Neil Paterson began learning bagpipes at the age of 12 and was taught first of all by his father, Peter. He spent many years with his local pipe band (Kinross and District) as well as spells with Torphichen and Bathgate pipe band and Kelty and Blairadam.

In 1991 he took up the Scottish small pipes having saved up every penny he earned to buy a set of Hamish Moore’s pipes. A subsequent encounter with local Singer/songwriter John Watt led to the pair performing as a duo in Folk clubs and festivals for a few years. Since then Neil has worked with many traditional singers and bands including Pete Shepheard, Tommy Bonar and Jock Duncan as well as Jack Beck, Sheena Wellington, Tich Frier, Colin Ramage and Gaberlunzie. He was also part of ‘The Keekin Gless’, a group which also included Doris Rougvie, Pete Clark, Ewen Sutherland and Carl MacDougal. Together they performed songs, stories, poems and tunes from Perth and Kinross shire.

Neil also plays tin whistle and guitar and is a tutor at the Traditional music workshops run in Kennoway every Sunday. He has also been a tin whistle tutor for the National trust, Feis Spey, T.M.S.A. and Common Ground Scotland and has done a series of workshops in Pitlochry festival theatre in the past couple of years. Much of his playing in recent years has been with ‘The Orwell Ceilidh Band’ along with his wife, Gail, on accordion.

Neil considers himself privileged to have had the experience of accompanying many fine singers in the past. This is something he particularly enjoyed and has started working with Alyth singer/guitarist Stewart in a duo called ‘Dreeltime’ which performs traditional songs and tunes using smallpipes along with voice.

Recordings include:

‘Dancing Fingers’ - The Orwell Ceilidh Band’
‘The Barn Rocks’ –The Orwell Ceilidh Band
‘Heroes’ – John Watt
‘Hamely Fare’ – Sheena Wellington
‘ The Keekin Gless’ - Songs, tunes, Stories and poems from Perthshire.
‘ Independent Scots’ –Gaberlunzie
‘Scotland’s Secret’ – Colin Ramage
‘Man o’ Independent mind’ – Tich Frier
‘Half Ower, Half ower tae Aberdour’ - Jack Beck
‘Tunes - Old and New’ (Neil’s solo CD)