cantara is an scottish folk rock band based in edinburgh,their music is a fusion of scottish and world music, instuments include highland pipes,whistle,electric guitar,spanish guitar,bass guitar, drums,percussion,vocals

Band History

Cantara was formed in 1998 as a result of martin being introduced to louise through a mutual friend maggie smith, a bass player, who at the time had been playing the occasional gig with louise in local bars. louise performed traditional pipe sets with mags backing on bass guitar. Martin who had been listnening a lot to the irish fusion band Moving Hearts at the time suggested forming a band with a similar concept in mind ie fusing tradition folk elements with other styles. louise's desire to stray from the traditional piping roots and her ability to play the pipes with groove and martins love of world music and jazz rock background were elemental in the creation of cantara's musical style.

The original lineup was louise(pipes) martin(guitars) mags (bass) pat hacket (rythm guitar) and paul gowland (sax)

This lineup was eventually to change into what it is today but the musical style and approach stayed.

Cantaras' debue CD "Celtic world" was recorded arranged and produced by martin at his home studio in Edinburgh.