Traditionally it is believed that the back of the moon is a very dark place. Not for long if this Glasgow based four piece have their way. Their new album, 'Luminosity' (meaning the measure of light given off by a star), will be released this week at an all star concert as part of Glasgow's Piping  Live  festival. 
 
Back of the Moon, who scooped the 'Best Up and Coming Band' at the  inaugural Trad Music Awards two years ago and took the 'Best Band'  prize at Lorient  Festival Interceltique in 2003, will complete a mini-tour of Scotland to launch  'Luminosity' visiting Tiree, Mull of Kintyre Folk Festival, Arran and Feis Nairn. (Full listings can be found at www.backofthemoon.co.uk ) 
 
Back of the Moon features Grantown singer-guitarist Findlay Napier with Hamish Napier on Piano, Flute and Vocals. Alongside them are BBC Young Traditional Musician of the year Gillian Frame and multi-instrumentalist Ali Hutton on pipes, bodhran and whistles. The brothers, who were brought up in Strathspey, see this third album as a milestone in their musical career. No longer are they languishing in the 'up and coming' bracket but now, having turned professional, find themselves placed firmly alongside such folk music giants as the Battlefield Band and Capercaillie as champions of Scottish Traditional Music. 

The album was recorded at Watercolour Music in Ardgour. Legendary studio boss and engineer Nick Turner helped the band create a rich sound that surpasses their earlier recordings. Knowing that something special was called for this, their third, album the band employed Elton John Side man Rick Taylor to lay down atmospheric Brass parts, and, courtesy of ground breaking cellist Christine Hanson swooping cello lines garnish two tracks. The final icing on the cake was getting ex-Love and Money keyboardist Paul McGeechan to mix and master which has added a contemporary sparkle to the band's take on Scotland's national music. 
 
What does the future hold for Back of the Moon? In the last twelve months that band has toured extensively in Italy, Germany, England and Holland. They now plan to take on America, Canada and, their hardest market, Scotland! They have already begun work on Back of the Moon 4 which will be due for release in spring 2007 and wheels are in motion for renting premises from which the band will run a private teaching studio, practice suite and an office.