BRIEF HISTORY

Beggars Row were formed in 1997 by Bob Ferguson for Culross folk festival. In that short time until now, the personnel has changed but the nucleus (Gus, David, Harry and Bob) have remained.  Beggars Row have performed at sessions, in pubs, clubs and fringe festivals, receiving recognition for their performances.

It was during one of these performances that they received an invitation from a Russian promoter to come to Moscow and participate in their Scottish folk festival.  The offer was accepted and in November 1998 the band arrived at a very cold Moscow Airport.  During the next 2 weeks the band thrilled appreciative audiences wherever they played.  Such was their popularity, they were invited back in July 1999, as the sole and exclusive representatives of Scottish folk music at the Moscow / Scottish folk music and dance festival and Highland games.  Due to the interest they were creating on this visit, they were invited on to Moscow TV where they performed and recorded a 30 minute show about their unique stage set, brand of music, culture and dress. 

Since then, Beggars Row have not looked back and returned in November / December 1999, by popular demand, to see posters of the band displayed around Moscow, their name in 6ft letters above the entrance to venues and audiences of young and old escalating at their concerts. They also recorded a  30 minute music, culture and anthology show for an Independent channel, which was broadcast on 21st December 1999. Such was the response of callers to the TV station, they jammed the telephone switchboard.  So much so, the TV station repeated it on the 23rd December 1999. The audience viewing was estimated at over 100 million each night .

In August 2000, Colin Finn (ex JSD Band) started playing with Beggars Row and on January 2001, joined them on a permanent basis, complimenting and completing the line up.

In November they performed at a CELTIC NIGHT in De Harmonie, Leeuwarden, Holland, to 2,500 audience and now have a growing army of fans starting up in Holland. The response to their stage set was fantastic and has lead to their European Agent Dave Tearney being inundated with requests to book the band for festivals, concerts and tours in Holland and Belgium.

2001 has seen Beggars Row climb the popularity charts with more and more bookings at home and abroad.  They have performed Festivals in Belgium, Holland, Ireland, Norway and also toured Belgium and Holland, with more festivals still to perform in these countries and numerous enquiries from other interested countries, ( Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Cuba ) There is also forthcoming concerts in St Catherine's Palace, St Petersburg, Russia. ( Last Family Home of the Tzars ) being scheduled for June 2002, as well as an American Tour in Sept/Oct 2002.