Biography (Courtesy of the Artist�s site, 2005).


North Sea Gas are Dave Gilfillan, Ronnie MacDonald, and Cameron Gaskell. On occasions within Scotland, North Sea Gas are augmented by the wonderful talents of Gerry McKenna.
North Sea Gas has now been performing for 25 years, during which time they have enjoyed great acclaim for their high standards of professionalism.

With a combination of instruments including guitar, mandolin, bodhran, banjo, whistle, mandola, bouzouki, mouth organ complementing fine vocals, harmonies and a keen sense of humor, an entertaining evening is guaranteed. Their interesting and varied career includes live performances in a variety of venues from compact hotel lounges to national theatres, as well as private functions, oil rigs, folk clubs, performing arts centers and open air concerts.

Over the years their exciting blend of Scottish and Irish music has appealed to audiences all over Great Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, Canada and the United States. For nine consecutive years, North Sea Gas has attracted large audiences to concerts held during the Edinburgh Festival.

In 1993, the band received both the Gold and Silver Disc awards from the Scottish Music Industry for their album "Caledonian Connection". This was followed in 1994 and 1995 by Silver Disc awards for albums "Keltic Heritage" and "Live from Edinburgh" making it three in a row. 1996 has seen their album "Scottish Destiny" attain yet another Silver Disc Award. In the spring of 2000 their album "Spirit of Scotland" was released and the fall of 2002 marked the release of the band's 12th album, "Dark Island". With 2005 marking the 25th anniversary of the band, a new CD is expected out in the spring and a compilation CD, encompassing the music of the past 25 years, is expected out in the fall.

So, if you like entertaining Folk music; if you like to sing along; if you like to laugh but also to listen, look no further than North Sea Gas.



Dave Gilfillan
Lead Singer, guitar, banjo, mandola and founding member of North Sea Gas. Being a professional musician for the last seventeen years, Dave has built up a reputation for rousing sing along vocals and big heartfelt ballads, add to that a sense of on stage fun and tongue in cheek humor and you can easily see why his brand of folk music has taken him all over the world.
Full Name: Dave Barrie Gilfillan
Date of Birth: Oct. 21st
Place of Birth: Edinburgh Scotland
Favourite NSG songs: "Yellow on the Broom", "Ballad of St. Anne's Reel", "Loch Tay Boat Song", "Leezie Lindsay" and lots more
Favourite Folk Artists: Tannahill Weavers, The Dubliners, Eric Bogle
other music Meatloaf, Paul Simon, and many more
First Instrument you learned to play?: Guitar
Do you have a "proper"job besides musician?: I have been a full-time musician for the last 15 years but I am a qualified carpenter.
What brought you into making music?: From a very early age I was singing and enjoying music. To sing on stage seemed a natural thing to do.
Pastimes?: Watching Football (I support Heart of Midlothian F.C.). Drinking Beer; Walking my dogs I have two dogs, one is a King Charles the other a Welsh Springer Spaniel. Crosswords.
Interests?: Ancient history and politics

Gerry Mckenna
Gerry has been a part time member of the band for many years, where he has been playing bass, keyboards, banjo or guitar. As you can see he is an accomplished musician. He is now playing with the band on a regular basis.
Name: Gerry McKenna
Date & Place of Birth: 23rd August, Edinburgh.
What brought you into making music?: The guitar bands of the 1960's
What was the first instrument you learned to play?: Guitar
What's your favourite North Sea Gas song?: All God's Creatures
What other bands / artists do you enjoy listening to?: The Beatles, Dillards, Eagles and anything from the 60's
Do you have a "proper" occupation besides being a musician?: I am Manager of a Music Shop.

Ronnie "Mac" MacDonald

Ronnie "Mac" Macdonald was a member of the gas 18 years ago. He returned to Scotland only recently after having spent 15 years in Australia where he had is own band and, judging by the guestbook, left behind a great number of female fans ;-)
Full Name: Ronnie "Mac" MacDonald
Date of Birth: Dec 22
Place of Birth: Glasgow, Scotland
Favourite Artists: Battlefield and the Idle Diddlies (Australian band)
Pastimes?: Horse riding, camping.

Cameron "Cammy" Gaskell
Full Name: Cameron Gaskell
Date of Birth: 12 Feb
Place of Birth: London, England (Though I spent all my childhood near Elgin, Moray Scotland)
Favourite NSG songs: Our Town, Cairn O' Mount, Caledonia, Sae will we yet.
Favourite Artists: Martin Hayes, Kevin Burke, Frankie Gavin, Davy Tulloch, Herve Bevon, Christy Moore, Blazing Fiddles. Other Music: Bluegrass, Rock and Classical (especially film scores)
First Instrument you learned to play?: Recorder
Do you have a "proper"job besides musician?: I certainly class being a member of NSG as a proper job. I am a qualified Drama teacher and tutor of violin/trad fiddle. I worked in the professional theatre and in retail for a while and was a cast member for Euro-Disney in 1992.
What brought you into making music?: I've been an entertainer most of my life from Scottish youth theatre through to Drama school to touring in children's theatre then a music course at Napier University. Most of the theatre work involved me playing/composing music in some form. I played regularly with Ceilidh bands, the Elgin Strathspey and reel society, the Shetland fiddlers and as a member of the Edinburgh folk band Harvest.
Pastimes?: Soccer (I'm an Aberdeen supporter for my sins) Fencing (the sport, not the building of), swimming and weight-training.
Interests?: Film, TV, and theatre. I'm an ardent fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and of course The Simpsons