Music

We’re delighted to be playing in Scotland again. We’ll be kicking off the tour at the best pub in Fort William – The Grog and Gruel!

Loudest band in the West

The first time you see Dave Manning, you may be cursing him in vain. He’ll be puttering into town soon at his customary 50 miles per hour, so you may be stuck behind him wondering. Wondering why he’s going so slow? “I drive the same old VW bus I bought when I was 17. It’s all stock, and likes to cruise at about 50.” Manning says. “It was designed right after WWII, when life was slower.” To say Manning is “old school” or “a hippie” is an understatement. He makes his living driving from town to town, playing music and living out of his VW bus. “When I first quit my day-job and went on the road full-time it was to support playing music. Now I play music to support living on the road.” That road takes Manning all over. He tours all over the rocky mountain states, and in Europe. “New for this year, I have a VW bus based in England, and my trusty ’65 that I leave here in the states.” He finds playing in other countries more similar than different. “The good news is, everywhere I go I find great people. People willing to share what they have, whether it’s a little or a lot. We already have world peace. We just need to get the governments out of the way.”

For Manning, living (and driving) slowly comes naturally. “There’s a billion dollar industry out there telling us we can’t be happy until we go faster, spend more, get connected! The thing is, they are selling us a lie. For me, happiness comes with going slower, spending less, and connecting with those around me in the moment.”

That’s what Manning sets out to do every time he gets on stage. “It is harder now, people are so used to instant gratification from the smart phone in their pocket, but it’s hollow.” Manning sees himself as the opposite of that; singing the truth of the human experience. “I can’t tell them ‘shut up and listen,’ they hear that all the time from media. But when they look up for a few seconds; when they see the expression on my face, the look in my eye, and hear the emotion in my voice, they get something that they won’t find in their phones. Just a real person, in the moment, humble, expressing the wonder, the joy and mystery of living on earth.” “Authentic” is a word Manning gets sometimes. “I suppose that’s true, I am just me, writing songs about my life, my loves, and singing the cover tunes that really resonate with me.”

Manning picked the wrong instrument for his lifestyle. “I started playing the piano because it was so heavy. A piano is 500 pounds of wood and steel that resonate under the touch of my fingers; an amazing feeling.” 500 pounds of wood and steel in a VW bus? “I wish every club had a piano. And I do perform on a real piano whenever I can, even if it isn’t perfectly tuned.” For the other gigs, it’s his trusty keyboard. “I’ve had it since ’99. Now it’s getting to be like my bus, an old friend that helps me along the way.”

Manning’s style is hard to pin down, as are his influences. His voice carries the gruff, working man sound of Tom Waits or Bruce Springsteen. “But I’m also inspired by the silky voices of the crooners, the New Orleans piano sound, and the rocking boogie woogie of Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis.” At gigs folks alomst get a two for one. A raunchy boogie about drinking beer is followed by a smooth, tender rendition of a jazz classic. “I play the songs that inspire me. BB King said ‘the blues is truth.’ and that’s what I play, whether it’s blues or not.”

‘To Heaven & Back’ With Paula Obrien

Fort William 14th of May 2020

The Moorings Hotel

Join Paula & her wonderful Audience on her 2020 Tour, ‘To Heaven & Back’ for an evening filled with laughter, tears and enlightenment, which will give you a unique insight into the parameters of both life and death. Paula’s To Heaven & Back tour symbolises the importance of bringing the signs and messages from your loved ones into everyday life. Not only feeling comfort at Paula’s shows and Workshops but also during your day to day life making the journey of grief, even if only for a few minutes, that little bit easier.

Learn not only how to communicate with your loved ones and recognise their signs but leave Paula’s event feeling full of positive affirmations and warmth knowing that our loved ones are one step closer than we realise!

*Limited number of VIP tickets are available*

VIP tickets for this event includes:

Admission to the event + gift.
Best seats to watch the show ( front rows )
Exclusive Meet & Greet with Paula after the show.
20 minute VIP group Q&A in which I’m sure some more heavenly visitors will come through after the show.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2701185223235533/

Entry Requirements: 18+

We’re very excited to welcome back the mighty Tide Lines for a 2020 Scottish tour, in association with 432 Presents and Paradigm Talent Agency.

Tide Lines’ sound is a combination of Celtic soul, folk philosophy and big guitars with the voice of a Gaelic angel in singer and chief songwriter Robert Robertson.

In 2017 they self-released their debut album ‘Dreams We Never Lost’, a runaway success north of Hadrian’s Wall which has led to the band selling out shows across the Highlands and Islands, from Glasgow to John O’Groats and all points in-between.

Says Robert Robertson: “Our Barrowlands gig was a real ‘pinch me, I can’t believe it’ moment, so the question was: what can we do to top that? The answer is a tour all round Scotland finishing up with an even bigger show in Glasgow. We can’t wait to get out there and let our fans hear some of the new songs we’ve been working on.”

Tickets on sale now from www.tidelinesband.com/shows.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2482657792056292/

West Lochaber has always been fertile ground for attracting and nurturing traditional talent and this grouping of musical giants is testament to that. All based in Glenfinnan village, the Ceilidh Band members include stalwarts from the traditional music world who are as at home playing large concert venues around the world as intimate bothy cèilidhs. On fiddle is Iain MacFarlane (Blazin’ Fiddles), Colm O’Rua (Daimh) on banjo, Iain MacMaster on accordion/dance calling and Ingrid Henderson (Cliar/Anne Martin duo) on piano and vocals.

Formed for the sheer fun of playing good music, together their unique blend of West Coast dance music will get your toes tapping.

Ape House’ is a Glasgow-based trio specialising
in contemporary traditional music, delivered in a raw, energetic style. Brought together by local sessions, its members had the opportunity to blend styles and influences over several months before formally becoming a band.

Craig Harrison is a fiddler from Co. Clare,
Ireland. Immersed in Clare’s rich culture from a young age, Craig competed at many fleadhanna cheoil throughout his teens. He moved to Glasgow in 2016 in order to study mathematics and since then, he has become increasingly involved in the Glasgow scene and enhanced his Clare fiddle style.

Lachie Robinson grew up surrounded by music,
particularly Folk song and Highland cèilidh traditions. His musical ear was developed further through local Fèisean, where he learned guitar. Meanwhile, listening to genre-bending artists such as Shooglenify, Martyn Bennet and The Poozies nurtured an eclectic
sense of style. Lachie values experimentation and musical curiosity above all, furthering his craft through a BMus in Traditional Music at the RCS.

Wallace Calvert began learning both classical
and traditional music on cello. His passion grew as he participated in various youth projects, taught himself other instruments including concertina, and eventually went on to study traditional music at the RCS. Wallace has become a versatile multi-instrumentalist,
seeking to refine his skills and sensitive playing style through the exploration of Irish, Scottish, Northumbrian, and other traditional folk repertoire.

Ape House creates a fresh, lively and full
sound. Their current focus is upgrading their repertoire with refined arrangements and member-composed tunes.