STEWART FENWICK sends in his

SCOTTISH REPORT

IT’S good to see new bands and venues springing up across the country. Look out for new bands, Tequilla, Shooter, Lee Blackstone & Crossfire. And I urge club organisers to give them a shot. Clubs tend to book their bands up to a year in advance, which makes it difficult for new bands to break into the scene.

A new Glasgow venture is called Don’t Mess With Texas, which is held on the first Friday of the month at The State Bar in Holland Street. Their publicity includes an old picture of Porter and Dolly. The resident band, Coconut Avenue, will be joined by a guest each month. The organisers are interested in hearing from singer-songwriters and acoustic acts. They have a Myspace site at www.myspace.com/whatsthatnoise

The Scottish bluegrass scene was, once again, represented at the Linlithgow Folk Festival, in West Lothian. “Down From The Mountain” featuring the Whitetop Mountain Band, was held at the town’s Queen Margaret Hall on Saturday September 13th.

Caithness based Manson Grant has finally released the much promised “Tribute To Buck Owens” CD. Manson, one of Scotland’s longest serving musicians, has been a life long fan of Buck and the Bakersfield  Sound, and has always featured Buck’s material in his live sets with The Dynamos.   Now he has a tasteful tribute, with a number of Buck’s favourites including “Tiger By The Tail”, “Loves Gonna Live Here”, “Together Again” and “Crying Time”.

BBC Radio Scotland have replaced Bryan Burnett’s “Brand New Country” with a new programme, “Another Country” presented by Ricky Ross, from pop band Deacon Blue. “Brand New Country” was never accepted by the loyal country music fans who still miss Gerry Ford’s programme, which it replaced 15 years ago. “Brand New Country”, whilst playing all kinds of country, did concentrate on Americana, and this looks like continuing with the new programme.

Changes too at Smooth Radio. Nick Barraclough’s networked programme was dropped, but Bill Black moved into the Sunday 5-7pm slot on the Glasgow station, albeit with a shorter programme.

There’s also good news in the Midlothian area. Black Diamond Radio, on 107.8 FM have a new country music programme presented by Graham McLeod on Saturdays 4-6pm.

Donegal’s Highland Radio are once again Glasgow bound. Each year the station brings a listeners trip to Scotland, with a host of Irish country stars, and invite the locals to meet up with their Celtic cousins. This year’s event, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, next to the SECC, will be held October 10-12th, and will feature Ray Lynam & Philomena Begley (above), Mike Denver, Ann Breen, Theresa Rodgers, Frank McCaffrey and Seamus McGhee. More info at www.highlandradio.com.  

There’s still a few country festivals in the calendar this month. The annual Creetown Festival, in the southwest of the country is scheduled for September 18-21st, and the following weekend, all roads lead to the Isle Of Bute.

Then over the weekend of 24-26th October, a NorthEast Jamboree is being held in Dyce, just outside Aberdeen. The event, headlined by Brendan Quinn & Gary Gamble is being organised by Muriel & John Mutch, who previously organised the popular Embo Country Festivals in Sutherland.

Any info for the column can be sent to Stewart Fenwick, 18 Chapelhill, Clackmannan. FK10 4JP, or e-mail: StewartFenwick@aol.com.