FOR most young musicians, the idea of stepping onto a stage in front of thousands of people is something reserved for dreams. For Dunoon teenager Nathan Paul, that dream became reality this year when he performed live on stage with acclaimed trad-rock band Skerryvore at Celtic Connections, Scotland’s largest winter music festival.
The performance took place in front of a packed audience of 4,100 people, marking a remarkable milestone for the young pipe band drummer, who is still at school but already making a name for himself in Scotland’s traditional music scene.
Nathan’s journey into drumming began back in Primary Four, inspired by his father Peter, himself an experienced pipe band drummer who previously played with bands including Oban, Dunoon Argyll, and others across the west of Scotland. Growing up surrounded by rehearsals, performances and practice pads, Nathan quickly developed a fascination with the instrument.
“I got into drumming because of my dad,” Nathan explained. “Watching him through the years, performing and practising, that’s what made me want to do it.”
That early exposure has paid off. Nathan is currently a member of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland and also plays with the Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band, balancing schoolwork with rehearsals, competitions and practice sessions. Looking ahead, he has ambitious plans to push his drumming to the next level.
“I want to take it up a level now,” he said. “I’m focusing on trying to play with bands like Lower Clyde or Mid Argyll. I’d also like to play for Uddingston Pipe Band, which is around two levels up from what I’m playing just now. I’d have to travel there to practise, but it means playing more challenging material.”
The opportunity to perform at Celtic Connections came through Nathan’s involvement with the National Youth Pipe Band. Earlier this year, the band was invited to collaborate with Skerryvore as part of the festival programme, bringing together young musicians from across Scotland with one of the country’s most successful contemporary folk acts.
“So I put myself forward for the National Youth Pipe Band,” Nathan said. “They got asked to go and play at Celtic Connections, and they said they wanted to play with Skerryvore. Skerryvore said they could do that, and they managed to get 40 of us to go and play — a couple from the senior band, development band and junior band.”
For Nathan, the scale of the event was unlike anything he had experienced before. As the first musician to walk on stage, the moment was both daunting and unforgettable.
“I was the first person out onto the stage,” he recalled. “I took a wee step back and was like, ‘wow’. There were 4,100 people watching. Everybody greeted me on because I’d already played for Skerryvore at the Queen’s Hall before.”
Even the band’s own snare drummer, Grant Cassidy, joined in the pre-show banter. “During the sound check he was like, ‘oh no, not Nathan again,’” Nathan laughed. “Everybody was winding me up all night.”
“I was nervous backstage,” Nathan admitted. “But I looked up to where my mum and dad were sitting and smiled. My dad’s the one who got me into all this, so looking at him calmed me down a wee bit. Everybody was smiling at me, saying ‘you’re going to do this.’
“It was bigger, scarier, and there were loads more people. One day I want some of the people in that audience to look up to me as one of the best drummers out there.”
Celtic Connections, now in its 33rd year, is one of the world’s most respected celebrations of traditional, folk and world music, attracting around 110,000 attendees each January. This year’s festival featured an all-star lineup including Emmylou Harris, Skerryvore, Karen Matheson, Billy Bragg, Deacon Blue, and many more, across more than 80 events in venues throughout Glasgow.
For a young drummer from Dunoon to be part of that programme is no small achievement — and Nathan is not slowing down. In the coming weeks, he will be competing in solo drumming competitions, including an event at Hutchesons’ Grammar School and the Scottish Schools Championships, where he will perform again with Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band. He has already placed seventh at world solo championships, and hopes to continue climbing the ranks.
Asked what advice he would give to other young people thinking about learning an instrument, Nathan’s response was grounded.
“Work slowly — don’t work harder, work smarter,” he said. “Play the beginner material, practise it slowly, and when it’s good, speed it up. And whenever I’ve got nothing to do — which is most times — I stop playing Fortnite and pick up the sticks.”
