Peat & Barley

Like a fine Scotch whiskey, Peat & Barley's music is complex, inviting and always goes down smooth. The interplay between Bill Mitchell's hammered dulcimer and Becky Ross's fiddle - trading melody, rhythm and harmony - draws the listener into the ebb and flow of the music in a refreshing way. Widely-regarded for their stylish arrangements of traditional Celtic tunes, the duo continue to delight listeners with their new CD release, Silver Lining, an engaging mix of traditional Scottish an...

Like a fine Scotch whiskey, Peat & Barley's music is complex, inviting and always goes down smooth. The interplay between Bill Mitchell's hammered dulcimer and Becky Ross's fiddle - trading melody, rhythm and harmony - draws the listener into the ebb and flow of the music in a refreshing way. Widely-regarded for their stylish arrangements of traditional Celtic tunes, the duo continue to delight listeners with their new CD release, Silver Lining, an engaging mix of traditional Scottish and Irish tunes. "This lovely CD is a fine example of the quieter side of the Celtic tradition." from CD Review in Dirty Linen Bill Mitchell is a self-taught player and is particularly noted for his strong accompaniment skills that incorporate the full range of his hammered dulcimer from the shimmering sparkle of the highest treble notes to the depth and power of the lowest bass notes. He is also a composer of tunes in the Celtic style. Several of his pieces are included on each of Peat & Barley's CD recordings. Becky Ross was classically trained on violin as a child and began playing again after discovering Celtic fiddle music. She is known for the rich tone of her playing and her sensitive emotional connection to the music, whether that is a sorrowful Scottish lament, a majestic march or a driving reel. Becky also plays regularly for Scottish and English country dancing and teaches Scottish fiddle lessons.