I first heard Gaughan play in the 70s in Edinburgh when I was dating a folk guitarist who raved about how incredible and very distinctive his playing was. Many years later (after being in America for nearly ten years and having three children) I heard Dick again at Milngavie Folk club in 2007, and this was an intimate gig where his chat between songs was worth going for alone.
In his own
so distinctive style, Gaughan hammers and speaks with his acoustic guitar. He
performs traditional folk tunes, songs by Robert Burns and Brian McNeill,
favourite cover songs and his own songs. Some very few artists have the ability
to transport and transcend the moment, and Dick does so with forceful guitar
playing and classic traditional songs with a strong message and with a deep
expressive, growling voice.
He doesn't
play the predictable smoothed-over sugar box 'tartan shortbread' songs - and he
may not be to every ones taste. Gaughan is plain spoken and holds firmly held
beliefs on the rights of everyman. At one time he took past folk stories and
songs from the library archives and put new melodies to them. You come away
from his gigs questioning but ultimately renewed in the faith of our shared
humanity. Dick Gaughan is a Scottish living legend, and he usually performs
every January at 'Celtic Connections' Glasgow.
Recommended
Songs - Both Sides the Tweed. Handful of
Earth, Parcel of Rogues.
