Month: July 2015

Fraser Bruce is back at Irvine Folk Club and he tops the bill on Wednesday 5th August after a fairly lengthy absence from the folk music scene. He was a very familiar face in the early days of the Club when it met weekly at The Eg although, depending on your age, this might be the first time you’ve heard him.
London born and Rutherglen reared, Fraser sang solo for a number of years singing traditional ballads as well as contemporary material. Then as now, he accompanies himself on acoustic guitar. There came a time when he brought his wee brother Ian to gigs and later they formed a formidable duo: each having a powerful voice and excellent guitar skills. In particular, their harmonies were spot on. They recorded three albums and toured worldwide. Ian then moved on to a solo career and Fraser took a break from the folk scene. But now he’s back.
Fraser has four shows at St Bride’s as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He will be appearing alongside brother Ian and Moe & Ian Walker. The programme describes them as ‘four veteran performers’!
Wednesday 5th August is the final Club night before the 48th Marymass Folk Festival starts on 19th August. Therefore, limber up for Marymass by going along to Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road on 5th August to hear Fraser Bruce. The Club starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.
Speaking of Marymass, tickets are now available and Folk Festival leaflets giving all details of the five day bash are in all sorts of outlets. If however, you need to check info or want to reserve tickets – and that would be a smart idea as Vineburgh, the venue for the Thursday and Friday concerts, is a small, intimate venue – contact Joyce on 01294 551047 or visit www.irvinefolkclub.org.uk

Have just heard that Ian will accompany Fraser on his visit to Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday.

BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the Year for 2105 Claire Hastings is the special guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 22nd July. She is well thought of by her peers and music critics alike – even if she plays the Ukulele as her chosen instrument!
Claire is from Dumfries and sings and plays with a confidence that belies her years. She has a very fine voice and is said to be a compelling storyteller. After she graduated from the RSAMD with a degree in Scottish Music, Claire and her Ukulele travelled round the world for 18 months before she decided that being in Glasgow is where she really wanted to be.
She has been involved in a variety of workshops around Scotland including leading a Singing Workshop on Mull for people with Dementia and more recently delivered Tiny Tunes for Tiny people to a Mother & Baby Group in Edinburgh.
Claire has also undertaken several teaching projects including one for people in Glasgow with Mental Health issues and working with Feis Rois in Dumfries & Galloway primary schools teaching Scottish music and singing. Currently she is training to be a Colourstrings teacher and maybe she will explain what that is to those of us who don’t know.
As well as all of that, Claire is part of a duo with Robyn Stapleton and part of the Top Floor Taivers band. Claire’s debut album is promised for early 2016!
At the Irvine Club on the 22nd July, the talented Jenn Butterworth will be alongside Claire. So to hear the current Young Trad Musician of the Year, get along to Irvine Folk Club for 8pm on 22nd July to Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road where it is BYOB.
And finally, Saver Tickets priced £40 are now available for this year’s Marymass Folk Festival and cover concerts on the Thursday, Friday and Marymass Saturday Night. It’s a bargain. Contact Joyce on 01294 551047 or email JoyceIFC@aol.com

‘What’s gannin on?’ is a well-used phrase on Tyneside and is doubtless a favourite with the guests at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 8th July Chuck Fleming & Benny Graham. Chuck is from Loanhead in Midlothian now living in Co Durham whilst Benny is a Tynesider through and through.
Chuck & Benny have been playing together for years in Pubs, Clubs and Festivals and have now decided that this is the year to go on tour – well, over Hadrian’s Wall for a start! Happily, the Irvine Club is included in the tour schedule as Chuck has been a favourite with Irvine audiences going back to when he was the fiery fiddler with the legendary JSD Band playing in what was then The Drill Hall in Irvine – now the Volunteer Rooms.
Chuck is a terrific fiddle player and also plays mandolin and guitar. Over the years he has worked with the likes of Kathryn Tickell and awesome concertina player Alistair Anderson. He was founder member of Five Hand Reel and now teaches fiddle and mandolin. The irrepressible good humour of Chuck is well known and on stage nothing seems to phase him.
Benny Graham is a singer and songwriter who served his musical apprenticeship in North East of England Folk Clubs. It was there that he learned the songs that grew out of the heavy industries that grew out of coal, steel and ship building on Tyneside and also the musical culture of the rural North East. He has a very good voice and also plays Button Box Accordion. After working for a few years as solo performer, Benny formed the three part harmony group Pegleg Ferret and toured the UK and the Continent.
His career then took a different direction when he joined a premier Tyneside theatre where he has since worked as a singer, songwriter and also a stage and production manager. Benny has numerous albums to his name.
Chuck Fleming & Benny Graham will be a mighty presence at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 8th July at Vineburgh Community Centre. The Club starts at 8pm and yes, it’s BYOB. Make sure you can be there.