So who's the Catskinners then?

The Catskinners are a folk band from Glasgow who perform a variety of material from the tradition and contemporary sources, as well as original songs written by John McCreadie.

Working on the principle that there is more than one way to perform a song, (hence the name) we have a flexible and adaptable approach to the music where, (depending upon the venue) we can alternate between big orchestral sounding arrangements to intimate moments where we and the audience become close confidantes. We’re able to adapt the complexity of how we present each show to best fit the performance space.

We cover a huge range of styles, including jazz/folk fusion, blues, shanties, traditional ballads, Americana and English chanson using acoustic and electric guitars, various drums and other percussion, concertina, melodeon, harmonicas, and a Roland guitar synthesiser which lets Kenny Caird conjure everything from piano to saxophone to big orchestral backdrops from his guitar.

Similarly we draw our material from a wide range of sources, including the Tradition, Robert Burns, and 20th century writers and poets such as Alistair Hulett, Henry Lawson, and Guy Clark, with a number of John McCreadie’s own songs peppered through the mix.

The current line up is:

John McCreadie: Guitarist, Singer, and Songwriter. Formerly of Diggery Venn, Radical Road, and the Govan Spoonful, and an established solo performer and festival compère, John’s involvement with Scottish folk music spans several decades.
He has a considerable reputation as a songwriter, and his songs have been covered by some of Scotland’s great singers such as Arthur Johnstone, (Doomsday In The Afternoon), and Sheena Wellington (Where Are You Now My Son?)

Kenny Caird: Multi-instrumentalist and Singer. Kenny plays acoustic and electric guitars, guitar synthesiser, chromatic and octave harmonicas, anglo concertina, and button accordion.
With a background in blues rock, Kenny came to the folk scene in the early 1980s after hearing a Dick Gaughan record and deciding he wanted to be part of this music. His use of synthesisers and electric guitars bring a certain unorthodoxy to some of the Catskinners performance.

Trish Caird: Percussionist and Singer. A relative newcomer to the world of performance, Trish has developed her skills at various singers’ sessions around Glasgow before joining forces with Kenny and John. Her percussion playing occasionally raises eyebrows among the traditionalists of the ethnic drum because of her love of using domestic utensils such as pastry brushes as drumsticks. Trish’s attitude is “If it works, why not?”

Book the Catskinners for your club or festival!

For bookings or any other queries:

Ken: 07570829683
John: 07796005934

catskinner@keromail.com

Listen at our Reverbnation Page and become a fan!

Wednesday 2 September 2009

2nd Annual Lowe Syndrome Fundraiser Saturday 5th September

Oh No! Three and a half MONTHS since I last updated this blog!!!!!

Summer's been and gone and we've been spotting and sessioning around as usual, and doing wee bits and pieces for the album.

We've also been arranging the second fundraiser for the Lowe Syndrome Association , this time at the Georgian Hotel in Coatbridge on Saturday 5th September.

People are queueing up to take part in this event.

On the bill so far are:

The Catskinners
Clark & King
Claire & Gavin Livingston (The Icing)
David Stevenson - Scottish songwriter based in Cambridge
Adriana

We're also hoping to see Gifford Lind and the gang from Dunfermline Folk Club who put so much into arranging and performing in last year's concert at Dunfermline Athletic's stadium.

Lorna can't make it as she's stuck in Canada.

We're doing the gig this year in collaboration with Coatbridge Rotary Club and Intimate Gigs

Tickets available on the door £8/£6(concs)

Kickoff around 8pm.

It'll be a good show. Come and join us.