Michael Head & Gerry Love at Strathaven Hotel

The power of music is more important than ever in this crazy world we live in. I feel fortunate to have enjoyed two nights in a row listening to Michael Head & Gerry Love singing songs of escapism, love, life & dreams. 

Douglas MacIntyre's FRETS Concerts have blossomed over the last couple of years, bringing songwriters out to his charming hometown of Strathaven, deep in the Lanarkshire countryside. Strathaven is a lovely town, but it's also very hard to get to via public transport. So people have to make a little bit of extra effort to get there. I think that adds to the sense of occasion. Along with the fact that the venue is a gorgeous country hotel. And also it brings a little sense of escapism ... from the norm ... from reality. We all need that right now!

Michael Head was once memorably described by the NME as being 'a lost genius and among the most gifted songwriters of his generation.' If Head was lost for a while, he has been found again. Dear Scott, his most recent album, may well be my album of 2022. Every time he tours he seems to increase the size of his audience. Word of mouth is getting around. It will be interesting to see what venue he plays next in Glasgow after selling out Saint Lukes.

On Friday night I arrived just in time for the end of The Kingfishers first song. Douglas MacIntyre seems to be in almost as many bands as Stu Kidd, so it's almost inevitable that the two of them are now in one together. The duo chose to play a set of Buffalo Springfield covers and they played them beautifully; 3 Stephen Stills songs and 3 Neil Young songs. Mr Soul and Bluebird were real highlights and I was reminded what an incredible song For What It's Worth Is. MacIntyre & Kidd sang and played with ease. I really enjoyed their set.

Support on Saturday night was via Jim McCulloch who has played with many bands through the years, as well as releasing under his own name and under the Green Peppers. Jim played a short set that included a song from Isobel Campbell's excellent Ballad of the Broken Seas. Jim plays throughout the album, but contributed one of his own songs, the gorgeous instrumental It's Hard To Kill A Bad Thing. Jim added some vocals and it sounded beautiful. Opening song Chorus Of Lists was a fast flowing melodic gem and closing When I Mean What I Say received a very warm response.

It's been almost 3-years since I last saw Gerry Love when he played a Lightships show as part of The Great Western.  Oh how I've missed his voice and songs. This weekend, Gerry was only backed by Noel O'Donnell on guitar & harmonies, with the addition of a laptop that played a low keyboard drone to back the songs.

Ah the songs! 

Gerry Love inspires devotion and he received a huge welcome as he came on to the stage each night, between songs and he received a standing ovation from most of the crowd.

The setlist varied slightly across both nights. I bumped into Noel in the bar before the second show and he told me Gerry appreciated that a few people were coming both nights. 

From memory (I never take notes when reviewing!) Gerry played Star Sign and Ain't That Enough on the Friday night, but not on the Saturday. Hearts melted. Gerry & Noel harmonised beautifully. Hearing the songs stripped back made me appreciate them even more.

Sweetness In Her Spark was absolutely sublime. Love on tip top romantic form. Take The Long Way Round was played both nights and I have to admit I got a little emotional hearing it.

Pull the subway to the station

For that golden light sensation

Gerry played a new song that sounded as perfectly formed as his long loved classics. It flows superbly and his voice is sounding better than ever. I spoke briefly with Gerry afterwards and he is looking really fit and well. 

Sometimes the world it spins it round

And I can't see it through

Sometimes I need to close my eyes

When I look for you

Someone posted a video of this song on the Teenage Fanclub Fanclub Facebook Group and someone commented I'd listen to this boy till empires crumbled. He spoke for everyone.

On Saturday Gerry played a cool cover by a New York street artist. Do Your Thing by Moondog. It's well worth checking out. He also played the gorgeous Silver & Gold from his Lightships album.

Closing with Sparky's Dream on Saturday, Gerry Love reminded everyone in the audience of his treasure trove of songs that can simultaneously tug on heart strings and make you punch the air in delight.

Lets hope there is news about a Lightships or release under his own name very soon. 

On to Michael Head who has been winning hearts through his songs since the mid-80's with The Pale Fountains, then with Shack and now under his own name with his Red Elastic Band.

A sizeable group of scousers had followed their Pied Piper up to Scotland and I have to give them a very special mention as they generated a fantastic atmosphere.

Head was quick to acknowledge his appreciation of the crowd, venue and everyone at FRETS on both nights. He seemed to be delighted to be playing in such a lovely setting. On Friday Michael said he'd mostly be playing songs from his Dear Scott album and that they could be played as a 2-piece, 5-piece or 18-piece. And then he got started!

What an absolute treat to watch this guy up close and personal! Backed by his band mate Nate on 12-string or acoustic, Head played his acoustic super tenderly at times, before absolutely battering it at others. And he never re-tuned once!

Broken Beauty (written with his daughter) is a delightful song. Head's voice is so dreamy, so naturally melodic. Kismet (lead single from Dear Scott) has a chorus that rises and falls beautifully. 

I mentioned the sizeable scouse contingent that were up for Friday's show. They came into their own (along with the rest of the crowd) when Head played Meant To Be from Shack's Here's Tom With The Weather album, singing the horn section with real gusto. It was incredible, Michael and Nate looked at each other as they jammed the furious ending. The crowd sang on and so they started playing again. Check it out on Twitter HERE A real spine tingling and heart warming moment.

Head also played the sublime As Long As I've Got You and Byrds Turn To Stone from that album. Majestic examples of his songwriting skills.

Further evidence of his genius was delivered in the form of Comedy from Shack's H.M.S. Fable album. The way Head (and a large section of the crowd) sang the line when you cry it pulls me through was as soulful as I have ever seen or heard.

On the Saturday night Michael also got his sister up to sing the Shack song Daniella. What a voice! It was a beautiful moment.

Just to go back to Head's guitar playing. I was spellbound by the way he could be playing furious rhythm one moment and then gently plucking a few strings the next. The way he arranges his songs is stunning. That comes across on record, but to see him play in this stripped back form really highlighted how clever he is, not only with his lyrics, storytelling and melodies, but with the arrangements.

It was a genuine pleasure to be at these two shows. I hope that it's not too long before they are both playing in or around Glasgow again. And hopefully Gerry starts recording some new songs soon.

Grant, Blake & Butler at Strathaven Hotel

When FRETS announced that there would be a follow up to the Grant, Blake & Butler Celtic Connections shows in their hometown of Strathaven I immediately snapped up a couple of tickets. Their Saint Lukes show at the end of January left me with a warm afterglow for a couple of weeks.

Three brilliant songwriters clearly enjoying getting together, learning (and appreciating) each others songs and having fun playing them.

My friend Christina bagged the one and only handwritten setlist

James Grant kindly arranged to get it signed for her

The setlist was largely the same as January, a cover of The Monkees Me and Magdalena, written by Norman's friend Ben Gibbard, was a welcome addition. A really beautiful song from the last Monkees album.

Bernard talked of only discovering the song at 10pm the night before after Norman suggested playing it. He played it a few times in a row and sent it to his wife and friends, highlighting that if this show wasn't taking place then he wouldn't have discovered it.

In a similar way I wouldn't have discovered the songs by James Grant. His humour, songs and voice across the two shows I attended was incredible. Really strong and soulful.

Check State of Art from James first band Friends Again. CLICK HERE 

I need to check if Grant has recorded it in a similar way to the stripped back soulful version he played last night. Grant's voice was effortlessly rich and deep all night long. Winter was probably my favourite song that he performed.

If you're the only star, in countless constellations

Won't you shine on the debris of my situation

Winter

Shine on, shine on

In the beauty of a storm, I wither

I wither

And as for humour - his chat surrounding alpacas and misty maidens was hilarious.

Norman, joined in the fun, telling a tale about the height of each member of The Beatles and the height of his band mates in Teenage Fanclub. They were officially bigger than The Beatles!

The tale of writing I Don't Want Control Of You following the birth of his daughter is one that led to me finding deeper meaning in the song. Particularly when I became a Dad. It's such a beautiful song. And Norman's voice is ageing like a fine wine.

Every day I look in a different face

The feelings getting stronger with every embrace

I don't want a world of pain

Staring at every tear

Don't want this world to stay the same

Grow with every year

Everything Flows with Bernard going for it on his beautiful semi acoustic was a delight. Afterwards Butler said he could almost see Raymond looking over him as he played. Norman expressed his admiration at his friends playing. Bernard then let it slip that Norman had played him a new Teenage Fanclub song in the car last night after Blake had picked him up - promising news!

Ah yes, Bernard Butler. It's been a genuine pleasure to witness him playing guitar up close in such an intimate setting on a couple of occasions. He feels everything, rarely looking at the neck of his guitar. And the way he improvised on some of Grant and Blake's songs was joyful to watch.

Butler's opening choice of Souvenir was backed by a sublime performance, his reading of The Wild Ones by Suede was gorgeous - slowed down and soulful. His voice is ageing well. I can understand why he has recently released his debut album with newly recorded vocals.

And of course Yes got a suitably rapturous response on stage and off. Blake introduced it as a f**king incredible song. And it is. Again, I loved Bernard's stripped back reading of the song. Slow, sublime, soulful and spine tingling. I'd love to hear the trio record an EP or mini-album, each choosing a couple of their songs. 

Ending with a really urgent take on Neil Young's Cinnamon Girl, Grant, Blake & Butler left to a deserved standing ovation. An excellent night.

Tim Burgess at FRETS Strathaven Hotel

Pre-lockdown, I really enjoyed heading through to Strathaven Hotel for an intimate performance by Norman Blake and Euros Childs. Jeez, almost 2-years ago! 

The gig was one of the first to be put on by Douglas MacIntyre of FRETS Creative, also of the band Port Sulphur and Creeping Bent record label. A man with many strings to his bow.

You can read or hear about all of them in an interview and podcast that Douglas has previously helped me out with.

Douglas MacIntyre interview

Douglas MacIntyre podcast

Strathaven is a lovely little town and the hotel is stunning. I can highly recommend their pints of Moretti - beautifully chilled and refreshing! I couldn't wait to get back over for another show. Rightly or wrongly, I hadn't quite felt confident enough to go to The Bluebells back at the start of September, but now the plaster is well and truly ripped off and I am thoroughly enjoying being back at gigs. 

Friday night was my 6th in 2-months. Not bad going for someone in their mid-40's with 2 kids. I'd be quite happy to continue the 3 per month ratio!

Tim Burgess, Mark Collins, David Scott, Stuart Kidd & Duglas T Stewart

I was particularly looking forward to Tim Burgess, Norman Blake and Duglas T Stewart playing together. 3 singer-songwriters and band leaders that I have followed and admired for 30-years.

Sadly, as a stark reminder that the pandemic isn't over, Norman had to pull out of the show after testing positive. Duglas kindly updated us to say that Norman is doing well and on the mend.

The FRETS shows do start early and unfortunately we missed the first BMX Bandits song - Duglas with his friends David Scott and Stuart Kidd. But we were in luck, there were a few seats in the 2nd row, so we settled in for the rest of a lovely soulful set.

Duglas was his warm, charming and passionate self. Dedicating the song Jean by Rod McKuan to his late Mum, telling us of how his Dad used to sing it across the kitchen table to the love of his life. 

Duglas spoke about how much this song means to him in a podcast we recorded way back in 2016 that you can check here Other highlights included A Missing Front Tooth from the recently released My Chain album was a melodic delight, Foggy from the Bee Stings album was beautiful and a pleasant surprise.

After a short interval, David Scott was back on with Stuart Kidd to perform as The Pearlfishers. I have to confess to not being incredibly knowledgeable about their back catalogue. Highlights were a couple of songs from their 2007 album Up With The Larks. Guitars and voices entwined, beautiful harmonies and melodies.

Just after 9pm Tim Burgess walked from a side door and up on to the stage. Wearing a long overcoat, plain white t-shirt, faded jeans and classic Reeboks, Tim picked up his guitar and took a seat to a huge ovation.

Highlighting that this was his first ever solo acoustic show, Tim did seem as nervous as he said he was, however he still had the confidence to begin with a brand new song called Here Comes The Weekend. Beautifully melodic, telling the tale of a romance across the seas involving calls and messages, it sounded super cool. 

Watching Tim playing acoustic up close was a real treat. His songs were stripped right back, highlighting how strong his vocal melodies and song structures are. The Charlatans Trouble Understanding got an early outing alongside solo material from 2020 releases. A handful of songs from I Love The New Sky and the beautiful Yours To Be from the Ascent of the Ascended EP. The latter has become a real favourite of mine and I really appreciated seeing and hearing Tim playing it in this way.

I thought I liked you, but I love you

That's how things can go

I may seem distant, but I heard you

Playing on the radio

Tim then shouted for his friend and band mate Mark Collins to come on stage to a large cheer. Mark looking super cool in desert boots, jeans, mod jacket and haircut. 

After playing Different Days and Emilie, Stuart Kidd came back on stage for the 3rd time to add harmonies and percussion on a trio of Charlatans classics. Hearing The Only One I Know stripped back to the bones was remarkable, the way Mark and Stuart played/jammed it was brilliant. The crowd sang along heartily. Then .... we had Then. Another song I didn't anticipate hearing in acoustic form. And it worked.

Photo by Ross Sinclair

North Country Boy was a delight, the melody changed to suit. Tim didn't play Doors of Then or White when I saw him recently at King Tuts, so it was fantastic to hear them.

The laid back friendly nature of FRETS and the evening was highlighted and underlined when Duglas and Davie came back on to the stage to play BMX Bandits seminal Serious Drugs. Duglas and Tim traded verses and I think everyone's heart felt warmer afterwards. 

Tim then sent his love to Norman and said that the best way to do it would be to play a song called Norman .... Norman 3. After a false start, the makeshift band played it superbly, another real heartwarmer with everyone in the room singing the Yeah, I'm in love with you refrain.

Just to turn the feel good atmosphere up a further notch, Tim invited a young boy in the front row up to play keyboards and we were treated to a 1-minute performance of the theme from Halloween. (I think!) It was a lovely moment, as was Tim singing to Douglas' daughter. From our position across the aisle we could see just what it meant to her.

There was more to come. Impossible brought a half dozen people waltzing down the aisle, singing a-long and punching the air, causing smiles in the crowd and onstage. Here Comes A Soul Saver and Just When You're Thinking Things Over caused a few more people to get up and dance at the end. 

Afterwards it was so good to speak to friends I haven't seen for a while. Everyone was basking in the warmth generated by the show.

It's so good to see Tim so busy and buzzing with his solo album and with The Charlatans recent A Head Full Of Ideas boxset/best of. He has the best of both worlds - small, laid back and intimate shows in King Tuts and the Strathaven Hotel and then back in Glasgow in December at the Academy.

Check the FRETS website for future gigs and sign up to their newsletter.

Podcast with Port Sulphur & Ross Sinclair

 

Episode 5 with Douglas MacIntyre (Port Sulphur) & Professor Ross Sinclair

My friend Stephen from Into Creative is currently raising funds and awareness for Tiny Changes, the charity set up in memory and celebration of Scott Hutchison.

Stephen is asking bands and artists to record a cover version of a song that is personal to them. In addition, a visual artist is then challenged to create an accompanying film.

I was keen to help promote Stephen's project and he very kindly arrange for me to chat with Douglas MacIntyre (Port Sulphur, the Creeping Bent Organisation record label and FRETS Creative) and Professor Ross Sinclair from Glasgow School of Art and formerly of The Soup Dragons.

We discussed Port Sulphur's cover of Josef K's It's Kinda Funny with Ross' accompanying film, punk and post punk, the importance of Joy Division, going to punk gigs at 11 and 13, Postcard Records, the FRETS shows Douglas is putting on, Ross' forthcoming album on Last Night From Glasgow that is around 20-years in the making, crowdfunding and patreon models for record labels and the importance of doing things your way.

Download It's Kinda Funny from Bandcamp. All collaborations are available and more will be added. 

Make a donation to the project for Tiny Changes

Check the podcast on Spotify or via my podcast website (where there are links to other platforms)

And check the beautiful cover version and Ross' film below / HERE

Interview - Douglas MacIntyre - FRETS

In my 5th January blog on things I'm looking forward to in the Scottish Music Scene in 2021, I mentioned the FRETS Creative nights in Strathaven, run by Douglas MacIntyre.

In another world, next month I'd be heading along to Strathaven Hotel to catch 3 musical heroes; Tim Burgess, Norman Blake & Duglas T Stewart playing an intimate seated show. The gig has now been rescheduled to October. Surely we'll be in a position where gigs can go ahead then?

Or will we? Now more than ever we live in an ever changing world, dealing with a pandemic that is mutating and new variants seem to spread more easily. 

What a state the country is in. What a state the world is in. In the UK we have the worst possible people in charge at the worst possible time. Johnson and his Tory cronies are ridiculously out of touch, oblivious to reality, lacking empathy, blundering from week to week.

Marcus Rashford is showing them up on a daily/weekly basis. I admire his non-political stance, he simply focuses on a problem and works to solutions. How I wish politics could be banished to have intelligent and empathetic people, blessed with common sense in charge of sorting the country out.

I hope that Scotland's size works in our favour, that we can get the virus back under control and role out the vaccine. We should be maximising our testing capacity as well. 

Excuse the sidestep into politics. Lets get back to music, lets get back to positivity, to creativity, to bringing people together for a good time.

Lets say thanks to Douglas MacIntyre who runs FRETS Creative and FRETS Concerts. Without people like Douglas, someone bursting with ideas and the skills to bring them to life, life would be a lot duller.

After all, attracting artists of the calibre mentioned above (plus more mentioned below) to Strathaven (lovely as it is) can't be that easy. It's not even that easy to get to!

But that is part of Strathaven's charm. It's a beautiful old village with cobbled streets, a stunning park, cool cafes and independent shops (when restrictions allow), set in the beautiful Lanarkshire countryside. Only 15/20 minutes from Hamilton, 35 minutes from Glasgow, but feeling much further, perhaps due to the lack of a train station, probably just because it is so wonderfully detached, whereas much of Glasgow and Lanarkshire merge into each other.

I decided to ping Douglas a few questions to learn more about FRETS, the challenges he is facing in the current climate and his plans for the future. I'd like to thank him for his answers and wish him and the FRETS team all the very best for the future. I sincerely hope to be making regular trips to Strathaven in the not too distant future. Maybe see you there?

Read on for the interview;

1.      What inspired you to start FRETS?

 I decided to start FRETS as an umbrella organisation to provide an arts outlet for South Lanarkshire. I started doing the FRETS Concerts on 4th October 2019 with Lloyd Cole being the first acoustic show. Lloyd was embarking on a world tour, accompanied with Neil Clark from the Commotions on guitar, it tickled me that Lloyd’s world tour started in Strathaven!

I also set up premises in Strathaven, FRETS Creative, along with local photographer Les Hoggan. FRETS Creative is a space for arts organisations to utilise, and a local organisation, Creative Strathaven, have set up a retail and arts workshop in the space, which has being going great. We also have a creative writing outlet, FRETS Words, which is run by my wife Katy Lironi, who was also singer with Fizzbombs / The Secret Goldfish.  

2.  How important is Strathaven as a base and location?

I was brought up in the Strathaven area, I lived in a nearby village (Glassford) until I was 20 before I moved to Glasgow in 1983. I returned to live in the Strathaven area with my family in 2002, sometimes it takes leaving somewhere to appreciate it. Strathaven does have an interesting music history, with Harry Lauder living in the village, through to Orange Juice recording the first Postcard single, Falling and Laughing, in Strathaven at Emblem Sound studio. I recorded my first single in Emblem Sound when I was 18, my group was called Article 58, our single was produced by Postcard’s Alan Horne and Malcolm Ross and released on Josef K manager Allan Campbell’s label, Rational Records.

3.      How supportive has the community been to your ideas?

 The community in Strathaven has been extremely supportive of all the strands of FRETS, which is something we are hoping to build on. We intend setting up some workshops to engage younger people in Strathaven in the arts, that is one of our primary aims for the future.

The Strathaven Hotel is a stunning venue. Were they surprised at how well your shows performed in terms of ticket sales?

The Strathaven Hotel is a fantastic venue with a great atmosphere, it is perfect for our seated acoustic concerts. When I met the owner for the first time to explain the FRETS Concerts concept, I’m not sure he totally bought into my vision!! However, after the first concert with Lloyd Cole selling out so quickly, he totally got was I was trying to do with FRETS Concerts and has been incredibly accommodating and supportive.

5.      What was the most challenging thing you experienced while trying to get up and running?

In the run up to the first concert with Lloyd Cole, it was really a learning experience for me. In recent years I’ve been in groups like The Nectarine No9, Sexual Objects, The Secret Goldfish, and my own project, Port Sulphur, so I’ve had an understanding how concerts work from an artist’s perspective. However being a promoter is a completely different discipline, and whilst I felt comfortable coming up with the vision and aesthetic of FRETS Concerts, I quickly realised I needed experienced people around me to make the shows work. Wesley Cameron came on board as production manager with David Henderson dealing with sound, both of whom are really amazing to work with.

6.      What has been your highlight so far?

We’ve only been able to do shows with Lloyd Cole, James Grant, Norman Blake and Euros Childs so far, all have been sold out. It has been fantastic working with each of them, the concerts have been great. The initial ethos and idea of FRETS Concerts was based on the early 1970s BBC2 In Concert television shows, especially Neil Young. I guess Norman and Euros was a bit special, Katy and I got married to Norman’s version of Only With You whilst our eldest son Dugald was born at home while Gorky’s albums played on a loop.

How frustrating has life been for you as a promoter over the last year? You had some incredible shows lined up?

It has been incredibly frustrating as a promoter over the past year, starting when we had to postpone The Bluebells in March 2020 days before the concert. FRETS Concerts only promotes monthly at the moment, so I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for bigger promoters.

And how difficult is it to plan future shows?

It has been incredibly difficult to plan future shows, it’s like a giant jigsaw puzzle involving artists, managers, agents, and venue availability. I take the view it is important to remain positive and optimistic, live music will return at some point and I think we’ll all appreciate it all the more when it does. 

9.      When do you think live shows will be back and what artists have you pencilled in?

We have some great shows lined up at FRETS; Tim Burgess, Norman Blake & David Scott, Duglas T.Stewart, The Bluebells, The Skinner Songbook, JJ Gilmour, Roddy Woomble, King Creosote, Robyn Hitchcock, Robert Forster, Grant-Lee Phillips, with others in the pipeline. The best way to find out about future acoustic FRETS concerts at the Strathaven Hotel is to go to www.fretscreative.com and scroll down until you come to the BLOG subscription - just leave your email address there and you’ll hear first about future FRETS concerts. We also have the following social media pages

https://www.facebook.com/fretsconcerts

https://twitter.com/FRETSCONCERTS

 Lastly, if you could book any artist for a FRETS show, who would you book and why?

It would have to be Neil Young performing two acoustic sets of my favourite albums, first Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere followed by On The Beach, both in their entirety. Other than that impossible dream, further pipe dreams would include acoustic concerts by Bill Callahan, Bobbie Gentry, Jonathan Richman, Al Green, John Cale, Edwyn Collins & Roddy Frame,… that kinda thing !!