| Ian Bruce Newsletters 2007
JULY 2007
Hi everyone.
Have you missed me?
It's been a year of ups and downs, twists
and turns. Since my last letter Tony and I have upped sticks and moved from the big
farmhouse to a two bedroom
flat on the banks of the water of Leith in Edinburgh. The studio has all been packed into
the spare bedroom until I can find alternative accommodation for it.
There's been no hurry to do that or go
searching for loads of gigs most of our energy has been focused on the new restaurant, our
main reason for the dramatic move. We've opened The Plumed Horse in Henderson Street,
Leith (0131 554 5556), experienced a few ups downs and ups again and now that it's well on
the way it's time to focus a little more on my own business.
I'm starting to plan CDs and get a hold of
folks to try to fill the itinerary again. On that score, if you've any ideas we'd be glad
of them. I never really got
around to promoting the last CD very much. Shame. I think it's one of my best.
I never got around to completing the DVD.
Shame too but maybe I'll get around to it sometime.
The German and Danish tours have been
working out well
Meanwhile, I'm back recording with Dr. Fred
Freeman and contemplating some other bits and pieces with him. All a bit vague at the
moment but it should
all come together soon.
This year will see me doing a couple of
concerts at the Edinburgh Fringe.
It's my local fest now you know. One wee solo at The Wee Folk Club on August 8th and
another with my old pal and writing partner Ian Walker at the Acoustic Music Centre at St.
Bride's Centre on August 11th.
I'm really looking forward to working with
him again. I've called that show The Two Ians' Greatest Hits. A hit in folk music terms is
if you've had it requested more than a couple of times so, it's a little tongue in cheek.
Although we have had a bit of success with a song or two between us when I look back.
I hope folks will come along. We probably
need 100 of an audience to make it feel right.
There are other things coming up too. It's
all still on the website. I hope to be sending to you again regularly so you will be
updated.
Well. We're taking a short holiday. We're
off to boiling hot Rhodes for a week. We just need to get away for a while. Everything has
been taking it out
of us. So a week of doing ...er......as little as possible sounds just great.
I'm sure me ol' buddy Elaine will do her
appendage here and fill you in with the wee bits and bobs I've forgotten.
It's time for some late night ironing.
Best wishes and I certainly hope the world
is treating you all well.
Tell me about it if you would like.
Cheers for now.
Ian Bruce
Note from Editor
Dear all,
I hope you are all well.
I am sending this out on Friday 13th,
good job I’m not superstitious!
I promise I have been nagging for the
Newsletter over the last year…. better late than never.
I was pleased to see that Ian thinks my
memory is better than his…..
Just a few weeks ago Ian was at the
Teignmouth Festival. It’s down here in Devon. The folks are friendly and despite the
terrible weather, everyone had a great time. Ian had a stressful journey down - if you see
Ian ask him if he has been to Southampton recently. That’s a bit cryptic but it was a
talking point all weekend. Nothing to do with his navigational skills I hastened to add!
Here are a few websites that you may like
to check out:-
http://www.plumedhorse.co.uk/index.htm
Ian has revamped the website
http://www.acousticmusiccentre.co.uk/gigs/twoians.html
- it has directions to St Brides which is at 10 Orwell Terrace, Edinburgh
http://www.ianbruce.org/pages/mainpages/albums.htm
- summer sale
Keep an eye on Ian’s website for new
gigs and their links.
Better go now.
Here’s hoping that the weather
improves.
Best wishes
Elaine Hawkins
editor@ianbruce.co.uk
****************************************************************
NEWS OF IAN BRUCE 29/11/07
Dear all,
Hope you are all well.
Ian is under the weather at the moment. His
symptoms sounding like "distemper' !
Hopefully he will be fully recovered soon!
Cas from Wales has passed on the following
information.
Ian was in Pontardawe, Wales recently
for a gig and whilst he was there he recorded an interview with Frank Hennessy for
his Celtic Heartbeat radio programme.
It was broadcast on Saturday 24/11/07, but
is available "on-line" via the "listen again facility for the next few
days.
The link is
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/wales.shtml
If that link doesn’t work go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/radiowales/
and then click on the "listen again section" on the right hand side of the
page.
This gives you a choice of programmes
- choose "Celtic Heartbeat".
He sang "Then The Rain Came"
live, and Frank played "Blue Denim Days" and "Westlin' Winds"
[Albums "The Demon's Dance",
"Naked truth vol 1" and "Alloway Tales"]
The interview was very amusing and well
worth a listen.
If you are able to hear it for any reason,
let me know, I'll send you a copy.
I keep nagging about the Newsletters. I
will have to get sterner. As next week is December, I’m sure there will be a
Newsletter for Christmas/ New Year, so I’ve only included the next few gigs!
They are
1/12/07...Penicuik Folk
Club, Craigiebield House Hotel, Bog Road, Penicuik ...01968-678673
20/12/07...Rolling Hills Folk Club, The
King’s Arms, Melrose, Roxburghshire contact rolling.hills1@btinternet.com
Best Wishes
Elaine (Hawkins)
****************************************************************
DECEMBER 2007
Hello and Merry "ho-ho"
Christmas,
There you are! I can be jolly etc. What on
earth was Elaine talking about when she said I have dis-temper. I think I'm quite a placid
guy!
Now. With that awful pun out of the way;
let's carry on with this.
I have indeed been pretty ill with a
man-flu to beat 'em all. Tony had it too. We're still just coming out of it. (No pun
intended.) Sorry to Quarter Folk club and to Newton Stewart for the last minute
cancellations, but I was just hit like a sudden fall of bricks.
Also, for the last four months I've
suffered a thing called plantar fasciitis. It's heel pain. Probably caused by suddenly
walking a lot, in Rhodes, without properly supportive shoes. It's not helped by being on
my feet a lot in the restaurant. Especially in the cellar where the floors are concrete.
Ouch! I'm having ultra sound treatment but not convinced that it's doing much good.
The music's been taking a bit of a back
seat but I'm still keen to gig a bit. There are a few things coming up that I'm really
looking forward to. Obviously, the German tour, which I always enjoy is again in place
this January, but, the ones I'm really looking forward to are the March and April
ones. They're all a wee bit special and places I have not played before.
"Music in the Castle" is set
somewhere in beautiful Argyle. I think there are about 50-70 places and the idea is to be
there all day, come to the gig and stay overnight. Sounds like a great party to me.
The others, I'm sure, Elaine can tell you
more about. I've been over to one of them and it has a great feeling. Good scones too.
The restaurant is coming into its own now.
2008 Bodes well. We keep our fingers crossed too. It's strange having a salary again.
Feels good. However, the gigs are still really important to me and we'll be making an
effort to get a few in the diary this year. Please fill in the gaps if you can. Your
friendly folk singer needs you.
I can't think of too much more to bore you
with so I'll sign off and hope you all have a great time over the Festive Season. I'm
looking forward to it. I'm even writing Christmas cards. I started two weeks ago and
they're still here. Some will definitely arrive late but that's better than last year when
even Tony's mum didn't get one due to the restaurant opening.
Oh! One more thing. Remember that my CDs do
make great Christmas pressies. Or....if you prefer to pick you own tracks and make
up your own CDs, everything is available as a download from my site. http://www.ianbruce.org/pages/albums/albums.htm
Best wishes
Ian Bruce
Ianbruce3@aol.com
www.ianbruce.org
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Message from Editor
Dear all
I can’t believe that it’s only a
matter a of days to Christmas. I’m slightly more organised than Ian, my cards are
sent, but I think the European ones may arrive late. I have bought loads of presents, but
have still to wrap them. I did say that I was going to give one small present to each
recipient and buy a some goats for Africa, it may now be a much smaller herd.
In the gig list above, we have only shown
the gigs to end of April 2008. Keep an eye on the website, when I have the details for the
April Tour of Denmark, I’ll post them there.
The venues of the next gigs are as follows
–
23/3/08 (Easter Sunday) Music in
the Castle, Benmore Centre, Argyll . An excellent weekend of Celtic music in an
atmospheric castle set in the magnificent grounds of the Benmore Botanic Gardens in
southern Argyll, with its giant redwood trees and 250 species of rhododendrons. The entire
castle is taken over for musical and residential purposes. The event attracts overseas
visitors and a large contingent from England. Inexpensive full-board accommodation
is available in the castle. Weekend includes ceilidh dance, concert, workshops and
informal music sessions
3/4/08 Otterton Mill, Devon Set
beside the River Otter in one of Devon's most beautiful valleys - Ottertonmill has a
watermill, a famous bakery and shop brim full of superb local produce, a fabulous
restaurant and an art gallery. It promotes world class music . (This is the venue
will the great scones)
4/4/08 The George at South Molton, N
Devon great music venue
5/4/08 Blue Walnut Cafe, Torquay, Devon
is a fully licensed Café, Live Music venue and Art Gallery. Contained within
the Café is a unique cinema with just 24 seats where films from the early 1900s through
to the present day can be seen. The food is good as well!
Later in the year, Ian will be at the
Teesdale Restaurant, Denholm FC, Cramlington FC , Bollington FC , Belper FC ( to name but
a few), and at Sidmouth Folk Week. I will get around to sending them to the website over
the next few days.
Froehliche Weihnachten, Joyeux Noel and a
very Merry Christmas.
Best wishes for 2008!
Elaine Hawkins
editor@ianbruce.co.uk
PS if you want to email Ian directly with
Christmas wishes, cures for heel pain, or birthday wishes in January – please do
– his email address is Ianbruce3@aol.com
PPS if you have any comments on gigs
it would be lovely to see them on the guestbook of the website
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