When Fife’s singing barber Cammy Barnes reflects on his career, the starring role he played at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo last year is his “proudest gig” to date.
But as the rising star from Methil prepares to cut the Scotland rugby team’s hair less than 24 hours before he sings on the Murrayfield turf ahead of Scotland’s Six Nations clash with Italy on Saturday March 18, he reckons this latest experience could be a cut above the rest.
How did Scotland haircuts come about?
Cammy, who runs Barney’s Barbershops in Methil and Anstruther, has cut the Scotland rugby team’s hair – and performed at Murrayfield – on several occasions.
The hair cutting invite first came about after Scotland internationalist Matt Fagerson spotted him on YouTube singing Caledonia at an empty Murrayfield, filmed during lockdown.
But this weekend will be particularly special as it’ll the first time he’s cut the players’ hair – and performed to a crowd – ahead of the same match.
‘Looking good for TV’
“I’m probably more nervous about cutting their hair than I am singing!” Cammy told The Courier.
“I’ll be cutting the team’s hair on Friday at a hotel in Edinburgh.
“We’ll set up a barber’s shop for them in their space.
“They’ll come in their dribs and drabs and get fresh haircuts.
“Make sure they look good for TV!
“Then on Saturday before kick-off, I’m performing a lot of new songs on the pitch.
“It’ll be the first time I’ve done them in front of a crowd.
“I’m going to do a couple of big Scottish covers to get the crowd going.
“It’ll be like the Scottish Super Bowll!”
What’s it like singing at Murrayfield?
This’ll be the third time Cammy has performed on the Murrayfeld pitch.
The first time before a Scotland v England game a few years ago was the “best feeling ever”.
The second time, during lockdown, was “strange” as his performance was recorded in an empty stadium then livestreamed on match day.
He laughs, though, that when it comes to pre-match haircuts, Scotland have won every time he’s cut their hair.
“We’ve got a great record – every time we’ve cut their hair they’ve won!” he said, laughing that the biggest style challenge is probably “anyone with a mullet”!
“We never cut them before the France game or the Ireland game, so we’re hoping we’re going to be their lucky charms!
“I’ve never sung after cutting their hair though.
“The players will probably be looking over to me singing on the pitch and thinking ‘that guy cut oor hair last night, what’s he doing here singing’?”
Varied career
No stranger to big occasions, Cammy toured the world with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, made his theatre debut in Black Watch for the National Theatre of Scotland in 2010 and reached number one in the World Music iTunes charts with his debut solo single in 2019.
Last year he told The Courier how performing at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo had “ticked every box”.
The former Kirkland High School pupil took to the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade as part of Electro Pipes.
The specially created tattoo super group blended the traditional instrument of the bagpipe with modern, electronic music, mixed with state-of-the-art projection and lighting.
Cammy, who learned to play bagpipes “from the moment he could walk”, described the performance as a “proper showstopper”.
But while Cammy enjoyed the “amazing buzz”, he laughed that he “trumped” his dad Robert who performed as the solo piper at the tattoo years ago while serving with the Queen’s Own Highlanders.
That’s because Cammy also had the privilege of singing the Skipinnish song Walking on the Waves.
Cammy, who trained at the Aberdeen City Music School and the National Centre of Excellence, Plockton, considered joining the army.
But as his application progressed, he secured a job with the second cast of the National Theatre of Scotland’s Black Watch theatre show.
Instead of becoming a soldier, he pretended to be one – playing the role of 18 year-old squaddie Macca.
Cammy, whose grandfather served in the Black Watch, toured the world with the acclaimed show.
A big rugby fan who goes to most of the Scotland games, Cammy says that if he didn’t play the bagpipes, he’d probably play rugby.
But he’s too scared of breaking his hands!
New barber shop
Cammy says it’s been “non-stop” since the tattoo.
In recent months, he’s opened a new barbershop in Anstruther, adding to his existing outlet in Methil.
He’ll be joined by barber Lauren Innes for the haircutting.
He adds, however, that his “biggest year” is yet to come.
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