Sgian Dubh - Band Members

Sgian_Dubh-14Mar09

Sgian Dubh formed in 2005 when Bruce, wanting to expand his musical horizons after years of garage band rock & roll, felt his Celtic heritage calling. He rounded up a couple of former rock bandmates, recruited some veterans of the genre, and they were off! Sgian Dubh has undergone some recent personnel changes but their engaging sound lives on!!! The band's "alternative Celtic" style mixes acoustic & electric modes, and includes originals as well as the more traditionally-based standards.

Band Members:

	Susan Cates Vocals, Flute, Whistle, Bass Guitar (& Feet of Flames) Susan has been singing and playing flute for nearly two decades, and has recently expanded into the Celtic harp. Despite her youth, she has developed and maintained a strong attachment to Old World Celtic lore and music since childhood, while still being influenced by the newest generation of Celtic music. Now that the band has gone partially electric, Susan feels that Sgian Dubh is the perfect opportunity to let out her inner Celtic punk-rocker!
	Ray O'Connor Mandolin, Tenor Banjo, Guitar, Bass Guitar Ray has played various genres of music for the past 40+ years; his primary influences and experience have been in rock, blues, folk, bluegrass and country. Ray was a charter member of Atlanta's rock'n'rolling The Ultrasonics. In addition to the instruments listed above, Ray plays acoustic & electric guitars, and is working with his octave mandolin. Although he claims that he doesn't sing, we've seen his lips moving on at least one song!
	Bruce Roberts Whistles, Drums & Percussion, Harmonica, Technopipes, Vocals Bruce played trumpet during his school years, but took up the drum kit in college, better matching his affinity for rock. Along with Ray, he was a charter member of The Ultrasonics. Over the years he added additional percussion instruments (bodhran, ashiko, djembe, doumbek), and began playing whistles after he was bitten by the Celtic bug. Bruce also plays the rauschpfeife, pibgorn (Welsh hornpipe), electric bagpipes, a bit of harmonica, and is putting in practice time with the Irish flute and his set of Scottish Smallpipes.
	Ted Simon Fiddle, Bass Guitar After first playing guitar as a teenager, Ted picked up a fiddle to solve his mid-life crisis and has been playing ever since. He listens to rock, blues, folk, reggae, hip-hop and classical. In addition to fiddle, Ted plays acoustic and electric guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, harmonica, and bass guitar.
	Mike Quigley Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Vocals, Percussion Mike (or Quigley, as his friends know him) has been playing guitar ever since he picked one up to impress a girl. Although the girl is long gone, Quigley's love for music remains and he has performed with many groups over the years. From early bands, to Penn State's alternative original rockers 39 Fingers, to the Renaissance Folk group Tenpenny Travelers, Quigley has always enjoyed a new experience. He's excited to join with us, to explore his Celtic roots and add new twists to the rich Celtic brew known as Sgian Dubh!