Stevie Lawrence Introduces Us To Five Artists
You Should Get To Know
Stevie has been hosting “Celtic Tapestry”, on Blues and Roots Radio, since October 2014, featuring Celtic, World, Alt-Country, Blues and when he can, the odd Heavy Metal track.
He has an extensive collection of 70’s, 80’s and 90’s Scottish and Irish albums and features many of these tracks in his programme.
Musically, Stevie was initially involved in rock bands from schooldays and was active in the Glasgow pub rock scene before turning to acoustic and roots music in the early eighties.
Working with Cruachan for 6 years playing Festivals and Folk Clubs all over Scotland, he then joined the ranks of The Iron Horse. He recorded 3 albums (including the soundtrack to BBC networked series, “The Gamekeeper”), with the band as well as touring all over the UK and Europe.
He was also a member of the most famous bagpipe band in the world , “ The Red Hot Chilli Pipers” from 2007 – 2014 again touring worldwide and receiving platinum and gold discs .
After leaving Iron Horse, Stevie carved a career as session musician and producer and has worked with a diverse range of artists.
He was awarded Producer of the Year at the Scottish New Music Awards in 2012 and has been a finalist in the UK Songwriting Competition (Instrumental Category) in 2015, 2016 and 2018.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevie.lawrence1
We asked Stevie to introduce us to five artists we should be listening to.
DAVE ARCARI
SLIDE guitarist & songwriter Dave Arcari’s alt.blues sounds owe as much to trash country, punk and rockabilly as they do pre-war Delta blues and have been showcased via ten internationally-acclaimed solo CD releases.
A former debt collector, Arcari cut his musical teeth busking on the streets of Glasgow before forming his first band Summerfield Blues which won the Alexis Korner Memorial Trophy and accolade of Scottish Blues Band of the Year at Edinburgh International Blues Festival in 1993.
He went on to form pioneering alt.blues trio Radiotones, releasing three studio albums between1998 and 2003 before embarking on a solo career.
Arcari’s latest album – Live at Memorial Hall – recorded at a venue close to his home on the eastern shores of Loch Lomond, Scotland, was released in late 2017 on Buzz Records. The double 180g coloured vinyl/digipak CD/download/streaming release is the definitive collection of Arcari’s material to date.
Since then, a series of single and EP releases during 2020’s covid lockdown summer – Stick to Your Guns, Nine Pound Hammer and The Acoustic Roots of Dave Arcari – follow 2019’s topical Brexit Blues and the previous year’s banjo-driven Whisky Trail which showcased a mellower side of Arcari’s music.
Previously, the 2016 Hellbound Train EP entered the iTunes charts at number seven, filling a gap in releases since his previous (fifth) album – Whisky in my Blood – released on Finnish record label Blue North in March 2013. As well as showcasing Arcari’s trademark National steel guitars, the release features performances on banjo, regular guitar and and cigar box which help capture the full breadth of Arcari’s song-writing and performance.
Website: https://davearcari.com/
KYLE WARREN
Four-time World Champion piper Kyle Warren has recently returned to Scotland after spending five years in Australia, teaching bagpipes at the prestigious Scotch College in Melbourne and leading the Grade 2 Australian Champions - Hawthorn Pipe Band.
Before emigrating, Kyle was a member of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, winning seventeen of twenty major titles in four years (2011-2014), which included a history making double ‘Grand Slam’. Kyle was also a full-time member of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers touring worldwide, joining the famous ‘BagRock’ band after graduating with a First Class Honours degree in Scottish Music – Piping, from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Highlights in Kyle’s piping career include releasing his debut album ‘Wanted’ and book of music ‘Tunez’, recording pipes on the Disney Pixar Oscar winning movie ‘Brave’, reaching the final of the BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the year, Pipe Major of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, winning a Danny Kyle award with ‘TNT’ at Celtic Connections, winning the Bagad Championship in Lorient with Bagad Cap Caval and teaching at the highly successful Dollar Academy prior to emigrating to Australia.
Since returning to Scotland Kyle has re-joined Field Marshal Montgomery, released his second collection of bagpipe music titled 'EAT SLEEP PIPE REPEAT', took up a bagpipe tutor post at St Columba's school and is currently working on the release of his second piping album, having signed to Scotland’s leading traditional music label, Greentrax.
Website: https://www.kylewarrenbagpipes.com/
KATEE KROSS
Katee Kross is a 24-year-old singer-songwriter from Bishopbriggs, Glasgow.
She has performed across the UK and Germany and has worked with some top names including Dougie MacLean, Barbara Dickson, Karine Polwart, James Grant, Findlay Napier, JJ Gilmour, Tony McManus, Catherine McGrath, Wildwood Kin, Ferris & Sylvester, Whispering Bob Harris and Seasick Steve.
Katee has written and released three full length albums and released her fourth album, “Show Your Hand” in February 2020, a beautiful progression of original music following a young artist as she matures as a songwriter.
Partly funded by Creative Scotland, this was accompanied with a sold out album launch at Webster’s Theatre in Glasgow.
The rest of 2021 and 2022 are shaping up to be busy for Katee with appearances confirmed across the UK and Germany.
Website: https://kateekross.com/
RAINTOWN
16 awards in 5 years, two critically acclaimed albums Glasgow-based Raintown deliver a startling take on contemporary country that is both firmly-rooted and unashamedly forward-thinking. Their intensely charismatic live performances are imbued with a spirit and energy that that make them a stand out act and one you must see.
Their live reputation has continued to grow with sold out performances and live dates that included, a successful UK tour, Country2Country at London's O2 Arena, Nashville Meets London, Party at the Palace, Belladrum Festival, supporting Deacon Blue at Montrose Music Festival and Runrig at the iconic Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London.
Raintown - Paul Bain and Claire McArthur-Bain - are more than just a love story; they fuse a passion for Country Music with their eclectic musical influences and continue the tradition of exciting new music to emerge from Glasgow. Their electrifying live performances and sensational new music have elevated this impressive duo to new heights and cemented their place as one of the UK’s leading ‘new breed’ of Country acts.
Website: https://www.raintownmusic.com/
GRAEME CLARK
Graeme grew up in Clydebank, close to Glasgow. The shipbuilding skyline to the south and Kilpatrick Hills to the north provided the boundaries for an industrial town famed for its sewing machine and ship building history.
By the time Graeme reached his teenage years, Thatchers Britain was in full flight. For Clydebank it saw a steep decline of the industries but for GC, Clydebank provided a determination to find a way out, as unemployment rose above the horizon for the local school leavers who chose to stick around.
He wasn't alone in the need to move on.
A chance encounter on the school bus in 1978 saw Graeme and Tommy Cunningham hit it off and the Wet Wet Wet storybook had its opening chapter. Over the next five years Neil Mitchell, Marti Pellow and Graeme Duffin joined the Wet Wet Wet fold.
Their common love of soul music and the rich Scottish heritage of performing live ignited a spark that was quickly setting the charts on fire.
Just like the sewing machines and the ships Wet Wet Wet were to be seen and listened to by millions all over the world
Website: https://www.graemeclark.co.uk/
More artists from around the world you should get to know
David Dee Moore introduces five artists from Ireland
Francesca Fabris introduces five artists from Italy
Peter Neri introduces five instrumental guitarists
Craig Mills introduces five artists
David Chamberlain introduces five artists from Wales
Stu Vincent introduces five bluegrass artists
Paul Long introduces five blues & roots artists
Ken Stearns introduces five artists from the USA
Anne Connor introduces five artists from Canada
Rick Stuart introduces five artists from England
Ken Wallis introduces five blues artists from Canada
Nathan Seeckts introduces five artists from Australia
Ian Freedman introduces five folk artists
Calum Macdonald introduces five artists