Showing posts with label michael marra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label michael marra. Show all posts

Wednesday 31 July 2019

The Best Concerts take place at Small Venues

The best concerts take place in small venues!

Many are spending ridiculous amounts of money to see the big stars of the 70s, 60s or 80s at the big venues such as the Hydro Glasgow, O2 London and others. 

This is Big Business Music! 
The issue is though that many of the best gigs are often at those intimate smaller venues. 
~Who wouldn’t want to see Arcade Fire at Glasgow’s Barrowlands or Radiohead at a small London venue? 

~Now with the master lyrical bard Bob Dylan – I have seen him play the huge dark and characterless Glasgow SECC and at a smaller Braehead arena. He was so much better at the smaller venue, there si no doubt of it.

~Also Paul Simon at the Clyde Auditorium, and he was wonderful at this smaller venue. 

A few of my best smaller venue gigs – 
~ Scots storytellers Michael Marra at the Mugdock theatre, Dick Gaughan at Milngavie folk club, 
~ The Caledonia soul of Blue Rose Code impressed also at my folk club; Rab Noaeks at a house party, Radiohead at the Edinburgh festival. 

This is not to say that I have enjoyed some incredible music experiences on the bigger venues or open air stages and tents. Its just that we don’t necessarily have to pay mega bucks to see an artist we admire. The other trick is to see emerging talent before they hit the big time and simply enjoy them in a more intimate setting. 

Or to hear the really talented songwriters and musicians who prefer to play the smaller circuits. 


Alan Raich 
“All the arts involve writing and reading, in the widest sense, writing as in composition, creation, production , publication and reading as in attentive analysis, interpretation, conversation, comparisons and contacts.”

Friday 31 August 2018

Edinburgh Book Festival (EIBF) 2018 Photos

Karl Ove Knaasgard
Freedom to make the stories that shape us
Freedom to travel, the horizons we will know and understand, different landscapes, challenging people, new perspectives…

Many spoke of moving on from divisions – but also about us all having a voice. Activist and business women Gina Miller said these are dangerous times, we cannot afford to keep quiet, with her book 'Rise'. Chelsea Clinton was there to talk about women's voices, with her book 'She Persisted.' 

Neal Ascherson and James Naughtie the 1968 Year of Unrest and freedom spoke of the Paris riots of 68, in France they continue to believe they can make a difference. Greek economist Yanis Varoufakis spoke of the difficulties inherent in Europe but also the peace it has afforded us. 
Brian May

There is such a wide diversity of writers at EIBF – 
the big established names, the aspiring new writers, award winners, celebrities, sportsmen, politicians, academics, poets, musicians, artists, critics, crime writers, comedians, novelists, illustrators, children’s authors, psychologists, medical writers, economics, business people.

Bringing different voices together from across the globe, creates an inspiring place to exchange ideas, renew and interact..
The book festival provides an important balance to the daft comedy or the absurd at the Fringe - everything goes in August in Edina. The backdrop of Charlottes Square puts EIBF at the heart of Edina’s historic Georgian new town: the photographers come here from Spain and Italy. 
Chris Brookmyre

 TALKS EIBF
Paris Riots 68, with Neal Ascherson and James Naughtie
The 1968 Year of Unrest and freedom
Yanis Varoufakis
Karl Ove Knaasgard
Michael Marra: Arrest This Moment
Tom Devine: English in Scotland
Gina Miller; Rise

BOOKS
The Gathering poems – Alexander McCall Smith
Gina Miller
There were problems with several writers gaining visas to attend EIBF. Sadly too this is the last year that Scotland will be in the EU, because of this unwanted Brexit being imposed on us– and this has very serious difficulties for an international festival on this scale. 
Activist and business women Gina Miller said these are dangerous times, and we cannot afford to keep quiet. She spoke of moving on from past divisions – and I agree – but moving past our extreme and feudal wealth divisions will not be so easy. It is the system here that needs changed.
False tribalism and division must end for the sake of our country. But there are differences here. I believe difference and informed different views are essential to reach a realistic consensus. But artificial tribes, around old, ignorant hatreds have no place in a progressive democracy.  It is a total fallacy that ’Brexit’ is about any kind of independence – its about leaving the world’s most successful trading block and stopping immigration. By contrast Scotland needs and desires immigration.  
How can we best protect our civil rights. Maybe if Scotland does this, other parts of England will follow. Recently I saw a map of who owns Scotland recently, and I was shocked by the tiny white sections of publicly owned land. Scotland has the most unequal land ownership in the world. I hope this isn’t all about money and that we can all have an equal voice. We need a culture of equal chances and co-operation, that starts in the early years. of education. 

We must act, and act soon to change all that.  
Chelsea Clinton
Yanis Varoufakis, Maria Alyokhina (Pussy Riot)

**What freedoms do we cherish? Maria Alyokhina fled from Russia to perform in Edinburgh. 

Interesting article on Democracy in Sunday Herald – that into todays world of peer to peer interconnectedness -  this centralised, top down state of government that worked centuries ago is no longer working for us. 

Friday 24 August 2018

Art Freedom without Borders


This years theme at the Edinburgh International book festival 2018 is "freedoms". It is important we are free to have our VOICE. Its important for culture, sense of identity, artistic creativity, truth, heritage, communicating, collaborating and so much more. 
At a talk on the highly respected Scottish singer songwriter Michael Marra, a Canadian asked - 'why did we not hear of Marra on the Scottish radio or tv, and how can we have a Voice here in Scotland, if we have no way of expressing it freely and widely? ..The answer is that Marra went to London for a while, but the London music industry wanted to change him and take away the essence of what makes him a great artist. ........ And I wonder often why Scotland is not free, and unlike other nations has no media of its own....

An artist must be true to their art...
Creatives not only require freedom of expression, it’s the life blood they draw on for their creativity. Any artist who tries to stick inside boxes is stifled. I remember a Russian art exhibition at the Tate modern – all were identical, raising arms to the heavens.  


JD Fergusson
The Scottish painters JD Fergusson on modern Scottish painting is his plea for artistic freedom. "Scotland should have an independent art," Artists must challenge assumptions and take a sledgehammer to totems. 
Artist Alexander Moffat and poet Alan Riach , in a new edition of Scottish artist JD Fergusson Modern Scottish Painting, in which he questions the need of artists to conform to market forces. If arts motivation is economic it is not usually successful. Then as now, there was what Moffat and Riach call "the tyranny of academic authority in taste, practice and artistic social priorities". Oddly there have been significant problems with Creative Scotland’s large umbrella organization (which includes film, Games, music, literature, arts) being controlled by the accounts men.  There was the need for artists to conform if they wanted to be embraced by the kind of organisations and institutions who view art as the conduit to boosting the economy and encouraging an ever-growing influx of tourists. 

The need to conform to be embraced by established art institutions. Fergusson's approach to art was embedded in political philosophy and he was convinced of the need for independence. He questioned why "the Glasgow School" faded out. "Was it Scotland's feeling of inferiority? Was it the lack of sympathy or financial support?" 

Nick Barley
**Edinburgh book festival director Nick Barley claims culture and the arts is being adversely affected by the hostile attitude at the UK home office.  
“We’re putting culture at risk, ironically the theme of this years EIBF this year is freedom!  
The UK Home office refusals from Syria are up from 18% to 68% in 2017.  -"Our relationship with authors is being damaged because the system is completely unfit for purpose. They’ve jumped through hoops – to have their applications refused.”  The UK Home Office has refused visas for authors invited to Edinburgh book festival. Festival director Nick Barley says ‘humiliating’ application process will deter writers and damage cultural life in UK. A dozen writers, from African and Middle East countries have had their visa applications refused, amid a process that requires 3 years of bank statements. 

Michale Marra, Arrest this Moment
JD Fergusson was drawn like so many other Scottish artists of the day, to Paris. (Samuel Peploe, Francis Campbell and Boileau Cadell). He writes of the impact that the French capital had-. “Paris was a place of light, freedom, intellectual challenge, learning and research. It allowed me to be Scots as I understand it, and has made me so Scots that I am leaving it and coming home." 

Fergusson’s book is a cri de coeur for artistic freedom and he is always passionate..
Some of the greatest art happen when we challenge the boxes – as when French impressionisms challenged the Paris Salon.



Modern Scottish Painting, by J D Fergusson, published Luath Press, http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/13415574.J_D_Fergusson_on_modern_Scottish_painting/


Friday 21 April 2017

Alice Marra tribute Chain Up the Swings

Scottish singer Alice Marra has recorded a moving tribute to the great Scottish songwriter – her dad Michael Marra, Chain Up the Swings. She performed the songs at the impressive St Andrews in the Square at Celtic Connections 2017 with the Gaels band.

I first heard Marra’s deep gravelly voice and songs at the small theatre Mugdock music festival which was perfect for his songs and I wrote then – “he paints with words.”
I was struck with the vivid escapism and stories of his songs. Michael liked to journey from American dreams and back home to Dundee in his song lyrics. He finshed with one of the best cover of Burn’s ‘Green Grow the Rashes O’. Possibly the most moving intimate concert I have ever been fortunate to be at. Wonderful.  

Marra’s daughter Alice has put together a thoughtful and tenderly collected recordings of his songs to show his unique diversity, strength and characterful stories - including the Marra favourites, such as Mother Glasgow, Frida Kahlo’s Visit to the Taybridge Bar and also including some new previously unheard songs.

An archive (of sorts) of home demos on cassette has yielded new material including the album’s opening track Soldier Boy.” Alice remembered “playing Kylie Minogue loudly in my bedroom when I was about seven years old. He was horrified. But he did say ‘one day you’ll find Joni Mitchell and everything will be OK’ and he was right.”


Alice was involved in several tribute concerts to Michael, most notably at Celtic Connections 2013. My photos here are from this concert, which was lead by Rab Noakes and was a wonderful and memorable night – and included Dougie MacLean, Eddi Raeder, John Spillane, Kris Drver and more. With the profits going to the charity Optimistic Sound, which was formed to fulfil Michael’s wish to see a Sistema Big Noise Orchestra in Dundee.

In an interview Alice said she was encouraged by Gordon MacLean at An Tobar on Mull when he said ‘you should do an album of your dad’s songs’ that it occurred to me. I didn’t really think of doing anything on my own.”

Alice went back into the songbook and discovered previously unheard material.
She collaborated with the musicians who took part in the original recordings – Michael’s brother guitarist Chris Marra, Derek Thomson and Allan McGlone. “Allan had just built a new studio so we began experimenting. There were some songs that I was sure I wanted to record, but through the suggestions of others I tried others. It wouldn’t have crossed my mind to do Mother Glasgow for example, but it worked so well.”

The emotional aspect for those making the album can’t be underestimated. The loss of a father, a brother, a close friend and an attachment to the material that needs to be treated with care, but not reverence. “Some songs stayed faithful to the recordings. Taking The Last Train Home as a 1980’s pop tune.. and we have moved away from the originals elsewhere. A Wee Home From Home is my favourite collection of songs, and my brother Matthew’s. Just genius.” 
FULL interview at the List - https://www.list.co.uk/article/88178-alice-marra-celebrates-her-fathers-legacy/


Monday 3 August 2015

Michael Marra at Mugdock festival theatre


'He paints with Words'
I have heard Marra perform twice at the Mugdock theatre, which with the grand piano off to the left is simply the perfect venue for him, and I list his concerts there back in 2007 and 2008 as some of my favourite ever small venue gigs. When Marra arrived at Mugdock he discovered one of the perfect small theatres there.  It seats around fifty in a tiered semi-circle and to the left of the small stage sits a shiny grand piano. It was built with music lovers in mind. 

I managed a short chat with Marra. He appeared to recognize me from last year's festival and I sense he doesn’t miss a beat.  He had his green shirt laid out on the side table.  He said that last year in 2008, he had travelled through the rain and the winding country roads and had wondered where he was going to.  He told me how he loved the Mugdock theatre and the beautiful piano there. You could feel his excitement.

The Gig. All eyes are fixed on Marra throughout.  He was unforgettable playing the small Murdock theatre. His songs are humorous and insightful and with his clever use of words and images he takes us inside his colorful characters.  The first thing that I noticed at his gigs was how frail he looked but then when he performed he surprised me with his energy and his distinctive gravelly voice. 

With endearing heart and ironic dry wit Marra led us through his medley of songs which were brim full of unforgettable characters and carefully crafted images of places and time.  Oddly he props his keyboards on top of a small ironing board.  

Marra played piano and guitar during his set here and he sang songs with grand titles such as -  'If Dundee was Africa', 'Bob Dylan's Visit to Embra', 'Grace Kelly's Visit to Dundee,' 'Muggie Shaw', 'Freda Kohl's Visit to the Tay Bridge Bar', and 'Lonesome Death of Francis Clarke'.  In 'Schenectady Calling', Marra paid tribute to Peerie Willie Johnson, a noted folk musician from Shetland.  He finished his set with a Burns song ' Green Grow the Rashes O' and an encore song 'Mary Skeffington' by the late Gerry Rafferty of Paisley.  

Marra finished with a perfect version of Robert Burn's song ‘Green Grow the Rashes O’ and his smile said it all. For his encore he sang a moving song when he talked about an uncle he never knew who died and about family being in the huff with each other - and he sang the words, ‘Did you forget the world and did the world forget you?’ 
 His music has grown out of both his Scottish Dundee roots and his American fantasies and musical tastes - he calls his sound 'groovy traditional music.' He writes songs about topics such as football, ladies choirs, and American idols!  His stories and songs are highly amusing while other songs are thoughtful and touching. There are echoes of his poet and musical hero, Bob Dylan. He cleverly uses humour and irony to describe the diversity and irony of human nature. His musical influences include - Tom Waits, Randy Newman and Bob Dylan. He was a strong character for photos with his wry fun and the light in his expressive eyes.

You could feel Marra’s joy of it after his encore song. A perfect ending to the Saturday.
Whenever I think of the special audience connection this has to be the perfect small venue where that magic can happen. Buckley calls it the 'romance of the small venue'. 

Although predominantly known as a songwriter, Marra worked extensively in theatre, radio and television.  Marra's children, Alice Marra Clark and Matthew Marra, are members of The Hazy Janes. Marra was in a band called Skeets Boliver in the late seventies. He died in 2012 at the age of 60, a very sad loss.
'There's Love in this world for everyone, Every precious smile you make, Be sure love is out there looking for you.'   Michael Marra

**In 2007 I enjoyed shooting one of my first music festivals – Mugdock music festival. I took photos again at Mugdock festival in 2008 and also in 2009. Mugdock country park lent itself to an intimate and fun festival. Headliners included Aly Bain, Battlefield band, Red hot Chilli pipers, Karen Matheson, Michael Marra, Kris Drever and John McCusker and more.  
 The festival was brought together by the fun energy of director Erne Parkin who sang with the Crossborder band, sadly died in 2009. 

This weekend a NEW Mugstock festival takes place at Murdock - check out their top line up here - http://www.mugstock.orghttp://www.mugstock.org

Friday 1 February 2013

All Will Be Well Review : The Life and Songs of Michael Marra’ concert at Celtic Connections festival Glasgow 2013

Alice Marra
A diverse and colourful cast of musicians and singers took to the stage for a memorable night to celebrate Michael’s life and songs. Artists taking part - Alice, Matthew and Chris Marra, Andrew Mitchell (The Hazey Janes), Eddi Reader, Dougie MacLean, The Mackenzie Sisters, Pat and Greg Kane (Hue & Cry), John Spillane, Jimmie MacGregor, Kris Drever and Musical Director and host Rab Noakes. Dundee singer-songwriter Michael Marra died in October 2012. 

The concert opened with the entire cast and The Hazy Janes, Marra’s children, singing his songs When These Shoes Were New and The Midas Touch. Eddi Reader, Rab Noakes and Dougie MacLean next performed Dear Hank Williams, proved an iconic moment to see all three Scottish legends on stage together. We were then treated to the lovely female harmonies from the Mackenzie sisters who sang Happed in Mist and The Lonesome death of Francis Clarke.
Rab Noakes, Alice Marra and Andrew Marra


This was a concert of many voices. Dougie MacLean gave a moving interpretation of a song he said Marra had once sung at the Blair Gowrie folk club, a song that Marra never recorded called Goodnight To Lovely You. Hue & Cry sang Mother Glasgow and Like Another Rolling Stone - Pat Kane spoke affectionately about Marra and he said that quality would always shine through. 

Sylvia Rae sang one of Marra’s jazzier songs Under the Ullapool Moon with a captivating slow husky voice. Noakes put his melodic guitar spin on Marra’s song General Grant. Eddi Reader gave a rousing performance of Here Comes the Weak. Marra enjoyed his 'footba' and often wrote songs about the sport. Rod Paterson stood out with the Marra songs Hamish and The Bawbee Birlin and his deep gravelly voice sounded as if Marra was actually there with us. There was a top class band on stage with a saxophone player and more.


Eddi Reader, Rab Noakes, Dougie MacLean
Hue & Cry
Near the close Alice Marra gave a haunting rendition of Michael’s favourite song Monkey Hair. There were tears on All Will Be Well when we could feel the warmth both on stage and in the audience. Scots Maker read a poem about taking flight. I am sure Marra would have been proud as the night ended with a poignant rendition of Hermless.  

Noakes proved an informed host and he drew from his many years in music. He said Michael was able to sing in different dialects and that he could switch easily from the mid-Atlantic pop music accent that they grew up listening to and a broad Scots Dundonian accent. Marra’s music drew from many influences – and there are many references in his songs from pop, Dylan, musicals, and more. Marra liked to think sideways. He mixed celebrities with the ordinary man in his songs and he looked at the small details. The music Labels wanted him to change his song titles and to smooth and soften the edges but Marra refused to compromise his music. He said that Marra wanted to have his name in brackets not in lights.
Rab Noakes & Jimmie MacGregor
Dougie MacLean
Mackenzie sisters
He was a wee man with a quizzical look, a big heart and a gift for expressing the absurd. To me Marra painted with words and I’ve never seen an audience so engrossed at a gig as at Marra’s Mugdock theatre one. He kindly signed a print for me there and said how much he enjoyed playing at small intimate venue gigs like this – where the theatre had a grand piano in the corner and tiered seating. I remember at his Milngavie folk club gig he oddly set his keyboard on an ironing board. He was a humble and keen observer of our human foibles and contradictions and the humorous side of life. Thanks Michael.  

PHOTOS - http://pkimage.co.uk/AllWillBeWell
SET - ALL: When These Shoes Were New/ Hazey Janes; The Midas Touch/ Hazey Janes; Dear Hank Williams/ Rab Noakes, Eddi Reader, Dougie MacLean: Niel Gow/ Tom Mitchell: Frida Kahlo/ Mackenzie sisters & Kris Drever: Happed in Mist/ Hue & Cry: Mother Glasgow/ Riley Briggs: Alter Boys/ Dougie MacLean; Goodnight To Lovely You/ Eddi Reader; Machushia/ Rod Paterson: The Bawbee Birlin/ John Spillane: The homeless do not seem to drink here

II Hazey Janes: Golden Slippers/ Mrs Gorrie/ Rab Noakes: General Grant/ John Spillane: Chain up the swings/ Sylvia Rae: Under the Ullapool Moon/ Dougie MacLean: Peddie Street/ Hue & Cry: Like another Rolling Stone/ Mackenzie sisters: The Lonesome death of Francis Clarke/ Kris Drever: Scenectady calling/ Eddi Reader: Here come the weak/ Rod Paterson: Hamish/ Alice Marra and Andrew Marra: Monkey Hair/ ALL: All Will Be Well/ Hermless
‘He can’t catch a rose between his teeth. I can’t lay my head on an olive branch.

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Scottish legend Michael Marra

Michael Marra. A quiet unassuming Scottish legend has passed today. He looked at the humour, tragedy and absurd side of life. I'm very grateful to have seen him live several times at Celtic - and in the perfect intimate setting of Mugdock theatre and Milngavie Folk club(where I even got a signed print) His encore was Burns 'Green Grow the Rashes O'...Such a sad loss.
He paints with Words' - I have heard Marra twice at the Mugdock theatre, which with the grand piano off to the left is simply the perfect venue for him, and I list his concerts there as some of my favourite small venue gigs. The first thing that I noticed at his gigs there was how frail he looked, but then when he performed he surprised me with this deep gravelly voice. With endearing heart and ironic dry wit, Marra sang his medley of songs which are brim full of unforgettable characters and crafted images of place and time. 
Kelly's Visit to Dundee,' 'Muggie Shaw', 'Freda Kohl's Visit to the Tay Bridge Bar', and 'Lonesome Death of Francis Clarke'.  In 'Schenectady Calling', Marra paid tribute to Peerie Willie Johnson, a noted folk musician from Shetland.  He finished his set with a Burns song ' Green Grow the Rashes O' and an encore song 'Mary Skeffington' by the late Gerry Rafferty of Paisley.  
Marra's songs often mix Scottish places with a fantasy of American celebrity. He writes songs about such diverse topics as football, ladies choirs, and American idols!   At times his stories and songs are highly amusing, while other songs are thoughtful and touching. 
He derives his musical influences from the likes of Tom Waits, Randy Newman and Bob Dylan.  His music has grown out of both his Dundee Scottish roots and his American musical tastes and he calls his sound 'groovy traditional music.'
Although predominantly known as a songwriter, Marra has worked extensively in theatre, radio and television.  Marra's children, Alice Marra Clark and Matthew Marra, are are members of The Hazy Janes. Marra was in a band called Skeets Boliver in the late seventies.
 
'There's Love in this world for everyone, Every precious smile you make, Be sure love is out there looking for you.'   Michael Marra

Wednesday 6 June 2012

*Great Scottish Troubadours

Dick Gaughan
Rab Noakes
Emeli Sande

Writing this I realise I've been fortunate to have met and seen live most of these very talented Scottish Troubadours at their gigs in the past years and I have also taken photos of them  - with the exception of Annie Lennox and Gerry Rafferty. These talented artists include - Annie Lennox, King Creoste, Dick Gaughan, Rab Noakes, Karine Polwart, Emeli Sande, Dougie McLean and Michael Marra.
Some have managed to cross over to the mainstream for commercial successes, but for the likes of Gaughan does this matter if he can still tour his music? All these artists follow the music in the first instance, have great strength of character as well as being talented musicians.

*Dick Gaughan - Leads the field. He mixes his Scottish and Irish roots to great effect and draws on deep traditions of song craft.  Best songs Westlin Winds, Both Sides the Tweed
He's been touring his songs for over 40 years, while he also does song researching, and more. He is a true character in every sense with no pretensions whatsoever.  His songs have much to say about character, social inequalities, beauty, truth and more. For Gaughan it is about the song and its message - while also about his guitar and edgy voice. Worth seeing live for his chat between songs too. http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk

*Gerry Rafferty - I remember clearly listening to Humblebums and Stealerswheel small cassettes, before his solo career and to his many wonderful songs. He was the rare folk singer who managed to cross over to commercial successes - or maybe it was simply easier for talent back then? In the 70s he gave us his biggest hits - the soaring sax of Baker Street and the dancing rhythms of Stuck in the Middle With You, as well as Get It Right Next Time, Right Down The Line and The Ark. His songs cover the full spectrum of emotions, they express full-on-energy, questioning cynicism and mystic spiritualism. He was from Paisley Scotland and his music gave the folk song a new voice. He cared about the craft of the song and not celebrity or it’s trimmings. He was an artist in the true sense of the word and had a rare clarity of artistic vision. Folk pop singer songwriter Rafferty was one of Scotland’s greatest singer songwriters. http://www.gerryrafferty.com/

*Rab Noakes played with Rafferty in Stealers Wheel before going solo. He draws on 50s American rock n roll such as Buddy Holly and his hero Dylan. Noakes always sings some lesser known classic songs by respected musicians and clearly respects music back catalogue. Songs - Branch, Together Forever, Clear Day. Noakes is a straight talking and sincere man.  http://www.go2neon.com/
*Karine Polwart - Of the younger artists she has the most to say on social injustices and a lovely voice too. She writes about sensitive political issues, such as alcoholism and genocide. Songs Daisy, Rivers Run. I've met Karine and she is a lovely down to earth person too. http://www.karinepolwart.com/
*Michael Marra paints colourful images of American legends from his Scottish perspective. His songs are effective through his slanted humour. His songs include -  'If Dundee was Africa', 'Bob Dylan's Visit to Embra', 'Grace Kelly's Visit to Dundee,' 'Muggie Shaw', 'Freda Kohl's Visit to the Tay Bridge Bar', 'Lonesome Death of Francis Clarke',  'Schenectady Calling', 'Letter from Perth', http://www.musical1.com/Michael_Marra/

*Annie Lennox started out in the Eurythmics with Dave Stewart (Sweet Dreams) and has gone on to solo successes worldwide both as a song writer and performer. Annie also does a lot of work for charities -  Amnesty International and Greenpeace. She and Dave Stewart donated all of the profits from Eurythmics' 1999 Peacetour to both charities. Lennox is one of the worlds best selling music artists.  http://www.annielennox.com

*Dougie MacLean is one of Scotland’s premier songwriters and producers. His most famous music is ‘The Gael’ which was used as the main theme for The Last of the Mohicans. And Caledonia which has been covered by many other artists and called Scotland's "unofficial national anthem". He played with the bands Tannahill Weaver and Silly Wizard. http://www.dougiemaclean.com

I'm not sure where the young Troubadours are. Yes I know there is KT Tunstall and Paolo Nutini who have had successes on the festival circuit, yet I am not sure what these artists are saying to me. A mention here for talented singer songwriters Kim Edgar, Boo Hewerdine, King Keoste and Kris Drever, who tour and play at Celtic.
    
Exciting New Scottish Artists 2012
*Emeli Sande. I've followed Emeli (previously known as Adele) since 2006 at her ep launch and it has been very exciting to see her reap the rewards from all her songwriting work with the successes of her debut album Our Version of Events,due to be released in America in June. She has a powerhouse soul voice and distinctive song writing. I met Emeli at her King Tuts gig and she has such a natural warm smile and was very earnest about her music. She plays clarinet and piano. http://www.emelisande.com/
*King Creoste - His album collaboration album Bats in the Attic with Jon Hopkins won him a Mercury Prize Nomination 2011. Creoste draws from folk roots and world music influences.http://www.kingcreosote.com/ 

New Scottish Bands - Admiral Fallow, Dirty Beggars, Rura, Manran... There appears to be more creative activity in the folk/bluegrass/Celtic rock traditions than in the rock music field. Perhaps following after the success of English artist such a Mumford and Laura Marling.
Scotland boasts three world scale Arts festivals - T in the Park (second largest music festival in the UK), Celtic Connections and Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe festival. Glasgow has the most attendances at Arts events of any UK city ( this includes galleries). As well as the SubClub world famous dance club venue. 

Scottish music: Rock of the north -  Talk of independence is giving Scottish culture a boost – especially in the thriving music scene. The new bands are inspired by the country's traditional music, and they sing in their own accents too! I found this article below on the resurgence of Scottish 'pride' in our very unique Scottish heritage - and it's effect on younger musicians. Many say they now feel proud to include Scottish roots elements in their music. Plus some Scottish bands no longer feel they 'have' to be based in London an can access the wider world via a Scottish base - the Errors, Frightened Rabbit, Twilight Sad, Admiral Fallow.  London is a very over crowded city metropolis and why should Scottish bands/artists feel they have to move there to have successes. If you check the artistic breath of Scottish music its' a huge plus to be free of the 'what's the cool trend' in London. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/

Karine Polwart

Michael Marra

Tuesday 29 March 2011

*Michael Marra Milngavie folk club

-->
'He paints with Words'
I have heard Marra twice at the Mugdock theatre, which with the grand piano off to the left is simply the perfect venue for him, and I list his concerts there as some of my favourite ever small venue gigs.  The first thing that I noticed at his gigs was how frail he looked, but then when he performed he surprised me with this deep gravelly voice. 

With endearing heart and ironic dry wit Marra led us through his medley of songs which were brim full of unforgettable characters and carefully crafted images of places and time.  Oddly he props his keyboards on top of a small ironing board.  He has a strong character for photos with his humour and expressive eyes.

In March the Milngavie Fraser centre was packed for his gig for the Milngavie Folk Club.    
Marra played piano and guitar during his set here and he sang songs with grand titles such as -  'If Dundee was Africa', 'Bob Dylan's Visit to Embra', 'Grace Kelly's Visit to Dundee,' 'Muggie Shaw', 'Freda Kohl's Visit to the Tay Bridge Bar', and 'Lonesome Death of Francis Clarke'.  In 'Schenectady Calling', Marra paid tribute to Peerie Willie Johnson, a noted folk musician from Shetland.  He finished his set with a Burns song ' Green Grow the Rashes O' and an encore song 'Mary Skeffington' by the late Gerry Rafferty of Paisley.  

Marra's songs often mix Scottish places with a fantasy of American celebrity. He writes songs about such diverse topics as football, ladies choirs, and American idols!  At times his stories and songs are highly amusing, while other songs are thoughtful and touching. He derives his musical influences from the likes of Tom Waits, Randy Newman and Bob Dylan.  His music has grown out of both his Dundee Scottish roots and his American musical tastes, and he calls his sound 'groovy traditional music.'

Although predominantly known as a songwriter, Marra has worked extensively in theatre, radio and television.  Marra's children, Alice Marra Clark and Matthew Marra, are are members of The Hazy Janes. Marra was in a band called Skeets Boliver in the late seventies.

'There's Love in this world for everyone, Every precious smile you make, Be sure love is out there looking for you.'   Michael Marra