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.
He performs regularly with bands Treacherous Orchestra, Salsa Celtica, Dougie Maclean, Ali Hutton, Charlie Mckerron, Tim Edey, Hamish Napier, Brìghde 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 recorded six albums of his own music to date: 'Wide Open' in 2013, 'Remembering' in 2015, 'Sanctuary' in 2017, 'Vana' in 2020, 'Live in the Gorbals' in 2022 and his latest release 'Pool' in 2024.
This body of work is gloriously immersive and we look forward to the sumptuous sounds of The Sanctuary Band (featured on the last four albums) filling The Queen’s Hall on 2 May. They are: Greg Lawson (Triptic) on fiddle, Paul Towndrow (SNJO) on sax, Steve Byrnes (Kate Rusby) on guitar, Hamish Napier (Su-a Lee & Friends) on keys, James Lindsay (Breabach) on bass, John Blease (Paulo Nutini) on drums and percussion, and of course, Ross leading on pipes, whistles and cittern.
With special guest: Terra Kin
Hannah Findlay has been a dynamic force in Glasgow’s jazz, folk, and pop scenes for many years. Blending fingerstyle guitar, atmospheric soundscapes and "crunchy" harmonies. Hannah has carved out a distinctive sound, culminating in this project: Terra Kin.
Their debut EP, 'Too Far Gone' earned critical acclaim, propelling them to win BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year 2023. After a brief hiatus, Terra Kin is back and ready to make waves in 2025 with an exciting new chapter.
Presented by Soundhouse
The Scotsman“Scotland’s most sought-after piper”
Ross Ainslie | Pool
KLOF Mag“The true genius of Pool lies in how it reconciles its stylistically varied individual tracks with an overall mood that remains consistent—and consistently engaging—throughout its run time. Ainslie’s goal is to make the listener actually listen. It’s harder than it might seem, but he has pulled it off with panache, originality, and an often breathtaking range of musical invention.”
Ross Ainslie & the Sanctuary Band
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