The BBC’s Vic Galloway returns with his personal pick of all the Scottish international gigs of the month. Below, Vic has more on King Creosote’s upcoming shows in and around NYC. Also on tour this month are Frightened Rabbit in Canada, Simple Minds in Europe and Glasvegas in Australia. Full details below.
King Creosote in New York
by Vic Galloway
Kenny Anderson has been chipping away at the musical coal-face for many, many years. Starting with the Skoubhie Dubh Orchestra, then the Khartoum Heroes (alongside yours truly on vocals and guitar, fact fans!), then Shoe Market Hour and finally as solo artist King Creosote, he has never compromised his singing style, soulful delivery, quirky chord changes or lyrical dexterity. His songs are odd but extremely honest. Not only has he been unbelievably prolific throughout the years, but he’s managed to start a record label and music-collective alongside close friends, calling it… ‘Fence’.
By doing this, he’s put the East Neuk of Fife on the map by resolutely refusing to move anywhere else, and hosting the annual ‘Homegame’ festival every springtime in the beautiful fishing villages of Anstruther and Cellardyke. There is now a whole array of Fence events across the UK and abroad, and a hugely popular website, as well as a massive back catalogue of releases. King Creosote and the Fence Collective are determined, independent and thorughly individual; going against the grain at any opportunity and doing things their own way.
Along the journey, Kenny has signed to Warner Brothers (via 679 Recordings) and now is helped along by Domino Records (home to Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys and others) with a personal discography that is mightily impressive. As a live performer, he’s a total natural and can touch the hearts of those watching and listening, with a full band or simply accompanied by an accordian or acoustic guitar. He draws from a repertoire that will have grown men weeping into their whiskies, and women going weak at the knees. Not only that, but his tone of voice and turn of phrase are utterly unique – it’s not often you can say that.
After a successful jaunt to SXSW in Austin, Texas this March, King Creosote returns to the USA to show them what he’s got and promote his re-released back-catalogue and collaborative album with electronica pioneer, Jon Hopkins. If you’ve never seen him before, head along and enjoy a joyous, heartfelt live expereinece from a true original and a supreme talent.
Vic
Check out Vic on BBC Radio every week:
Monday Night 8.05pm-10pm, BBC Radio Scotland
Featuring live sessions and new material from the best alternative artists.
Follow Vic on Twitter and now on Facebook
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ALSO CHECK OUT THE BBC SCOTLAND DOCUMENTARY
Scotland Rocks at SXSW
starring Vic Galloway, Peej from Dear Scotland, Matthew from Song by Toad, Franz Ferdinand, Glasvegas, KT Tunstall, Withered Hand, and many more of the artists featured on these pages.
Tuesday, July 5 at 21:00 on BBC Two Scotland
(Sky Channel 990 in the rest of the UK)
httpv://youtu.be/2mlG17dLiuM
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Bubble (HD)
httpv://youtu.be/M-Lr0igwLIY
King Creosote (Kenny Anderson) – Party Fears Two
httpv://youtu.be/7GaXdmdirvY
King Creosote and Kid Canaveral – And Another Thing, SXSW 2011
httpv://youtu.be/fyRF-4yN8So
Scotland on Tour this month
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Photo Credit: sanneglasbergen