May 22, 2006
OPRY LEGEND BILLY WALKER DEAD !
Grand Ole Opry legend, Billy Walker, whose hits included "Charlie's Shoes" and "Cross the Brazos at Waco," died in a wreck along Alabama interstate I-65 on Sunday morning. He was 77.
77 year old Walker, was killed along with his 61 year old wife, Bettye, and two of his band members when a van they were riding in ran off Interstate 65 south of Montgomery, Alabama and overturned.
Walker's grandson, Joshua Brooks, 21, was injured in the accident. He remains in critical condition at an Alabama hospital.
The group was on their way back to the Nashville area after performing at a show near Gulf Shores, according to Tom Bowers, manager of the Hendersonville Funeral Home.
Walker, known as "The Tall Texan" joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960 and was known as one of the show's most outgoing and personable performers.
Billy appeared in Falkirk in the 1980's alongside Jean Shepard. Expect a tribute from fellow Opry member George Hamilton IV on his Forth Valley dates this week.
77 year old Walker, was killed along with his 61 year old wife, Bettye, and two of his band members when a van they were riding in ran off Interstate 65 south of Montgomery, Alabama and overturned.
Walker's grandson, Joshua Brooks, 21, was injured in the accident. He remains in critical condition at an Alabama hospital.
The group was on their way back to the Nashville area after performing at a show near Gulf Shores, according to Tom Bowers, manager of the Hendersonville Funeral Home.
Walker, known as "The Tall Texan" joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960 and was known as one of the show's most outgoing and personable performers.
Billy appeared in Falkirk in the 1980's alongside Jean Shepard. Expect a tribute from fellow Opry member George Hamilton IV on his Forth Valley dates this week.
May 19, 2006
George IV coming to Forth Valley
A reminder that Gentleman George is celebrating 50 years since his first recording this year. George will be visiting the Forth Valley next week, 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.
Supporting George on these dates will be Boness based gospel singer Jimmy Scott, and Glasgow gal Audrey Kelly.
June local gigs - changes
There are changes in the billed acts at both The San Quentin and Prairie Star club's this month. In both cases, ever faithful Rambling Fever have saved the day, and appear at The San Quentin on Friday June 2nd, and Prairie Star, Weirs Club Alloa the following night.
The San Quentin will have a guest celebrity MC for their evening, which will bring back memories of the old venue down at the Officers Club, a few miles from the current venue, Polmont Golf Club in Maddison.
Later in the month, The Brightons line dancers, having lost their venue, due to the closure of Brightons British Legion, will be welcoming Jolene & Barry to Polmont Golf Club on the 23rd. The same evening The Bootleggers, in Bannockburn club have Billy Bubba King.
The San Quentin will have a guest celebrity MC for their evening, which will bring back memories of the old venue down at the Officers Club, a few miles from the current venue, Polmont Golf Club in Maddison.
Later in the month, The Brightons line dancers, having lost their venue, due to the closure of Brightons British Legion, will be welcoming Jolene & Barry to Polmont Golf Club on the 23rd. The same evening The Bootleggers, in Bannockburn club have Billy Bubba King.
Mandrell tribute
Barbara Mandrell is the latest Country star to get a tribute album devoted to their hits.
Kenny Chesney and Reba McEntire will perform the title track on the album, "She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute To Barbara Mandrell," which gets a US release on October 10.
The tribute disc also includes Alabama front man Randy Owen, Sara Evans,Brad Paisley, Lorrie Morgan, Willie Nelson & Shelby Lynne,Dierks Bentley and Terri Clark.
Barbara is best remembered for her 1980's TV series with sisters Louise & Irlene, the second series of which was never shown in Scotland!
Kenny Chesney and Reba McEntire will perform the title track on the album, "She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute To Barbara Mandrell," which gets a US release on October 10.
The tribute disc also includes Alabama front man Randy Owen, Sara Evans,Brad Paisley, Lorrie Morgan, Willie Nelson & Shelby Lynne,Dierks Bentley and Terri Clark.
Barbara is best remembered for her 1980's TV series with sisters Louise & Irlene, the second series of which was never shown in Scotland!
May 13, 2006
RAJAR
The latest RAJAR radio audience research figures have been released. Figures for Glasgow based Country station 3C are included for the first time, and show that 109,000 listeners tune into the station for an average of 4.4 hours each week on either digital radio or freeview TV. This is well ahead of other established digital stations like Capital Life, Virgin Groove or Extreme, and The Storm.
On a more localised front, Central improved their figures a little on the last quarter, but have still lost 15% of it’s audience in the last year. It’s a similar pattern at Clyde 2 (9.6% down on the year), whilst Forth2 gained 15,000 listeners in the last quarter, yet their audience share dropped to 2.3%, the lowest of any station in Scotland.
Saga and Real’s share dropped slightly too, despite both increasing listener numbers.
On a more localised front, Central improved their figures a little on the last quarter, but have still lost 15% of it’s audience in the last year. It’s a similar pattern at Clyde 2 (9.6% down on the year), whilst Forth2 gained 15,000 listeners in the last quarter, yet their audience share dropped to 2.3%, the lowest of any station in Scotland.
Saga and Real’s share dropped slightly too, despite both increasing listener numbers.
Wellbank gigs
WELLBANK HALL near Dundee have to of Ireland’s favourite sons appearing in the next few weeks.
MICK FLAVIN appears on Friday, May 19th & the following Friday, Sean Cuddy will be the visitor. Tel 01382 350250 for Tickets
MICK FLAVIN appears on Friday, May 19th & the following Friday, Sean Cuddy will be the visitor. Tel 01382 350250 for Tickets
CHICKS RETURN TO LONDON
Following the release of their eagerly anticipated Rick Rubin produced LP ‘Taking The Long Way’ on June 12th, The Dixie Chicks will play two London shows – the Shepherd’s Bush Empire on June 15th and as special guests to the Eagles at Twickenham Stadium, June 17th.
This will be The Chicks’ first live UK performance since 2003 and return to the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, where Natalie Maines’ made her feelings clear about President Bush, causing public controversy on both sides of the Atlantic.
This will be The Chicks’ first live UK performance since 2003 and return to the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, where Natalie Maines’ made her feelings clear about President Bush, causing public controversy on both sides of the Atlantic.
RICKY VAN SHELTON RETIRES FROM ROAD
After 20 years of touring, Ricky Van Shelton has decided to stop touring and performing. With 16 albums, 12 #1 singles, duets with Dolly Parton, George Jones and Beach Boys to his credit, he feels the time has come to go back to Virginia. Amongst Ricky’s 2,120 live shows, was one at the Glasgow Pavilion in 1995.
Below is his letter to fans and friends:
Dear Friends: May 3, 2006
I need to share with you a very difficult decision that I have reached this week. I have asked to be released from the performance obligations that have been made for the rest of this year.
I understand and appreciate the deep devotion that many of you have shown to me during the past 19 years of my musical career. I have not made this decision lightly, and I deeply regret any inconvenience that this may cause to those of you who have already made plans to attend some of these performances.
There are several reasons for this decision, some of them very personal. But I want to assure each of you that Bettye and I are in good health and still love music and everything it stands for. Music will always be a part of my life.
But we have decided that at this time, we need to be close to our families. As many of you know, most of our family is in Virginia. We’ve been away from what we have always called home for the past 20 years. During that time, we have lost my father and Bettye’s mother. We weren’t there for them, and we have always regretted not spending more time with them. We believe that we need to be in Virginia at this time. We want to be more involved with our immediate families and be available to them and their needs. I trust that most of you will understand.
We will continue to utilize our web site (www.rickyvanshelton.com) to keep you updated on ongoing projects. Maybe now I can finish that CD of original songs that you have been so patient about. And perhaps, there will be other musical projects that I can pursue without being away from home for long periods of time. My options are open and I will keep you informed thru the web site.
We have made a lot of dear friends over the past years. We will always be grateful for the support, encouragement and prayers that you have shared with us. I hope that we can also count on your good wishes for us as we begin this new phase of our life.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Ricky Van Shelton
Below is his letter to fans and friends:
Dear Friends: May 3, 2006
I need to share with you a very difficult decision that I have reached this week. I have asked to be released from the performance obligations that have been made for the rest of this year.
I understand and appreciate the deep devotion that many of you have shown to me during the past 19 years of my musical career. I have not made this decision lightly, and I deeply regret any inconvenience that this may cause to those of you who have already made plans to attend some of these performances.
There are several reasons for this decision, some of them very personal. But I want to assure each of you that Bettye and I are in good health and still love music and everything it stands for. Music will always be a part of my life.
But we have decided that at this time, we need to be close to our families. As many of you know, most of our family is in Virginia. We’ve been away from what we have always called home for the past 20 years. During that time, we have lost my father and Bettye’s mother. We weren’t there for them, and we have always regretted not spending more time with them. We believe that we need to be in Virginia at this time. We want to be more involved with our immediate families and be available to them and their needs. I trust that most of you will understand.
We will continue to utilize our web site (www.rickyvanshelton.com) to keep you updated on ongoing projects. Maybe now I can finish that CD of original songs that you have been so patient about. And perhaps, there will be other musical projects that I can pursue without being away from home for long periods of time. My options are open and I will keep you informed thru the web site.
We have made a lot of dear friends over the past years. We will always be grateful for the support, encouragement and prayers that you have shared with us. I hope that we can also count on your good wishes for us as we begin this new phase of our life.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Ricky Van Shelton
May 06, 2006
Big Big Country
Big Big Country, Glasgow's Annual Festival of Americana, gets into full swing again this month.
16th- Willie Clay Band & Southpaw @ The Arches
17th- Ramblin' Jack Elliott & Alana Levandowski @ The Arches
18th- Howe Gelb & Courtney Tidwell @ The Arches
19th- Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham @ The Arches
20th- Tracy Bonham @BREL
21st- Master Musicians Of The Broken Road @ The Tron
21st- Roddy Hart & McKendrick Brothers @ ABC2
22nd- John Hammond & Grant Campbell @ The Arches
23rd- Eliza Gilkyson & Robert McEntee @ The Tron
24th- Jesse Dayton @ ABC2
25th- John Stewart @David Heavenor @ ABC2
26th- Sarah Harmer & Vienna Teng @ The Arches
27th- Ajejandro Escovedo Quartet & Yvonne Lyon @ The Arches
Full details on the www.soundsfine.co.uk website
Soundsfine are also promoting some events later on in the summer, including
June 2nd - Jolie Holland @ Glasgow ABC2
June 7th - Rosanne CAsh @ Edinburgh Queens Hall
July 9th - The Crooked Jades @Glasgow Arches
July 24th - Guy Clark @ Glasgow Arches
16th- Willie Clay Band & Southpaw @ The Arches
17th- Ramblin' Jack Elliott & Alana Levandowski @ The Arches
18th- Howe Gelb & Courtney Tidwell @ The Arches
19th- Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham @ The Arches
20th- Tracy Bonham @BREL
21st- Master Musicians Of The Broken Road @ The Tron
21st- Roddy Hart & McKendrick Brothers @ ABC2
22nd- John Hammond & Grant Campbell @ The Arches
23rd- Eliza Gilkyson & Robert McEntee @ The Tron
24th- Jesse Dayton @ ABC2
25th- John Stewart @David Heavenor @ ABC2
26th- Sarah Harmer & Vienna Teng @ The Arches
27th- Ajejandro Escovedo Quartet & Yvonne Lyon @ The Arches
Full details on the www.soundsfine.co.uk website
Soundsfine are also promoting some events later on in the summer, including
June 2nd - Jolie Holland @ Glasgow ABC2
June 7th - Rosanne CAsh @ Edinburgh Queens Hall
July 9th - The Crooked Jades @Glasgow Arches
July 24th - Guy Clark @ Glasgow Arches
May 05, 2006
Not So Rosie in Lynn Anderson's Garden
Lynn Anderson was arrested in Espanola, New Mexico, Wednesday night on suspicion of careless driving and aggravated DWI.
You may recall, that in 2004, she was convicted of drunken driving in Texas, then was involved in a fracas in which she was alledged to have punched a police officer after shoplifting a DVD from a supermarket.
You may recall, that in 2004, she was convicted of drunken driving in Texas, then was involved in a fracas in which she was alledged to have punched a police officer after shoplifting a DVD from a supermarket.
Laura Kenny
Glasgow based singer songwriter's Tron gig, which was cancelled a few weeks back, has been rescheduled for Friday,19th May @ 8pm
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