Acts playing for us on Saturday 27th August 2011 at The Pheasant Jedburgh

David Kilpatrick has been playing stringed things and writing songs and tunes for a long time, in every manner from renaissance to rock on instruments of all shapes and sizes. Today he mostly plays regular guitar and helps organise Kelso Folk & Live Music Club's late night Friday sessions, where traditional tunes and acoustic pub favourites naturally take over. You can find almost 100 recorded tracks at here.  His music has found its way into CD compilations, a hymnbook in the State of Montana, film and stage projects as well as the Edinburgh Fringe, folk clubs and festivals.  David impressed the crowd at his last appearance at last years Kaleidoscope Music Festival at Jedburgh Town Hall and we look forward having him headline on the 13th August.

Rachel Waters - This will be Rachel 's fourth appearance with Kaleidoscope as a passionate singer/songwriter. After a year of work, local gigs and finals of Live and Unsigned competition 2010 she is now studying for a degree in Popular Music and Recording at the University of Salford. Being a stone's throw from the bizz of Manchester's live music scene, Rachel has immersed herself in the city and intends to gig as much as possible. She has been writing continually and is excited to showcase the result of her time spent over the piano, especially being back on home turf and supporting Kaleidoscope."

Justine Blaszk is a singer song writer from Lauder and winner of The Rising Star competition in 2009 and winner of Borders got Talent in 2010.  She has Played at the Innerleithen Music Festival for the past two year and returning this year.   Justine was one of the acoustic acts for the Sound Festival in Galashiels, playing alongside a list of tribute bands, and she’s also played in Selkirk for their common riding this year.  It’s her first time at Kaleidoscope, and you can see a preview of her here. 

Rob Nicholson is a singer-songwriter based in Hawick. He released his first album "I Was Thinking" in 2010 and is currently in the studio making a follow up. Rob describes his music as being folk/country/rock-and-roll influenced with an emphasis on the lyrics. He has played a number of Borders' venues including Beanscene in Hawick, the String Jam Club in Galashiels, Denholm and St. Boswells.  You can hear some of his songs here.

Friday 1st July 2011, in The Pheasant Jedburgh, from 7.30pm.

Biog Info on the bands playing Friday 1st July 2011

Edinburgh’s The Last September have finally regrouped after a five year hiatus, for second album As The Crow Flies, due for release late 2011.  Originally from Denholm in the Scottish Borders, Pete Deane’s beautiful songs are augmented by the band and guest appearances by Poppy Ackroyd (Hidden Orchestra and Aberfeldy), and Ali Petrie (Hobotalk), who also co-produces.  As The Crow Flies, follows well-received debut Vagrant Song featuring single Streetlite which earned the band plays on BBC Radio 2 among other stations.  First single Precious Time is available as a free download during June from the band’s own site http://www.thelastseptember.co.uk/ from May 30th. 

Bill & Seroras

Seroras is nuts about Hofners and acoustic fingerstyle guitar. Buddy Miller, Darrell Scott,

Justin Townes Earle and Frank Usher are favourite writers and guitar heroes of his.  He played out and about with Blue to the Bone (where he met Bill Muir), Conor McAfee, and The Hired Hand.  Bill Muir is a blues harmonica player active since the 60's. Inspired to play by hearing Sonny Terry and Sonny Boy Williamson. Spent a lot of early playing time in London - favourite artist from then Jo-Ann Kelly. Since moving to Scotland has played with all sorts of music.

Mike Pennington

Originally from the North West of England, Mike began playing in the mid 80's. Heavily influenced by Irish singer/songwriters such as Christy Moore and Jimmy McCarthy, Mike played on the Folk circuit for a number of years before taking a break due to career commitments.  During his break from performing, Mike began to write more of his own material but was listening to a whole range of singer/songwriters as diverse as Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt  and Tom Waites and is prepared, in his own words, "to play any song that I feel some kind of empathy towards"  With the diversity of these influences Mike has a repertoire of songs that can tear at your heart-strings, make you laugh, make you cry and possibly make you angry at injustice. It's never dull!

Originally from Durham City Bob Lawson has lived in the Scottish Borders for most of his life, described as an incurable romantic his love of the lowland Scottish hillsides has been a great inspiration in his life and work. His songs are frequently inspired by literature and paintings like the much appreciated ‘Sweet Sweet Nothing’ or the descriptive ‘Rousseau’s Dream‘. One of the original Morden Tower guitar players his arrangements of poems by Pete Morgan, Ferlinghetti and the Liverpool Poets, Patten, Henri and McGough have been widely performed including Glasgow’s Mayfest and at The Edinburgh Festival. Bob features on ’Vanishing Tricks’ a wonderful album of poetry set to music and performed by Norma Winston and Linda Thompson. The latest contributor is the wonderful young lyricist Faye Taylor and 2 of her compositions feature here, watch out for a whole lot more from this girl.
Recognised for his original 12 string guitar playing Bob was inspired by John Renbourn to take up the 6 string again and in the few years since has produced a collection of songs just itching to inspire singers and musicians to perform. Jazz, blues, folk and rock influences are all apparent in these compositions which include a bunch of songs created in the summer of 2010 with lyrics by Kathy Stewart.
Bob continues to perform and write and says, “music is a gift, made to inspire and share with others, I welcome the opportunity for house gigs, festivals spots and recital venues.. “Hopes , dreams, whatever , I simply want audiences to enjoy my music. I love to hear others perform my songs and over the coming months will include some of my work on Reverbnation“.
http://www.reverbnation.com/thegalaxynextdoor

Biog info for acts playing Fri 4th March 2011

Based in Galashiels, The Stone Ghost Collective began life as a songwriting partnership between ex-Dawn of the Replicants guitarist Mike Small and lyricist Brendan McAndrew, with whom he had previously run the music magazine Sun Zoom Spark. It has since grown to be a true collective, featuring 'moonlighting' musicians from other bands and solo performers, all bringing their peculiar talents to the mix. Inspired by a plethora of influences from to The Beach Boys to The Flaming Lips they will be performing a selection of tracks from their recently released album, Unrequited Lovesongs. SGC's music has been called, "some of the loveliest Brian-Wilson style melodies since the big man hung up his surf board," by Alan Morrison of The Herald and "damn fine bittersweet love songs," by the Fiona Shepherd in The Scotsman. They have also been referred to as "eye-opening" by Chris Buckle in The Skinny.   Songs, videos and pics here. 

Georgia Gordon is a 16 year old acoustic singer/songwriter living in the countryside just outside of Peebles in the Scottish Borders.   In August 2010 she was short listed to the final 10 of a Battle of the Bands to support Edinburgh band Jakil at the Usher Hall. Unfortunately she didn’t make it through but she says it was a fantastic experience playing Studio 24 in Edinburgh.  Her EP “Sing, Sang, Sung” was recorded at the Sound Station in Galashiels can be found at here. Georgia is influenced by KT Tunstall, Bombay Bicycle Club, Paolo Nutini and Coco Sumner and has been playing guitar and playing piano since she was seven.  She told us that she’s excited and honoured to be asked to play at the Kaleidoscope Music Club and has her fingers crossed that people like her songs.  

“I'm Rory Gault-Gordon. I play guitar and sing. I've always been a fan of all types of music and I try to let it all shine through as well as I can in my music. I try to write as truthfully as possible from experiences in my life but often I can travel off on tangents about whatever.”  Sounds good to us. 

  

Introducing Curly Turtles.  Two Guitars, three voices and some beer sometimes has consequences. The consequence of one such night was new Hawick acoustic band, Curly Turtles.  Having had some outings, as part of the line up at Burnfoot Festival, supporting Up In Arms at the Border Club and at Beanscene in Hawick, they've knuckled down and are now keen to share the results with the wider public.  Acoustics complementing each other and tight harmonies is their aim and they're not far off the mark!  Performing mostly covers at present, they have been writing some original material, some of which you can hear at Kaleidoscope.