IAN BRUCE 'S  NEWSLETTER 20/12/03

Hi Everyone,
I'm just looking over the last year. I'd thought it quiet but......

In January there was the release of "The Orange and The Rowan", with VIC BESCH, and our usual German tour. The CD only really sells when we tour and that, to be honest, is as it should be. It was never intended to be promoted at my solo gigs as a full blown release. We look forward to this January's tour and, hopefully selling a few more of it. It's a cheeky wee album but we like it.

In February I recorded CDs for Janet Weatherston and Lesley Hale and Charlie Milne.
Janet's had a great response. Scots magazine phoned her direct to applaud it and tell her to expect a rave review. That's no mean feat. Many of her loyal fans were also raving. (We've known that for a long time!!)
I haven't really kept my finger on the pulse as far as the Lesley and Charlie release is concerned, but I know I recently played it again and think it's fabulous. Now I'm very happy to be writing songs with Charlie. I like what we're getting. I hope that the general public will too - eventually.
Also noticed that on www.bbc.co.uk/radio2 message boards that someone was asking about Lesley Hale. I've told them about this CD. It is good!

In March we toured Germany as the band. Ian Lowthian couldn't make it due to his pregnancy. (Makes a change.) So, a load of rehearsing with Sandy Brechin who did an excellent job for us. Folks seemed to like us!!!
Ian and Janey had a wee boy called Robin. Their first born was Katy. One of each. Well done.

Then I recorded a CD for Agnes Wightman. Again a pleasurable project and a very nice result. Again I have not kept track of it. I hope her audience has been delighted.

APRIL was a quiet month which gave me time to get the website updated. Actually that's quite a job. It was a fairly major upheaval sorting out all the mp3s etc.

In MAY we moved house. Say no more except that it's been worth it. We're in a fabulous place and really enjoying it.
I started work with the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association. Doing workshops in primary schools. The remit on the first sessions was way too wide and got us all confused. Some wanted to learn guitar, some percussion, some to sing, some to play whistles, etc. etc. We did what we could and generally things were OK.

In JUNE the school sessions continued.
About this time too, I was fed up nagging Tony to have the PLUMED HORSE website updated. So, I did it. There has been a good response and definitely an upturn in business as a direct result. Things are good there. We look forward to a greater push of the new brasserie next year.

In JULY there was Festival at the Edge, Malborough and Cleckheaton festivals. I've already reported back on them but my general recollection is favourable. I hope that's the same for the audience.
Again the DGAA employed me in their LOG ON BUS project. Teaching folks to record music using computers. I have a mixed feeling for that one. Some of the venues do not use it to the full and therefore it can be a waste of time. Where the project has been taken seriously it's been very rewarding. Long may it continue. I must admit to being disappointed that the re-road taxing of the bus has meant that I can't drive it anymore. I only have a regular driving licence. HUH! Anyway, there was no driver's cap supplied.
By now I was waiting in the restaurant on a regular basis. I love it. I am a people person and really enjoy the interaction. Hopefully not overdone. (Incase Tony's reading this!)

AUGUST

Website changed to www.ianbruce.org. I bought it from UK2.net and used the email address they supplied for a while. Their website advertises "Free Dial - Up". In my ignorance I thought that meant they paid the phone bill (like AOL do). I couldn't have been more wrong. The phone bill from connecting through UK2.net was about £300 more than normal. I was furious. Back to AOL. I find them to be fine. Also meant another change of email address. ianbruce3@aol.com.
Susie Kelly and I recorded some acapella three part harmony tracks to use as a CD tutor for the Vocal Chords Project. Some pretty decent stuff. Though I say it myself. Maybe it'll be released after my demise.
We went on to enjoy 8 weeks of working with the various workshops. Trying to remember all the harmonies was a nightmare at times but we got there in the end.

SEPTEMBER

Baggeridge Festival was enjoyable. A beautiful day and a shot on the inflatable chute. Also won a yellow bear on the coconut shy. The German tour was fabulous. Nice to taste a wee bit of success again. It helps the ego you know. I had a fabulous review which compared me favourably to one or two German household names. (No they don't use DOMESTOS!!) Happy audience, agents, partner and me. Good for the CD sales too.
Tony and I had a really nice wee break in Berlin too.

OCTOBER brought the final VOCAL CHORDS concert and their CD. It was called "Nice Nice People" after one of my songs. It seemed appropriate.
It was in this month Dr. Fred Freeman and I did a Burns do in Glasgow. Very enjoyable. More of that stuff would be good.
Mr. Cathcart was there. He was my Geography teacher. It's not his fault I'm hopeless at Geog. I was born to be Geographically dim. I tend to only take that kind of stuff in if I visit in person. I digress. We used to know him as Bamber. Some kids seemed to think he looked like Mr. Gasgoine. (I didn't agree) It was pointed out that he had been the first teacher to administer corporal punishment on me in secondary school. This was by means of a leather strap. He said he still had it and promised to send it to me as a momento. What a nice man he is.
The studio was upgraded to latest version of CUBASE SX and MOTU 2408 Mk 3. If you didn't need to know that then please accept my apology. It's a great studio to work in. I just need to find more time.

NOVEMBER

Again, a job came in from DGAA. This time it was songwriting workshops in schools. Boy do I enjoy this one? We've written a song in each of the one hour classes. Again these are local primary schools. I appreciate too that word "Local". I get so drained by the travel these days. The more I can do within a 50 mile radius the better. I'm hoping for more of the DGAA work next year.
Bamber's belt arrived. A man of his word. It smells of old leather and chalk dust. The internet tells me that the company still manufactures and a genuine John J. Dick, Lochgelly XH can still be purchased. Nowadays it comes in a presentation case and costs £250. To think I got it for putting pepper up another boy's nose at school dinners. Who says crime doesn't pay. Incidentally, a very ginger slap to my cold palm reminded me just how painful an experience "getting the belt" had been.
By the way, it was rare for me to take school dinners but now and then I wanted to. It probably was a welcome break for MUM too.
I started taking piano lessons. Although I have a very good professional keyboard, I crave an upright piano. Does anybody have one that they don't want? I'm finding that I don't practice because of the palaver required with the electronics. I need an acoustic to sit staring me in the face in the living room.

So DECEMBER is here again. I had a couple of smashing gigs. Bollington and The Wynd theatre, Melrose. They both treat me like a king. Very enjoyable.
We were visited by Fraser, my brother and Euan, my oldest nephew again very enjoyable.
Sad news that Gavin Stevenson, co writer of "The Dawn of a Brand New Day" died. We're not too sure but the story goes that he took his own life. He was a great wee fella. His work should have been famous but he threw it all away a few months before his death. It's all very sad.
So from that down note to anticipation of an enjoyable christmas. I'm really looking forward to it.
I hope you all have a great time. I'm sorry that I've rambled so. You caught me on a bad day.
Now to tidy the house up ready for the next couple of weeks.

Thanks to all who've helped me survive this year. Tony, Elaine, Roseann and Bob (British Agent) and Ingrid u. Manni (German Agent). (Glad to hear that Manni is making good progress after a rather scary and serious illness. Keep it up!)
Victor Besch and I will be doing a gig at The Kenbridge Hotel, New Galloway after the bells. It would be great to see you there.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU IN IT!
 www.ianbruce.org

 ianbruce3@aol.com

 editor@ianbruce.co.uk