CARTHAGE — Legendary Scottish performers Alan Reid and Rob van Sante will take the stage at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, Nov. 2; and at Unity College Center for the Performing Arts in Unity on Thursday, Nov. 3.

Reid was a member of Battlefield Band from its inception in 1969 until his departure in 2010. In that time, he toured worldwide and made almost 30 recordings with the band. He worked with such artists as Garrison Keillor, Van Morrison and Mike Oldfield.

Battlefield Band won awards in Germany, Britain and the United States with Reid’s keyboards underpinning the bagpipes and fiddle.

His first solo album, “The Sunlit Eye,” released in 1998, was followed up with a song and tune book, “Martyrs, Rogues and Worthies,” in 2001. Since then, he has recorded two albums in his partnership with van Sante, “Under The Blue” and “The Rise and Fall o’ Charlie,” both of which showcase many of his works.

In 2009, Reid was nominated in the composer of the year category at the Scottish Tradition Awards; and this year he released “Recollection,” an album of his own choice of songs from his long career with Battlefield Band.

Reid and van Sante are putting the finishing touches on an album focusing on the life of John Paul Jones.

Van Sante was born in the Netherlands and began playing guitar at an early age. During the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, he toured extensively throughout Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

He has worked for Battlefield Band for 13 years as sound engineer. When not touring with the group he records and produces albums for musicians. He has also appeared on many albums, displaying his virtuoso vocal ability both as a lead and a harmony singer.

Curtain is at 7 p.m. at Skye; 7:30 p.m. at Unity. For tickets, $15 at the door, call Skye at 562-4445 or UCCPA at 948-7469. There will be preshow jam sessions one hour before the concerts. Skye Theater is at 2 Highland Drive. UCCPA is at 42 Depot St., Unity.


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