Auld Alliance is the first release from R&R (Joe Readnour & Jeff Runyon), a duo from east central Illinois, who play primarily Celtic music concentrating on (but not limited to) the French & Indian War and Lewis & Clark eras. Joe and Jeff participate in re-enactment events of the period, "Rendezvous." When not shooting their muzzle loaders, throwing tomahawks, or enjoying food their wives have prepared on an open fire, they can be found (and heard) playing music in and around camp at such events. Joe is of Scottish descent, so as you may guess, is the piper, fiddler and whistle player. Jeff is of French descent (boo, hiss), and plays the other stringed instruments. While the Scottish and French were unlikely to have been musical partners during the period they portray, as the title of their CD (and logo) suggest, the Scots and French were allied for years prior to this period. 　　With Auld Alliance, R&R have attempted to give the listener the experience of sitting around the camp fire at night at a rendezvous. Smell the smoke of the fire, count the stars above, perhaps enjoy a tankard of ale, and soak in the music of long ago.