With The Best Of Vol. 1, fiddler Aly Bain presents a finely curated collection that highlights the warmth, finesse and musical integrity that have made him one of Scotland’s most respected traditional musicians. Drawing together standout performances from his work with Whirlie Records, the album showcases Bain’s unmistakable tone and lyrical phrasing, rooted in the Shetland fiddle tradition yet open to broader Celtic and Nordic influences. The selection moves effortlessly between lively reels, graceful waltzes and reflective airs, each performed with clarity, restraint and deep musical understanding. Whether in solo passages or ensemble settings with long-time collaborators, Bain’s playing is marked by elegance, rhythmic vitality and an unforced expressiveness that speaks directly to the listener. The Best Of Vol. 1 stands not only as an introduction to his recorded legacy, but also as a celebration of a lifetime dedicated to tradition, collaboration and the enduring voice of the fiddle in contemporary folk music.
Track Listing
1. The Barmaid/The Carpenter/Maid in a Box (Aly Bain, Willie Johnson, May Gear)
2. Margaret Anne Robertson (Aly Bain, Danny Thompson, Violet Tulloch
3. Waiting for the Federals (Aly Bain, Jerry Douglas, Russ Barenberg, Donald Shaw, Michael Doucet, Danny Thompson, Tommy Hayes)
4. Bjornvalser Fran Skane [Bear Waltzes from Skane] (Aly Bain, Ale Moller)
5. Arkansas Traveller (Aly Bain, Tommy Jarrell)
6. Spey in Spate/Timur the Tartar/Big John MacNeil (Aly Bain, Buddy MacMaster, Jerry Holland, Carl Mackenzies)
7. Margaret's Waltz (Aly Bain, Leif Solberg, Henning Sommerro, Tellef Kvifte)
8. Midland Two Step (Aly Bain, Mark Savoy, Anne Savoy, Michael Doucet)
9. Da Day Dawn (Aly Bain, BT Scottish Ensemble)
10. Lily Dale (Aly Bain, Junior Daugherty)
11. All Da Ships ir Sailin/Sheldor Geo/Mak a Kishie Needle Dye (Aly Bain, Tom Anderson, Violet Tulloch, Willie Johnson)
12. Jeannas Tune (Aly Bain, Violet Tulloch, Danny Thompson)
13. Till Far [For Father] (Aly Bain, BT Scottish Ensemble)
14. Roll Her in the Rye Grass/Da Scalloway Lasses/Ahint Da Dykes o Voe (Aly Bain, Phil Cunningham, Hom Bru, Willie Johnson)
15. Aly's Waltz (Aly Bain, Violet Tulloch)
16. The Teetotaler's Reel/The Fairy Dance (Aly Bain, Mark O Connor)
