SCOTCOUNTRY MUSIC NEWS

Local duo Back2Country are playing a charity night at MQues's in Bannockburn on Friday November 23rd, in aid of Bells Field Fundraisers.
Tickets, £10, from  Ann Wilson on 01786 812725 or Nuala on 07709 076966

The line up for Glasgow's annual winter festival, Celtic Connections has been announced, and, as ever, there will be a few concerts of interest to Country music fans.
West Virginia born Kathy Mattea returns to the festival to promote her album, "Pretty Bird" (23rd Jan @ Mitchel Theatre), and Ashley Monroe, one third of The Pistol Annies will play St Lukes on the 27th, the same night as Canadian sweethearts Madison Violet play The Old Fruitmarket.
From the Nashville TV series, Charles Esten plays The Old Fruitmarket on Jan 20th, and Texan singer songwriter Jarrod Dickenson plays The Hug & A Pint on Jan 31st.
Two of Scotland's top female Country singer songwriters, Jill Jackson and Marthy L Healy are on the same bill, at The Mackintosh Church on Jan 25th.
Buffalo Blood, is an international collaboration with Scottish musician Dean Owens and Nashville/Orphan Brigade’s Neilson Hubbard, Joshua Britt and Audrey Spillman, playing The Mitchel Theatre, also on Jan 25th
It's aproject inspired and captured in the heart of the New Mexico Desert. Recorded on location at La Plaza Blanca, Echo Canyon, and around Georgia O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch.
Elsewhere My Darling Clementine plays Oran Mor on Jan 19th; Texan singer songwriter Andrew Combs supports Amy Helms at Oran Mor on the 26th, with bluegrass band, Lonesome Ace Stringband playing the Royal Concert Hall same night.   Rhiannon Giddens plays the Concert Hall on  the 28th and Gretchen Peters plays The Kings Theatre on the 30th.  Tim O'Brien plays The Mackintosh Church on 2nd Feb, as well as Transatlantic sessions on Feb 2nd & 4th.
See the full line up @ www.celticconnections.com
Tickets on sale Friday.

Recent visitors Chase Rice, Drake White & Ashley McBryde will return to Glasgow for next year's Country2Country Festival at The Hydro. Headliners for the event being held March 8-10th will be Chris Stapleton (Fri), Keith Urban (Sat) & Lady Antebelum (Sun). Lyle Lovett is the token "established" artist at the event. He'll play Glasgow on the Friday night. Other names announced include Drake Eldredge, Cam, Hunter Hayes, Dustin Lynch and Carly Pearce.
Tickets go on sale on Friday

Not only has Charlie announced he is to undero a 16 date tour of Scotland, but he has just announced that it will be for the last time as he prepares to hang up his guitar and retire.
Charlie started singing professionally in the 1970s, although his major success did not come until 1994 with his song "What Colour is the Wind". He is one of the UK's top country acts and is also popular in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.  Charlie is generally recognised and categorised as a country singer, however, as his fans will tell you, country music is only one part of his live shows and music catalogue. Winner of 'Best Songwriter', 'Best Song', 'Best Male Vocalist' & 'International Country Album' Charlie's talent and chart-topping records received the ultimate recognition in 2011 when he was inducted into the British Country Music Hall of Fame- a wonderful achievement for any artist.   Charlie this month also released a new CD ‘The Attic Collection’ which no doubt will prove to be as successful as those that came before.
The time has come however for this country and folk musician, singer-songwriter Charlie Landsborough to hang up his guitar.  Charlie said: “Now I thought that you who have been so good to me should be the first to know that I intend to hang up my guitar and retire next year. Hence, these next tours to Scotland in October, Ireland in January and around England in spring will be my last.
“I will certainly miss you all but will never forget your great kindness and support and will always treasure the wonderful memories I have of the lovely times I have had with you.”
Charlie is known as the UK’s premier country music singer, however, country music is only one part of his live shows. For his last shows, Charlie plans a night of beautiful ballads, folk, blues, country, rock ‘n’ roll, pop, gospel and anthems.
Charlie will be talking to Stewart Fenwick on his Celtic Country programme this Sunday, 21st October ahead of the tour. Tune into Celtic Music Radio, 12 Noon-2pm on 95FM in Glasgow, 97.4 Dunoon Community Radio, and online @ www.celticmusicradio.net, and afterwards on catch up.

Charlie Landsborough in Concert - Scottish Tour 2018
Tues 23 October,  Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock
Wed 24 October - The Gaiety, Ayr
Thurs 25 October - The Buccleuch Centre, Langholm
Saturday 27 October -  Orkney Theatre, Kirkwall
Sunday 28 October - Universal Hall, Findhorn
Monday 29 October - Howden Park Centre, Livingston
Tuesday 30 October - Webster Memorial Theatre, Arbroath
Wednesday 31 October - Motherwell Concert Hall, Motherwell
Thursday 1 November - Perth Concert Hall, Perth
Friday 2 November - Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen
Saturday 3 November - Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock
Sunday 4 November -    FTH Theatre, Falkirk
Wednesday 7 November - the Brunton, Musselburgh
Thursday 8 November - Assembly Rooms, Wick
Friday 9 November - Corran Halls, Oban
Saturday 10 November - Victoria Hall, Campbeltown

Thomas Maguire & Fhiona Ennis are on tour in Scotland in October and appear as follows;
Fri 26th Oct - Thurso RBL - 8pm - 01847 893377
Sat 27th Oct - Invergordon Social Club - 9pm - 01349 852137
Sun 28th Oct - New Inn Hotel, Ellon - 8pm - 01358 720425

The Irish Country music scene is mourning the death of Sandy Kelly's sister Barbara on October 9th.
Barbara Ellis was also recognised as a singer in her own right.
Barbara started her career singing with the Fairways after her sister, Sandy Kelly, joined the band in the mid 1970's. Within a few years, the band added cousin, Marian to the line-up and they became the Duskey Sisters. In 1982, the band hit the big time when the Duskeys represented Ireland in Eurovision singing "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow," which was a chart hit for the band, reaching number 12 in the Irish charts. Although the band broke up around 1983, Barbara would continue to sing often with Sandy in her Patsy Cline show and in 2006, she formed a wedding band called Champagne which played weddings and functions across the country. Barbara retired from the stage several years ago and was living in Dromahair. Her daughter, Sandie Ellis, continues the family tradition and is a part of the young music scene in Sligo. Check out this video of Barbara with sister Sandy.