As well as playing tenor banjo and mandolin, Willie also plays electric guitar and blues harp. He still loves, occasionally belting out the odd Hendrix lick. He lives in Livingston with his wife Rhona and son Cameron. Willie first met Reel Ale in 1999 when he used to play at the regular Sunday sessions at Linlithgow and always admired their professionalism. He joined the band in 2001, along with Mark and describes the band as his “second family”.