KICS 2007 Music: Program Notes
|
Your expert MC
on the Colzium Stage:
Micky Saad of Fugees United
juggles mike, pen and programme whilst making a few hasty changes to
the running order !!
|
 |
Enthusiastic
audiences seen from the Colzium Stage defy the squally weather.
|
 |
Acutones
At a recent Barrowlands gig,
Emergenza finalists Alex, Chris, Angus, Euan and Brian were totally
in control…the set shimmied effortlessly from catchy pop through
funk to jazz-rock, with some great audience participation. “Just
dance everybody ..clap your hands” could easily become the next
Scottish street anthem and “That’s Just Me” hits the sweet spot
everytime you hear it. Listen out for some of the slickest lyrics,
electrifying instrumentals and the catchiest riffs you are likely to
hear outside of Glastonbury or T in the Park - which is where this
fine young band is undoubtedly heading. Shades of Simply Red? You
decide! But listening to these musicians makes me want to shout out
loud and curl up inside at the same time…and that can’t be so bad.
RK
http://www.acutones.com/
|
 |
|
Blueflint are the duelling banjos of
Deborah Arnott and Clare-Louise Neilson.
Blueflint's material is heavily
influenced by Bluegrass and American Old-time music and they subtly
intertwine the three-finger picking and clawhammer styles of banjo
playing to accompany smooth vocals and harmonies in songs and
ballads of love, loss and revenge.
The duo formed in 2003 and since then
have toured extensively. Radio appearances have included a live set
on Archie Fisher's 'Travelling
Folk' show on BBC Radio Scotland in
June 2006, and on Medicine Music's 'Medicine Show' via Scottish
Internet Radio. They also appeared on the Danny Kyle Open Stage as
part of the
Celtic Connections Festival
in January 2007.
|
 |
Chi Weapon
Formed in 2001, Chi Weapon started
life on the little Isle of Bute as a humble 3-piece rock band but
have since re-located to Glasgow. Individuals have came and went and
came again but the staunch ethos of the band remains. Namely the
complete disregard of rules whilst maintaining a keen but cautious
interest in them. Music then follows. Chi Weapon have performed in
most of Scotland's dirtiest venues with the odd journey down south
of the border.
Line up: Mike B - Guitar/Vocals, Ben (The
Admiral) McCulloch - Drums, Geez - Keys, Brian Branford – Bass
http://www.myspace.com/chiweapon
|
 |
David Sneddon
– appearing with
David Mullins on guitar
-
– won the first UK series of Fame Academy in 2002. David had a
UK No 1 with “Stop Living The Lie” in January 2003, and a number 3
hit with “Don’t Let Go”, in April. His debut album, Seven Years –
Ten Weeks, released in April 2003, entered the UK albums chart at
number 5.
In 2005 David co-wrote “The
Message” for UK soul artist Nate James. David had four songs picked
up by other artists worldwide in 2006. In 2007 David began writing
with the British singer/ songwriter Julian Perretta for his debut
album.
David Sneddon Fan Websites
www.myspace.com/davidsneddonfans
www.davidsneddonfansite.co.uk
also of
interest:
|
 |
Demon Drummers
KICS Taiko group was set up in 2006
and they have performed widely at festivals across Scotland. The
band are currently recruiting new members: to enquire phone Kirsty
on 01236 829850 |
 |
Federation Of The Disco Pimp
The Federation was formed at the
start of 2005 in Glasgow. Their set is composed entirely of neck-dippin’,
gut-thumpin’ party funk with original tunes and unusual takes on
rare funk classics. Obscenely infectious and impossible not to
dance to, they’ve managed to resurrect the art of ‘dancing like
crazy to funky music’ in Glasgow and have ambitions to conquer the
world; starting in Kilsyth of course – well where else!
http://www.myspace.com/federationofthediscopimp |
 |
Gandawi
Two years ago KICs founder members
Rob and Suleman went out to northern Ghana to recruit traditional
drummers and dancers. They were hoping to perform at KIC and the G8
summit Make Poverty History rally in Edinburgh. However, there was a
wrangle over visas and they never made it. This year, with help from
the Lottery fund to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the abolition
of slavery, they are finally here, in time to also celebrate Ghana’s
50th year of independence from UK colonial rule. Feel the beat from
the heart of Africa – the original source of so much modern music
from jazz to rock – unmissable. |
 |
Indiana Gregg
Indiana Gregg certainly let us know
that she was celebrating her birthday on the 12th August, with a
couple of impromptu choruses of "Happy Birthday to Me!" She entered
the spirit of carnival, in more ways than one!
Her album Woman At Work skilfully
fuses infectious soulful pop with sweeping rock to create
out-and-out the most refreshing sound of 2007.
Born in the bible-belt of the
Midwest, Indiana Gregg’s debut album is the sound of an artist truly
coming of age, with 35 years worth of experience fuelling her
highly-polished songwriting.
Now based in Glasgow, this
mother-of-three has a maturity and authenticity that courses through
her material. From this springs a set of songs that are musically
sophisticated and lyrically worldly-wise.
www.indianagregg.com |
 |
|
Glasgow-based Indie rockers,
Invective let the music do all the talking. “Bonobo” is a spiralling
instrumental tour de force that has a mystic Moody Blues/Floyd retro
feel – perfect festival material. “Raves” starts with a growly bass
riff and builds layer upon layer of incandescent pure rock….like
Hendrix reborn.
Invective are: Bass- Matt Drums-
Adam Guitar- Liam Guitar- Tom
www.myspace.com/invectiveglasgow
|
 |
Kilsyth Thistle
The Scottish Pipe Band Association
has awarded Kilsyth Thistle Pipe Band many honours over the years.
They are held in high regard by local residents and much further
afield - truly "Kilsyth's pride". The Thistle are always interested
in training new recruits:
tel: 01236 824417
|
 |
Kinch
"Leeds' funkiest indie-pop
five-piece"
In March 2005, the band entered and
won a battle of the bands competition for young Leeds bands. After
this initial success, they beat 39 other bands to win an
all-expenses 5-day trip to play a music festival and nightclub
venues in France.
Saxophonist Dan White became a
permanent member in July 2005, cementing the band's sound. In 18
months the band went from strength-to-strength, notching up over 50
gigs, winning over fans from Nottingham to Northumberland and
playing festivals in Ireland and France.
www.kinchmusic.co.uk
|
 |
Oswald
XFM winning, falsetto-fuelled Indie
rock crusaders were Emergenza finalists 2005 @ Carling Academy.
Their 2006 releases “Home” and “Tumbing Down” both reached No 1 in
the US musicgram charts. Their album “Idealist” was released in 2006
and incorporates live perfomance material. Tom on guitar, Ants on
Bass, Charlos on drums. Oh, and did we forget to say they sound
brilliant!
www.oswaldtheband.com
|
 |
Overcry
Veterans of KIC 2006, we simply had
to invite this hard-rocking Croy band back by popular demand.
Listening to their recent work, they have matured and developed
hugely over the past year – the wild boys of rock have become the
(slightly!) quieter men of 2007 and the music, timing and lyrics are
now tinged with greater subtlety as in the superb teen-angst
slow-paced anthem of “Mortigi Tempo” or the much faster musical
funfair ride thrills of “Black Market”. There’s some sadness there,
maybe even some anger, but the mood has also become more lyrical,
the humour still returns to blow the blues away and the wide ranging
use of electronic effects has increased the variety and intensity of
musical expression. One to watch.
myspace.com/overcry |
|
Peatbog Faeries
The Peatbog Faeries have played to
audiences all over the world. Recent highlights have been tours and
concerts in Australia, Borneo and America as well as prominent
festivals and gigs around the UK and Europe. 2005 and 2006 saw the
band promoting their latest album,"Croftwork" with some extensive
touring, including festivals such as Glastonbury, Cambridge and
Beautiful Days. In November 2005, the band won the award for 'Best
Live Act' at the prestigious Scots Trad Music Awards.
Scotsman: “The escalating party
momentum of the last half hour was akin to a Celtic rave, eliciting
waves of euphoria from the crowd and uniting the tribes in dance”.
http://www.peatbogfaeries.com/
|
 |
|
Samantha Seth
No stranger to KIC,
but a late addition to the KICS 2007 line up, Samantha managed to
pack in two spectacular and powerful sets on the acoustic and
Colzium stages, to the delight of her many fans! Love the new
guitar, Samantha! |
 |
Stewart Traquair
Glasgow based singer/songwriter
Stewart Traquair was born in Pretoria, South Africa.
Back in Glasgow, Scotland released 3
e.p’s: Levelled – 2002, The Three Sides of Perception – 2004 and
Hello, Good Times Goodbye – 2005. After a spell in New Zealand, he
returned to Glasgow in 2006 where he recorded his first full length
record – ‘Waiting for the Day to Begin’ with Traquair in a mellow
mood. Newly released, ‘The Purpose of the Hopelessly Immoral’ finds
Traquair back to the darker side of thinking.
Highly recommended.
www.stewarttraquair.co.uk
|
|
The Canny Clamjaphries Ceilidh Band
In Oct 2006, a new gathering of
musicians formed in Kilsyth, performing a selection of melodies
spanning from traditional ceilidh dance tunes to haunting laments
and improvisations based on traditional themes. As the name
suggests, they are a gathering of the not worthless. Aiming to
produce a unique blend of Scottish tradition with up to date
creations incorporating traditional instruments with more
contemporary in both music and songs.
|
 |
The Mode
In two busy years the Mode have
picked up a strong fanbase in Scotland. Their supporters include a
string of DJs from Xfm Scotland. Susan Hay and Al Lorraine can
regularly be spotted at their gigs, while Fraser Thomson of
music:response can regularly be seen participating in the infamous
Mode Dance-offs at their after-parties. As a band championed by
Scotland's new music station The Mode went on to become Xposure band
of the week
on influential DJ Jim Gellatly's show.
Michael Spence - Bass/Backing
Vocals Jimmy McNealy - Lead guitar/Vocals- Stevie Dunn - Lead
vocals/Rythm guitar- Richie McHugh – drums
www.myspace.com/tthemode |
 |
Rhythm Wave
Rhythm Wave are an electrifying
percussion band mixing beats from Brazil with Rap and various other
Afro-latin beats. The band is a wave of Brazilian energy & will be
playing with Eletricat Brazilian dancers.
The performance group is made up of music students and graduates
from Perth College. Band founder and leader Ronnie Goodman (aka
Festiva) is a musician, composer and also teacher at Perth College.
Rhythm Wave have performed all around the UK and Europe, and this
year performed at their NINTH Glastonbury Festival.
Contact Ronnie Goodman on Mob.07974579927
www.myspace.com/rhythmwave
|
 |
Tramps And Horses
There's a heartbeat in Manchester
that keeps the place alive. It is more than a band, more than a
statement, more than politics. It is spiritual. It's main scribes
and voices are Vince and Dee. Its pulse is Keith and Neil. Its
flamboyance and embellishment is Pete. Its charm and elegance from
Anna and Vanessa. Try to pigeon hole their music and you'll waste
precious time. Just listen, then feel, then become a part of.
www.myspace.com/trampsandhorses
|
 |
Wingin’ It
Wingin' It! are an exciting new duo
performing a wide range of virtuoso guitar and mandolin styles.
Whether it's Django-style jazz, rip-roaring bluegrass (yee..haw!) or
brazilian craziness, they pretty much try and cover everything!
They are currently writing and recording orginal pieces (soon to be
available to listen to on MySpace).
You can see them performing all over Scotland. They have been known
to start songs that....um.....they don't really know! Hence the name
'Wingin' It!'. The results can sometimes be magical, but are always
entertaining!!
www.myspace.com/wungit
|
 |
BANDS
@
KIC 2007
scotlandinternet.com