Cask Strength combines the famous Highland box-and-fiddle duo of John Somerville and Adam Sutherland, with the mighty rhythm section of Hamish Napier and Stevie Fivey. Between them they have visited over fifty countries worldwide playing to audiences at concerts, major music festivals, national radio and TV, corporate events and weddings.

 

John Somerville – Accordion

John Somerville hails from Abriachan on the north shore of Loch Ness, and began playing accordion at the tender age of ten. His unique driving and dynamic style has seen him heralded as one of the top instrumentalists in Scotland – working with artists and bands as diverse as David Byrne, Franz Ferdinand, Box Club, Croft No. Five and Treacherous Orchestra. 

He has received several national award nominations, including a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for “Best Band”. A tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he has played at some of the worlds most respected venues including the Albert Hall and Queen Elizabeth Halls in London, as well as performances in Japan, Lebanon, USA and China.

 

Adam Sutherland – Fiddle

Adam comes from Errogie on the south shores of Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland.  One of Scotland’s most exciting fiddle players, composers and teachers, Adam has been a part of The Treacherous Orchestra, Session A9, Peatbog Faeries, Babelfish and Croft no. Five.  He has also played with a host of other well known acts including Salsa Celtica and Manran.

Adam’s tunes are perhaps his most impressive legacy and are played in music sessions and on YouTube videos wherever there is celtic music in the world, especially the classic “Road to Errogie” reel.

 

Stevie Fivey – Drums

Originally from Central Scotland, Stevie attained Grade 1 competition level at only 15 with World Pipe Band Champions Denny & Dunipace Pipes & Drums.  A graduate of revered Edinburgh music college Jewel & Esk, Stevie is in great demand as a leading Scottish percussion teacher at major Scottish youth festivals (Feis Rois, Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin, Splore) and the Merlin Music Academy.

Throughout the past ten years, Stevie has toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe with a variety of bands and shows. This has included performances for Billy Connolly and Prince Charles in prestigious venues such as The Scottish Parliament and Edinburgh Castle.

 

Hamish Napier – Piano/Vocals

Originally from Speyside, Hamish has collaborated with many of Scotland’s leading musicians, including Capercaillie’s Karen Matheson, Phil Cunningham, Martyn Bennett and Eddi Reader. He toured toured internationally as a funding member of award-winning folk quartet Back of the Moon.  He plays with Mairi MacInnes, Mike Vass, Nae Plans, Man’s Ruin, Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson.

After attaining degrees in Physics and Music, he earned a scholarship to the world-renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston to study jazz piano. He currently lectures in Scottish Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.