Sporran Again

Johnny Bell

Electric guitarist and voice of Sporran Again. Johnny, our seasoned dance caller and king of cheeky banter, will have your guests up on the floor dancing their hearts out all night long...he's not the tallest but if you have a platform at your event you'll barely notice!

Instrument: Electric Guitar, Dance caller.

Day job: In addition to Sporran Again, Johnny splits his time between his work as a professional artist (landscape painter) and outdoor instructor, as well as helping Aileen with enquiries at Sporran Again's underground lair.

Joined: 1997 – founding member.

Other interests: Rock climbing, hillwalking, sharks.

Jen McLean

Classically trained at the RSAMD Jen brings a touch of sophistication to Sporran Again.  She is just as comfortable belting out jigs & reels as she is Bach and Brahms.

Instrument: Violin.

Day job: Jen is a professional musician at all times of the day. In addition to Sporran Again, Jen splits her time between teaching, recording and performing. She has performed with various artists including Kanye West, Camera Obscura, Attic Lights and Runrig.

Joined: 1998.

Other interests: When she is not leading a rock and roll lifestlye Jen enjoys speanding time with her husband and baby boy, good food, fine wine, art and books.

Anne Curran

Instrument: Flutes & whistles.

Day job: Wife to Rick, Mom to Natalie, Gabriella, and Timothy, Anne dabbles in wedding & portrait photography as well as helping Aileen take care of a smattering of behind the scenes necessities at Sporran Again HQ.

Joined: 1998.

Other interests: Photography, blogging, church, guitar, songwriting, snowboarding.

Colin Bell

Brother to Johnny Bell, Colin is our original bass master, putting the funk into Sporran Again. Colin also takes care of all our stage and floor lighting, putting you in the mood for dancing! He also steps in for Johnny from time to time as our alternate dance caller.

Instrument: Bass, lighting master, and alternate dance caller.

Day job: Biology Teacher.

Joined: 1997 - founding member.

Other interests: Snowboarding, skateboarding, sailing, mountain biking, climbing,...

Alex Skelligan

Alex "The Animal" Skelligan. He's the original rocker, he even shaves his head for authenticity! As well as playing mean drums for Sporran Again, Alex is an accomplished musician with guitar, vocals, and songwriting all adding to his versatility. Alex also worked in a recording/ rehearsal studio for a few years as a drum tutor and studio maintenance technician. His drumming capabilities have taken him to far flung places such New Zealand, where he toured for six weeks and he has taken his own songs and played them in places such as South Africa and Estonia. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to have him along on this journey from the beginning..

Instrument: Drums.

Day job: Environmental Health Technician, Angus Council.

Joined: 1997 - founding member.

Other interests: Guitar, songwriting, motorbikes, malt whiskies

Sheena Jardine

Cousin of Johnny & Colin, Sheena is our original alternate violin player. Classically trained and a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Sheena also has a keen interest in traditional Scottish music and is herself an accomplished fiddler with a healthy Scottish repertoire under her belt.

Instrument: Violin.

Day job: Sheena is a professional violin performer and teacher, specialising in the Suzuki method. She is kept busy with a great many private pupils as well as regular performance work with classical orchestras and quartets, and traditional Scottish ensembles.

Joined: 1998.

Laurie Don

Laurie is our other regular drummer and also drums for Dundee band, Spanky's Heroes. Well connected, highly approachable, always a gentleman, and certainly Dundee's most eligible bachelor and general do-gooder, we are delighted to count Laurie as one of our own!

Instrument: Drums.

Day job: Investment Analyst, Alliance Trust.

Joined: 2004.

Karen Hannah

Instrument: Violin.

Day job: Professional fiddler. Karen works closely with the Wighton Heritage Centre in Dundee, teaching fiddle and leading Scottish traditional music seminars and workshops. Karen is Mummy to her gorgeous little boy Nathan.

Joined: 2003.

Other interests: Karen lives and breathes Scottish trad. If she's not out performing, or teaching, or hosting a fiddle session then she'll be trolling for new tunes or writing her own. Karen is a regular at the Fisherman's Tavern thursday night session in Broughty Ferry.

Karen Harper

Professional violin player and teacher, Karen (or "Smiley Karen", as she's affectionately known to the band) is another of our talented alternates. Karen fills in for us on violin on a regular basis. She also gigs very regularly with her Montrose based band, 'Heidrum'. Always up for a laugh, it's a delight to have Karen on board as part of the Sporran Again family.

Instrument: Violin.

Day job: Karen loves her job as a violin teacher with Aberdeenshire Council and delights in telling her pupils all about the fun she gets up to when she's out gigging.

Joined: 2007.

Other interests: Karen enjoys spending time polishing (and sometimes actually riding!) her motorbike, as well as playing bagpipes and competing a world and european championships with her pipe band.

Joseph Hamilton

Ridiculously talented and oozing creativity, we are privileged to have Joseph on hand to step in for bass or electric guitar when needed. Though we don't take advantage of it ourselves very often, Joseph is also a wonder on the acoustic guitar. Adding to his many talents, Joseph is also a professional audio engineer/technologist and was heavily involved in all aspects of the recording, and pre & post production of our debut studio album, Tartan Safari. Seriously...this guy is a genius.

Instrument: Bass & Electric guitar alternate.

Day job: Joseph works full time in the music industry as and audio engineer / technologist, composer, producer, recording artist, and performer. He studio audio engineering and technology at Perth College and Glasgow Caledonian University and now runs his own Glasgow based audio production company, as well as taking on regular freelance broadcasting work with Radio Clyde.

Joined: 2006.

Olly Kovaljova

Instrument: Flute.

Day job: Anatomy student at the University of Dundee.

Joined: 2010.

Other interests: Ballroom dancing, swimming, skiing, books and adventures!

Aileen Bell

Wife to Johnny Bell, Aileen is our lovely band administrator. She will personally take care of every detail of your booking, with the upmost of professionalism, from your initial enquiry all the way through to hand over to the band on the night of your ceilidh. Aileen is always on hand to offer friendly help and advice no matter where you are in the planning process.

Instrument: If organising was a musical instrument you would hear the sounds of heaven itself...and Johnny and Aileen would get to play in the same band!

Day job: Currently on maternity leave (proud Mummy to baby Fearghas!) Aileen works for Mars Chocolate as a National Account Manager so she's never short of 'friends' to help her sample the latest product!

Joined: 2009.

Other interests: Wife of Johnny, mother to baby Fearghas, husband husbandry, cooking & baking, rock climbing, ballet, travel