Ricky Ross and friends at FRETS

Ricky Ross & friends
FRETS at the Strathaven Hotel in aid of Simon Community Scotland

On Saturday 10th May I got to mix my passion for charity with my deep rooted love of music as Ricky Ross, alongside his great friends Gregor Philp from Deacon Blue and David Scott from The Pearlfishers, played an intimate show in the wonderful setting of the Strathaven Hotel.

Ricky and his wife Lorraine are fantastic supporters of Simon Community Scotland, the charity I work for, and have visited a number of our services across Glasgow over the years. 

Simon Community Scotland provide safe places, support and hope to hundreds of people experiencing homelessness every single week. We do this through our street teams, our hubs, 24-hour helplines, supported accommodation services, outreach support and our own SCS Homes. In 2024, we helped over 10,000 people.

The need for our support and experience is increasing every year. Ricky was determined to do something to help and very kindly, with the help of his friend Douglas MacIntyre who runs the excellent FRETS nights in Strathaven, arranged to play a show.

It was a scorching day and the Strathaven Hotel was looking absolutely stunning under the blue skies, with dozens of people basking in the beautiful beer garden when I arrived. 

Inside, the FRETS team had everything set up perfectly, soundcheck had gone well, and there was time to chat with Wesley who arranges production and Steve who has been doing sound for Ricky since the mid-80's. Two great guys.

Showtime came around quickly. Guests were super friendly and extremely generous, buying strips of raffle tickets for some wonderful prizes that included guests passes and a meet and greet with Deacon Blue at one of their Hydro shows this October.

Ricky came onstage at 8.30pm sharp, settled down at his piano and was straight into it. What a voice! Beautifully rich and soulful. Meanwhile, his fingers effortlessly danced across the piano. It was a real treat to sit mere feet from a master at work.

I've found myself going through Ricky's extensive back catalogue in the days since the show. Here are a few of my favourite moments from the set.

• The opening few songs with Ricky at his piano. Cavalry was lovely.
• Back Here In Beano Land - the mix of humour and grim reality - all things are real
• Ricky, Gregor and David all on seats with guitars playing the trilogy of Walls, She Gets Me Inside and Pale Rider. The harmonies on the latter were just gorgeous.
• A sublime stripped back Wages Day. 
• The story behind the song and the performance of London Comes Alive.
• Good Evening Philadelphia was possibly my favourite song of the night. Taken from Ricky's 1996 album What You Are, the trio played it with real zip and relish. A 3 chord gem, I immediately fell for the tumbling melody and the hook. I found out, I realise, I need you, More than you need me
• The closing cover of Magnetic Fields The Book Of Love

Thanks to everyone who made Saturday night a very special one. Over £8,000 was raised to help Simon Community Scotland provide safe places, support and hope for people experiencing homelessness.

My Girl Midge by BMX Bandits

BMX Bandits return with their first release since the brilliant In Space album, released in 2012 and reviewed in a previous blog HERE. 

My Girl Midge is released today as a FREE DOWNLOAD via Elefant Records. 

Duglas T Stewart, singer, songwriter and leader of the BMX Bandits explains; 'My Girl Midge was recorded by David Scott and me on August 27th on David's home studio. It is a song about loss and heartbreak but I wanted it to be more than just another sad song. I wanted the song to be filled with the light of love and for it not to be maudlin. There are too many maudlin, self pitying songs out there and often I can't hear very much love in them. There is sadness in this song but I hope people can have a little dance to it or at least a smile.'

Duglas continued; 'I really hope people will like it. If it doesn't grab you the first time please put it on again and give it another chance and I'm sure you will be firm friends in no time. This is an important track for me.'

Duglas added; 'I'd like to thank David for all his t.l.c. for the song (and for me), for his generosity in sharing his amazing talents and for helping find the last missing piece of the jigsaw. I'd also thank all the other Bandits past and present for helping make my musical dreams come true. …and to everyone who has supported and connected with BMX Bandits music thank you.'

The addition of David Scott to the band has been welcomed by fans of the band. Scott is a supremely talented producer, musician and songwriter (The Pearlfishers) in his own right and is someone who  understands the sounds that Duglas wants to achieve with his own songs.

It is clear why Duglas is so keen to get My Girl Midge out into the world. The lyrics and vocal performance are evidence that this is an important (and personal) song. You can hear and feel the love and hurt in it. 

Melancholic keys contrast with the upbeat percussion and handclaps; Stewart's vocals are straight from the heart, stretched (in the right way), yet considered, soulful and melodic. 

The home recording allows David Scott to display his skills while Stewart's songwriting is clever and heartfelt; within 3-minutes we learn of a couple meeting and falling in love while both were broken or hurting from previous relationships. Sadly, things didn't work out.

Just a reminder - this song is FREE! If you know of the work of Duglas and the BMX Bandits then you'll marvel at this latest addition to his work. If you're new then this is a fine opportunity to dive in at the deep end.

My girl Midge, we met when I was broken

Didn't think it would work, but still i was hoping

She would make me feel alive again

I would see love in her eyes

And then I could grow into a whole person

But I grew to slow, oh no

Now she'll never know, what she'll never know

Oh Midge it's killing me

Our future together will never be

Oh Midge it's killing me

My girl Midge we met when she was hurting

Thought I saw something but I wasn't certain

Something buried deep inside

Thought if I found it we'd be alright

But then it didn't work out like I was hoping

My girl Midge, I lost her now I'm broken