The fourth annual Kintyre Songwriters Festival, which is being held in Campbeltown on 27 – 29 May 2011, welcomes all styles of music and aims to showcase and promote the song writing and musical talent in Kintyre. This year will not only introduce some fantastic local songwriters, but also some amazing artists from around Scotland including Ivan Drever, Robin Adams and Dave Arcari.
The festival will also see the return of some regular festival bands including Gilchristians, The Twisted Melons, A New Hope?, Jack the Wolf, Medium High, Mr Wroe’s Ho’s and Gullion.
There will also be several solo performances from various talented local songwriters including Adam Fortune, David Fee, Ross Macinnes, Megan Hill, Ian Taylor, Les Moffat, Ian Gardner, Emily Walker.
This year’s festival is also delighted to welcome new local band, 12 Past Midnight.
Three nights of talent...
Since 2008, the festival has been held on the last weekend in May, and has recently expanded to a three day event, from Friday to Sunday. Although the festival is slowly growing, the aim is to maintain the intimate setting for performers so that audience can really appreciate the music – which is something of a treat, as in 2010 there were over 20 artists split over the three nights.
This year the festival is running several free events including Friday night ‘bands night’ in Whisky Macs, an Open-Mic stage in the White Hart Hotel during the Saturday afternoon, and an Industry Seminar during the Sunday afternoon, where music industry expert, Dave Arcari, will host a seminar on how to make a successful living as a singer/songwriter. Dave Arcari is a journalist, photographer, PR consultant, artist and record label manager, and somehow also finds time to be a musician Slide guitarist and songwriter! His latest album – Devil’s Left Hand – was released on Buzz Records on 1 November 2010. In 2010 Arcari added two hugely successful shows at the legendary Glastonbury Festival to his impressive list of festival appearances which includes BluesAlive (Czech Republic & Poland shows), The Great British R&B Festival, Peer Festival (Belgium). He has also played industry showcases at the North by North East (NxNE) music festival in Toronto, Canada and he was a finalist the UK Indy Music Awards reaching the top four in his category (best male solo artist). With more than 100 UK dates a year plus regular shows in Finland, Estonia, France, Germany, Belgium, Poland and Canada, Arcari is one of the hardest gigging live artists on the circuit.
There will also be the legendary main stage events held on the Saturday and Sunday evenings that will showcase new solo artists and bands, as well as see the return of some regular festival artists. The ticketed events are purposely kept in an intimate setting, and the atmosphere over the past few years has been electric.
Tickets on sale…
Tickets will go on sale from Saturday 16th April at 9am on www.ticketweb.co.uk and at the White Hart Hotel, Campbeltown. Saturday and Sunday tickets are £10 each. Additional booking fees apply if purchased on Ticketweb. Starts 7.30pm, doors open 7pm. Limited seating available.
Schedule of Events:
Friday 27 May, ‘Whisky’s on the Rock’ at Whisky Mac’s from 9pm (free event)
Events at the White Hart Hotel:
Saturday 28 May
Open Mic Stage 2–5pm (free event)
Songwriters Showcase, 7.30pm (Tickets £10)
Sunday 29 May
Music Industry Seminar 2 – 5pm (free event)
Sunday Songwriters, 7.30pm (Tickets £10)
Tickets on sale from Saturday 16th April at the White Hart Hotel or on www.ticketweb.co.uk. Additional booking fees apply if purchased on Ticketweb. Limited seating available.
www.kintyresongwritersfestival.co.uk
Some additional information about this year’s artists…
Ivan Drever
Ivan brings his unique and distinctive talents to Campbeltown for a weekend you'll not want to miss. Singer, songwriter and latter day troubadour from Orkney, Ivan has recorded a whole host of albums both solo and with other performers. Having worked with "Knowe o' Deil" and as a solo artist, Ivan joined Wolfstone in 1990 and their work took them worldwide. His songs and tunes have been recorded by an impressive list of artists, including one co-written with Duncan Chisholm which featured in the Robin William's film "Good Will Hunting"
Robin Adams
Bringing a fresh take on acoustic music, you'll be asking yourself "why have I never heard of Robin Adams?" A reluctant participant, he's played the usual showcases - T Break, Go North,
Music Works, In The City, and has even been conferred the inaugural Billy Kelly Songwriting Award by some of Scotland's most successful songwriters and wordsmiths. Add to this, he downright looks the part and is more than a little charismatic.
Dave Arcari
Journalist, photographer, PR consultant, artist and record label manager, Dave somehow also finds time to be a musician Slide guitarist & songwriter. Dave Arcari’s alt.blues sounds owe as much to trash country, punk and rockabilly as they do pre-war Delta blues and have been showcased via six internationally-acclaimed solo CD releases. His latest album – Devil’s Left Hand – was released on Buzz Records on 1 November 2010. In 2010 Arcari added two hugely successful shows at the legendary Glastonbury Festival to his impressive list of festival appearances which includes BluesAlive (Czech Republic & Poland shows), The Great British R&B Festival, Peer Festival (Belgium). He has also played industry showcases at the North by North East (NxNE) music festival in Toronto, Canada and he was a finalist the UK Indy Music Awards reaching the top four in his category (best male solo artist). With more than 100 UK dates a year plus regular shows in Finland, Estonia, France, Germany, Belgium, Poland and Canada, Arcari is one of the hardest gigging live artists on the circuit.
The Gilchristians
With a revolving lineup, The Gilchristians were formed in 2008 after the tragic death of their namesake, Kenneth Gilchrist. The band keeps the songs of Kenny alive with each performance either bringing out versions of songs that haven't been heard for years or latter day classics that simply demand an audience. Who knows what this year will bring!
Adam Fortune
Adam Fortune is a singer/songwriter, technically based in Dundee but in actuality is a bit of a nomad as he spends a lot of his time busking around various cities in Scotland, particularly Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Constantly writing, he records whenever he can get the opportunity and in September of 2010 compiled a home recorded 8-track CD titled "Penance", distributed for free at gigs, and on the streets. His music is an attempt at an echo of his musical idols, such as Tim and Jeff Buckley, Damien Rice, Glen Hansard, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, amongst many others.
Iain Taylor
Iain hails from the south-west, and has spent the majority of his adult life on trains and buses travelling up and down the western coast. Whilst known for his musical contributions to a number of acts including indie-folk collective Randolph's Leap (signed to Glasgow indie label Olive Grove Records), dub-rock group Tauntra, and Kintyre's own Jack the Wolf, Iain will be performing a selection of solo material that he hopes to collect in the form of an EP over the coming months.
David Fee
David Fee has been writing songs, honing his craft, and singing his own honest truth into the late night hours for a number of years now. He was born in Nottingham, England, but has lived since 1996 with his family in Kintyre working mainly as a carer. Here he has written the vast majority of his emotionally perceptive and passionate songs that carry a sometimes quirky sideways view on life. The songs on his upcoming album often start off in a vulnerable place, but are always on the look out for the ray of hope that can shine a light towards a path which leads upwards and outwards. You can find him at www.feetunes.com.
12 Past Midnight
Surfacing from their band space in Campbeltown commonly known as the Annexe, 12 Past Midnight started out as a young cover group for personal amusement and "kicks". As the boys gained experience, they discovered a much larger love for music and performing which led to a re-arrangement of line up and composition of their own material. Portraying an energetic feel, the four piece set out to paint a picture of youth within which all audiences can relate too through their reflective lyrics and style of play. Influences range from the likes of Frightened Rabbit, Pixies and Manic Street Preachers.
Gullion
Individually, each member has been playing somewhere with some band or other for years, where they have distilled their multi-instrumental talents into a potent musical force. After being formed as Gullion just over a year ago, Robert Black, Christophe Adie and occasional drummer Andrew Black have created a unique musical fusion citing influences from Delta Blues to Synth Pop. Gullion consists of Guitar, Bass, Keyboards and Drums but they are not afraid to throw some interesting noises into the soundscape. Using lyrics that inspire and entertain to get that tune that will stick in your head.
Jack The Wolf
Jack The Wolf are a group of like minded musicians from Glasgow, Scotland. With an eclectic style ranging from acoustic rock through to all out prog-folk Jack The Wolf gig regularly in and about the Glasgow area and sometimes further afield.
Les Moffat
Les has lived in Campbeltown for most of his life and started playing the guitar at the age of 12. His influences vary from folk, rock, progressive rock to blues.
Ian Gardner
Residing in Glasgow these days, Ian played in many bands over the years with musicians from the town and over the country. He currently plays drums with Jack The Wolf, however he has been playing guitar for 14 years and has recently been writing solo material.
A New Hope?
After playing many a successful gig on the back of a McFadyens lorry, in 2001 the band separated for a time as College, University and sitting around a flat in Glasgow beckoned. The band re-formed in 2006 and are, some say, "mildly better than before". But, still based in Glasgow (although the bass player now lives in Stirling as his high rise was being demolished to make way for a Tesco), they are enjoying things more than ever.
Mr Wroe's Ho's
The Ho's formed in 2008, and since then have been toying with the idea of actually getting some proper recordings of their songs together. Still, that hasn't stopped them from experimenting with drum loops, samples, keyboards, violins,
guitars and vocals, and occasionally pulling off the occasional S.A.S. style surprise gig here and there.
Ross Macinnes
Residing in Coatbridge, Ross Macinnes is a 27 year old multi-instrumentalist from
Campbeltown who's influences range from acoustic pop to Prog metal. Ross is in the process of arranging a string of gigs in Glasgow and is a regular on the
Glasgow open mic scene. His music is predominantly acoustic and easy on the ear with influences including Ginger/Devin Townsend/Francis Dunnery/Twisted
Melons/Jack The Wolf/Adam Fortune/a new hope?/Mr Wroe's Ho's and Sir Kenny Gilchrist.
The Twisted Melons
Hailing from the remote peninsula of Kintyre, The Twisted Melons consists of the three Johnson brothers. The band's melodic rock fusion melds big melodic pop hooks to eclectic arrangements and cutting-edge technology, expanding consciousness and making life totally better. New album "3.3" saw them working with legendary producer and Led Zeppelin collaborator Stuart Epps, and was released on Monday 7th September 2009 on Melomania Recordings.
A bit of history...
The idea for a songwriter's festival was conjured up by two Campbeltown lads,
Kenneth Gilchrist and Ross Macinnes, the idea being to bring together the talent from Kintyre in a relaxed environment where they could perform their songs to a likeminded audience.
Unfortunately, Kenneth's tragic death in 2008 meant that the planning of the festival had to be taken on by a group of friends and family who wished his festival to come to fruition.
The festival aims to showcase and promote the song writing and musical talent in Kintyre. It also aims to encourage a new generation of local songwriters and musicians, by means of donations to local musical groups/organisations and the presentation of an annual memorial quaiche at Campbeltown Grammar School for original folk song.
For further information about the festival go to www.kintyresongwritersfestival.co.uk
