Archive for January, 2009
Out of the Bedroom
Jan 14th
Do you remember your first acoustic gig? Mine was busking with my mate Fergus in Belfast not long before I moved to Edinburgh. Ferg was over in Edinburgh for a visit and after some busking we decided to try and play somewhere (warm) to an audience who wanted to hear more than Sweet Home Alabama… I’d heard of the Edinburgh Songwriters night in the basement of The Tron and there I made my Edinburgh live debut.
Busking
That songwriters night inspired many local musicians and eventually evolved into Edinburgh’s premier open-mic night Out of the Bedroom. So, I’m very honoured to be invited back to where it all began and to be their featured act this week!
I’ll be joined on percussion by Mat Clements and possibly a guest vocal appearance by the legendary Udit Duseja.
I’m on stage at around 9.15pm for 30 mins but it’s an open-mic night so bring your guitar and get down for 7pm to get on the bill.
FREE ENTRY.
See you there!
Happy New Year!
Jan 1st
2009, you say? Happy New Year to all of you who follow me in my wee online world and to celebrate I’ve re-themed the site with a new look and added a Media Page where you can see my debut video on You Tube. Please spread the word!
Hear my train a comin' – photo by Jem Garthwaite (www.jebaloo.com)
I always get really optimistic at New Year and I’ve got big plans for 2009 that have been brewing for a while (hopefully to be revealed soon). I have a great feeling about this year, not least about the launch of my debut album which I’ve been talking about for far too long. Last year I finally did something about it and have 10 days of recording in the bag. A lot of work still to be done and unfortunately my time seems to be always over-committed but steady progress is being made and I hope to update you soon!
Here are some of my highlights from 2008!
Memorable gigs in Glasgow’s Classic Grand, The Jazz Bar (Edinburgh), Hollow Heart Parlour, Peebles Eastgate Centre and Te Pooka
I was a featured artist at The Listening Room, voted best act of Fondoo and invited to play at the August and December best-of Fondoo events.
Opening the Acoustic Edinburgh festival, featured artist St Andrews Uni freshers week acoustic night, finalist for “Face Off” battle of the bands (acoustic genre).
I also had the pleasure of supporting Ten Stories High at their Voodoo Rooms single launch.
With Gecko 3…
Gigs all over Scotland and in Newcastle, Brussels and Paris including the Brussels Jazz Festival, supporting Nizlopi, The Five Corners Quintet, Cibelle and Nell Bryden, launching 2009 at Departure Lounge Hogmanay Party.
I’ve been on TV twice with The Gospel Truth choir including performing the Scotland Children in Need single (We Have a Dream) which reached No.1 in the Scottish Singles Chart.
Along with Simon Kirby, I’ve organised and promoted another year of amazing music at Acoustic Edinburgh including a sell-out series of events at the Edinburgh Fringe.
I’ve also done session work on forthcoming studio albums for Andi Neate, The Douglas Kay Band, Vicky Gray and The Graeme Mearns Band.
I also cook.
I’m very honoured to have been invited to be featured artist at Edinburgh’s finest and longest-running Open-Mic night (Out of the Bedroom) on Jan 15th at the Canon’s Gait!
See you there & have an amazing 2009!
