of self care for me so hopefully you get some kind of healing from listening too!
I have put a lot of hard work and time into making this album the best it can be and with your support, I hope to bring this album to life.
Any help would be greatly appreciated and I look forward to letting you hear it!
COSTS
The album is going to cost around £25,000.
Here’s a rough break down of costs:
Backing Band Rehearsals and Recording including Engineer and Studio - £10,000
Strings Recording including Engineer and Studio - £2,000
Brass Recording including Engineer and Studio - £1,250
Melody Recording including Engineer and Studio - £1,000
Mixing - £2,000
Mastering - £720
CD Production - £1,600
Vinyl Production - £2,000
Artwork and Promo Film - £1,200
PR Campaign - £1,500
I would be extremely grateful if you could pre order the album but if you're feeling even more generous, there’s a list of different perks that you might be interested in!
CAREER and AWARDS / NOMINATIONS
Ross Ainslie is one of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians and composers, playing pipes, whistles and cittern. He is renowned for his highly acclaimed solo material, and as a skilled performer and prolific collaborator who performs regularly with bands Treacherous Orchestra, Salsa Celtica, Dougie Maclean, Ali Hutton, Jarlath Henderson, Charlie Mckerron, Tim Edey, Hamish Napier, Brighde Chaimbeul, Duncan Chisholm, India Alba and has performed with Kate Rusby, Blue Rose Code, Zakir Hussain, Trilok Gurtu, Capercaillie, Shooglenifty, Carl Barat, Papon, Karsh Kale, Flook, Breabach, Soumik Datta and Patsy Reid.
Born in Perthshire in 1983, Ross began his career as a member of the Perth and District Pipe Band, before joining the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band, where he was mentored by piper Gordon Duncan. Hugely influenced by Gordon’s fearlessly innovative spirit and groundbreaking compositions, Ross began exploring his own abilities as a composer and writing his own tunes, and in 2002 he was a finalist in the prestigious BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition.
Ross has 5 solo albums to date Wide Open in 2013, Remembering in 2015, Sanctuary in 2017, Vana in 2020 and Live in the Gorbals in 2022.
Prestigious industry recognition has come in the form of a multitude of awards,
Won Best Duo at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards with Ali Hutton in 2017 and Nominated for the same award in 2018.
Nomination for Musician of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2013, 2016 and 2018.
Nomination for Best Duo at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards with Jarlath Henderson in 2014.
Wide Open was voted 9th out of 50 Top Scottish Albums of 2013 in the Sunday Herald.
He’s also received various awards at the Scots Trad Music Awards,
Nomination for Instrumentalist of the year in 2010.
Nomination for Live Act of the year with Jarlath Henderson in 2008 and with Treacherous Orchestra in 2009 and 2010.
Wide Open was Nominated for Album of the year in 2013.
Treacherous Orchestra won Album of the year in 2015
Won Composer of the year in 2015.
Sanctuary was in the Shortlist for Album of the year in 2018.
Nominated for the Belhaven Bursary for Innovation in 2019.
Nominated for Trad Video of the Year in 2019.
Las was in the shortlist for Album of the year in 2022.
Diad was in the shortlist for Album of the year in 2023.