Category: Guests

Maurice Dickson is the guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 1st April and this is most definitely not an April Fool! Belfast born Maurice is a talented musician and plays contemporary folk, blues, as well as his own material

Maurice started playing, singing and writing at fifteen, put together his first band at sixteen and then, three years later traded his engineer’s overalls for a life as a musician. His extensive travelling through Europe and North Africa means that he has soaked up many musical influences as well as gaining valuable experience as a performer. Being exposed to such a wide range of styles is reflected in his choice of repertoire which does not fit any of the usual categories. Stunning guitar skills and a unique stage presence are what come to mind when recalling a Maurice Dickson live gig. The wide travelling means he has accumulated a lot of experience and therefore knows the songs that suit his voice. Maurice also has a quirky sense of humour and freely admits to being prone to meandering song intros – must be the Irish in him!

Maurice has a number of albums to his name and his most recent CD ‘Spirits & Dreams’ is his second one recorded with Catherine Ashcroft. She plays Irish Pipes and Whistles and the CD also features a couple of Maurice’s own songs. When not touring solo, Maurice and Catherine often play as a duo.

Writing, recording and touring in Ireland, England, Scotland, Holland, Denmark and the USA keeps Maurice busy. Right now he is half-way through a UK tour and then in May he is off on tour to the USA.

Guitar players of whatever standard should be at Irvine Folk Club to hear Maurice Dickson, asking themselves ‘ How does he do that?!’ Hear this acoustic guitar master at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 1st April starting at 8pm in Vineburgh Community Centre in Caldon Road and remember it’s BYOB.

Virtuoso Fiddler Tom McConville is the very welcome guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 18th March. This is one not to miss. He is one of the leading Fiddle players of our time and it will be great to hear him again in Irvine.

Tom McConville is a performer, session musician and teacher – and is in great demand on all three fronts. His first experience of traditional singing and fiddle music was in The Globe pub in Newcastle where he was brought up. It was ‘the watering hole’ for many in the local Irish and Scottish communities on Tyneside. That explains why Tom’s repertoire although deeply rooted in his native North East, has strong Scottish and Irish influences.

Tom is a scintillating Fiddler. He has rich and warm vocals and a dry Geordie wit. The Irvine Club audience should be prepared for a rollercoaster of fast rhythmic dance tunes through to beautiful slow airs and great singing – with at all times his inimitable sense of humour and style in tow. When Tom plays at the Irvine Club, he will have just returned from a three day stint at the Costa Del Sol Folk Festival!

As well as performing solo, Tom tours with a variety of line-ups and accompanists including Guitarists David Newey & Andy Watt, Phil Murray on Acoustic Bass and Accordionists Shona Kipling & Leonard Brown – the latter plays Keyboards too. Back to Scotswood released last year is Tom’s most recent album and is described as being perfectly executed and a real pleasure to listen to.

Some years ago, because he had a continuous shoulder problem, Tom was advised to give up Fiddle playing. He heard about the Alexander Technique and has never looked back. The Alexander Technique is about gaining better freedom of movement through better health and better posture. Tom went on to take a three year course and is now a fully qualified practitioner in this technique. Musicians feature among his many clients.

Do your very best to be in the Irvine Folk Club audience on Wednesday 18th March at Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road for 8pm. It’s BYOB.

Arthur Johnstone is the special and always very welcome guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 4th March. Arthur has been playing in Irvine for a wheen of years. In 1974 Arthur was appearing at The Eglinton Arms as part of the talented band Laggan. He is a fine solo singer and it’s testament to his talent and deserved popularity that he continues to be in demand.

It’s Arthur’s fine voice, warm charisma plus large doses of humanity and humour that remain his strengths. When bringing Arthur to mind, people tend to recall him with arms folded, his voice filling the room with songs like The Tinkerman’s Daughter, Bandiera Rosa, Freedom Come All Ye, Your Daughters and Your Sons…. the list goes on.

Glasgow’s Star Folk Club was founded by Arthur and for many years he was the organiser. He has also worked in the theatre. He did the music in the National Theatre of Scotland’s production Men Should Weep by Ena Lamont Stewart. A play about being born into poverty, Arthur’s singing punctuated each scene and significantly contributed to an acclaimed production.

Arthur appeared at the recent Celtic Connections. The title of the gig was Arthur Johnstone and Friends and there was no shortage of Friends – on stage or in the audience! He is admired by many and has inspired many of today’s current generation. When Arthur appeared last at the Irvine Club he was with The Stars Band. The man is in much demand.

Get along to Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 4th March and enjoy Arthur Johnstone. Irvine Folk Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road. The Club starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.

The AGM of Irvine Folk Club will be held in Vineburgh Community Centre on March 11th at 7.30pm.
All members welcome.

Kieran Halpin

Kieran Halpin is the special guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 18th February and that puts it in the ‘unmissable’ category. The man with the passionate, gravelly voice is back.

A career that started in 1974, with 20 albums to his name, thousands of gigs played at venues all over the world, a prolific songwriter of great quality are the key musical facts about Mr Halpin. What the facts don’t tell you is his continuing search for new approaches to present his songs nor does it describe the powerful nature of a live Kieran Halpin performance. This unassuming man has an easy stage presence and a wry sense of humour and he connects with his audience so very well.

Kieran plays acoustic guitar, regales the audience with explanations of where each song comes from and links it all together with some very funny asides. He is a man of very, dry wit. His thought-provoking lyrics and memorable melodies can make you think, laugh or cry. Numbers like ‘Nothing to show for it all’, ‘Berlin Calling’, Closing time in Paradise’ are some of his songs that come to mind.

Kieran Halpin has played on a number of occasions at the Irvine Club. He is always invited back because he is such a unique writer and performer. Kieran is also one of the hardest working artists with upwards of 160 gigs each year with all the travelling that entails and still he finds time to write songs. His 21st album will be launched on St Valentine’s Day at the Davy Lamp in Washington and then he takes off for Germany for a long tour.

It would be a mistake to miss Kieran Halpin at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 18th February. The Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road, starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.

Finally, David Todd of Greenwood Academy won the North Ayrshire Traditional Musician of the Year award last week. The award which is competed for annually, was donated by Irvine Folk Club. David plays the Bagpipes. It was an excellent evening, hosted by Irvine Folk Club and organised by North Ayrshire Council’s Music Service. Congratulations David. It is worth adding that Irvine Burns club put up a Quaich in the name of the late Joe Caldwell for competition at the Young Trad event. As many will recall, Joe was ‘mine host’ at The Eg where Irvine Folk Club started.

This event might be of interest to club members. Tommy Sands is doing a one man show with projected graphics at Adelaide’s in Bath Street Glasgow, this Friday 30th January. Pete Heywood is doing the graphics as part of a series of events relating to the history of folk music and is working with Tommy to produce this show. You can expect all the normal elements of a Tommy Sands performance, plus some historical audio and footage including some of Tommy with Pete Seeger.

This promises to be a very special evening. Tickets are £8. Doors open at 7.30 for an 8pm start. Tickets will be available on the door or may be bought online in advance from www.trad.org.uk

The show runs from 8pm to 10pm.

Adelaide’s is a converted Church on Bath Street, close to the Kings Theatre on the corner of Pitt Street and Bath Street.

Eddie Seaman & Luc McNally

It will be a busy week at Irvine Folk Club next week when on Wednesday 4th February Eddie Seaman & Luc McNally are the Club guests and the following night Thursday 5th the North Ayrshire Young Traditional Musician of the Year takes place.
Eddie Seaman & Luc McNally are two of the five members of the young and talented band Barluath. Edinburgh born Eddie started playing the Pipes when aged 12 and now plays Whistles and Bouzouki as well. He spent his last year at school Plockton’s National Centre of Excellence in Trad Music. From there he went to study at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow and that’s where the five members of Barluath met.
Newcastle-born Luc McNally plays Guitar and Button Accordion and sings on occasion. Luc has done a lot of work at The Sage in Gateshead and was part of Kathryn Tickell’s Band Folkestra. Eddie & Luc have released an E.P. entitled Headlights. The musical talents of Eddie & Luc are to the fore in Barluath and going out as a duo is a side career for the two lads.
Wednesday 4th February at Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road is where and when to hear Eddie Seaman & Luc McNally. The Club starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.
And the next night, Thursday 5th February the annual North Ayrshire Young Trad Musician of the Year organised by the Council’s Music Service takes place. Irvine Folk Club is delighted to be hosting the 2015 event. Clarsach, Fiddle and Bagpipes are some of the instruments which will feature. Jack Smedley, a Fiddler with folk band Rura, will judge the competition and Alasdair Iain Patterson will accompany the youngsters. Head of North Ayrshire Council’s Music Service Mae Murray will MC the evening which starts at 7pm. And a further bonus is that admission is free! What’s not to like! Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th February at Vineburgh Community Centre for all that’s good about live music.

Irvine Folk Club is delighted that the special guest at their Burns Night on Wednesday 21st January is the extremely talented Fiddler Alistair McCulloch.
From Ayr, Alistair is very much sought after both as a performer and a tutor. His great versatility and breadth of repertoire alongside a huge sense of fun have kept him at the forefront of the tradition for almost 20 years.
Alistair learned classical violin at school while at home he was playing traditional music. Having studied music at University, his busy diary has taken him to 20 countries including China, Canada, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, USA and throughout Europe. As well as his solo gigs, he has his own trio – the other two members being Aaron Jones of Old Blind Dogs and ex-Capercaillie man Marc Duff. Alistair also plays with The Ian Cathcart Scottish Dance Band and Coila.
His skill as a tutor of the fiddle are much in demand. Last year he took part in the Swannanoa Gathering in North Carolina and the Southern Hemisphere International School of Scottish Fiddle in New Zealand. However, Alistair also offers lessons on Skype!
This month Alistair has the exciting privilege of playing the Gregg violin which was played by Robert Burns. This arrangement comes courtesy of the National Trust for Scotland. It will therefore be great that Irvine Folk Club can bask in the reflected glory of the man who will play the very fiddle played by the Bard himself – in Irvine in the Burns season! Serendipity indeed.
It is shaping up to be a very enjoyable night of Burns music and song at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 21st January in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road. The Club starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.

DAVE ANDERSON BIG BAND in Concert Mure Church

On Friday 16th January, a 16- piece Big Band will be playing in concert at The Mure Church in Irvine’s West Road and it’s for everyone who enjoys the Big Band sound.
The Mure will be playing host to The Dave Anderson Big Band and the evening starts at 7.30pm. The concert is organised by the Church’s Entertainments Committee and is one of a series of such events run not to raise funds but simply to bring people together.
Dave Anderson Big Band members come from all over Ayrshire. A couple of the band are professional musicians but the majority are semi-professional or enthusiastic amateurs! The Band comprises five saxophones, four trumpets, four trombones, piano, bass and drums. The vocalist on the 16th January will be John Griffin.
The Band was established some 14 years ago by Dave Anderson and their repertoire includes Count Basie, Glen Miller and Duke Ellington plus some more contemporary arrangements for big bands. The Band plays for concerts and dances including for the last several years, a Strictly Sunday dance event at the annual Live@Troon festival.
Tickets to hear The Dave Anderson Big Band are priced £6 and they are available from Joyce Hodge on 551047 or you can pay at the door. The ticket includes Tea & Shortbread.
If you like Big Band music or maybe learning a brass instrument or simply just like live music, be in the audience on Friday 16th January at The Mure Church to hear The Dave Anderson Big Band.

Mike Vass & Innes Watson
New year, new calendar of artists at Irvine Folk Club and first up on Wednesday 7th January is Mike Vass & Innes Watson. Mike has played the Irvine Club before with his twin sister Ali and so it will be good to welcome him back.
From Nairn, Mike is an accomplished and highly regarded musician and composer. He plays fiddle, tenor guitar and mandolin and began learning the fiddle at school. From there he was taught by renowned fiddler Ian Hardie of Jock Tamson’s Bairns. That probably explains why Mike has two Mod Gold Medals to his name and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.
For 10 years, Mike and twin Ali played as a duo. Now they both feature as members of the international ensemble Fiddle Rendezvous which includes the fabulous Bruce Molsky and Gerry O’Connor. In addition to that, Mike plays gigs as part of Blazin Fiddles and Malinky and also alongside Fiona Hunter. Sometimes he plays solo and on occasion with guitarist Innes Watson who will be at the Irvine Club. Mike also does workshops up and down the country.
In May 2014, Mike replicated a voyage off the West Coast of Scotland undertaken by Neil Gunn in 1937. Mike came up with the idea whilst recovering in hospital from a life-threatening condition and decided to follow Gunn’s route with the aim of finding inspiration for his own composing. He was joined on his voyage by various guest musicians including Innes Watson. The resulting album ‘In the wake of Neil Gunn’ has met with deserved acclaim.
Wednesday 7th January in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road is where to hear Mike Vass & Innes Watson. The club starts at 8pm and it’s still BYOB – but don’t forget the excellent café.