Drawing on more than twenty years of experience in the Scottish music industry, coupled with extensive research, publication and participation in many parts of the words and life of Scotland’s Greatest Son, ‘The Court of Equity’ incorporate descriptions, tales and original musical arrangements to the songs and music of Robert Burns.

Apart from some of their own compositions and some traditional songs the band will be performing mainly the works of Robert Burns, including his best loved songs and pieces which are less popular:

The Deils Awa’ Wi’ the Exciseman, Tibbie Fowler, Rattlin’ Roarin’ Willie, My Luve is like a Red, Red Rose, Will ye go to the Indies my Mary, My Bonnie Mary, McPherson’s Farewell, etc …

The Court of Equity are a developing group within one of Scotland’s leading folk/rock bands ‘The Picts’ –. They intend to illustrate why the music and songs of Robert Burns are such a national treasure.

Douglas McQueen Hunter

Singer, guitarist, front man and founder member of ‘The Picts’ and ‘The Court of Equity’. Douglas is also a composer, song-writer and the co-author (Along with his father- artist Colin Hunter McQueen) of the world-wide acclaimed book on Robert Burns "Hunters' Illustrated History of the Family, Friends and Contemporaries of Robert Burns" which was released in 2009 for the year of homecoming. He has produced albums with ‘Badenoch’, ‘The Picts’ and has recently published his first solo album ‘Ghosts’. A new album based on the music and words of the times of Robert Burns will be produced in 2011.

Instruments: Vocals, Six and Twelve String Guitars, Mandolin, Mandola.

Jeremy Stirling

Founder member of ‘The Picts’ and ‘Court of Equity’, Jeremy is a composer and arranger of Scottish music. He has played on all the band’s recordings and at major events like T-in-the-Park, The Interceltique Festival of Lorient and the Glasgow George Square Hogmanay Bash in front of 40,000 people. He has previously played and recorded with bands such as King Joseph's Drum and The Laughing Phrogs.

Instruments: keyboards and Pianos.

Grant McConnell

An award winning multi-instrumentalist with ‘The Picts’, Grant is a champion accordionist and founder member of ‘The Court of Equity’. He has toured extensively with both bands at home and abroad since 2004 and contributes many of his own fine compositions and arrangements. Grant’s great passion and love for music is an inspiration to all who work with him. He is the primary lead player in both bands and will feature heavily on the new album to be released in 2011 by 'The Court of Equity'.

Instruments: Piano Accordion, Six and Twelve String Guitars, Bass Guitar, Vocals and Backing Vocals.

Dave Murray

Dave is well known for his enthusiasm for the life and works of Robert Burns and his family, performing recently in the new Andrew Dallmeyer productions ‘The Mother of All Burns’ and ‘The Cauldron’. He has appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on a number of occasions. Dave is the former Pipe Major with Haddington Pipe Band and as a leading member of the Grant's Braes Burns Club he was responsible for the renovation and restoration of the grave in Bolton Kirkyard of Robert Burns’s mother, sister and brother who lived nearby at Grant’s Braes.

Instruments: Highland Bagpipes, Uilleann Pipes, and Whistles.

The band will also be joined on the evening by Mr Stephen McConnachie, past president of the Kilbirnie Rosebery Burns Club, who is regarded as one of the finest speakers in the Burns world.  

The Court of Equity recently performed in the Great Hall at Lennoxlove House in East Lothian and  for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at St Marks Artspace on the 8 th and 22 nd of August 2010.