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| 2008 DATES | |
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Saturday
26 January 2008, Doors 8.00 p.m. BURNS NIGHT BASH One of our most popular nights of the whole year, the Burns Night Bash is a great opportunity for local musicians to come and strut their stuff. Instead of booking a headline artist as we normally do, the String Jam Club’s stage is being thrown open for musicians everywhere who would like to come and play. Everyone will be a star for the night, performing two of three numbers (dependent on how many people turn up to play). If previous years are anything to go by, then tonight will be an entertaining and magical musical marathon for everyone, whether performing or just coming along for the experience! As ever, Helen’s delicious homemade haggis pies will help to keep the energy levels up, and there will be a piper to pipe them in as well as a special festive raffle with lots of great prizes.
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Saturday 23 February
2008, Doors 8:00pm Eddie Walker and Fraser Speirs present 'Beyond the Blues', an eclectic, electrifying and entertaining show of blues, folk, roots and Americana. Eddie Walker is one of the Britain's leading singer/song-writers and guitarists, playing a mixture of blues, ragtime, hillbilly country, British and American folk and original material. Living Tradition Magazine described him as one of the most consistently popular musicians on the UK folk scene over very many years. Based in the North-East of England, Eddie has toured throughout Britain and Europe and to festivals in New Zealand and Hong Kong during a 30 year professional career. Well-known for his interpretation of old country blues classics by Mississippi John Hurt, Big Bill Broonzy and Blind Willie McTell, he also champions the songs of the late Steve Goodman (City of New Orleans) and John Prine. Fraser Speirs has become synonymous with diatonic harmonica playing of the highest quality (Paul Jones described him as "a great harp player with a gorgeous tone"). Based in Glasgow, Scotland, he has built an enviable reputation for professionalism in the recording studio, in radio and television, and live on stage, appearing over the years with performers as diverse as Alexis Korner, Muddy Waters, Homesick James, Champion Jack Dupree, Marion Montgomery, Tam White, Rab Noakes, Carol Laula and Eddi Reader to name but a few. Over a hundred album credits have defined for Scottish audiences his status as an artist of the highest quality. Put these two guys together on a stage and you have music with class, magic, passion and true authenticity. Admission £7 on the door - or advance tickets from The Salmon.
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Saturday
29 March 2008, Doors 8.00 pm JACKIE LEVEN Singer-songwriter Jackie Leven was born in Scotland in 1950 and his first album Control was released under the pseudonym ‘John St Field’ in 1971. Jackie first made a serious impact upon the UK music scene in the late 70’s with rock band Doll By Doll, a hard-hitting classic two guitars, bass and drums outfit that beguiled audiences with a rare on-stage intensity. Blending folk, blues, celtic, psychedelic and punk influences, the band made five superb albums of warped melodic rock music. In 1988 he released a single ‘Big Tears’ under the name ‘Concrete Bulletproof Invisible’ which was a Melody Maker single of the week in 1988. In 1994 his solo career started in earnest with the release of the album ‘The Mystery of Love is Greater than the Mystery of Death’ which earned much critical praise. Since then he has been extremely prolific, releasing another twelve official solo albums and a number of fanclub-only releases, including a joint album with crime writer Ian Rankin ‘Jackie Leven Said’ featuring the keyboards of Mike Cosgrave. Jackie’s most recent release ‘Oh What a Blow That Phantom Dealt Me!’ was released in 2007. We are delighted to welcome Jackie to the club for his first visit. He writes searingly of the human condition, and is a truly singular talent, a songsmith poet among singers, and a singer among poets. He is an original who casts a shadow true and rare. www.myspace.com/thejackieleven Admission £7 on the door - or advance tickets from The Salmon.
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Saturday 26 April 2008, Doors 8.00 p.m.
After the band's first legendary performance in the Borders in 2002, The Guardian voted us the second best gig in the whole of the UK, beating Oasis hands down. Since then every time they have played at the club, it has been a sell-out, so buy your tickets in plenty of time y’all, and prepare yourselves for a night of class bluegrass with real attitude. Led by Kentuckian and ex-Long Ryder Sid Griffin, the Coal Porters are pioneers of the UK alt-country scene. Performing a mixture of authentic traditional bluegrass songs and tunes, classic contemporary country-rock material by such greats as Chris Hillman, the Byrds, Flying Burritos, Gram Parsons and Bob Dylan, and some fine original songs, their superb music is characterised by knife-edge four-part harmony singing, and an entertaining and electrifying stage presence. They were one of only thirteen acts worldwide to be invited to perform at the International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass Festival in Kentucky. The new album has already received rave reviews in Mojo, Uncut, The Sunday Times, Maverick and Word magazines with European reviews out soon. It features new songs by band members Neil Robert Herd, Sid Griffin and Gemma White as well as a startling cover of ex-Byrd Gene Clark’s classic ‘Silver Raven.’ And speaking of the legendary Byrds, the great Chris Hillman plays mandolin on the second track on the album ‘Mr. Guthrie’, a song tribute to Woody himself. “A sumptuous bluegrass spread, impeccably served.” UNCUT www.myspace.com/thecoalporters
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Saturday 31 May 2008, Doors 8.00 p.m. Cory is a highly accomplished player - fingerstyle and flatpicking guitar, clawhammer, plectrum, and three-finger banjo, and blues harmonica. Michael plays the accordion, hammering out a deep, full bass and accompaniment with his left hand, and authentic melodic lines with his right. Michael has also worked with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, worked on the soundtrack of Francis Ford Coppola’s new movie, had his music premiered at Carnegie Hall and brought his music-making to many venues around the globe, from the local pub to the Sydney Opera House. www.myspace.com/thegroanboxboys Admission £7 on the door - or advance tickets from The Salmon
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Saturday 28 June 2008, Doors 8.00 p.m. Winner of the BBC Radio 2 Horizon Best Newcomer Award in 2007, Orcadian multi-instrumentalist and singer Kris Drever is one of the brightest young talents to come out of Scotland, an inventive guitarist and singer who has already accumulated an impressive CV, having worked with the likes of Kate Rusby, Eddi Reader, Roddy Woomble, John McCusker and Donald Shaw. The son of Ivan Drever of Celtic rockers Wolfstone, Kris joined forces with Aidan O’Rourke and Martin Green in 2005 to form the excellent trio Lau who are also signed to Reveal Records/Navigator Records, in fact a new Lau live album is to be released on April 28th 2008. Kris knocked everyone out with the depth, maturity and distinctive style of his debut solo album ‘Black Water’ (2006), which was produced by John McCusker at Pure Studios and nominated for an Album of the Year award at the Scots Trad Music Awards. Over the last 12 years Kris has been involved with a myriad of different projects quickly moving from traditional pub sessions in Edinburgh to the gigging circuit, playing large tours of the United States and Chile with dance show Celtic Fusion. After leaving the show Kris began working with Fine Friday, and also worked as a session musician for a variety of artists including The Battlefield Band, John McCusker, Kathie Ryan, Harem Scarem, Clare Mclaughlin and with his father, folk singer and guitarist Ivan Drever. Kris has toured much of Europe, Canada and Australia with Fine Friday and Lau and many others. He has also toured Canada with trumpeteer and fiddler Daniel Lapp and England, Ireland and Wales with folk superstar Kate Rusby. Kris also performed with Eamonn Coyne and plays in the John McCusker Band and Session A9. Don’t miss this chance to see a superb solo artist with an impeccable folk pedigree, a voice full of resonance and character and a judicious selection of old and new songs that, that once heard are never forgotten., won't leave you alone. “Drever’s debut aligns ancient with modern. A poignant picture of modern Britain and makes the standard live anew. “ Album Of The Week SUNDAY TIMES www.myspace.com/krisdrevermusic Admission £7 on the door - or advance tickets from The Salmon
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Saturday 26 July 2008, Doors 8.00 p.m.
Rachel has been compared to Gillian Welch and has shared stages with or supported such great acts as Shawn Colvin, Be Good Tanyas, Guy Clark, David Lindley, Lucy Kaplansky and Eliza Gilkyson to name but a few. This summer Maverick magazine is sponsoring Rachel’s UK and European ‘City of Refuge’ tour to promote her second album, due for release in August 2008, and we are thrilled to welcome her to Galashiels for her first ever club visit in Scotland. She will be joined by multi-instrumentalist Zak Borden on vocals, mandolin, guitar and various other weapons of mass destruction. A solid songwriter in his own right, Zak has toured extensively throughout the US and UK having worked with, among many others, Casey Neill, The Watson Twins, and his own platinum selling cousin, Willy Mason. www.rachelharrington.net
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Watch this space for details of future events! |
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