SCOTCOUNTRY MUSIC NEWS

Bonnie Owens, who was married at different times to both Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, died Monday in Bakersfield after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer's disease. She was 76.
Her death came just four weeks after that of first husband Buck.
Laura Cantrell paid tribute to Bonnie in the song, " Queen Of The Coast" from her "Not The Tremblin' Kind".

Sharon Turley, who played her first Scottish gigs in over 10 years last weekend at the Northern Nashville Festival in Caithness, will be back here next month on the Michael English tour. Falkirk date is on May 6th, with other dates in places like Glenrothes(19th) and Glasgow(3rd).
For her Sunday night shows in Caithness, Sharon was supported by The Jacks.

English duo Speed limit play at both Forth Valley C&W clubs in early May.
On FRiday May 5th, they play at the San Quentin Club in Maddison, and the following night are at A;lloa's Prairie Star.

The Bills plus Redwing will be playing on Friday, May 12 at the Howden Park Centre, Livingston. Tickets available from the Howden Park Centre Box Office (01506 433634).
Also in May, Master Musicians from The Crooked Road bring a strong Taste of the Appalachians to Scotland.
The Master Musicians From The Crooked Road Show features twelve of the finest performers from the Blue Ridge Mountains - a region that played such a big part in keeping America's rural "folk" traditions alive.

Full schedule:
Friday, May 12: Rothes Halls, Rothes Square, Glenrothes
Sat, May 13: Birnam Institute, Station Road, Birnam, Perthshire
Sunday, May 14: St Bride’s Centre, 10 Orwell Terrace, Edinburgh
Tuesday, May 16: Greenock Arts Guild Theatre, Campbell Street, Greenock,
Thursday, May 18: Magnum Theatre, Harbourside, Irvine, Ayrshire
Friday, May 19: Traquair Hall, Traquair, by Innerleithen, Peebles-shire.
Saturday, May 20, Brookfield Village Hall, Brookfield, Renfrewshire
Sunday, May 21 - (afn) - Strachur Memorial Hall, Dunoon Road, Strachur, Argyll, Sunday, May 21 (eve): The Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, Glasgow *
Further information www.scottishbluegrass.com

Scotland's own singing detective, Brian Hughes is doing a benefit show in his home town, Dumarton at a 350 capacity theatre in aid of Childrens Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) on Saturday 3 June at the Denny Civic Theatre, Dumabrton
Tickets are a mere £5, from the Hotline on 07748 366834 or via website www.brianhughesmusic.com
Brian's new album is released that week and will showcase the new songs along with all the LoneShark favourites
He did the same kind of show two years ago and sold out raising £2200.00 on the night.

John Stewart enjoys a distinguished career as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. He joined the Kingston Trio in 1961 and spent six years with the group, then began an acclaimed solo career. Stewart has so far recorded over 40 solo albums; among his songs are The Monkees hit Daydream Believer and his own Top 10 single, Gold.
Stewart will be playing in Glenfarg at the Famous Beinn' Inn on Mon 29 & Tue 30 May.

Charges have been filed against a 28 year old Arkansas man accused of kidnapping the ex-wife of country music star Garth Brooks this week.
Quintine Cornelius Harper was charged with kidnapping for extortion, a felony, in connection with the forced kidnapping of Sandy Brooks Monday.
According to press reports, a bail bonding company were actively searching for Harper on Monday for failing to appear on a Tulsa County criminal case. Their search led them to Sandy Brooks’ residence on Keetonville Road in Rogers County, where she told bondsmen Harper was on her property.
Harper, armed with a semi-automatic pistol, approached Brooks after learning the bondsmen were attempting to capture him, and forced her to drive him off the property after he entered her vehicle, with intent to have Brooks drive to a bank and withdraw approximately $16,000 to make his bond. Just west of the Tulsa County line, Brooks stopped her vehicle and fled into a QuikTrip store on the south side of the highway

Forth Valley weather has been dreadful in the last few days, but nothing compared to Nashville & Middle Tennessee, where tornadoes, hail and storm damage have swept across the area in the last 48 hours. This was the area's worst tornado day in eight years, and the storms have already claimed 11 lives.

Gentleman George is celebrating 50 years since his first recording this year. Many of the songs that have become guideposts to his career are included on a new CD, "Heritage & Legacy". here you'll find everything from "A Rose & A Baby Routh" to "Canadian Pacific" & "Abilene", with guest apperarances from Raymond Froggatt & the whole Hamilton clan along the way.
George will be visiting the Forth Valley in May, as part of his 50th Anniversary tour. Dates include Stirling's Albert Halls on May 25th, Alloa Town Hall on the 28th, Livingston's Howden Park (29th) & Dunfermline's Carnegie Hall on the 30th/
Supporting George on these dates will be Boness based gospel singer Jimmy Scott, and Glasgow gal Audrey Kelly.

The Easter Festivals are almost upon us.
Joy Lyn White & Ronnie Prophet headline the 3rd Northern Nashville Caithness Festival in Halkirk, with Frank Jansen and Texas Renegade coming over from Holland, and The Honky Tonk Pickers from Switzerland. Irish acts are always popular in Caithness, and this year Kim Dickenson, Sharon Turley and Stephen Smyth will keep the crowd entertained. No Caithness festival is complewte without Manson Grant, The Jacks, Kate Bain & Shogun. Compere this year is the ever popular Gerry Ford.
Tickets still available by calling Danny or Cynthia on 01847 891131, or on line at www.nncmc.co.uk
Some 250 miles south, at Ingliston, the 10th Buffalo Mountain Easter Festival takes place with Canadian Lynne Taylor Donovan joining up with a vast array of Brit acts including Lazy Dog, Henry Smith, Picasso Brothers, Brian Hughes,The Duke Boys and local rockabilly boys, The Accelerators.
Tickets from Pip on 01383 732069 or www.buffalomountain.co.uk

Mant local linedancers were saddenned by the news that Lynn passed away on 14th February, following a brave battle with cancer. Together with husband David, they were the Stars & Stripes, who held many line dance classes across Fife & the Forth Valley. There is a memorial service for Lynn being held this Saturday (April 8th0 In Pathhead Church, Kirkcaldy at 1.30pm

On the 31st March the Brighton Line Dancers raised £474 for the Oncology Ward at Falkirk Royal Infirmary.The Band for the evening was Carson City.

Gentle Giant DON WILLIAMS kicks off his UK Farewell tour in Glasgow (at the Royal Concert Hall) on April 14th, and to mark the oiccasion Univeral are releasing "The Definitive Collection" CD with all his favourite hits.