Crooked Rain
Scotland’s Music . Sleazy and Unpredictable
Yeah, this is Scotland’s home of Americana.
Our old stuff is still available here, so you can check out interviews with the National, Malkmus, Kathleen Edwards, a whole load of CD and live reviews as well as our famous features.
And don’t forget to tune in to the Switchback show on the Fabulous Sunny Govan FM, Glasgow’s best community radio station.
It was a sell out crowd tonight at Europe’s answer to the Ryman Auditorium, and they were treated to a night of awesome Americana which will live long in the memory.
I’d seen the name Hey Negrita quite a bit over the past few years but this was the first time id seen or heard them. The Londoners played a fine set of country laden with pop sensibility, Read the rest of “Gary Louris & Mark Olson, Endrick Bros, Eileen Rose, Hey Negrita - Darvel May 9 2009″
darvel is our favourite festival bar none.
over the past few years the McKennas have put on some truly outstanding gigs, and all because they want to. Not because it’s a commercial juggernaut they can’t put the brakes on, not because the media kiss their ass (we don’t count!) and not from a burning desire to bask in the glory of parting tens of thousands of fools from their money. Just love of music, and a desire to promote their home town. Simple really, so how do so many promoters get it wrong?
here’s the latest news from the deep south..
The line-up for the 8th Darvel ‘Homecoming’ Music Festival in May has been announced and it shows the wide tastes of the music-loving locals behind the event.
Darling of the Scottish music scene, Eddi Reader will open the Festival on May 1 and will be followed by evenings of soul, jazz, blues, indie and Americana with a “super group” providing the finale on May 10.
In all, 25 national and international acts will take to the Darvel Town Hall stage for seven concerts, including the Hamish Stuart Band, Ruby Turner, Maggie Bell, Attic Lights, Martin Taylor and Mark Olson and Gary Louris (ex Jayhawks.)
The community-based Darvel Music Company, set up in April last year, took over the management of the highly-rated festival and decided it would run on a bi-annual basis from this year onwards during May.
“It’s a new time of the year but in the same place with another excellent line-up,” said Sheila McKenna, Festival Director.
“There is something for all music lovers and we hope everyone enjoys the gigs they attend.
“We are delighted that so many top-name acts have agreed to fit our festival into their schedules for 2009 and we are looking forward to welcoming newcomers and regulars.
“The Darvel Music Festival has built up a fine reputation and I’m sure that’s why acts of the calibre of Eddi Reader, Maggie Bell, Hamish Stuart, Martin Taylor and the ex-Jayhawks want to appear here.”
As a prelude, The Darvel Music Company will be showcasing some of the west of Scotland’s finest unsigned and established bands in a fringe event at Darvel Town Hall on April 17 and 18.
“One of the main aims of our community music company is to nurture and promote local and regional acts so that they can take part in the ‘wider’ festival celebrations,” said Sheila.
Stagecoach will for the first time be operating return bus journeys from Ayr and Glasgow via Kilmarnock to Darvel during the main event utilising their express coaches and award winning bio-bus fleet. Stagecoach have also gone that ‘extra mile’ and agreed to sponsor the final concert of the ‘homecoming’ festival and provide in-kind marketing support. The festival website has details of where bus tickets can be purchased and a bus timetable.
The full line up is:
Friday, May 1
Eddi Reader – support: Roddy Hart, Esther O’ Connor and Adriana.
Saturday, May 2
The Hamish Stuart Band with Jim Mullen and Ruby Turner – support: Hamilton Loomis.
Sunday, May 3
Martin Taylor’s ‘FRETERNITY’ – support: Rainy and the Dust plus Joni Keen and the Euan Stevenson Trio.
Thursday, May 7
Maggie Bell and Dave Kelly with Blues n’ Trouble – support: The Seventh Sons.
Friday, May 8
Attic Lights - support: The Primary 5, Dropkick and The Parish Music Box.
Saturday, May 9
Gary Louris and Mark Olson (The Jayhawks) – support: The Endrick Brothers, Eileen Rose and the Holy Wreck, and Hey Negrita.
Sunday, May 10
Four Good Men (Simple Minds, H20 and Owen Paul) – support: JJ Gilmour (ex – Silencers), The Garrett Wall Band and Boo Hewerdine.
Tickets are now on sale at Ticketweb, Ticket Scotland (Glasgow), Walker & Connell, Darvel and Valhalla Music in Kilmarnock.
See www.darvelmusicfestival.org for full event details.
Festival ‘Fringe’
FRIDAY 17 APRIL:
WHAT THE HEROES SAY, THE STREETLIGHT CONSPIRACY, THE LA FONTAINES, THE GHOSTIES AND THE LONGHORNS
SATURDAY 18 APRIL:
TV21, LAKI MERA, IAIN MORRISON, MAN AT THE WINDOW AND IAIN MCKINNON
John Davy has warmed up the wavy gravy jars and casts his bionic eyes over releases by Po Girl, Scott Paul and Sarah Macdougall…… Read the rest of “Roots Roundup…”
As a music form the blues goes in and out of fashion. Currently with the likes
of Seasick Steve (and the much-championed local Nelson clan) it seems
to be on the up. What better time then for Glasgow blues man Dave
Arcari to unleash his latest offering? Well versed over the years in
playing his version of that most ancient of all rock forms, Arcari
digs deep into the well of blues tradition bu
Read the rest of “Dave Arcari. “Got Me Electric” Buzz Records, 2009.”
Self-published and beautifully produced in every way, ‘Late Last Night’ is one of those albums that will just grow in stature as time goes by. Eleven songs of quiet beauty that are not going to knock your socks off at first pass - no obvious toe-tappers here - but demonstate an impressive self confidence. Robby’s done things his own way and found his own voice as a writer and
On a miserable wet night a good-sized crowd braved the elements to
see the first Glasgow appearance from Perth band $outhpaw following
the departure of their frontman Gavin Munro. Before we could see how
the band filled this gaping hole however two other bands had the
stage.
Jericho Hill were billed as a Johnny Cash tribute band. Head for the
hills (or the bar) one might have thought as visions of dire versions
of Ring of Fire and Jackson loomed large in the imagination
Read the rest of “$outhpaw, The Scuffers and Jericho Hill. Nice and Sleazy, Glasgow 10th January”
The website was built by zeropointnine and is powered by something called WordPress.
Feed is available: