Here's a busy newsletter about the Stoneyport roster of artistes taking us through into next year while rounding off 2010.
It's a bit of a read but it's packed full of useful information for you, the bookers and press folk, who help make our world go around.
Many of our acts work abroad as well as all over the UK and Ireland and I've noted availabilities accordingly. Some acts may have local agreements with agencies outside the UK.
Promoters remember: promo/demo CD's are almost always available for you - please do ask if you want a copy. Plus there are MP3's on the artistes' pages at www.stoneyport.co.uk
Unless stated otherwise please contact jb@stoneyport.demon.co.uk with enquiries.
ALAN REID and ROB VAN SANTEwww.reidvansante.com
available 2010/2011: generally available for clubs, concerts, festivals around the UK and abroad depending on what Battlefield Band is doing (see www.battlefieldband.co.uk/tourdates.htm)
Alan Reid has been ever-present in Battlefield Band since 1969. The Batties were pre-eminent in the vanguard of 1970's Scots pioneering folk bands with an influence heard in many of today's young ensembles. In a band noted for its composing skills and interpretations of traditional music, Alan's songwriting has been an important component.
Alan formed a duo with singer/guitarist Rob van Sante in 2000. They have released two albums, 'Under the Blue' and 'The Rise and Fall o' Charlie'.
ALASDAIR FRASER and NATALIE HAAS 
available 2011: UK touring dates not set yet for 2011
"The duo’s near-telepathic interplay was dazzling both for its breathtaking technical prowess and its boundless dynamism,be it in tunes from that same golden era, the age of Burns and Gow, or Fraser’s own memorable compositions."
(Sue Wilson, Hi-Arts Journal; Celtic Connections Festival)
ALLAN TAYLOR
www.allantaylor.com
available 2011: UK-wide (ex-Scotland) tour in February and continuing in April.
available 2011: Scotland in September since Allan was here in April 2010.
ALLAN TAYLOR and RAB NOAKES
www.allantaylor.com and www.rabnoakes.com/
available 2011: UK-wide through April-May-June
as a 75 to 90-minute stand-alone show very suitable for festivals
AMOS GARRETT
NB for all information contact: Jim Condie
"Talk to anyone who does know his work, and they'll almost certainly be in near-awe of his guitar skills. He has recorded with a staggering number of other artists. But Amos is much more than just a supremely talented sideman and his own albums would beautify any decent record collection. The chance to see him play live in this country is a rare treat."
(Manchester Evening News, September 2001)
ANDY M STEWART and GERRY O'BEIRNE
www.andymstewart.com and www.gerryobeirne.com/
available 2011: dates not set yet but Andy is very keen to tour in the UK and abroad in Europe if possible.
Andy and Gerry gave a very successful, sold-out solo concert during Celtic Connections (Jan 2010) in Glasgow's Tron Theatre ...
"IT’S OFFICIAL. Andy M Stewart still has what it takes. On the strength of this virtuoso performance at a packed Tron Theatre, the former Silly Wizard frontman must be regarded as one of Scotland’s finest singer-songwriters in the folk tradition, and a very funny guy to boot ... Gerry O’Beirne, who accompanied him throughout,also provided a masterclass in guitar accompaniment and song arranging with his fingerpicking runs reminiscent of Bert Jansch and his subtle, delicate playing."
(full review at www.hi-arts.co.uk/Default.aspx.LocID-hianewq9t.RefLocID-hiacg5005001.Lang-EN.htm)
See also video link at www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/music/celticconnections/2010/artists/andy_m_stewart/from their Glasgow Royal Concert Hall main stage appearance during Celtic Connections.
JUNE 2010
Sa 5 GLASGOW City Hall Recital Room
Su 6 INVERNESS Bogbain Heather Farm (Northern Roots Festival)
BERT JANSCH
www.bertjansch.com/
available: no dates set yet for UK work although it's great to see Bert back on the road in the USA with Neil Young in May-June 2010 finally doing the tour which had to be cancelled in 2009. BELLEVUE RENDEZVOUS
www.myspace.com/bellevuerendezvous
available: generally available for gigs in the UK or abroad
www.myspace.com/thebevvysisters
available 2010/2011: generally available for gigs in the UK or abroad
" ... started off at excellent, progressed swiftly to stunning and, fetched up as positively spectacular."(**** The Scotsman)NB for all information contact: Heather Macleod
m: +44(0)7746-78 49 09, or
heathermacleod@hotmail.co.ukCHLOE MATHARU
www.myspace.com/chloematharu
"There's a plaintiveness and restraint to Chloe Matharu's singing that owes more to classic traditional singers like Anne Briggs than it does to the poppier inflections of many of her young folk contemporaries. And there's a refreshingly unaffected, intimate and pastoral quality to many of the arrangements on her debut album too."
(Karine Polwart)
Chloe's voice: " ... a mature and gentle tone ... delivers a wonderful variety of songs with confidence and sincerity ... a voice with the purity of a folk classic"
(Bella Hardy)
2010
JUNE
Sa 26 Sedbergh Folk fest
JULY
We 21 Llantrisant FC
(we're after more gigs in S/SW Wales and possibly SW England to add to this July 21 date)
AUGUST
We 11 Edinburgh Wee FC
Sa 14 North Berwick, Fringe By The Sea
Th 19 to Sa 21 Irvine Marymass Festival (residency)
Mo 23 to We 25 Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Acoustic Music Centre @ St Brides/venue 123)
SEPTEMBER
Peebles Arts Festival tbc
OCTOBER
Wed 27 National Centre for Early Music (opening for Malinky)
available: unless as stated above Chloe is generally available for clubs, concerts, festivals in the UK or abroad as follows (inclusive dates) ...
2010
Mo 24 May to Su 26 Sep
Mo 8 to Sa 13 Nov
Sa 18 to We 22 Dec
2011
Sa 22 Jan to Su 6 Feb
Sa 26 Mar to Su 10 Apr
Th 26 May to Su 25 Sep
DAVID VERNON (accordion) and DICK LEE (reeds)
www.davidvernonanddicklee.com
available 2010/2011: generally available for gigs in the UK or abroad
"Dick Lee's clarinet and David Vernon's accordion combine wonderfully, and their diverse selection of melodic tunes is totally engaging. Kicking off with Jewish klezmer 'hora' wedding dances, moving onto a Carlos Gardel tango, thence to the Balkans via a 'novelty number' called The RouletteWheel, their playing is full of spirit and there are few musicians who can explain so simply what a complex time signatures really means. Stranger on the Shore is a delight, as is their version of Shostakovitch's film music for The Gadfly . . . they make a great double act."
(* * * * Jan Fairley, The Scotsman)
DE DANANN - reformed ... one of the truly great bands!
available 2010/2011: generally available for gigs in the UK
Line-up: Alec Finn (bouzouki, guitar), Johnny 'Ringo' McDonagh (bodhran), Eleanor Shanley (vocals). Mick Conneelly (fiddle, bouzouki), Derek Hickey (accordion), Brian McGrath (piano, banjo).
De Danann (named after the legendary Irish tribe, Tuatha Dé Danann) were formed in 1975 in Galway and became one of the most influential bands in traditional Irish music before going their separate ways in 2003. The band released their eponymous debut album, 'De Danann', in 1975 and in total recorded 14 albums including, 'Anthem', 'Star Spangled Molly', and, 'A Jacket of Batteries', achieving chart success with many of the albums reaching gold or platinum status.[please note: Frankie Gavin, who was one of the original band's founding members, is not in this reformed line-up because he is now touring with his own band.]
DICK GAUGHAN
www.stoneyport.co.uk/artists/docs/gaughan.html or www.dickgaughan.co.uk/
Dick is the onl
y performer to have received both a Lifetime Achievement Award (BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, February 2010), and to be inducted into the Scots Trad Music Hall of Fame (December 2009)
available 2010:
September-October in Scotland or abroad
November-December UK tour ex-Scotland
available 2011:
January-April in Scotland and northern England
May-June rest of UK
June-July-August-September abroad
October-December UK
(these 2011 availabilities are 'notional' and can be varied although May-June and Nov-Dec 2011 will almost certainly see Dick touring in the UK)
2010
NOVEMBER
Fr 5 NEWCASTLE/TYNE Irish Centre (tbc)
Sa 6 GLOSSOP Labour Club
Su 7 to Th 11 availableFr 12 LONDON Kalamazoo Club
Sa 13 or Su 14 available
Mo 15 COLCHESTER Colchester Folk Club
Tu 16 ST NEOTS The Priory Centre
We 17 off Th 18 WINCHESTER Tower Arts Centre
Fr 19 FAREHAM Ashcroft Arts Centre
Sa 20 LONDON Cellar Upstairs Folk Club
Su 21 to Th 25 available
Fr 26 BATH Folk Club
Sa 27 EXETER venue tbc
Su 28 SOUTH MOLTON George Hotel
Mo 29 off
Tue 30 available
DECEMBER
Mo 1
available
Th 2 BRIDGWATER Arts Centre tbc
Fr 3 off
Sa 4 DOLGELLAU tbc
Su 5 GOWER Halfpenny FC
Mo 6 BRIDGEND venue tbc
Tu 7 to Th 9 available
Fr 10 SHEFFIELD The Boardwalk
Sa 11 HEBDEN BRIDGE Trades Club
FRIBO
www.fribo.co.uk/
available 2010/2011: generally availab
le for gigs in the UK or abroad
NB for all information contact: Ewan MacPhersonm: +44(0)7766-00 40 26, or ewan@stoneyport.com
"Skilful and deservedly rising Edinburgh-based trio featuring Norwegian singer Anne Sofie Linge Valdal’s light, high-register vocals,fiddler-singer Sarah-Jane Summers and Ewan MacPherson on guitar, mandola and vocals. They bring a new trans-North-Seaperspective and ideas to well-chosen, non-obvious trad songs and tunes, mostly Norwegian with some Scottish and originals."
(Sing Out!)
INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT
see http://guitaristbriangore.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/i
nternational-guitar-night-uk-2010-edition/ for full bios of the three players and tracks as well as links.
available 2010: fourth UK tour Fri 15 Sep to Sun 10 Oct (inc)
available 2011: fifth UK (and hopefully European this time) tour mid-Sep to mid-Oct 2011
NB: almost all the gigs on the 2010 tour below have associated educational visits in primary or secondary schools or in FE colleges
gigs and availability 2010 SEPTEMBER
Fr 17 to Mo 20 available
Tu 21 DUNDEE Marryat Hall
We 22 INVERNESS Eden Court Theatre (OneTouch)
Th 23 available
Fr 24 BRADFORD ON AVON Wiltshire Music Centre
Sa 25 COMBERTON (nr Cambridge) tbc
Su 26 available
Mo 27 FARNHAM Maltings
Tu 28 LEICESTER The Musician
We 29 NEWCASTLE UNDER LYME New Victoria Theatre
Th 30 LIVERPOOL Philharmonic tbc
OCTOBER
Fr 1 to Su 3 available
Mo 4 and Tu 5 GLASGOW (venue tbc)
We 6 ABERDEEN Lemon Tree
Th 7 BRACO (nr Stirling) tbc
Fr 8 MUSSELBURGH Brunton Theatre
Sa 9 and Su 10 available
JEANA LESLIE and SIOBHAN MILLER
http://jeanaleslie-siobhanmiller.co.uk/index.php
available 2010/2011: generally available for gigs in the UK or abroad
These talented performers combine instrumental versatility with sublime harmonies to create unaffected performances of traditional songs. Since winning the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award (2008), life has been a whirlwind. Their debut album, 'In a Bleeze', was critically acclaimedwinning them both 'Up and Coming Artist' at the MG Alba Awards and the Hancock 'Horizon Award for Best Newcomer'. Having touredsuccessfully in the UK and Europe they will release a new album in 2010.
"... the two together, whether in close-knit unison or boldly intertwined harmony, combined to authentically spine-tingling effect."
(Sue Wilson, Scotsman)
The IDEAL BAND
(NEW LINE-UP)
www.kencampbellscotland.co.uk or www.myspace.com/kencampbellscotland 
available 2010/2011: generally available for gigs in the UK or abroad
NB for all information contact: Ken Campbell
"A welcome revival of the Ideal Band, Campbell's distinctive vocals and original songs with a smattering of trad.arr, distinctive flavours of cello and rich undertone ofPaterson's piano. Warmly welcomed by all who waited so long for a follow up."
( R2 - formerly Rock and Reel magazine)
LAURA CORTESE
www.lauracortese.com/ or www.myspace.com/lauracortese
available 2011: UK tour April-May
NB for all information contact: Jim Welsh
m: +44(0)131-554 2614, or jim@stoneyport.com
"Technically brilliant yet warm-hearted fiddling sprinkled with urbane splashes of cool jazz and hot pop."
(Boston Globe January)
"Cortese's mix of modern and traditional styles creates an explosive sound that favors melody and rhythm over overtly technical performances.The momentum in songs like "Blow the Candle Out" propels the listener to a giddy plane where dancing is mandatory."
(The Denver Post)
LULO REINHARDT PROJECT
www.lulo-reinhardt-project.de/english/index.htm or
www.myspace.com/luloreinhardt
available 2010: UK tour Mon 15 Nov to Sat 4 Dec
available 2011: UK touring dates not set yet but probably in Nov-Dec
" ... the finest concert of acoustic guitar I have ever seen ... "
(Sydney Morning Herald)
NOVEMBER
Su 14 FARNHAM Maltings
Mo 15 to Th 18 available
Fr 19 EDINBURGH The Queen's Hall
Sa 20 available
Su 21 ABERDEEN The Lemon Tree tbc
Mo 22 to Th 25 available
Fr 26 GLASGOW venue tbc
Sa 27 to Mo 29 availableTu 30 YORK The National Centre For Early Music
DECEMBER
We 1 LIVERPOOL Phil tbc
Th 2 LEICESTER The Musician
Fr 3 BURY ST EDMONDS Apex Arts Centre
Sa 4 LONDON Jazz Cafe
MALINKY
www.malinky.com/
available 2010:
Fri 17 Sep to Sun 31 Oct and Wed 1 to 22 Dec, UK tour
November touring in Germany
available 2011:
UK touring dates not set yet
"One of the great traditional Scottish bands"
(www.folkworld.de)
" . . revelling in darkly atmospheric tales, sunnier intervals and skilful instrumental arrangements."
(The Herald)
SEPTEMBERFri 17 COCKERMOUTH, Kirkgate Centre
Sat 18 WHITCHURCH Leisure Centre
Sun 19 FOREST of DEAN, Forest Folk Club
Mon 20 to Thu 30 available
OCTOBER
Fri 1 ULVERSTON, South Lakes Music Promotions
Sat 2 available Sun 3 MELLOR BROOK Community Centre
Mon 4 to Thu 7 available
Fri 8 OSWESTRY Offa Events
Sat 9 to Thu 14 available
Fri 15 LYME REGIS Marine Theatre
Sat 16 BRISGWATER AC
Sun 17 SOUTHAMPTON Woolston & Bursledon Folk Club
Mon 18 available Tue 19 CANTERBURY Festival
Wed 20 to Fri 22 available Sat 23 RUNCORN Prospect
Sun 24 BRIDLIGNTON Musicport World Music Weekend
Mon 25 available Tue 26 LEIGH on SEA Hoy at Anchor Folk Club
Wed 27 YORK National Centre for Early Music
Thu 28 available
Fri 29 HEXHAM Queen's Hall Arts Centre
Sat 30 and Sun 31 available
DECEMBER
Wed 1 to Wed 8 availableThu 9 FAREHAM Ashcroft Arts Centre
Fri 10 THAMES DITTON Ram FC
Sat 11 SPROUGHTON
Sun 12 to Thu 16 available Fri 17 REETH Hall
Sat 18 SOUTH PETHERTON David Hall Arfts Centre
Sun 19 CARDIFF Millenium Centre
Mon 20 WICKHAM Forest Folk
Tue 21 DARTFORD Folk Club
Wed 22 available
MICHAEL MARRA
www.marra.me.uk/ or www.myspace.com/michaelmarra
available 2010: Mon 6 Sep to Sat 23 Oct and Fri 12 Nov onwards into Dec, UK touring
available 2011: UK touring dates not yet set - the diary is wide open!
"Having seen this under-rated singer perform twice before, three equally spell-binding performances have convinced me that he's Scotland's answer to Bob Dylan".(Aberdeen Evening Express)
SEPTEMBER
Mon 6 to Thu 30 available
OCTOBERFri 1 and Sat 2 DERBY Festival
Sun 3 to Thu 21 availableSat 23 LOSSIEMOUTH Warehouse Theatre
NOVEMBERFri 12 to Tue 16 availableWed 17 ABERDEEN Lemon Tree
Thu 18 and Fri 19 availableSat 20 MALTON (N Yorks) The Shed
Sun 21 to Tue 30 available
DECEMBERWed 1 to Sun 19 available
MIKE WHELLANS
http://mikewhellans.com or www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsj2gNYs0Dc
available 2010/2011: generally available for gigs in the UK or abroad
"Mike Whellans is the real thing, a keeper of the one-man blues band flame that burned so passionately in the work of this highlyspecialised form’s masters, including Doctor Isaiah Ross, Jesse Fuller and Whellans’ great British forerunner, Tony ‘Duster’ Bennett.
"Like all true bluesmen and women, when Whellans sings and plays, he means it. He can set a scene of darkness and foreboding as the Boogie Man lurks, playtwelve-string guitar in the grand driving blues tradition to propel his Winding Track, and sing of hugging his baby’s deserted pillow so that you really feel his loss.
"The one-man blues band is self-sufficient, of course, but as with Bennett, Whellans can call on other musicians to expand his palette and yet retain thespirit of individuality that is his major strength – even when guests such as David Bromberg have recorded their parts on different continents.
"If you’re already familiar with Whellans, you’ll know to expect blues that’s fired up and ready. But if this is your introduction, prepareto hear a talent who’s not only his own man as a singer, guitarist and ace blues harpist, he’s his own rhythm section, too."
(Rob Adams)
PIPEDOWN
http://www.pipedown.co.uk/
available 2010/2011: generally available for gigs in the UK or abroad
"Exciting debut album from Scottish and Irish four-piece acoustic band fronted by Lee Moore's bagpipes and smallpipes. A syncopated backline with attitude and lots of high octane sets of tunes from Bulgaria, Brittany and the British Isles keep the feet tapping all the way."
(fRoots)
"Crisp and clean, tight and confident, the Pipedown sound immediately shows the benefit of its contributors' experience in a set of Scottish and Irish, mostly up-tempo material. An abundance of nimble cross - rhythms and funky syncopation, underpinned by Fivey's pipe-band background, is complemented by Moore's fine melody playing and thoughtful harmonic colourations from the strings."
(**** Sue Wilson, Sunday Herald)
The POOZIES
available 2010: Wed 22 to Sat 25 September,
Scotland available 2010: Tue 5 to Mon 11 October, UK/ex-Scotland
available 2011: Mon 9 to Sat 21 May and Mon 3 to 10 Oct, UK/ex-Scotland
available 2011: Wed 14 to Sun 25 Sep, Scotland
2010
SEPTEMBER (Scotland)
Wed 22 ARISAIG
Thu 23 STRATHPEFFER Pavilion
Fri 24 PORTREE Aros Centre
Sat 25 PEEBLES Eastgate Arts Centre
OCTOBER
Tue 5 and We 6 available
Thu 7 NORWICH Arts Centre
Fri 8 LINCOLN/North Hykeham, Terry o'Toole Theatre
Sat 9 FAREHAM, Ashcroft Arts Centre
Sun 10 available
Mon 11 NETTLEBED Village Club
2011
MAY
Mon 9 to Thu 12 available
Fri 13 ANDOVER Lights tbc
Sat 14 to Thu 19 available
Fri 20 MORECAMBE Platform
Sat 21 available
SEPTEMBER (Scotland)
Wed 14 available
Thu 15 to Sun 18 COLONSAY Festival
Mon 19 to Sun 25 available
OCTOBER
Mon 3 to Sun 9 available
Mon 10 NETTLEBED Village Club
RAB NOAKES
www.go2neon.com/rab-noakes.htm
available 2010: October, UK-wide tour
available 2011: March and October, UK-wide tour "Not that you would know it from his lean rock’n’roll physique but Rab Noakes is now in his sixties. His four decades of involvement in music have been marked by two recent releases: a second album with his occasional band The Varaflames, titled Unlimited Mileage, and the release on CD for the first time of his debut album 'Do You See The Lights?' which first saw the light of day in 1970. Showcasing an exemplary taste in interpretations alongside his own songwriting, a Noakes show is a decidedly non-fusty lesson in the history of popular music."
SHARON KING and THE RECKLESS ANGELS
www.sharonkingmusic.co.uk
available 2010/2011: generally available for clubs, concerts, festivals around the UK and abroad
NB for all information contact Sharon on: (m) +44(0)7792-68 70 74, or e: sharonking01@btinternet.com
'Midway between Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies) and Laurie Anderson - simultaneously cool and deeply involved ... Life, love, dreams and aspirations are all discussed in simple but effective language.' (NetRythms). A spinner of confessional tales, Sharon King creates quirky and inventive songs. A troubadour in the truest sense, she excels as a live performer. Supported by her hypnotic, rock steady acoustic guitar, her endearingly candid, dry humour creates a relaxed intimacy with the crowd. 'Firmly in the territory of the best of Scottish contemporary music that has given us Karine Polwart, et al.' (R2)
JUNE 2010
Fr 4 Jun ARISAIG Astley Hall
JULY 2010
Sa 31 GLENUIG Glenuig Hall
AUGUST 2010
Fr 13 NEWBURGH The Steeple
Sa 21 EDINBURGH Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride's (Venue 123)
SINSHEENavailable 2010/2011: generally available for gigs in the UK or abroad
" ... an awe-inspiring performance, cut with two warm and engaging stage presences, and a clutch of
emotionally charged songs which spoke to the heart and stirred the soul.”
(Garden Sessions, Edinburgh Festival Fringe)
"Sinsheen were a perfect choice for our international visitors who were treated to the best of Scottish traditional music. The presentation was quintessentially Scottish. They sang a great variety of wonderful songs professionally presented”
(David Valentine Head of Economic Development Angus Council)
"Sinsheen were glorious. Some of my favourite songs were sung ... beautifully. "
(audience, Penicuik Folk Club)
WRIGLEY SISTERS
www.wrigleysisters.com/
available 2011: April, UK-wide tour
There's a new album being recorded which it is hoped will be out by the end of 2010
"… awesome performers."
(fRoots)
"Jennifer - rough-edged bowing, quirky tonal modulations; Hazel - jazzy, mischievous, strongly rhythmic accompaniments ... with such talented teenaged traditionalists on the scene the future looks rosy."
(Scotsman)
"Jennifer's multifaceted fiddling - ranging from coquettish twists to full-blooded expression - as well as her consistentlyhigh-quality tunesmithery. All of which Hazel matches with judicious guitar or piano accompaniments."
(The Herald)
"These staggeringly gifted twins … are quirkly inventive and daring exponents of an ageless musical tradition …
a one off (or a two-off), and absolutely exhilarating."
(Folk On Tap)
The other acts this first night are David Vernon (accordion) & Dick Lee (reeds). Dave and Dick are virtuosi from quite different musical backgrounds who share an infectious enjoyment of performing great music drawn from a wide range of genres expertly played. Expect to hear a mixture of Jewish wedding dances, South American Tango, folk tunes from the Balkans, French Musette and a whole variety of other surprises. A world-wide musical tour. (see http://www.davidvernonanddicklee.com)
