Biography (Courtesy of the Artist's site, 2005)
Sandy Brechin grew up in Kirkliston, West Lothian and has been playing the accordion for twenty years. In fact, he has been playing the same accordion (albeit with a few minor repairs) for the last twenty years! He was taught by the late Chrissie Leatham, in Edinburgh, and also by her son, Owen Murray, who is now Professor of Accordion at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has developed his own unique approach to the art of accordion playing and his innovative style is instantly recognisable.

Over the years, Sandy has played in many bands, but is probably best known for his work with the Scottish bands, Burach and Seelyhoo, with whom he has toured extensively in Europe, Canada, the USA, and the Far East. A frequent guest on radio and television, Sandy is also in much demand as a session musician, having recorded on several CDs outwith his own groups' recordings. Also known as a talented writer, some of his compositions have been published and others recorded by bands like "The Iron Horse". On the rare occasions when he is not touring with the bands, he still plays for ceilidh dances with his own hugely popular electric ceilidh band, "The Sensational Jimmy Shandrix Experience".


The Sandy Brechin Band is a four-piece outfit with an unforgettable stage performance. From the electrifying high speed reels to the occasional traditional Gaelic airs, the sound created is fresh, innovative and vibrant, at times soul-touching and tender, but always with an underlying power and confidence. Sandy is just as well known for his on-stage humour, which has been known to have audiences in tears, one way or another. His fellow band members present an impressive CV: Jim Walker, of Ceolbeg and Seelyhoo, on drums; Aaron Jones, of Seelyhoo and Craobh Rua on bass guitar, and Colin Macfarlane, previously of The Liberties and The Felsons, and who appeared on BBC 1's Hogmanay Show 1997 in The James Taylor Band, on electric guitar and lapsteel.

Sandy's debut solo album, "Out Of His Box", featuring the Sandy Brechin Band, was released on his own label, "Brechin All Records", in April 1996, and is distributed by Greentrax Recordings. The album was received with great acclaim and was voted one of the best folk albums of 1996 by BBC Radio Scotland's "Travelling Folk" programme.


The Sandy Brechin Band has toured Italy and Ireland; played two concerts at Celtic Connections 1997 at The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, with The Sean Keane Band and The Carlos Nunez Band; performed at Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Folk Festival and many other Scottish Folk Festivals, along with numerous TV and radio shows, including BBC Radio Scotland's 1997 Hogmanay Show, and Club 99 - the official "Edinburgh's Hogmanay" party at the end of 1998. Sandy also played in the Robert Burns Concert in Celtic Connections 1999.