Event Details

Steve Brown: Guitars & Backing Vocals Steve got his first guitar at eight years old — inspired by his big brother who had a 12-string. His school band went on to tour Europe and Steve knew then what he wanted to do with his life. He was first introduced to Rush and rock at age 13 by a friend who loaned him 2112, A Farewell to Kings, Led Zep 4, Black Sabbath's Greatest Hits and Back In Black — what a baptism of fire that night became! He first saw Rush on the Signals tour and has caught them on every UK tour since plus shows in Boston, Toronto and Amsterdam. Since hooking up with online forums such as TRAC (The Rush Atlantic Connection) every show has been a blast catching up with like-minded fans from all over the globe. Steve started RUSHfest Scotland at the end of 2013 and now brings hundreds of fans to Scotland every year and has produced 5 volumes of Songs For Neil albums. Profits from these events and album sales have so far raised over £136k for cancer charities. Steve turned full time professional musician in 1993 and has gigged every weekend since, from bowling alleys in Thurso, to amphitheatres in Japan, to dodgy late night TV shows like this one with his original rock band Seeing Red back in 1991. Gear: Gibson Les Paul Alex Lifeson Signature Gibson ES-355 Alex Lifeson Signature 1976 Gibson 1275 doubleneck Godin Lerxst Limelight PRS C24 35th anniversary edition PRS Mikael Åkerfeldt Signature - drop D Stand-mounted Yamaha nylon acoustic Kemper Stage Mission expression pedal Digitech Drop Headrush FFRR active cab Boss WL-20 wireless Shure IEMs Elixir 10-46 Big stubby 3mm Vintage Les Paul - Midge Ure Signature - open E tuning Fender HSS Stratocaster Polytune 3 HotOne Acoustic Simulator Fender ABY John Petrucci Chorus Harley Benton Spaceship Power 60 pedalboard Favourite Rush albums: A Farewell to Kings Hemispheres Moving Pictures Favourite Alex moment: F#7add4 (opening chord to Hemispheres - THE LIFESON CHORD!) Steve Brown with Doubleneck Guitar Eóin de Paor: Vocals, Bass, Keys & Violin Raised in a musical environment in which Chopin and Tommy Makem and the Clancy brothers or The Chieftains were equally likely to be thundering from his Dad’s piano or Bang and Olufsen, John / Eóin (he answers to either) was taught his first guitar chords at the age of 4 by family friend, Harvey Broadbent. Given the racket subsequently created, Harvey’s emigration to Australia shortly afterwards was probably a wise move… Classically trained on the piano from the age of 7, John naturally gravitated towards strings and by 12 had written off any instrument that wasn’t portable as “Furniture”. Since the piano definitely fell into that category, his musical course was set and Guitars, Basses, Violins, Mandolins (and the flute?!) have occupied his time ever since though keyboards have never quite been disposed of… Introduced to Rush aged 12 by a school friend, early dabbling in classical guitar (inspired by John Williams and Sky) were replaced by the desire to learn Alex’s parts. Unable to do this convincingly on a ¾ sized classical, he reasoned (with the laughable ignorance of youth) that the bass line must be easier to play and the rest as they say, is hysterical… Having played in a variety of styles and genres over the years including an Irish folk band and the composition of two Theatrical scores for Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet (where he discovered to his surprise that Classically strained string quartets do NOT improvise — who knew?) whilst holding down the teaching day job, he was ready for something a bit different. The invitation to join Counterparts, ten years ago at the time of writing, allowed a return to those brilliant bass lines and it was like coming home. He is honoured to be a member of moving Pictures and delighted to have the excuse to pass the Failte gu Alba sign more regularly. He first saw Rush at the Birmingham NEC on the Show of hands tour and is somewhere on the video on Geddy’s side about half way down. In his dotage, he continues to find new inspiration in many genres and is particularly fond of Francisco Tarrega, Issac Albeniz, Irish folk, Radiohead and Muse but it’s the Canadian prog trio who remain the constant in his musical life. The great Jazz pianist, Jacques Loussier (his arrangement of Air on a G string accompanied a well known cigar advert) once said that in his opinion, J S Bach wrote the greatest rock bass lines in history. I like Jacques but he was wrong. The greatest bass lines in history were written by a Canadian… Gear: Fender Geddy Lee Signature Jazz — USA Fender Geddy Lee Signature Jazz — Japan Rickenbacker 4003 Steinberger spirit bass Fender Jazz 5 string De Paor Double neck Bass and 6 string — Lonsdale (ie. Homemade…) Roland XP80 FATAR bass pedals Sans amp Tech 2112 Behringer Multi effects processor Behringer Stereo Graphic EQ Boss GT-1000 5 string electric violin Favourite Rush albums: Hemispheres Moving Pictures Power Windows Hold your Fire Clockwork Angels Favourite Geddy moment: There are many but if held at gunpoint… The bass solo in La Villa Strangiato (obviously…) This Bio was brought to you by the letters P and B and was written in the pub with a pint of Guinness close at hand… Eóin with Doubleneck Bass Jamie Dunleavey: Drums & Percussion Jamie has been playing drums since she was 13, after her dad taught her a few Led Zeppelin beats on a rainy day. She studied music at university in Edinburgh, where she developed an obsession for the music of Rush and admiration of Neil Peart's drumming. She went on to play drums professionally for original and wedding bands in Edinburgh, as well as teaching. Her drumming heroes include The Professor - Mr Peart, John Bonham, Pierre Van Linden, Matt Gartska and Joey Jordison. Gear: Premier Genista 10-piece Sabian Paragon, Sabian HHX, Paiste Signature, Zildjian K Custom Hybrid Cymbals Roland SPD Kick foot trigger (cowbell) Roland Octapad Percussion - chimes, woodblocks, cowbells, triangle! Favourite Rush albums: Hemispheres A Farewell To Kings Moving Pictures Favourite Neil moment: By-Tor fills and all of La Villa Strangiato