- An Artist’s Guide to SXSW I’ve had a few bands contact me over the past few weeks asking for some tips on where to play at SXSW and what to bring etc, so I thought I’d write a brief guide on here, but everything you really need to know is in this article written by Geoff Martyn:
- Vote for Scotland’s Greatest Ever Vocalist Stuart Adamson on guitar. Paul Thompson on drums. Derek Forbes on bass. On vocals…? From almost a hundred suggestions we finally came up with this shortlist: Liz Fraser, Alex Harvey, Jim Kerr, King Creosote, Annie Lennox, Billy Mackenzie, Frankie Miller, Paolo Nutini, Bon Scott and Rod Stewart. Voting closes Jan 5, 2010.
- The Mafia Stole My Guitar Alec Downie’s take on Scotland’s greatest ever guitarists: Sir Alex Ferguson works on a simple premise: get a strong defence, build from the back and allow the creative players to play. Applying that theory to music you’ll find that the foundation of all Rock ‘n’ Roll is bass and drums and everything else is art.
- The Low Miffs and Malcolm Ross Rip it Up and Start Again The “wonderfully musical” yet “erratic” Low Miffs have just recorded an album with the legendary Malcolm Ross (formerly of Josef K, Orange Juice and Aztec Camera) and the album launch takes place tonight in London at Madame Jojo’s in Soho. Here, Alec tells us why he is not surprised that this collaboration works so well:
- Catch a Falling Star at the Barrowland Ballroom – Part 3 For those who enjoyed reminiscing about the Barrowland Ballroom in Parts One & Two, this is a more personal look at Alec’s favourite Barrowland gigs. It was going to be a top ten before he got lost in memories of laughs, tears, hugs and flying cups of pish and it became a magical top 50. Enjoy.
- Frankie Miller – In My Own Crazy Way Pt 2 Alec Downie continues the story of the enigmatic Frankie Miller: During the next few years Miller produced a number of quality albums including, Easy Money (1980), Standing On The Edge (1982), Dancing In The Rain (1986), and BBC Radio1 in Concert (1994). He also had a major hit with the single Caledonia written by Dougie McLean […]
- Frankie Miller – In My Own Crazy Way Pt 1 Rod Stewart said of Frankie Miller, “He is the only white guy that ever brought a tear to my eye!” The widow of the late great Otis Redding reckoned: “that little ole white boy Frankie has the the blackest voice since Otis”. Alec Downie tells the story of a true Glasgow legend.
- Catch a Falling Star at the Barrowland Ballroom – Part 2 Dark stories of Bible John, memories of jitterbugging yanks, and tales of the only appearance in Scotland of Bill Haley & his Comets and The Rolling Stones being paid £5 to perform in 1964, steep the venue in Glasgow lore….. Alec Downie continues his love letter to the Barrowland Ballroom.
- Catch a Falling Star at the Barrowland Ballroom – Part 1 There can’t be a music fan in Scotland who has not had a few swallies in town before rambling up Argyle Street and nodding a cap to Glasgow Cross, entering the Gallowgate and then experienced that magical rush when turning that wee bend in the street that allows you to see the neon Barrowland sign […]
