For details of some new whistle classes I am starting please click here. Peter Webster plays traditional and contemporary music on wooden flute and guitar. He grew up immersed in the traditional music scene in Glasgow, Scotland, learning Irish music from Frank McArdle and playing with the renowned St. Roch’s Celidh Band. An early passion for music has led him to pursue a varied and interesting career, collaborating with highly respected musicians from many genres.
He graduated in 2006 from Strathclyde University with an honours degree in Applied Music. His honours project, consisting of a series of works that combined elements of contemporary classical, folk and popular music, won him the university’s Alexander Stone Award for Excellence in composition.
He is a member of the critically acclaimed band The Low Miffs who, through their lively, intense and exciting performances, inspired by both the dramatic edge of German cabaret and the great showmanship of 50’s and 60’s pop revues, have attracted many plaudits.
“Compared with their indie brethren, the Low Miffs are unicorns among packhorses” (The Sunday Times, September 2009)
In 2009 the band released their debut album, a collaboration with former Orange Juice / Josef K / Aztec Camera guitarist Malcolm Ross, to much critical acclaim.
“For those who've whiled away nanoseconds pondering just how Scott Walker and David Bowie might have sounded had they formed a surf guitar band, The Low Miffs and erstwhile Josef K guitarist Malcom Ross have the answer” (The Skinny, July 2009)
“The Sound of Young – and slightly older – Scotland is in wonderfully safe hands.” (The List, September 2009)
As a traditional musician he has several All-Ireland medals, both as a soloist and with St. Roch’s Celidh Band. He performs with Glasgow-based Anarkali who were winners of a prestigious Danny Kyle award at Celtic Connections 2009.
“Anarkali … will be one of the major traditional bands in the coming years.” (Tionscnamh Lugh, August 2009) In recent years Peter has appeared at many major festivals including Celtic Connections (Glasgow), Tartan Week (New York), London City Festival, Skye Music Festival, Shetland Folk Festival, Wickerman, and Connect Music Festival. Other performances have taken him across the UK and Europe, and as far as Japan.
He has appeared on television and radio numerous times, including live performances on the BBC Radio 1 Vic Galloway show and BBC Scotland Hogmany Live (as a member of Donald Shaw’s Harvest band), and an appearance on Newsnight Scotland.
Peter is a dedicated teacher and educator and has worked with many organisations to deliver tuition on guitar and flute as well as workshops in a number of areas including, improvisation, composition and music appreciation. As an educationalist he has been invited to teach in Ireland, Finland and North America as well as many events across the UK. For several years he has been a member of the Celtic Connections Education programme, performing traditional music to over 10,000 children during the festival as well as working on a number of the festival’s specialist projects throughout the year.
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