Strange as it may seem, the idea behind AroarA began in 2001 with Edward Mills, Duncan Menzies, Philip Scarffe and David Milne jamming Metallica’s “Low Man’s Lyric.”  From this unlikely foundation came the inspiration to form their own band, and they soon began enthusiastically arranging and practicing sets of tunes for their first public performance, at the Milne’s High School talent show .  Fiddle player Jill Thomson joined not long after, and the band went on to win the school’s Battle of the Bands under the curious name “Missing The Pink.”

The band began playing at ceilidhs and small concerts throughout Moray to gain experience (and money!)  By the summer of 2003, they were ready for their first performance at Speyfest in Fochabers, where they gave audiences a small taste of what to expect in years to come.  Laura Milne joined later that year, not long before the decision was made to change the name to AroarA.  One of the first gigs under this new name was a support slot at the East Grange Loft for popular folk group Malinky, where AroarA’s energy and intensity caused quite a stir at an otherwise entirely acoustic concert!

2004 saw AroarA continue to define their sound, and they were soon given the opportunity to support celtic rock pioneers Wolfstone in Fochabers.  In June/July the band recorded their first album “Lost In A Circle” at their own home studio in Enzie, which they went on to promote with a strong performance at Speyfest ‘04.  That same summer AroarA were offered another chance to share a stage with a band who had long been an inspiration to them, opening for Croft No. Five at the Ardfern Festival, Oban.

David left the band soon after this to be replaced by Euan MacDonald, and in this new line-up the band persisted in going from strength to strength, with notable performances including the Edinburgh Corn Exchange in November 2004, and more recently at Speyfest ’05, Glasgow University Union and Hampden Park, Glasgow. 

January 2006 saw the release of AroarA’s new album “The Infamous Grouse” which displays a definite progression from “Lost In a Circle.”  From the intensely heavy riffs, solos and rhythms expertly blended with intricate melodies on “Borealis pt II” and “Hard As Folk”, to the acoustic subtlety of tracks such as “Crebs + Jeg” and “Away”, this is the new sound of celtic music.