Jim Malcolm

Happy New Year everyone. I am just recovering from the festivities of the season and knuckling down to a number of resolutions that are bound to fall by the wayside as quickly as ever! I had a great Hogmanay gig at the Dunkeld Hilton, singing with a smashing band – Pete Clark and Jen Knussen on fiddles, Gregor Lowrey on accordion, Steve Gillies on guitar, Eric Knussen on bass and Graham Mulholland on pipes and whistles.
Like many folkies all over the world Susie and I were very sorry to hear about the passing of one of Scotland’s most beloved singer/songwriters – Andy M. Stewart. Andy had been suffering from poor health for quite some time and it has been couple of years since we last saw him. We very very honoured to have organised one of his last ever public performances in Glasgow where he had us all both spellbound and in stitches with his songs and patter. The snaps are from his songbook which he signed and presented to us – a wonderful collection of his original songs and Scottish favourites that he popularised. As a troubador myself I am often regaled with stories of Andy’s travels and exploits particularly in America. Like me he was a keen fisherman, the beautiful Valley of Strathmore is a song I often sing whilst casting across the Perthshire streams he fished as a lad. He brought a great deal of pleasure to a great many people and left the culture of Scotland very much enriched. Thanks for all the music, Andy.

Perhaps my favourite lines of all songs…