IAN BRUCE AUGUST 2002 NEWSLETTER   22/8/02

Notes - Editor
I went to Warwick Folk Festival at the end of July and it was brilliant - great artists, great weather, great sound systems and it was wonderfully organised.
Ian was on top form . He had three slots to do on Saturday -- a "meet the artist" at the Arts Centre, concert at the Bridgehouse Theatre and "an hour with" at the Arts Centre. The large audiences were very appreciative (even if we had to suffer those knees!)
When Ian arrived at Warwick, he was fully clothed. As the day wore on, his attire changed.
For those of you who weren't there, there is a photo at http://www.ianbruce.dial.pipex.com/warwick1.jpg .
If you get the opportunity to speak to Ian, ask him how he cooled down at Warwick. At least it was from the Highlands!
Ian is at Towersey on Friday and Saturday. On 1/9/02, he is at Baggeridge Country Park Folk Festival at Gospel End, nr Dudley, West Midlands. It is held in a lovely rural setting and is free. For September and part of October, he is in the USA.

Ian's web-site address is www.ianbruce.co.uk . It has all sorts of things on it, lyrics, album details , photos and sound-bites.

Hello again,
Just back from Germany. It went very well. German island hopping in the North Sea, if you know what I mean.

Now I'm looking forward to the weekend. Towersey Festival and home on Sunday for a BBQ in the back garden. I hope the weather will hold out.
So, work is on the up and up, but it's the more personal side of life that I'm enjoying most. We're almost prepared for the USA. We fly out on the 10th September (Tony and I). He'll be there for three weeks and I'll stay on for a further week to get a couple more gigs under the belt.

To those who recognised me as an old grump, due to my previous two emails, CONGRATULATIONS but how come you've just noticed?
Seriously, thanks to everyone for being such good friends. I hope we will meet at the following concerts.
Best wishes and I hope you have a massive fall. (Autumn...get it?)

Ian.
xxx

IAN BRUCE NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2002 (from USA 22/9/02)

Notes-Editor

Nice to see that the tour is going well and hear his good news.

One of the last Festivals that he did before he went to the USA was Towersey. I was there on the Saturday and saw the three concerts - he was on really good form. As well as the main concert tent, he sang in the church (for evidence - see www.ianbruce.dial.pipex.com/towersey.jpg !) and at the late night session. If you can think of a good caption for the photo let me know. Thanks to the people in the pub who looked after me when I got caught in that terrible downpour.

After the USA tour, Ian will be in Germany. There are two photos from earlier German tours on the site -- www.ianbruce.dial.pipex.com/ossypubhamburg.jpg taken by Harald Laake in January 2002 and www.ianbruce.dial.pipex.com/waldenau-nr-hamburg.jpg taken by Olaf Koester in March 2002. Thanks lads !

 
Hi Folk folks,
I'm emailing from some lovely fall weather here in Pennsylvania. So far this trip has been more holiday than work. It's been great. Two American sized meals a day does a great deal for the waistline. It's getting bigger by the day.

The work part starts about now and the usual long drives are inevitable.....Ooooh! That travelling!

Shawnee Mountain Festival was tainted by a rainy Sunday. Fortunately there is a large amount of indoor space which allowed the thing to continue. It's nice in the Poconos.

One of the highlights of this trip was the bedroom with it's own red heart shaped Jacuzzi, sauna and round double bed. Very romantic.
Talking of such things, I now wear a wedding ring. Tony and I got 'married' in New Jersey. We're going up to Vermont where such things are legal. We want the official piece of paper. Our friend Rev. Gillian McAllister performed the ceremony. It was a really nice time and many thanks to her and all the folks who supported us.

I write this email on 22nd September. This would have been Mum's 88th birthday. I miss her terribly and hope that somewhere she's having a great time.

I'm hoping that another project is on the way. There's a great Irish singer living over here, Gerry Timlin. I've asked if we could record together next year and it looks like it's on. It will be promoted by The Reids at East of the Hebrides. I look forward to the whole thing. As I always say...."Watch this space"

Anyway, that's enough for now.

I hope to see you soon.
Ian B

IAN BRUCE  OCTOBER  NEWSLETTER 21/10/02

Well another month gone by and I'm back from the States.
I was often around the area of the Washington sniper and so, for that reason alone I'm glad to be home. The killings have, unfortunately, gone on since my departure but at least that takes the heat off me.

I've already done the first three gigs of my German tour. They went well. I'm in the middle of a four day break in the tour, for which I flew home. God bless Ryanair.

Somebody recently asked me when the Allan Ramsay CD was coming out. Maybe I forgot to say that the Scottish Arts Association rejected our funding application. I believe it may still happen one day but it's definitely been put on a back burner.

I return to Germany on Friday and will be bringing Vic Besch home with me. That should enable us to complete our CD. We're halfway through.

In my last letter, I mentioned our 'Civil Union' or marriage. I didn't expect everybody to take to the idea but generally folks have been very supportive and for that we are very grateful. The family don't quite know what to say but that's OK. For those who want a pic it is attached.

In the list of gigs that follows, some are marked (session). They have been arranged by the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association and are intended to entice some keen players from beginners to the more experienced. Professionals to bedroom wizards. I'll be glad to do local work. I see myself in that role. I'd love to cut down the travelling. So, please, everyone come along and support the DGAA and me. We could have a really nice time, you never know.

Thanks again and see you soon.


Ian Bruce

IAN BRUCE NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER 23/11/02

Hello again,

Today's weather easily outshines that of recent days. It's lovely out there. It's put me in the mood for writing to you.

Well, it's been hectic. I like that but get worried that I can't get everything finished by respective deadlines....AAAAGGGHHHH!
So, as usual, I'll be brief and just say that Vic Besch has returned to Germany after our recording session. We've recorded everything and now I'm left to clean it all up before the CDs, hopefully, imminent release. It's very simple. We've called in no other musicians; it's just Vic and me. Again it will be very different from anything else I've done. I like that, as you may know. It has four of my own songs and some traddy and one or two little surprises.
I'm in the midst of a few British gigs and enjoying them very much. I must try to get the audiences to enjoy them too. Maybe that's where I'm going wrong!
People say they never noticed it but I know they're just being kind. I'm referring to the bump I had on my head. Quite prominant on a baldy nut. Well, it's gone now. It was the second attempt to remove it. The unfortunate thing is that both surgeons cut it in different directions, so, just to warn you, on next shaving a cross shaped scar will be revealed. It's not a political or religious symbol, I promise.

Anyway, it's the run up to Christmas and I bet you're all ready for it!!! I know that Tony and I are not, but we're looking forward to a good time at my brother's place. It's the first without Mum and that'll hurt. Recently, just after every Christmas I'd quietly wonder if we'd see Mum at the next one well, this time she'll have to be there in spirit alone. It's been bad doing the one or two gigs, recently, that she would have attended had she been able. C'est la Vie.

Hopefully I'll see a few of you before then and I should be making contact once more before then but just in case....Have a great time.
See you soon.

Ian