Month: October 2014

Canadian folk singer and songwriter James Keelaghan is currently on a busy tour of the UK and Irvine Folk Club is on the gig list. James will be at the Irvine Club on Wednesday 29th October.
Calgary born but now based in Winnipeg, James has been in the music business for over 25 years and has nine albums to his name. It’s said that he has one of the most distinctive and easily identifiable voices in Canada. Much admired as a songwriter, his nine albums have brought him an enviable share of nominations and awards from Australia to Sweden.
James’ Dad was an Irish man and it is to him that James owes much of his early musical inspiration. His Dad was also a great storyteller and James is still trying to be as good as his Dad. The love of storytelling gave James a passion for language and history and both aspects are evident in his songwriting. As well as his own material, James also does some covers, Gordon Lightfoot being a favourite.
Appearing with James at Irvine will be Canadian multi-instrumentalist Hugh McMillan. Expect to hear a mix of roots, rock, Americana and contemporary folk when James Keelaghan plays at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 29th October in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road. The Club starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.
Finally, the 2015 Celtic Connections programme is now available. From 15th January – 1st February, 2100 artists will play at 300 events over 20 venues in Glasgow. Names to look out for include the Californian Feetwarmers, the interestingly titled Dick Gaughan and Lynched, longtime lead guitarist in the E Street Band Nils Lofgreen, Kieran Goss and Fairport Convention. The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall has full details.

Hey Harley is a new American duo based in Nashville featuring two excellent musicians and they are the special guests at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 15th October. The Irvine Club is part of a two month tour of the UK and Europe.
Lizanne Knott and Bill Reveles are Hey Harley and although they have recorded a number of albums as individuals, the duo’s debut record will be launched in January 2015. Hey Harley plays Americana and fans of that genre in Nashville are united in the belief that the only thing better than a great musician is two great musicians – and that’s the case with Hey Harley.
BBC Radio’s Bob Harris has championed the singing and playing of Lizanne Knott since her debut release in 2002 and since then she has featured frequently in his radio shows. Her most recent album released in 2013 ‘Standing in the English Rain’ was one of Top 20 Folk Albums of that year. A vocalist, award-winning writer and fine guitarist, her voice is described as having an almost hypnotic quality and along with her self-deprecating humour it’s little wonder that Lizanne is described as a class act.
Bill Reveles is an L.A. songwriter, singer, producer and arranger. He has four solo albums to his name and works regularly with L.A’s best session players. Such is the reputation of Hey Harley that Taylor Guitars offered a coveted artist partnership to the duo for their tours. Their musical skills will be evident at the Irvine Club as Hey Harley move effortlessly from country to jazz to soft shoe shuffle.
Hey Harley, a new duo can be heard at Irvine Folk Club in Vineburgh Community Centre on Wednesday 15th October and it starts at 8pm.
Finally, news of the sudden death of Tommy Jeffers has stunned Irvine Folk Club. Club MC Willie Sinclair called for a round of applause last week to mark the memory of Tommy and it was done with much fondness and respect for a long standing member and supporter of the Club and Marymass Folk Festival. The condolences of everyone at Irvine Folk Club go to Tommy’s wife Christine, their son Colin and family.