I’ve finally got some of my tunes up on SoundCloud and created a wee player for some of the songs off my debut EP which is released on all digital stores this Thursday!

This’ll be permanently on my MUSIC page but meanwhile – click away and please share on your facebook, twitter etc… if you like.

If any of you fancy a FREE MUSIC FESTIVAL then come down to Peebles in the Scottish Borders this weekend for the inaugural Southern Gatherin’ where I’ll be playing a set at 5pm in The Courthouse.

Over the weekend I’ll also be sitting in on percussion for Ken Barrett (Sat 1pm) and Douglas Kay Band (Sun 7pm)

See you there!

A string of lovely gigs in the pipeline – starting tonight where Woosh Entertainments are launching a regular showcase of original music in new venue The One Below.

I’m supporting Edinburgh supergroup The Elements – details on my gigs page but I’m on about 8:30pm

Only £5

June kicks off with 2 very special gigs – 1st June at Edinburgh’s prestigious Secret CDs event where I’m part of an all-Northern Ireland line-up!

June 2nd takes me to Kirkcaldy where I’m very chuffed to be headlining the Acoustic Music in Fife showcase at Eddie’s Bar.

July brings me to a wee slot at one of Scotland’s finest small festivals (The Kelburn Garden Party) and then I’m very excited to be confirmed as the support act for Alex Cornish‘s UK tour in July (as well as playing double-bass for the man himself).

Tour dates and tickets available HERE

On top of all this, I’m running the Edinburgh Marathon this Sunday for SADS UK.

If you’d like to support, my charity giving page is HERE

See you at a gig soon!

Tour Dates:

Thu 24th March – The Royal Hotel, Penicuik

Fri 25th March – The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore

Sat 26th March – Kintail Lodge, Glenshiel

Sun 27th March – Hootananny, Inverness

Mon 28th March – Bond No. 9, Edinburgh

We are 3 solo artists but will be touring as a collaborative band with some instrument swapping and lots of lush backing vocals so we’re pretty excited about it.  We’ve also recorded a wee sampler CD which will be for sale at the gigs so hopefully you can make one of them!

Be sure to check out Donna & Stu‘s music online!

Full details on the Gigs Page

Pic: Donna Maciocia, Stu Goodall and yours truly!

Photo by Nem Sarton

I’m very chuffed to have been invited to play in session at Leith FM on the Noise Up show hosted by Graeme Scott.

If you’re in signal range in Edinburgh then I’m on between 12pm and 2pm on 98.8 FM, otherwise you can listen online here:

http://www.leithfm.co.uk/listen/

It may even be on webcam here:

http://www.leithfm.co.uk/webcam/cam.php

In other news, I played at a lovely gig on Feb 10th hosted by Corner Sessions and photographer Gav Brown posted some great pics and 3 video clips from the gig on my facebook page.

I’m guilty of dragging my heels on the EP Launch but it will definitely be this Spring – I’m guessing April – I’ll let you know the actual date when I have it confirmed but I’ve managed to get my head around PayPal so if you’d like to buy into my folly of hand-making 200 pre-release copies of my debut EP then please indulge here:

Track Listing:

Also, I’ve been beavering away on some new material and have started a collaborative project with a couple of incredibly talented Edinburgh-based songwriters – Donna Maciocia and Stu Goodall and we’re planning a Scottish tour at the end of March!  Dates to be confirmed next week – check my Gigs Page for details so far!

We’ll be using the collective name: Ma Good Body (see what we did there?)

I’ve been playing double-bass for this man for a few months now and it’s quite inspiring to see what can be achieved as an independent musician in this 21st century music industry.  The dominance of the major labels has waned and through social networking and affordable music production technology, the opportunities available to indie artists have never been better for those willing to take them – Nizlopi at UK No. 1 anyone?

This is a subject I’m likely to witter on about at great length as it’s close to my heart but until then, check out what can be done with a bit of focus, hard slog and a lot of talent at www.alexcornish.com

His new album Call Back is out at the end of this month and it sounds amazing (though, I reckon lack of double-bass was a foolish omission… ; )

I bought Alex a load of beer and tricked him into letting me do a couple of support slots when he  was less mentally astute.  Next one is Sunday night in Newcastle-upon-Tyne at The Head of Steam which is the last night of the tour so hopefully see you Newcastle peeps there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn1Y49Cd4Mk

Lovely gig last night at The Railway, Winchester (see new video above) – thanks for all the kind words (and for arranging the Sushi – you know who you are!).

Pic: a Corn Dog (Alex’s rap name, should he decide to pursue a hip-hop direction)

Disappointingly, yesterday’s gig at The Three Sisters was cancelled due to residents in the Cowgate complaining about the noise…

Possibly buying a flat in Edinburgh’s busiest street for nightlife and expecting it to be quiet during the worlds largest arts festival is foolish?

Pic: Cowgate resident prepares for the Edinburgh Fringe

Anyhow, tonight I finish my Fringe run of solo gigs at The Underbelly Cow Cafe with a wee showcase from 11:30pm til 2am with some of my musical friends.

Free entry so come along if you’re in the area.  Also billed: Douglas Kay, Alan Davison, John Sloan, Rob Howell, Marisa Brown – should be a great night.

For those of you in the borders, tomorrow night sees the only Fondoo event of 2010 at the glorious Eastgate Centre in Peebles.  This will be well worth a trip so hopefully see you there!

Anyhow, this season is shaping up well kicking off next Friday with a solo set at The Village as part of the Leith Festival, headlined by Burnsong winning songsmith Andy Tucker and The Scattered Family.

Following weekend I’m back in Glasgow for the West End Festival and I have a string of gigs during the Edinburgh Festival’s Free Fringe.  Check my Gigs Page for details.

I fully expect to finally have some release worthy recordings together in time for the August gigs in the form of my debut EP! This will be a taster release in advance of my album for launch this Autumn.

In other festival news I’ll be playing the following gigs on double-bass:

Sat June 19th – Insider Festival (with Gecko 3)

Sat July 3rd – Cornbury Festival (with Alex Cornish)

Sun July 4th – Kelburn Garden Party (with Alex Cornish)

Fri July 23rd – Wickerman Fesitval (with Andi Neate)

Tue Aug 24th – Acoustic Edinburgh Festival (with Alex Cornish)

Hope to see you at The Village on Friday!

Update on the album coming soon and hopefully some exciting news but meanwhile, Summer is here and if you’re fancying a day by the sea with some incredible music come down to the 3 Harbours Seafood Festival in Prestonpans on Saturday May 29th at lunchtime!

Line up as follows:

THE LIST LIVE MUSIC TENT : 12 noon to 8pm

• 12noon- Hoochie Fig
• 1pm – Paul Gilbody
• 2pm – The Elements
• 3pm – Ten Storeys High
• 4pm – Martin McGuighan
• 5-8pm – The GT’s

I’ve also been beavering away on some new songs and next week I will finally get to return to my secret retreat in the Scottish borders to complete work on my debut album!  Can’t wait.

Meanwhile, I’m doing a lovely wee gig this Friday in Maggie’s Chamber (above the Three Sisters, Edinburgh) with some fine acts including my very talented pal Kat Healy. Hope to see some of you there!

In Sept it was straight off to France for  a mini tour with Gecko 3 where we had an amazing weekend at the incredible Le Brevedent Chateau Campsite.  We played their end of season music festival which embodied all that I love about France – great food, wine, (cider), a ferocious passion for music and not least a camaraderie, friendship and hospitality that is second to none.

October saw me join Andi Neate at a weekend music festival in Ullapool which was 2 gigs a night, then to the Arch Inn for an evening of live music, then back to the house where we were staying which was full of fine musicians jamming into the morning.

During all this I’ve been helping Douglas Kay to mix his long awaited 2nd album which is finally launched tomorrow night at The Voodoo Rooms (see gig listings).  I do some double bass and vocals on the album and I’ll be doing a solo support set and then sitting with the DKB.  This event is as significant to the Edinburgh music scene as a visible passing comet so don’t miss it!

Tonight I play with Andi Neate at The Lot and on Saturday I’m performing solo at the last ever Fondoo – the finest music showcase in the Scottish Borders which will be sadly missed.  I’m also very excited to be sitting in with the incredible Hoochie Fig on their long awaited return to the live circuit.  If you can make the journey another event not to pass up.

A couple of gigs in December and then I’m getting stuck into my album in earnest.

Catch you soon!

Paul