Cross Borders Band
The Cross Border Band, play a mix of contemporary and traditional music, much of which is written by Erne and arranged by the band. The band consists of Linsey Aitken, Mike Simons and Erne Parkin.
Linsey is a classically trained cellist, piano player and fluent on the recorder. She has had an interest in ‘Traditional’ music for quite sometime and adds a unique blend to CrossBorder, especially with her wonderful vocals. With a great sense of humour and an ‘insane’ laugh, she holds her own next to the ‘lads’ and with her own musical flair helps create unique arrangements - that truly Cross Borders!
Mike is generally considered one of the best finger-style guitarists in the West as can be witnessed
on his new solo album ‘Still Time’. With a ‘wicked’ sense of humour his
fast picking, finger-licking style ideally compliments the ‘traditional feel’ of Cross
Border. Mike and Erne go back a long way to the heady Folk Rock days in Edinburgh and after going
their separate ways for many years, including a stay in Israel for Mike, they met again in Glasgow
and continue to ‘ramble on!’
Erne, originally from Durham County, has never forgotten his traditional roots, albeit a lot greyer now, and grew up on a diet of the Clancy Brothers, Horselips and Ry Cooder! He was lead singer with the successful Folk Rock Band Avalon in the 80’s and early 90’s and toured extensively in Europe and the UK.
Having settled in Milngavie 18 years ago, he then formed ‘Dirtwater Fox’ a local Country Rock Band and latterly ‘Cross Border Band’. Erne still plays in a North East band called the ‘Healys’ who concentrate on raising funds for a charity called the Susy Fund and a lot of what happens at the Place also contributes towards that worthwhile project.
Link to The Cross Border Band website
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