IAN BRUCE NEWSLETTER FOR SEPTEMBER 2004

Dear All,
Sorry but no letter from Ian himself this month, he is like a "whirlwind" at the moment - never in one place for long. He has been taking part in loads of projects, doing gigs and trying to mix the next CD .

It's been a while since the last letter, but that was uncharacteristically early ! 

Ian has been busy working with Susie Kelly on the Vocal Chords Project  - it is a community choir of a wide variety of people of all ages and backgrounds . They are doing 5 classes a week throughout Dumfries and Galloway. I went along to a few of the groups and they are very enjoyable for the participants, but a lot of work for Ian and Susie. They are so patient and well-organised! The aim is for the groups to get together at the end of the project and perform together at the Final Concert.

For the past six weeks or so, Ian and Ian Walker have been working on a project for the New Makars Trust. They have been singing and playing in old people's homes. The aim was to have the old folks talk about their past and then to incorporate their memories into new songs.

Talking of these two Ians - they have a concert on Saturday 16th October 2004 at 7.00pm Wardlawhill Parish Church, Rutherglen

Cost : £4.00 For tickets contact: Billy Stewart: tel: 01698 359326 or 07889 727254

Concert is being run by The New Makars Trust .

It will be great to see them on the stage together!

Another gig to get to, if you possibly can, is next Friday at the Bollington Folk Club. They are the most wonderful nutty people. A cracking night is guaranteed.

 " The Naked Truth Volume 2 "   is being very well-received.  Please, if you see a review, get in touch - it would be good to see them on the web-site  www.ianbruce.org .

Here is the track list - it is a great selection of songs and they are all performed wonderfully.

If you are interested in buying a copy, there are a variety of ways to do so - from the "albums page" of the web-site using Paypal, or by post from the Plumed Horse Restaurant, or from Ian directly.   His direct email is ianbruce3@aol.com .

Ian had a variety of gigs in August and September.

I saw Ian's gig as part of Peebles Arts Festival at Neidpath Castle - what a wonderful location! - great people, but they were a bit too shy to sing.  They made up for it by clapping and tapping their feet in time.

On my birthday (3rd September), I saw the gig at Folk at the Manor, Monkton. It was wonderful! Everyone sang from the first song and the atmosphere was electric.  What a great birthday present  - even if I had to drive!

September also saw Ian at the Bromyard Festival. He said that it was great to meet up with loads of old friends. [Oi, not so old, thankyou! ]. It's an area that he is fond of . He had a great time and the audience did too!  Affy guid!

By all accounts the gig at the Milkmaid Folk Club, Bury St Edmunds was very enjoyable - but they forced him to eat cheesecake! I don't believe it !  Don't tempt him...he is my diet-buddy!  Yes, he is on that diet again........

Later on in October, there are gigs at two renowned Folk Clubs - Essex Singers in Bocking and the Black Diamond in Birmingham - don't miss them!

Check out the Guestbook on the website, there are some witty comments on it  - if you feel like making one about the new CD, please do.

Anyway, must dash

Keep well

Elaine

editor@ianbruce.co.uk

Ian’s direct email is ianbruce3@aol.com .

Website www.ianbruce.org

IAN BRUCE NEWSLETTER  - OCTOBER 2004

Dear All,

Hope you are well and that the weather isn’t getting you down.

Sorry but no blurb directly from Ian this month. I was running out of time - I’m off to Germany for a week’s holiday on Saturday, so I couldn’t wait any longer for the written word. After tonight’s successful Gourmet Evening at the Plumed Horse, I rang Ian and found out what has been happening.

Talk about lyrics reflecting life ! "Can’t sit still!"…..he has been doing so much! Never in one place for long and still trying to mix the last few tracks of the CD with the Band.

The Vocal Chords Project that Ian has been working on with Susie Kelly has come to its conclusion for this year. It is funded by the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association. The 120 person strong community choir held its Concert in Easterbrook Hall last week. By all accounts, everyone seemed to enjoy it and as with last year’s concert it as been recorded on CD.

Another project that he is working on for the DGAA is "The Rivers and Burns Project". Ian took the school children to the river along with an environmentalist. The idea was for the children to be inspired by their surroundings. It is working - several songs have already been written by the children. Ian is part of team of 4 songwriters who are helping the children to write songs.

Ian and Ian Walker had been working on a project for the New Makars Trust - singing and playing in old people's homes. Listening to the old folks stories and memories and the incorporating them into new songs. Their concert took place in a Rutherglen Church Hall (Glasgow) last Saturday. I had never seen them play a full concert together. [Very glad that I went – if you want to know about cheap flights from Exeter to Glasgow let me know. ] They were both nervous at the start but that soon went. Harmonies were nice – songs were good. It would be great if they could do more concerts together. As this was Ian’s old stomping ground, he met up with loads of people that he hadn’t seen for ages.

The Bollington Folk Club gig was brilliant - they are the most wonderful nutty people. A cracking night! Not sure if I should say, but Lorna Davies and Arthur Wakefield got to hear mixes of their songs performed by Ian and the band. These tracks will be on the new album

Before I forget, the "albums page" of the web-site has been revamped.

The Gadget Show that had Ian singing "Westlin’ Winds" has been repeated. It was a comparative test of range of Linn CD players and the live performance.

Don’t miss the next two gigs at two renowned Folk Clubs - Essex Singers in Bocking and the Black Diamond in Birmingham.

The Gig-Guide gives the dates of the German tour with the Band. More rehearsals this week!

Anyway, must dash

Keep well

Elaine

editor@ianbruce.co.uk

Ian’s direct email is ianbruce3@aol.com .

Website www.ianbruce.org

IAN BRUCE NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2004

Hi Everyone,

I'm sorry I have been AWOL in the last couple of newsletters. Things have been a little hectic. The kind of things that were nothing to tell. Thanks to Elaine for keeping up the newsletter (She too struggles for time....she did it though.) 

Still working on getting that new CD out. Soon, honest! The tour, in Germany, with Stewart Hardy and Angus Lyon went down very well. They were great to work with and their stage presence was enormous.

I have to be a bighead and say, if you missed it, I believe you really missed something. It was a treat for me and, according to the responses, the audiences. Thanks to everyone who made it possible.

Incidentally, the band would be available for some British (or other) dates. You should try it!! You can tell I'm all abuzz about this batch of stuff. 

I'm still very busy with the Dumfries and Galloway Schools workshops, and....enjoying them very much. I'm hoping though that the gigging is a little more intense this year. It's been a bit on the slide for one reason or another.

However, Bedworth Festival this Saturday and Sheffield on Sunday. Both favourite places of mine so I'm looking forward to it. Maybe I'll see some of you there. I hope so. 

Please remember too that the website is there for gig lists, the guest book (should you want to be rude or nice to me) and, of course to buy CDs through your Paypal account. 

So, it's time to get back to the mixing. I WILL GET THIS CD OUT.

All the best for now and hopefully I'll be speaking to you before Christmas.

Ian B.

www.ianbruce.org  

email ianbruce3@aol.com

 **************************************************************

EDITOR'S NOTE

 I have just realised that it is less than five weeks to Christmas ------aggh I must be more organised this year -------

Naked Truth 2 would make a great present for musical friends!

Have you seen any reviews for it?

I saw this review in the December 2004 issue of fROOTS:-

Ian Bruce The Naked Truth - Volume 2 (Ruglen Records LUMS CD 0109)

Revisiting some more of his greatest favourites, the man with the huge voice does indulge in quite a few additional harmonies this time round. But this album is really just Bruce doing what he does best: singing his heart out and playing his guitar, without artifice or augmentation (or any need for it).

Have any of you seen any other reviews of Naked Truth2 ? - if you have, please let me know - it would be good to put them on the website

If you have looked at the Guest Book, you will have seen the comments about Ian and the Band's tour in Germany.

Maggie H sent me this note "Just thought you should know what a wonderful show we saw in Nurnberg when we went to see Ian's band on Saturday!  It certainly lived up to our expectations and, with Ian, Stewart and Angus all gathered together in one band, it really was promising something special.  Well, that's certainly what we got and, I feel sure, so did the rest of the audience. Now all we need is for them to perform over here so that others can enjoy the same."

From the Guest Book:

Oliver says "I have seen you in the 'Seefelder Mühle' this year in november. It was a brilliant concert"

Andrea and Herbert say " Thank you very much for the fantastic gig in Sonthofen. You are a really funny guy and your voice is breathtaking. Angus & Stewart also are incredible good musicians. We enjoyed this gig as much as your first one five years ago."

As much as I love Germany, why are all the Band gigs there?

I didn't see the Band this time, but I echo Maggie's sentiments -  it would be good to have Band gigs in the UK !!

If anyone has a good photo from the Tour, please can we have it for the website. The photos from the recording session are on the website. There is something a bit spooky on  www.ianbruce.org/tour1.jpg    - can you see the orb of light? Trick of the light or of the digital camera? I wonder what the researchers from Loughborough University would make of it?

Elaine

editor@ianbruce.co.uk