Victor
Besch and I are in the middle of recording our next CD too. We're hoping to complete
it in September. The ‘Vic and Ian’ tours in Germany are probably my most
successful ventures
. It's a very friendly affair. Vic's great to work with and a very good friend. A new
CD is
again essential.
I have to apologize for the late cancellation of my gig at The King's Bistro, Barnard
Castle.
It's the first time a major events from each of my hats collided so disastrously.
It was
again the ‘Taste of Edinburgh Festival’ that did it. I hope the organizers are
not too angry
with me. I'd love to do that gig sometime in the future.
Private life is good. We're off the county Cork for a few days in July and will be having
a
few days off in Edinburgh after that.
I hope that we meet up soon. Not doing so many gigs these days is a life choice. Home life
is important and being on the road too much would ruin it. I still love to gig and hope
that
folks continue to want me to for some time to come
All the best for reading this.
See you
Ian
Direct email ianbruce3@aol.com
Website www.ianbruce.org
******************************************************************************************
Ramblings
from the Editor (Maybe that should be ‘rumblings’ at the moment as
I’m hungry.)
Hope all is well with you.
This month’s nagging has produced results - the Newsletter. The old Newsletters are
finally
all on the website http://www.ianbruce.org/pages/communications/newsletters.htm
Ian hasn’t mentioned the Shanty
Night. As part of the Leith Festival in a joint venture with the Plumed Horse Restaurant
and a brilliant pub called “The Malt & Hops” – Ian and friends held a
shanty night. Ian did his homework with help from Johnny Collins (he supplied CD and
words). The restaurant had a special seafood menu and the beer at the pub was good.
It was a great success by all accounts ! Where are the photos??
Following my ramblings is the gig guide.
Thinking that I always want to know what the Festivals are like I have checked the website
links and this is what I have found out.
The
concert that Ian is in at the Stonehaven Folk Festival is the Farewell concert on Sunday
Evening and I’m afraid that it is sold out . No wonder -- the others on the concert
bill are Rachel Unthank & the Winterset and Barbara Dickson.
Sidmouth Folk Week
(2/8/08 to 4/8/08) are working him well with events in many types of venue from the
Rugby Club to the Manor Pavilion and the Bedford Hotel. (3 events on Saturday , 2 on
Sunday and a late concert on Monday.) If you are in Devon for the Festival –
why not pop along to Teignmouth Folk Club on 31/7/08
He’s at Pickering Folk Festival on the
Saturday evening and the Sunday lunchtime. The concerts are being held in large marquees
on Pickering showground.
Shrewsbury Folk Festival is a green field site, Ian is there on the Saturday
Hello,
It seems so hard to find moments to get things done these days. A lot of people, when
they've reached their fifties have taken early retirement but I seem to be busier than
ever.
The restaurant is doing well. It received 3 Rosettes from the AA. That was just last week
so it remains to be seen if it will make a difference. I fancy that it will.
But on to the music which is the reason most of you are on my email list.
I feel like I'm back in amongst it again. I've had great fun with decent results, I think,
at Stonehaven, Sidmouth and Shrewsbury festivals. I don't know why but I was nervous at
Shrewsbury. I think I was staggered at the amount of folks who were at my shows. Some
could not get in. Sorry to them. It was very gratifying to know that folks were so much
on/at my side.
I thoroughly enjoyed my Wee Folk Club and Irvine Folk Club appearances.
At Irvine, I won the mystery prize in the raffle. It was a trick they played on me. I
won a copy of Mrs Bruces' Boys Vol 1. The first LP I ever made with my brother Fraser.
(1980) A wee bit of nostalgia there. Thanks to them for that.
We're nearing the end of recording my new CD,
which is sponsored by our restaurant, The Plumed Horse. It'll be mixed next week. It's
another Robert Burns CD. I'm hoping it will be as appreciated as my Alloway Tales CD was.
I had great reaction from it.
This one is called "Rhythm and Burns" and is a result of Burns' preference for
simplicity. It's unusual and quite honestly I'd be disappointed if it was ignored. It is
such that folks will have comments one way or the other. I'll leave you with that
thought.
I'm singing at a Spanish Folk Club
next July. Costa Blanca. I'm looking forward to it very much.
I'm off to Germany again next week and then I'm doing some Village Halls down in Devon
which Elaine can tell you more about. It's all happening.
There's talk of Breezeband doing some more work together. I hope so. I love that combo. We
played together a little at Sidmouth. It felt so right. I hope those who heard enjoyed it.
They said so.
So, back to the grind.
Please keep well and maybe we'll all meet very soon. That would be nice!!
********************************************************************************
Ramblings
from the Editor
Hi all
The above letter may say ‘off to Germany next week’ , but I’m afraid that
I’ve had it for a few days and the tour actually starts tomorrow! Here are the
details
GERMANY
details to follow 26/9/08 to 5/10/08
20-21.09.08 Schloss Machern, Highland Games - 0049 34292-72124
26.09.2008 - Amrum-Nebel, Haus des Gastes...04682-94030
27.09.2008 - Föhr-Wyk, Erdbeerparadies...04681-748475
28.09.08 - Bredsredt, Fiede's Krog - 0049 4671-2300
01.10.2008 - Heiligenhaus, Der Club - 02056-6483
02.10.2008 Schönberg, Bierbörse - phone 04344-301217
03.10.2008 - Oranienburg, Kulturkonsum tickets by e-mail (info@kulturkonsum-ev.de)
I managed to get to the Sidmouth and
Shrewsbury Festivals . Lovely Festivals! Ian’s concerts were great and went
down well.
The weather at both was mixed – sunshine and showers .
The full-house sign was up for both the Shrewsbury venues and also the Rugby Club at
Sidmouth, I did feel sorry for those who didn’t get in.
Ian was interviewed by Lester Simpson at Sidmouth – part of a series finding out how
songwriters write their songs -- what a lovely bloke!
The link-ups with the two Pauls from Belshazzar’s Feast in Sidmouth were just
magical. They are such brilliant musicians, and very witty.
My mind drifted back to the two Breezeband concerts that I organised. Memories of Paul
Sartin coming on to the stage in Ian’s biking suit at the Tavistock gig and producing
from inside it all sorts of things including plastic flowers, sponges and a pot(ted)
plant. The Saltash gig saw the Pauls in dressing gowns and Tam O’Shanter hats.
Lots of fun.
Thanks to Martyn for the gig at the Teignmouth Folk Club – it was a bit of a squeeze
to get everybody in, but well worth the effort.
The bad weather meant that Pickering Folk Festival had to be cancelled in the interests of
public safety. Their site was covered in standing water. It was raining on the Thursday
and more heavy rain was forecast over the next three days. Sorry for anyone who was
disappointed. I see from their website that it is going to take place in May next year
– the weather will hopefully be better
I found this comment about Ian’s appearance at the Stonehaven Festival
Ian Bruce then gave his usual
brilliant stage show including an awesome unaccompanied, unamplified rendition of the
Robert Burns song Westlin Winds.
If anyone has spotted reviews elsewhere, please let me (or Ian) have them for the website.
From 22/10/08 to 25/10/08, Ian will be touring some Village Halls in Devon through the
‘Villages in Action’ scheme
Their brochure says - Ian Bruce
A big man, big voice, big reputation and big songs to match. What makes Ian Bruce stand
out from the crowd is a magnetic personality that seems to reach
out and touch his audience. His warmth and humour is immediately engaging, even before he
starts to sing. When he does, each song is a gem with a
distinctive style and his rich voice underpins each one with emotional depth. Ian’s
huge stage presence has people singing, laughing and crying and
when it’s time to end it’s like saying goodbye to an old, dear friend. He has a
big following of enthusiastic fans and is a regular performer at
Sidmouth Folk Festival. Four lucky village venues will welcome Ian in October.
Wednesday 22 October 7.30pm - Bigbury Memorial Hall - 01548 810373
Thursday 23 October 7.30pm - Branscombe Village Hall - 01297 680225
Friday 24 October 7.30pm - Highweek Village Hall (nr Newton Abbot or Teignmouth) –
01626 364268
Saturday 25 October 7.30pm - Clearbrook Village Hall (nr Plymouth) - 01822 852903
Later in the year there are gigs in Scotland
25-11-08 Quarter Folk Club, The Bully Inn, Quarter, nr Hamilton 01357 520528
04.-12 -08...Falkirk Folk Club, Smiths Lounge, 23 Baxters Wynd, Falkirk, FK1 1PF ..07971
830823
Hope you can get to some on them
Look after yourselves
All best
DECEMBER
2008
Greetings all,
It's December tomorrow. Ouch! I'll need to get in gear and do the Christmas cards.
Something like that shouldn't feel like a chore but it does. Nevertheless there's a huge
feeling of satisfaction when they are eventually popped into the mailbox. So I'll get on
with it and stop moaning. ( I wonder how many of you said "That'll be a first!")
We've finished the new CD. Rhythm & Burns and Linn records have expressed interest
even after hearing it. I await their final decision. Fingers crossed. If they take it on
it should be out about May 09 to coincide with some of the events they have planned for
our good old Scottish homecoming next year. I hope it all works out. The CD is hard to
ignore it'll certainly invite comment. Probably both positive and bewildered. I'm excited
about that. I've had great reaction from Tony and friends and those outside my
immediate family. My brothers can be like that! So there we have it. Also, Dr. Fred
Freeman who knows a thing or two about recording a good CD loves it. So there we have it.
I'm in Denmark just now. I've been thrilled to come over to play for my friend Jean
Haller's 60th birthday. It's not a bad job when you can meet old buddies,
apparently please them with a drop of music and get paid for it. I'm very lucky sometimes.
We met in Ullapool thirteen and a half years ago. Jean, Suzanne and their son,
Rune and Lea their daughter made up half the audience in The Ceilidh Place. They've
been great friends and a good contact for the Danish gigs. You just never know who's in
the audience no matter how small it is.
I have another one night stand on the 12th December in Aerzen, Germany. That'll again be
with friends Big Matten. Does all this make me a jet setter? I'm not too old yet. I've
just been listening to Pete Seeger's new CD called "At 89". The man's an
absolute wonder and inspiration. We could do with a few more like him on this planet.
I've had my lifelong love of The Strawbs rekindled too. They took me through my teens
along with all the usual Cat Stevens, Gallacher & Lyle, Simon & Garf, Beatles,
Stones, etc., etc...... Some of their new acoustic renditions of their old classics are
stunning and Jean has been playing them for me. Good on ya but I can't afford the amount
of Add to Baskets I've just clicked on Amazon!!!
The restaurant is looking like being pretty busy over the next month. That'll be very
welcome too.
The big news for me is that Ingrid Buchwald, after many years of helping me out with my
German gigs has given up her agency work. It was sad for me but I'm quite content knowing
that our friendship will endure. She and Manfred are a wonderful couple and I have to
thank them for everything they've done for me. Cheers you two. I'll send you one of the
new CDs when it emerges.
Other big news is that my old pal Heidi is back on the scene. She is once again doing my
German gigs. I'm so pleased that we're back together. I've missed her friendship and I
look forward to our next meeting in January. Hello Heidi and Fritz.
Life is generally pretty good just now and you find me in positive mood.
We're starting to arrange my first USA trip for years. I'm hoping to be out there in
November 2009. If anyone has a gig for me between 4th and 21st November we could maybe fit
you in. That'd be nice. I'll let you know more about it when I know.
As always, I will have forgotten to report something. Elaine, I'm sure will put that
right. (I'll see her next in Germany. She's coming over to the gig. (She's off her head thank god.)
All the best to all of you and I hope Christmas brings you what you want; nice presents,
maybe better health or simply a bit of well earned peace.
Have a great time y'all.
See you next year.
Ian Bruce
Direct email ianbruce3@aol.com
websire www.ianbruce.org
Ramblings from the Editor
Dear all
As you can see from above, I've had this for a
few days, very sorry for that.
There is one last gig in 2008 . I will be there
in Germany ! please say 'Hallo'
12.12.08...IAN BRUCE, VICTOR BESCH with BIG
MATTEN (die 10. Aerzener Folknacht) AERZEN, DOMAENENBURG
Die Karten zum Preis von je 10,00 Euros gibt es
bei der Gemeindeverwaltung Aerzen, Kirchplatz 2, 31855 Aerzen. Sie koennen auch per mail
oder Telefon bestellt und am Abend des Konzertes bezahlt werden. Das Konzert findet in der
Domaenenburg Aerzen ab 20.00 Uhr statt.
The January tour of Germany with Vic Besch is
shaping up nicely - keep an eye on the website
18.01 IRISH ROVER,
HAMBURG
21.01 DER CLUB, HEILIGENHAUS
22.01 TBC
23.01 SCHLOSS MACHERN, MACHERN b. LEIPZIG
24.01 RATHAUS STUHR, STUHR b. BREMEN
27.01 FEUCHTE ECKE, SUHL
28.01 TBC
29.01 HELLINGST 59 , HOLSTE b. Osterholz-Scharmbeck
30.01 HERMANN- JOSEF KOLLEG STEINFELD - HELLENTHAL
31.01 PETRUS KIRCHE, BERLIN- LICHTERFELDE
01.02 JAGDSCHLOSS , GELBENSANDE (Start 18:00)
I had a quick listen to some tracks of the new
Burns CD in October - breathtaking and moving . It would have made a great present for
Christmas....just have to wait.
I'm off to the German Markets soon - mulled
wine, bratwurst and more Christmas Presents.
Froehliche Weihnachten, Joyeux Noel and a
very Merry Christmas all best wishes for 2009
Look after yourselves
Elaine
editor@ianbruce.co.uk