Alan Reid and Rob van Sante

Alan Reid has performed numerous times on Caltech's big stage at Beckman Auditorium as a member of Scotland's storied Battlefield Band, of which he was a founding member in 1969. He is credited by some as being a major influence in bringing keyboards to traditional folk music. He is a well-respected singer and, during his years with the band, he developed into a fine songwriter, as well. He left the Battlefield Band in 2010 to pursue other projects, the current one being his performing and recording relationship with former Battlefield Band sound engineer, Rob van Sante,w ho worked with the band for 13 years and was often thought of as their fifth member. Rob, who has worked with such British folk musicians as Danny Thompson and Kate Rusby, plays guitar and sings. Together, they perform old and new music, featuring Alan's compositions, Battlefield Band favorites and songs from Rob. Their most recent recording, The Adventures of John Paul Jones, is a musical portrayal of the Scot who fought against the British during the American war of Independence. The British folk magazine, Rock and Reel said the album, "shows off their excellent and inventive musicianship, and especially Reid's exceptional songwriting. Over the course of 15 tracks, his descriptive narrative songs draw the listener into the tale of how the lowly gardener's son fro Kirkcudbright lived a full and fascinating life before dying in poverty in France." Come spend an intimate evening with this fine duo.