Lanark Music Connections 2010

A few local musicians have got together to organise a music festival in Lanark. The festival will consist of numerous gigs in many of the pubs in and around Lanark over the whole weekend. It is planned that the festival will be an annual event. This year it will take place on 3rd, 4th and 5th September. Styles of music range from celtic, traditional and contemporary folk, roots, acoustic and traditional and there will also be live sessions in many of the pubs throughout the weekend.

For more details of the festival please visit http://www.myspace.com/lanarkmusicconnections
The website is still being updated but the final line up including venues will be ready mid next week.

Many musicians are lined up to come along including:

Kieran Halpin – Kieran is a singer/songwriter of immense talent, with 17 albums, a DVD and 2 songbooks to his name - this is a gig that is not to be missed.

Patsy Matheson accompanied by Clive Gregson - The new live show features Patsy on guitar and vocals, accompanied by Clive on acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin and accordion. Patsy and Clive will also be running a song writing workshop during the festival.

Cruachan – Cruachan Folk Group have been performing their music for over two decades, and are a well-known name on the Scottish folk scene, playing at clubs, pubs and festivals throughout Scotland and abroad.

Kev Thompson – Kev is a great musician and a real fan of Scottish traditional folk music which he plays and sings brilliantly.

Ted Christoper –one of Scotland's finest performers. He is a well travelled and extremely versatile singer songwriter. He is equally at home whether singing heart felt originals to a concert audience, belting out Scottish favourites to the Tartan Army or playing some of his huge pop/rock repertoire to a packed dance floor.

Andrew Burton – a young local musician who is well worth seeing. Andrew’s young bands are always full of energy and play a wide range of music to suit every taste.

Haggerdash - HAGGERDASH are one of Scotland's favourite Folk Group playing a wide range of songs and tunes. HAGGERDASH are much in demand for festivals and folk clubs as well as having many performances in Norway, Denmark and France to their credit. They have had many influences over the years and this is shown in the wide range of material that they perform. HAGGERDASH also perform many of their own songs The main aim of HAGGERDASH is to ensure that anyone attending their performances or listening to their CDs has a really good time.

The Morgan Lee Band – The Morgan Lee Band was the 'brainchild' of Hugh Lee. Hugh has played in a variety of bands over the years and wanted a band with a 'big' celtic sound. We are a 6 piece Glasgow Based outfit who perform everything from Capercaillie to Dylan as well as some self penned numbers . Our roots range from traditional to celtic to classical with a bit of blues thrown in

Big Dave and the Gnomes – This is a very talented group of local musicians who deliver a range of songs in their own inimitable style ranging from contemporary roots to some old classics. A great local band well worth an hour of anyone’s time.

Red Rain – This is a local duo of very talented guitarists/singers who perform a wide selection of songs and are not to be missed.

http://www.myspace.com/lanarkmusicconnections

Friday night: Cruachan (The Wee Mans), Ted Christopher (Corra Linn), 8 Track Stereo (Woodpecker), Big Dave and the Gnomes, One Foot in the Groove, Peacock Waters (Wetherspoons).

Saturday afternoon sessions: there will be open Jam Sessions all afternoon in The Market Bar (1-3pm), The Wee Mans (2-4pm) and The Wallace Cave (3-5pm). Times of jam sessions are approximate - like last year we hope that the music will keep on going as long as anyone wants to keep playing, with musicians wandering between the 3 pubs which are all located very close to each other. There will also be an Open Stage for those who want to get mic'd up in The Horse and Jockey from 2-5pm.

Saturday all day event: a great new event at this years festival is The Foundry Stage which starts at at 2pm in Wetherspoons and will go on into the evening until approx 9pm or later. The Foundry is a local recording studio which is hugely involved in promoting new local talent. The Foundry Stage will be a showcase of the best bands currently recording at The Foundry with the studio engineers on the sound desk. The Foundry is well known locally for organising the "Be in Belhaven" festival in Wishaw which was on 13th August this year - a fantastic day with some excellent bands. The Foundry Stage in Wetherspoons is really "not to be missed."

Saturday evening: Patsy Matheson and Becky Mills of "Waking the Witch" (Horse and Jockey), John Coletta (Wee Mans), Mick West, Tom Clelland (Crown - £3), 8 Track Stereo (Equestrian Centre - this may be an early gig starting at approx 7pm), Open Stage (Woodpecker 7-10pm).

Sunday afternoon: Song Writing Workshop with Patsy Matheson and Becky Mills.!

Sunday evening: Patsy Matheson and Becky Mills, Touchwood (Crown - £3).

Hope to see some of you there. If you want more details you can find us on facebook and MySpace.