News

Glasgow Americana Festival: October 3rd to 7th

• 20th Aug 2012

The hugely popular Glasgow Americana Festival is now in its sixth year – and the organisers' determination to provide a top-class line-up has paid off again.

Six shows in all, featuring ten acts at various city venues, will help music fans celebrate once again a highly-rated event that is now a firm favourite on the Scottish live music scene.

The 2012 Festival takes place from October 3rd to 7th and warmly welcomes to Glasgow: Steve Forbert, Jason and The Scorchers, Sam Baker, Eliza Gilkyson, Danny Schmidt, Carrie Elkin, AJ Roach, Lynne Hanson, The Dirty Beggars and The Wynntown Marshals.

The Glasgow Americana Festival was launched to fill a gap left by the irreplaceable, and much missed, Billy Kelly of Big Big Country Festivals’ fame.

Jason and The Scorchers’ 30th Anniversary Tour will include a night of celebration in Glasgow. The Lifetime Achievement Award Winners For Performance from the AMERICANA MUSIC ASSOCIATION will play on the opening night of this year’s Glasgow Americana Festival and celebrating a 30th anniversary.

AJ Roach will be appearing at this year’s Festival on Thursday, October 4. Born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, AJ has travelled over one million miles and performed in more than a dozen countries, playing Glasgow several times. His songs have drawn comparison to the likes of Townes Van Zandt, Vic Chesnutt and Will – Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Oldham.

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Steve Forbert is the latest act to be lined up for this year’s Glasgow Americana Festival. Highly-rated Forbert, who has released a total of 14 studio albums, will play St Andrews in the Square on Friday, October 5. Forbert is one of the few artistes who can mesmerise a crowd with nothing but a distinctive voice, an acoustic guitar and his trusty harmonica slung around his neck.

Sam Baker, a self-confessed sucker for stories whose own are more gripping, insightful, gently witty and pungent than most. Sam returns for his 6th visit to the city to play the CCA on the afternoon of Saturday, October 6. His CD releases have won him plenty of admirers as his compelling and beguiling songs thrive in an intimate live setting.

And on the evening of October 6, there will be an evening show also at the CCA with Eliza Gilkyson, the Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and activist who is known for her insightful storytelling and politically relevant songs. An active member of the Austin music community her songs have been recorded and performed by Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tom Rush and Rosanne Cash, among others.

The Festival will finish this year with a superb Texas Song Writing Circle featuring four great acts. Taking part in this special and intimate show in the CCA will be Sam Baker, Eliza Gilkyson, Danny Schmidt and Carrie Elkin.

Full information can be found on the Festiva's website at link