IAN BRUCE NEWSLETTER 30/9/03

We're into September 2003. Wow, am I getting old quickly? (Don't even think about answering that.)
It's been a good month all in.....A crazy drive all the way down to Baggeridge for a 45 minute set. It seemed to go OK and the weather and setting were both their usual wondrous selves. Very enjoyable.
The folks who had the big inflatable chute allowed us (Tony, Elaine and I) on at £2.00 a go. I suppose fairly expensive but the painful bit was the guy taking one look at me and turning the pumps up full in order to support my bulk. Some people are sooooooo hurtful.

The German tour was great. Only 6 gigs but I enjoyed them all. Tony joined me halfway through and we had a wee break in Berlin before going off to Wyk auf Foehr and then Bremen. What a gig that was. More like that please Manni u. Ingrid. It was a songwriters fest. We're talking about next year again.

My jobs with Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association, The LOG-ON bus and working with me old buddy Susie Kelly on the Vocal Chords project are both doing fine. As I said....all in all a good month.

Mum's birthday passed again. She would have been 89. I still miss her terribly but there's not a great deal I can do about that. It was great to hear from both my brothers.
Anyway. I hope you're all fine and comfortable.

Please keep in touch.

Ian M. Bruce
Ruglen Digital Recordings
www.ianbruce.org

IAN BRUCE NEWSLETTER 24/10/03

Hi Everyone,
Not huge amounts to report.

The Vocal Chords group have recorded their CD which should be out in time for the final concert in Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries on Friday 7th November. That'll be that project finished for a while. Hopefully it will happen again next year.

If there are any Ian Bruce completists out there, I'm afraid you'll need this CD. I put a version of "Lassie Wi The Lintwhite Locks" and Ian Walker's "Some Hae Meat" on it. I'm also singing harmony on Susie Kelly's "Auld Maid in a Garret". I'm very pleased with all three.

Only 3 gigs this month. (Must try harder) The Beehive near Sheffield. A long way for one gig but it was a good one. At least I thought so. Then there was the wee session in The Blue Bell, Annan. A bit of fun. Great pub.
The next gig is the Robert Burns do in Glasgow with Dr. Fred and then we're into November. Ouch!

I'm sure the ever faithful Elaine will be appending a list of gigs. Please come along. It'll be good to see you.

The first week in February is needing a bit of filling in Denmark. If anyone out there has ideas I'm all ears.

See you soon.
Many thanks,

Ian

IAN BRUCE NEWSLETTER 21/11/03

Note from editor@ianbruce.co.uk -elaine hawkins

My gig went really well. The format was different than most concerts. The MC did a great job. We got to hear some of the stories behind the songs and we worked out that Ian has been involved in recording music for nearly 24 years! He doesn't look old enough - does he! We now know that he preferred to sketch colleagues rather than ships and that a few overheard words can end up as a song! Ian had the audience enthralled - laughing, sad and happy as they gained a better insight into him and his music. Thanks Ian for a great gig!

Please note that Ian changed his email address to ianbruce3@aol.com on 14/10/03 . If you sent anything to the old uk2.net address around that time it may not have got through!

THE LETTER

Hi Again,

November was not the busiest month I've ever had but DGAA (Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association) have kept me afloat. Just as well since the old voice is giving me a bit of trouble at present. The thickening of one side of the vocal chords. I'm getting put under anaesthetic in late February 2004. They will take a biopsy of my vocal chords (Ouch!). The surgeon said that if the voice box would benefit from a trim he'll do it but if it's gone too badly then he'll leave it alone and get me to rest it etc. Shit!

Anyway. I'm rushing because I'm doing a couple of schools songwriting workshops today. They're good fun.

I'll just quickly say how much I enjoyed doing the few November gigs.
Paisley Arts Centre with Dr. Fred and Marc Duff. Everyone was very appreciative and put up with the odd faux pas. (It was our first full gig together). Thanks people.
The Ram Folk Club - Claygate. As always, so warm. We had a good laugh. They said they liked the music too. Strange people.
The Hyde Park, Plymouth. A kind of 'meet the artist' gig arranged by Elaine. Everything went quite smoothly. A chance for me to sing 'The tracks of my years' (Just like Ken Bruce's show.) I was a little wary of the Scots flag wavers but they were good enough to only giggle at the sad songs.

Must rush. I hope to see you all soon. By the time you reach this I'll have done Biddulph folk club which turned out really well last time. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Bye for now.

Ian

website: www.ianbruce.org
email : ianbruce3@aol.com