Andy M. Stewart: Vocals Mánus Lunny: Guitar and bouzouki Donald Shaw: Accordion and keyboard Charlie McKerron: Fiddle Robert Burns (1759 - 96) has been described as "the greatest poet that ever sprung from the bosom of the people." Born at Alloway in Ayrshire, Scotland, on 25th January, 1759, he grew up labouring as a ploughman and orra worker, yet was able to receive the best education available to him in the limited circumstances of the time. It was only when Mossgiel, the family farm, faced economic ruin that Burns considered publishing the poems he had been writing since boyhood. In 1686 his "Kilmarnock Poems" was published to great popular acclaim. The poet, who had planned to emigrate to the Indies, instead found himself touring Scotland in triumph as "Caledonia's Bard." He remained in his native country, married Jean Armour, a Mauchline mason's daughter, and began another farm in Ellisland at Dumfries. In the course of his short life of 37 years, Burns proved not only to be an extremely prolific poet and songsmith, but also an avid collector of the traditional music and songs of rural Scotland. In his role as folklorist, he collected many beautiful pieces of music from the oral tradition that otherwise would have been lost. Burns was a humanitarian, libertarian and equalitarian: his sympathies were for the common man, yet his poems have captured the hearts of all classes and nationalities. Burns' own experience conditioned his poetry; his experience was fundamental and there for universal and timeless. Although he died in poverty at Dumfries, 21st July, 1796, he was given a grandiose funeral, the "turn out" being one of the most extraordinary known to history.