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The new Stoneyport Agency website is now available and as of June 3 2006 this page will no longer be maintained.
AUGUST to NOVEMBER 2001 NEWSLETTER
The following text is lifted (and embellished) from the current edition of the agency's printed quarterly newsletter - August to November 2001. If you would like a printed, hard-copy of the newsletter please email us with your snail-mail address - but please note, this is not a fan-zine but a working document aimed primarily at talent/music bookers.
Go to Contacts if you want to see telephone/fax/mobile numbers as well as the email links we give here for our agents.
Stoneyport Agency's quarterly newsletter
August to November 2001
NEW TO THE ROSTER
JOCK TAMSON'S BAIRNS ... founded their considerable
reputation on a firm adherence to traditional Scottish music tastefully chosen, infused with a wee twist of mischief, interpreted
with a broad imagination and played superbly. They have been one of Scotland's most respected bands since their inception in
the late 1970s. Their 'Lasses Fashion' album from the 1980s is yet regarded as one of the finest expressions of the great revival of
traditional music that helped create and shape a contemporary Scottish identity.
Officially 'retired' between 1983 and 1995 but now reformed with original members - Rod Paterson, John Croall, Derek Hoy, Ian Hardie
and Norman Chalmers the band has toured abroad, made radio and TV appearances and released a new Greentrax album. The Bairns'
energy is unflagging as they continue to play inventive acoustic music eschewing synthesizers, sequencers, didgeridoos or African
drums thereby producing refined accompaniments to Scots songs and ballads, and exciting arrangements of intricate, fast dance tunes
on fiddles, whistles, squeeze boxes, jews harp, moothie, guitar and bodhran.
FINE FRIDAY ... new trio comprising Kris Drever (guitar, vocals), Anna-Wendy Stevenson
(fiddle), Nuala Kennedy (flute, vocals) is emerging as one of Scotland's top traditional
trios. Fine Friday's music is at once powerful, poignant and engaging, played and sung
by performers possessing a wealth of talent and skill based upon the tradition which makes
for an engaging listening experience. Kris Drever is an outstanding vocalist and creative
guitarist who has also writes his own songs. Nuala and Anna-Wendy are top-class players who
complement each other superbly - thanks to years of demanding rehearsals (aka the Friday
night sessions in Edinburgh's famous Sandy Bell's Bar). Footstompin' Records intend to
release Fine Friday's debut album in March 2002.
ISHBEL MacASKILL
... From the Outer Hebridean Isle of Lewis, is generally reckoned to be in the top flight
of traditional Gaelic singers and is certainly one of the best-known. Gaelic culture, has
a richness of beautiful music and soulful, emotive poetry and is a treasure trove from which
Ishbel has chosen carefully to present world-wide to many an appreciative audience. Whether
Ishbel's audience is Gaelic-speaking or not, her performances of these centuries-old
songs of love, war, the sea and landscape, exile and life itself are quite exquisitely
memorable and often very moving.
GILL BOWMAN
... booking now for the Burns "season" in Jan 2002 and generally available.
ERIC BOGLE ... next tour
probably 2003 (tbc).
BURACH
... in Australia for the first time Sept 11 - 22, Ireland Oct 4-7, Moscow Dec 7-17 and back to
Oz in early Jan 2002 before headlining the 11th Scottish Folk Festival (Germany: Jan-Feb with
Ceolas, Malinky and Jim Malcolm). UK gigs in Oct-Dec - with availability still; please get
in touch.
CALLUNA
RORY CAMPBELL & MALCOLM STITT
... new album entitled Nusa on Vertical Records.
CEOLBEG ... new line-up soon tbc.
CROFT No. FIVE ... debut
album now out. The band have had some great first gigs around the UK and abroad.
Boogie-meets-Scottish grooves.
JIMMY CROWLEY ... touring
the UK in late Oct-Nov 2001 (dates available - please contact us if you have space yet).
Touring again in the UK through April 2002.
DE DANNAN ... only
one of the world's top Celtic bands! Played a blinder at Edinburgh's Queen's Hall during the
recent Edinburgh Festival Fringe - really something else with a most talented young singer,
Andrew Murray and an outstanding young box player too.
DEAF SHEPHERD ... generally
available. Touring Bulgaria briefly in Oct 2001.
FAIRPORT CONVENTION ...
probably the best known British folk band bar none. They give audiences a rocking tour de
force. After 30-plus years Fairport can still "do it" in spades! Possibly touring the UK
in January-February 2002 and looking for work abroad next year too.
FIDDLERS' BID ... touring briefly
in the UK in early Oct with the prospect of Israel in March 2002 and a "return to Oz" as well
next year.
FINLAY MacDONALD'S BAND ... led by great young piper Finlay this is a
reel-cracking band! Generally available.
DICK GAUGHAN
... A new Greentrax album is to be released in early October 2001 in time for Dick's UK
Nov-Dec tour (call us - still a little bit of availability left). The album is entitled
Oulaws and Dreamers (CDTRAX 222) and is primarily Dick with Brian McNeill on two tracks.
Dick is currently touring in USA then goes to Ireland from Oct 11 - 25. Festivals ... you
could have a great gig with the remarkable pairing of DICK and BRIAN McNEILL who did a clutch
of festivals this year to considerable acclaim (as you'd expect for this duo) - a powerful act
booking now for 2002. Brian has just taken up post as Head of Traditional Music Department at
the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow which produced, for example, Martin
Bennet, amongst numerous other enormously talented young Scottish musicians now making names
for themselves. We are now booking Scottish gigs for Dick (solo) in January 2002, a north of
England tourette in the first week of February and a UK tour in May and are actively looking
for further work abroad (agents or promoters abroad might want to contact us to see what's on
offer?). Click here for Dick's own web-site.
FRANKIE GAVIN ... only
one of the world's top fiddlers who also leads one of the world's top bands!
BERT JANSCH
... now booking UK dates through the autumn/winter/spring and also booking a Scottish tour
for May 2002.
CHRISTINE KYDD
... still gigging.
macAlias
... Karine Polwart and Gill Bowman will "up" their work-rate and tour the UK in the first
half of 2002. Karine leaves Battlefield Band soon but continues to work with Malinky whilst
Gill works solo.
MALINKY
... Malinky will record a sequel to their acclaimed Greentrax CD Last Leaves and are looking
towards festivals in 2002 - as a five-piece; accordionist Leo McCann is to join the band.
Lead vox Karine Polwart was named by Kate Rusby in fRoots as the #1 voice to note in UK folk
music. Malinky, along with Burach and Ceolas, will tour Germany in the Scottish Folk Festival
Tour (Jan-Feb 2002; see gigs page). Malinky co-vocalist Steve Byrne joins Deaf Shepherd's
John Morran and Chris Wright in trio, Raverie.
MICHAEL MARRA ... UK tour planned
for February-March-April 2002; generally available for festivals. His current CD Posted Sober
(Inner City Records ICCD001) continues to impress new ears.
CLAIRE MANN ... and Aaron Jones (of
Craobh Rua) play, and sing, traditional Irish music on flute, fiddle, cittern, guitar. Both
have extensive touring experience.
FRED MORRISON (and CEOLAS)
... the flame-haired young piper is one of the finest ever from Scotland having won
competitions across the board including gold medals at both Oban and Inverness and The
Macallan cup at the Lorient Festival in Brittany five times. Ceolas contains five other top
musicians and Fred also works in a duo with Jamie McMenemy who is in top Breton band, Kornog.
Along with Burach and Malinky, Ceolas will tour as part of the Scottish Folk Festival of
Germany in January-February 2002 (see gig-lists).
OLD BLIND DOGS ... Have a
new Green Linnet CD entitled, "Fit?", and are touring selected UK dates in October. The
band is available for Hogmanay with general availability (anywhere!).
The POOZIES
... limited 2002 availability tbc.
SHINE ... debut CD and
general availability.
ANDY M STEWART & GERRY O'BEIRNE
... now booking for 2002.
ALLAN TAYLOR ... now booking a UK tour
in Feb-April 2002 for this great songwriter who has been getting some great live and CD
(Colour To The Moon) reviews. Repeat gig at London's Borderline in Feb 2002 (tbc).
The WILD CIGARILLOS ... a very busy band! You want a
dance band? This is the one.
The WRIGLEY SISTERS
... UK Oct tour is now booked and their new CD Skyran is now available. Currently in the
USA, the sisters kick off their 27-date Swedish tour on Oct 29. Germany follows in Jan
2002, Far East/Oz in Feb-early April plus Austria and Moscow, North America in May and
finally the UK again in June (now booking). Scottish tour planned for August (now booking).
BLUE HYENAS ... 4/5-piece R 'n' B band; brass if needed. New CD. Generally available.
Contact jb
MIKE WHELLANS
... touring in Scotland briefly in October. Mike is hoping to record a new CD, featuring his
spectacular flat picking acoustic guitar style and mouth-harp playing, in 2002, and then tour
the UK on the back of it in the latter part of the year.
TAM WHITE
... SHOESTRING: (electro-acoustic BLUES/jazz trio including Fraser Speirs & Neil Warden) had
a most successful Turkish tour in June courtesy the British Council. UK tour planned for
February-April 2002; and the trio is generally available as well. Please ask for Tam's CD-ROM.
Shoestring received a standing ovation from a capacity audience at The Lift in Glossop on
Saturday 21 September - some gig! Great venue.
... GROOVE CONNECTION: ... generally available.
... and BRIAN KELLOCK ... Generally available.
Book the following acts through JIM CONDIE
AMOS GARRETT
... Excellent UK tour in August. Next UK availability - May 2002; plus Europe July or August
2002 (Germany/ Scandinavia or France/Spain).
MICHAEL JEROME BROWNE
... very good first UK tour in June. Back here March 2002.
KEN HAMM ... new
CD available, Cross The River. Back here November 8 - December 2.
TIM WILLIAMS
... has a new live CD entitled Evenings With Friends and, having successfully toured here
already, he tours again from October 3 - 28.
INDEX TECH INDEX ROSTER ALL-GIGS AGENCY CONTACTS
Contact jb
Martin Coull
Contact jb
BILL BARCLAY
... available as a singing comic and a compere for festivals. Bill also arranges the agency's
"specials" ... weddings, after-dinner speakers, cabaret and so on.
Bill Barclay
Contact jb
Contact jb
Contact jb
Dave Francis
Martin Coull
Dave Francis
Martin Coull
Contact jb
Contact jb or Dave Francis
Martin Coull
Jim Condie
Dave Francis
Martin Coull
Contact jb
Contact jb or Dave Francis
Contact jb
Contact jb
Martin Coull
Martin Coull
Contact jb
Martin Coull
Contact jb
Kresanna Aigner
Contact jb
Martin Coull
Contact jb
Contact jb
Bill Barclay
Contact jb
BLUES and JAZZ
Contact jb
Contact jb
Contact jb
Contact jb
Jim Condie
Jim Condie
Jim Condie
Jim Condie
