About
Point Five formed in 2010 to play weddings for our friends and relatives. Word spread, and we've refined our performances to suit a range of events. In choosing Point Five, you can expect a stress-free and personalised ceilidh experience. We will discuss your needs with you to customise timing and dance styles for you and your guests, provide all sound equipment and setup, and make logistical arrangements with your venue. Simply tell us the ceilidh you want, then sit back and let the magic happen.
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Anna Kintner is a classically trained violinist who took a leap of faith into fiddling during university. She has performed in orchestral, Scottish, Irish and bluegrass styles in the US and Scotland, and brings a rich blend of original and traditional tunes to the band lineup. A co-founder of the band, when not playing the fiddle, she can be found crunching data in the field of marine biology.
Australian professional fiddler Jeri Foreman is fantastically talented already having two solo CD’s under her belt, and since she joined the band we’ve been having a great time together. She’s a real fan of American old-time music, and also plays five-string fiddle, banjo and guitar!
Band leader and co-founder Martin Stewart plays a mean Scottish guitar, with catchy percussive rhythms that will have you tapping your feet and flying over the dance floor. He’s an accomplished fiddler himself, inspired especially by the musical traditions of the Shetland Islands. Additionally, he also plays the drums in a local rock band. Offstage, Martin works as an electrical engineer and can be found hunting seashore storms on a windsurf board.
Sarah Barker has recently joined us as a dance caller, which is great since she has a wicked Australian sense of humour to back up her 20-odd years of ceilidh dancing. She’s also a performing step-dancer. Off-stage, she is a mining engineer, and may have found her pot of gold under a Scottish rainbow.
Suzanne Houston is a multi-instrumentalist based in Glasgow. She graduated RSAMD (now RCS) with a 1st class Honours in Scottish Music. As well as being a regular piano accompanist for outfits from Scottish traditional to contemporary music, Suzanne writes and performs original works, including a co-written musical storytelling show, Arise, about the corruption of the bread industry. She also teaches and lectures in musicianship, specialising in harmony and accompaniment. When she isn’t busy performing, teaching or livening up a Glasgow session, she can be found hanging out on some rock climbing ropes with her two young daughters!
Previous Band Members (Hall of Fame!)
Born and bred in the Scottish Highlands, Sarah Brown has been immersed in a vibrant culture of traditional music all her life. She began learning violin and fiddle at school at the age of eight, and has continued participating in the Feisean (traditional folk art and music productions in the Highlands) movement ever since. Sarah plays a mixture of Scottish, Irish, Cape Breton and Shetland tunes. Offstage, she works as a nurse.
“The most important thing about dancing is that it should feel good. Working with this band is a delight because their wonderful music cannot fail to make you want to get up and share that with other people.” Our (now, backup caller) Anne Ritchie just loves to dance and enjoys sharing the joy of social dancing with people of all ages and abilities.
David Fisher is originally from London, but having consumed enough whisky north of the border, should be considered a naturalised Scot. In addition to his skills as a piano accompanist, Dave is a talented fiddler and tunesmith. He is a retired software engineer and an enthusiastic foodie, and now travelling the world!
Janet Lees started playing violin at primary school, later graduating to the fiddle with the encouragement of our pianist Dave. Under his positive influence, Janet was escorted around Glasgow’s traditional pub sessions, mostly on school nights. She also plays regularly with her other band Corran Raa. Offstage, Janet works as an engineer in the renewable energy sector and is a keen cyclist, and now lives in Connel with her violin making husband Christian!
Point Five were great! Band played amazing music, and the dance callers were fab! We had a tough crowd of anti-dancers but they got them up dancing and we had an amazing time!! Thank you for such a fun evening! Highly recommend! ”
SGW, Google Review