The McCalmans, or the Macs as they are affectionately known, have been performing for over forty years and are Scotland's most well-kent folk trio. The original line-up of Ian McCalman, Hamish Bayne and Derek Moffat first met in Edinburgh in 1964, in their early student days at Edinburgh College of Art. Realising that there was a genuine demand for their shared passion for Scots song and a good dose of humour, the band filled their diaries with dates for gigs, rather than lectures.
Four decades on and The McCalmans are still going as strong as ever, albeit with two changes in their line-up. Hamish Bayne left the group in 1982 to focus on crafting concertinas, to be replaced by Nick Keir. Sadly Derek Moffat passed away in 2001, and Stephen Quigg, a friend of the group who had been a regular stand-in for Derek during his illness became part of the line-up.
The band are veterans of TV and radio. They tour internationally and make a special point each summer of touring to the Highlands of Scotland.