1995-99 M-R - FALKIRKMUSICSCENE2017

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BIOG'S 90'S +
MACROCOSMICA:  Glasgow based band formed by ex-Teenage Fanclub/Mogwai/Telstar Ponies member Brendan O'Hare (vocals/guitar), along with Gavin Laird & Cerwyss Ower, and featuring, during the late 1990's, Falkirk drummer Russell McEwan (ex-Final Solution). McEwan went on to form Black Sun.
RELEASES:
"Ad Astra" (CD album, God Bless Records, 1997)
"Space Geek" (CD EP, God Bless Records, 1998).
MAGIC BUS:  Funk/rock act who made their debut in 1994, when they won the Martell "Battle Of The Bands". Soon afterwards they changed their name to Alien Frog Chocolate, and then Bingo Fury. The band reverted to Magic Bus by 1996 when they released their debut single, "Superglue".
RELEASES:
"Superglue" (CD single, 1996).

MALINKY:  Edinburgh folk act formed in 1998 by Banknock born vocalist Karine Polwart, along with Steve Byrne (vocals/guitar/bouzouki), Mark Dunlop (whistle/bodhran) & Kit Patterson (violin/guitar/mandolin). The act won the "Open Stage" competition at 1999's Celtic Connections, which led to a deal with Greentrax Records. Polwart, meanwhile, was also a member of MacAlias & The Battlefield Band. Their debut album, "Last Leaves" was released in 2000, after which Patterson was replaced by Leo McCann (whistle) & John Bews (vocals/violin) for their second album. Polwart's blooming solo career led her to leave the band for good in 2005.
RELEASES:
"Last Leaves" (CD album, Greentrax Records, 2000)
"Three Ravens" (CD album, Greentrax Records, 2002).

Brian McNEILL:  A career spanning 46 years has established Brian McNeill as one of the most acclaimed forces in Scottish music. Brian was born in 1950 in Falkirk and has been described as ‘Scotland’s most meaningful contemporary songwriter’ (The Scotsman); add to that his work and influence as performer, composer, producer, teacher, musical director, band leader, novelist and interpreter of Scotland’s past, present and future and you have a man who has never stood still. He has performed around the globe, both as a soloist and with some of the era’s most influential bands, including Battlefield Band, which he founded in 1969. He left the band in 1990 to concentrate on solo projects. Brian performs and teaches regularly at many of the world’s major festivals and is a core member of  the UK fiddle phenomenon, Feast of Fiddles. He is the longest running booked artist at Cambridge Folk Festival.
 
Brian is a multi instrumentalist – chiefly fiddle, bouzouki, mandocello, guitars and concertina – and the importance of his songwriting has long been recognised with such songs as The Yew Tree, The Lads O' The Fair, The Snows of France and Holland,  Strong  Women Rule Us All With Their Tears, Any Mick'll  Do and No Gods and Precious Few Heroes.
 
Brian was especially proud when two lines from The Lads O' The Fair were carved into a viewpoint above his home town of Falkirk, as part of the renovation of the Policy Bing  - an old pit spoil heap - by Falkirk Council and local charities.  His connection with his home town continued with The Falkirk Music Pot project, for which he was commissioned to write, produce, direct and perform music for Falkirk’s 2014 Creative Place Award. The year long project involved local schools, music groups and individuals and culminated in a double CD on Greentrax.
 
Brian’s audio visual shows, The Back O' The North Wind, about Scottish emigration to America, and the sequel, The Baltic Tae Byzantium, exploring the influence of the Scots in Europe, have won wide critical acclaim. His continuing connection with America's Lone Star State led to him being created an honorary Texan by the then Governor George W Bush.
 
Brian is increasingly in demand for his production skills and his credits include albums by The Paul McKenna Band, Lorne MacDougall, Rua Macmillan, Eric Bogle and John Munro, Drones and Bellows and The John Wright Band.
 
Brian is a voracious reader of crime fiction and also writes crime and mystery fiction involving his hero, busker Alex Fraser and his heroine, private sleuth Sammy Knox. His third novel ‘… In The Grass’ was published last year and has just been published in German, along with some of his short stories.
 
For six years Brian was Head of Scottish Music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
 
www.brianmcneill.co.uk/     Photograph courtesy of Daniel Coston.
RELEASES:
Solo:
"Monksgate" (vinyl album, Escalibur Records, 1978)
"Unstrung Hero" (vinyl album, Temple Records, 1985)
"The Busker & The Devil's Only Daughter" (CD/cassette album, Temple Records, 1990)
"The Back O' The North Wind" (CD/cassette album, Greentrax Records, 1991)
"No Gods" (CD/cassette album, Greentrax Records, 1995)
Collaborations: 
Brian McNeill & Alan Reid, "Sidetracks" (vinyl album, Topic Records, 1981)
Brian McNeill & Tom McDonagh, "Horses For Courses" (CD/cassette album, Greentrax Records, 1994)
Brian McNeill & Iain Mackintosh, "Stage By Stage" (CD/cassette album, Greentrax Records, 1995)
Guest performances:
Heather Heywood, "Some Kind Of Love" (vinyl/cassette album, Greentrax Records, 1978)
Dick Gaughan, "Handful Of Earth" (vinyl album, Topic Records, 1981)
Iain MacKintosh, "Gentle Persuasion" (CD/vinyl album, Greentrax Records, 1988)
Horse, "The Same Sky" (CD/cassette/vinyl album, Capitol Records, 1990) 
Robin Laing, "Walking In Time" (CD/cassette album, Greentrax Records, 1994)
Tony McManus, "Tony McManus" (CD/cassette album, Greentrax Records, 1995)
Jock Duncan, "Ye Shine Whar Ye Stan!" (CD/cassette album, Springthyme Records, 1997)
Danny Kyle, "Danny Kyle" (CD album, Iona Records, 1998)
Tequila Mockingbird, "Agora Mesmo" (CD album, Tequila Mockingbird Records, 2001)
Wolfstone, "Live - Not Enough Shouting" (CD album, Once Bitten Records, 2001).

MEANING OF LIFE:  Band who played live in 1997.

MIDWAY:  Act who started playing live in 1996.

MIMIZINE:  Grangemouth based band formed in 1995 by Simon & Lee, who opened their own rehearsal rooms. The band released a demo tape that year produced by Nazareth member Manny Charlton. The band advertised for a bass player later that year, and upon recruiting a former Whumff musician, changed their name to Sumthang.

MONITOR LIZARD:  Denny rock band formed in 1989 by Callum Daymeat, Greig Duncan, Gerard D'Ambrosia & ex-Ad Finem drummer Ronnie Horner. The band continued to play live into 1990, when they won the Falkirk College "Battle Of The Bands". At the end of that year, however they changed their name to Exceed. By May 1991 they were called Monitor Lizard again. The band continued to play live, adding a second guitarist Jim McMillan in October 1992. Alex Pollock (guitar, ex-No Dice) joined the band in 1996, though we are unsure who he replaced, and the band continued into 1997. The following year they changed their name to Exit. 

MONOFREAK:  Denny/Falkirk based band who played live between 1998 and 1999, and featured ex-Lightning Brothers vocalist Craig Anderson and ex-Those Meddling Kids drummer Kenny MacInnes. MacInnes later formed Twin Lizzy, whilst Anderson formed Red Panda.

The MOONDOGS:  Short lived band formed late in 1998 by former Strawberry musicians Nigel Frayling-Kelly (keyboards/vocals), Chris McCarron (vocals guitar), Richard McCarron (drums/vocals) & Gordon (guitar) along with ex-Slowdown bass player Ross Cunningham. When Cunningham left after a couple of months, they changed their name to The Walking Monuments To D.N.A., whilst Cunningham later joined The International Pop Assassins.

MUDSHARK:  Drumchappel based funk metal act featuring Falkirk drummer David Dowell (ex-Numb), along with Derek McCotter (bass), Sammy McCotter (guitar) & Ian McCotter (guitar vocals). Signed to the same management as Texas, they released a single and album in 1995 and toured the UK. 1996 saw them support US bands Dog Eat Dog & Sugar Ray on UK tours, as well as doing two European tours warming up for Prong and The Melvins. Jason Newstead of Metallica quoted the Mudshark album as one of his favourites for 1996 in a Kerrang interview. Despite all this the band failed to secure a deal for a second album, and the brothers kept writing material in a more rap/metal style. Dowell then joined Cooper, whilst Sammy McCotter now leads Glasgow band The States.
RELEASES:
"Cut On The Grain" (7 inch single, Pony Records, 1995)
"Mudshark" (CD album, Pony Records, 1995).

NAGS & STAGS:  Duo from 1999 of Simon Stuart & Steven Wilson. They continued to play live until 2001.

NEPENTHE:  Formed in 1992 by ex-Noise Annoyz members Paul Mann (guitar) & Tam Winters (bass), along with Colin (drums), Steve Marshall (guitar) & Ross Roughhead (vocals). They continued to play heavy rock until 1995, and three years Mann & Winters formed Brighawk.

NEVER BLACKED OUT:  Punk act featuring Neil, who started played live between 1996 and 1997.

NICOLETTE:  Glasgow born singer of Afro-European descent raised in Falkirk, Nigeria, France & Switzerland, Nicolette finally settled in Wales after completing a degree in French, and hooked up with dance act Shut Up & Dance, who produced her debut singles and album in the early 1990's. This led to her being asked to sing with Massive Attack on their second album, "Protection" in 1994, which in turn led to a deal with Talkin' Loud, and the release of her second album in 1996. Featuring an impressive list of collaborators, including Plaid, Alec Empire, Dego and 4-Hero, the album became an instant success on the underground scene and contributed to German imprint K7! re-releasing Now Is Early and getting the singer to record her own DJ Kicks Sessions, once again accompanied by Plaid.  Her third album, "Life Loves Us", marked once again a change of direction for Nicolette. Although retaining some of the atmospheric fundamentals of its predecessors, this album was definitely more upbeat and openly positive. Entirely produced by Nicolette and released on her own Early Records label, the album was the fruit of four years gestation and featured twelve tracks plus numerous interludes inserted in between acting as snapshots of life.
RELEASES:
"O Sinene" (12 inch vinyl single, Shut Up & Dance Records, 1991)
"Single Minded People" (12 inch vinyl single, Shut Up & Dance Records, 1991)
"Wicked Mathematics" (12 inch vinyl/CD single, Shut Up & Dance Records, 1992)
"Now Is Early" (CD/cassette/vinyl album, Shut Up & Dance Records, 1992)
"No Government" (12 inch vinyl/CD single, Talkin' Loud Records, 1995, UK charts # 67)
"We Will Never Know" (12 inch vinyl/cassette/CD single, Talkin' Loud Records, 1996)
"Beautiful Day" (12 inch vinyl/cassette/CD single, Talkin' Loud Records, 1996)
"Let No-One Live Free In Your Head" (vinyl/cassette/CD album, Talkin' Loud Records, 1996)
"Nightmare" (12 inch vinyl/cassette/CD single, Talkin' Loud Records, 1996)
"Life Loves Us" (CD album, Early Recordfs, 2005)
GUEST APPEARANCES:
Massive Attack, "Protection" (CD/cassette album, 1994)

The NICOTINE JUNKIES:  Started playing live 1999, featuring ex-Foam frontman Kevin Byrne on drums, along with Scott (vocals), Mick Murphy (bass) & Les Sweeney (guitar). They soon changed their name to ChiliRyder.

NOTHIN' BUT THE BLUES:  Falkirk based blues band who existed between 1998 and 1999, featuring Bob Laidlaw (bass), Davie Hair (saxophone, ex-Smokehouse Blues Band), Ian Riley (Drums), Jeff Jeffries (vocals) , Billy (guitar) and Ian (guitar). The band played several gigs in Falkirk and Stirling, before Laidlaw & Hair moved onto The Bottleneck Blues Band.

NUMB:  Clydebank based band originally called Clyde who asked ex-Whumff drummer David Dowell to join in 1994. With their new name they started writing and recording material, pursuing a deal with anyone who'd listen, and gigging extensively throughout Scotland and England. The line-up was completed by Pat Biggins (vocals), Alan Johnston (bass), Wullie McGonagle (guitar), and they lasted until 1997, though Dowell left in late-1995 to join Mudshark.

NU2:  U2 tribute act formed in 1999 by ex-Spiderbaby members Mark Ramsay (guitar) & Alan Barker (vocals), along with Adam & Larry doubles Leonard Hoggan (drums) & John Maxwell (bass, ex-Sacrosanct). Three of the members also played with Glam covers act, Lieutenant Stardust. The band are now building up a solid name for themselves on the tribute circuit. In 2003 they appeared as part of the "Way To Blue" festival. The band continued to play, even raising money for Bairns Aid in 2006, right through into 2008, when the band split.
WEBSITE:
http://www.nu2.info

OHIO:  Local act formed in 1996 who started to play live in 1997.

OL'RAG BLUE:  Status Quo tribute act formed by Andrew Gardiner in 1998.

ONE LUV:  Formed October 1999 by ex-Shine members Kenny Cassells (vocals/guitar), Craig Rankin (guitar) & Craig Scott (drums) with ex-Dazed bass player Dave Watson. Almost immediately they signed to Glasgow label Eskimo Records. During the recording of their debut single, the band reverted to the name Shine.

OPEN MINDED:  Open Minded were formed by Colin Taylor (drums), Ross Fairweather (guitar) & Kenny Cassells (vocals/guitar) in the mid-1990's. In 1997 they changed their name to Shine.

ORANGE:  Bo'ness based act from 1999, featuring Clarke Fleming (vocals), Lee Campbell (drums, ex-Parted Company), Gav MacVicar (drums, ex-Dazed) & Jamie Rodgers (bass). They continued to play live until 2001, and still do the occasional date, though with someone called Barry McLardy on guitar. During 1999 - 2000 Rodgers also played with a singer songwriter called Brian Kelly. Campbell moved on to Give Way, whilst Rodgers later joined him in 7past5. Inbetween, Rodgers joined Cooper. 

The ORPHANS:  Started playing live in 1996, and soon changed their name to Stevie & The Thundermen.

OSIRIS:  Falkirk based band formed in 1998 by husband and wife Darren Nimmo (vocals guitar) & Rhiannon Nimmo (drums). They made their debut that summer supporting The International Pop Assassins, and then disappeared. The couple later helped out The Harbour Road Angels.

OSWALD:  Falkirk based band from 1996, named because several of their members lived in Oswald Street, Falkirk. The band began playing again, after a year off, in 1998.

The OTHER ONES:  Eight piece Grangemouth band formed in 1998.

OUTCAST:  Denny act who started playing live 1994, and were still around in 1996. After a year off they returned to live work in 1998, and again in 2000 when they reached the final of the Martell "Battle Of The Bands". That year they also support Annie Christian at the Martell. They continued to play live until 2001.

OUT OF HOURS:  Band formed in 1998, who dropped the "h" in 1999 to become Out Of Ours.

OUT OF OURS:  Band formed in 1998, who dropped the "h" in 1999 to become Out Of Ours.

The OYSTER BAND:  English folk band originally formed in and around Canterbury in a squat near the university by John Jones (vocals/squeezeboxes), Alan Prosser (guitars/mandolin/vocals, ex-Fiddler's Dram), Falkirk born Ian Telfer (fiddle/concertina, ex-Fiddler's Dram), Ian Kearey & Russell Lax (drums) during the mid-1980's. At that time folk-rock, whatever that was, had long since withered and died and the Oyster Band, angry and loud yet still eminently tuneful, were way out on a limb. They became the first act to sign to new label, Cooking Vinyl, and released their debut album, "Step Outside" in 1986.

At every turn since, they've steadfastly followed their own instincts, gloriously disregarding irrelevancies such as image, make-believe musical boundaries and media flavours of the month. Their own writing took a leap on 1987's "Wide Blue Yonder", which included the classic, if seriously strange, "Oxford Girl", as well as an electrifying cover of Billy Bragg's "Between The Wars", and had a guest appearance from Kathryn Tickell on Northumbrian pipes some years before Sting had the same idea. lan Kearey left to be replaced on bass (and occasional cello) by Chopper (ex-3 Mustaphas 3), who came to play a defining role on their next album "Ride", and indeed their sound ever since. "Ride", including a cheeky version of New Order's "Love Vigilantes", left the public in no doubt of the band's unconditional commitment to its own path.

A largely live album, "Little Rock To Leipzig", rounded off the 1980s, and they entered the new decade veering off at an unexpected tangent, collaborating with the high priestess of English folk song, June Tabor, on their most successful album thus far, "Freedom & Rain". They toured with Tabor too, a tense, fascinating amalgam between two highly independent and sharply contrasting spirits and styles which merged into an uneasy dream ticket for English music. "Imagine if Aerosmith and Madonna announced they were to tour together........!!" said Rolling Stone magazine, excitably. It was a refreshing diversion, but one that distracted the Oysters from the sense of purpose that had driven them for so long... and it confused their followers. "Deserters" in 1992 saw that sense of purpose dramatically re-emerge, new drummer Lee (ex-Kirsty MacColl) joining to complete the current line-up and provide a harder edge still to a darker style of songwriting. The contrast between "Deserters" and the relatively jaunty "Freedom And Rain" again confounded the critics.

But by this time the goalposts had shifted again. Bands like The Levellers had been building a fervent following with an alternative indie approach that embraced many of the values pioneered by The Oyster Band. There was also an unexpected upsurge of young musicians taking their own inspiration from folk song and traditional instrumentation; and with their spectacular 1993 album "Holy Bandits" striking a glorious balance between their own traditions and a very modern kind of rock, the Oysters suddenly found themselves talked of as godfathers of a new English style of roots rock. After years being regarded by the music industry as on a par with inter-planetary aliens, it came as a shock to them to discover they were now 'leaders of a movement'.  If anybody imagined this would mellow the band they were wrong. After a compilation album ("Trawler") on which they rather novelly (and to Cooking Vinyl's initial horror) decided to  re-record most of the old tracks to enable Chopper and Lee to put their own stamp on them, they came back in 1995 with "The Shouting End Of Life", probably the most aggressive and political album of their career. It was an album of acute extremes, from the trailblazing title track to their raging treatment of Leon Rosselson's socialist national anthem "The World Turned Upside Down".
In 1997 they teamed up again with friend/producer Alan Scott for "Deep Dark Ocean". It came, unpredictably, with a smile on its face, warm and melodic and, revealing an unexpected talent for quirky pop music, surprised in an election year by ignoring politics altogether (except in the sleevenotes: "Yes, we voted Labour but we didn't inhale").

"Here I Stand", co-produced with Alaric Neville, released during the last summer of the 20th Century, created another landmark with the formation of their own label Running Man. Happily, sales proved the Oysters' following were not fazed by the album's provocative (read "risky") mix of austerity, improvisation, tradition and outright pop; which proved surprisingly radio-friendly and promises well for the label's future.
But while marking time with an interesting remix of one of the "Here I Stand" songs, "Ways Of Holding On", featuring Swedish ice-princess Emma Hardelin from the band Garmarna, The Oyster Band have been talking to their former label. Autumn 2000 saw the release of an ultimate "Best Of" compilation, titled "Granite Years". Covering the period 1986-1997, it weighed somewhat toward the later albums, partly because Cooking Vinyl had already licensed out a compilation from the early albums under the title "Pearls From The Oysters" (one the band had successfully avoided using for a great many years!), and partly because they reckoned the band's writing had improved with time.  The band continue to perform worldwide in 2006.
RELEASES:
"Step Outside" (vinyl/cassette album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1986)
"Hal-An-Tow" (7 inch vinyl single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1986) 
"The Old Dance" (7 inch vinyl single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1986)
"Rose Of England" (7 inch vinyl single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1987)
"Wide Blue Yonder" (vinyl/CD album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1987)
"Ballad Of A Spycatcher" (7 inch vinyl single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1987)
"The Early Days Of A Better Nation" (7 inch vinyl single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1988)
"I Fought The Law" (7 inch vinyl single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1989)
"Ride" (vinyl/CD album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1989)
"The Lost And Found" (7 inch/12 inch vinyl single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1989)
"New York Girls" (7 inch/12 inch vinyl single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1989)
"Love Vigilantes" (7 inch/10 inch vinyl single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1989)
"Little Rock To Leipzig" (vinyl/CD album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1990)
"Granite Years" (7 inch/12 inch vinyl/CD single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1992)
"Deserters" (vinyl/CD album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1992)
"Fiddle Or A Gun" (7 inch vinyl single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1992)
"All That Way For This" (7 inch vinyl single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1992)
"Gone West" (CD single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1993)
"Celtic Junkies" (CD album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1993)
"Holy Bandits" (CD album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1993)
"Cry Cry" (CD single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1994)
"20th of April" (CD single, 1994, Cooking Vinyl Records, Spain only)
"Trawler" (CD album, 1994, Cooking Vinyl Records, Australia / Canada / Germany only)
"Oxford Girl" (CD single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1994)
"The Shouting End Of Life" (CD album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1995)
"Long Dark Street" (CD single, 1995, Cooking Vinyl Records, Germany only)
"Everywhere I Go" (CD single, 1996, Cooking Vinyl Records, Germany only)
"Alive & Shouting" (CD album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1995)
"One Green Hill" (12 inch vinyl single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1996)
"Sail On By" (CD single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1997)
"Deep Dark Ocean" (CD album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1997)
"Tubthumping" (7 inch vinyl single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1997)
"Pearls From The Oysters - The Early Years, 30 Tracks From 86-90" (double CD album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1998)
"Alive & Acoustic" (CD album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1998)
"This Is The Voice" (CD single, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1999)
"Here I Stand" (CD album, Running Man Records, 1999)
"Street Of Dreams" (CD single, 1999, Running Man Records, Germany/Spain only)
"This Is The Voice" (CD single, 1999, Running Man Records, Spain only)
"On The Edge" (CD single, 1999, Running Man Records, Germany only)
"Granite Years" (double CD album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 2000)
"Ways Of Holding On (Waiting For The Sun)" (CD single, Running Man Records, 2000)
"The Soul's Electric" (CD single, 2002, Running Man Records, Germany/Spain only)
"Rise Above" (CD album, Running Man Records, 2002)
"Rise Above" (CD single, 2003, Running Man Records, Spain only)
"25" (CD EP, 2003)
"The Big Sessions: Volume 1" (CD album, Running Man Records, 2004)
The Oyster Band with June Tabor:
"Freedom & Rain" (vinyl/CD album, Cooking Vinyl Records, 1990)
WEBSITE:
http://www.oysterband.co.uk

PAPA TREE:  Band formed in 1993 at North Glasgow College as part of the course, featuring Falkirk drummer Willie Green (ex-Bouncy Castle), Gav Monaghan (guitar), Scott Ballantyne (bass, ex-Termites), Janice Hamilton (keyboards) & Zoey Mitchell (vocals). A rock soul type of band, they released a self-financed EP on NGM Records, and finished 1994 headlining at King Tuts. Green left in 1995 when he went to Jewel & Esk College in Edinburgh, but later joined Groovetunnel.

The PEARLFISHERS:  Glasgow band formed 1989 by ex-Hearts & Minds vocalist/guitarist/ keyboard player (a Falkirk lad) Davy Scott. He recruited Australian Jim Gash (drums) from his former act, and added Brian McAlpine (keyboards) & Mil Stricevic (bass, ex-Big Sur). With the help of the Princes Trust Scott was able to set up his own label, My Dark Star, and release three EP's in the early 1990's. These singles were playlisted all over Scotland, and led to sessions on Radio Clyde & BBC Radio 1, all of which helped the band build up a strong following north of the border.

The first half of 1992 was spent playing an astonishing range of gigs, including the "Drum Beat" benefit at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall, a hugely successful spot on the main stage of the first Scottish Fleadh, support slots at Edinburgh's Usher Hall and the Aberdeen Capitol with Capercaillie, a headline at the SECC during Mayfest, and an open-air gig at Leith Links in Edinburgh with Deacon Blue.
May 1992 saw the start of sessions for the group's debut album at their own studio and at Glasgow's CaVa, featuring guest contributions from Capercaillie's Karen Matheson and Donald Shaw, and Deacon Blue's Graeme Kelling and Jim Prime. The sessions, which continued throughout the year, were only interrupted by    the filming of ITV's 'The Gig' at the Tunnel Club in Glasgow (broadcast twice nationally), and an acoustic tour in December 1992.  Almost a year after the session started the final mixing at Palladium Studios in Edinburgh was completed. The Pearlfishers approached Scottish record label Iona who immediately agreed to license the release of the album and the preceding single. "Saint Francis Songs" emerged as the first choice single, followed by the album, "Za Za's Garden" in August 1993. A second single from the album was released in April 1994, entitled "Living In A Foreign Country".  From there the band started working with Scotland-loving German label Marina, who signed The Pearlfishers and were responsible for the next album, "The Strange Underworld Of The Tall Poppies" in 1997. The album was licensed for mainland Europe by Sony, who memorably flew a posse of French and German journalists over to Glasgow to see them gig at CaVa Studio. The line-up for this album was Scott, McAlpine & Wilf Taylor (drums), with help from Charlie McKerron (violin). By then Scott was working at East Kilbride Arts Centre, and co-produced (with Bill Wells)    an album for Andy Shanks & Jim Russell.

Jim Gash re-joined the band for the next album, "The Young Picnickers" in 1999, along with Deepak Bahl (bass), Amy Geddes (violin), Derek Star (drums) & Gabriel Telerman (guitar). Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub guested on backing vocals. In 1999 Scott, Gash & McAlpine also helped Robin Laing on his "Imaginary Lines" album, whilst Scott produced an album for Tannas.  2000 saw Scott producing The Gentle Waves, as well as a Brian Wilson tribute album for Marina.  The next album, two years later had guest spots from Johnny Cameron, Lindsay Cooper, Alison Lucas, Mick Slaven, Colin Steele & Wendy Wetherby. 2001 also saw the release of "Tiny Waves Mighty Sea", an album by Future Pilot A.K.A. produced by and featuring Scott.  2002 saw The Pearlfishers play at Big In Falkirk in Callendar Park, along with Bob Geldof & Snow Patrol. That year also saw Scott work with Amy Allison, The Bill Wells Trio, Ricky Ross, Space Kelly & John Miller.  2003 saw the band release the ambitious "Sky Meadows" album, taking their music to the outskirts and the byways in October with a short tour ("The Tallpop Sinfonia Tour") of provincial theatres and arts centres throughout central Scotland. The core band was augmented by a string quartet and brass and woodwind trio, enabling the sounds and textures of the album to be faithfully rendered.  2004 saw Scott working with ex-Belle & Sebastian member Isobel Campbell, The BMX Bandits, Amy Rigby Ally Kerr & the legendary Kim Fowley. In 2005 Davy Scott helped to record an album of piping songs for 71 year old David Hamilton, entitled "Tunes From The Glen", as well as working in the studio with Ricky Ross, Amy Allison & Tom Clelland. The band played at the "Way To Blue" Festival in Falkirk in October.  2006 began well, with Scott completing a solo mini-tour of Japan supporting The B.M.X. Bandits (of whom he was also a member by this time), and producing material by Ally Kerr, David Heavenorr & Richard Anderson & YeonGene. By the end of the year he had begun work on the next album, co-produced by Norman Blake (of Teenage Fanclub). 

The next album, "Up With The Larks" was released in September 2007, and featured Scott, Jim Gash, Deepak Bahl, Norman Blake, Stuart Kidd, Derek Star, Margaret, Michael & Shaun Daly and the Tallpop Sinfonia. The album would go on to be the Daily Record's "Scottish Album Of The Year". Scott completed a solo European tour with Norman Blake in October, and then began 2008 with a date at Celtic Connections.
2009 was quiet for the band, however they did release an expanded version of their Christmas album, "A Sunflower At Christmas".  2010 saw a temporary line-up of Scott, Gash, Finlay McDonald & Jim McCulloch (all members of The BMX Bandits) play a tribute gig for Alex Chilton.  2011 saw Scott part-producing the album by Aidan Moffat & Bill Wells, "Everything's Getting Older".  Influenced most obviously by Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney and Jimmy Webb, there are also traces of The Byrds, Burt Bacharach and even the much maligned Gilbert O'Sullivan in The Pearlfishers mix.
RELEASES:
"Sacred" (CD/2 inch EP, My Dark Star, 1991)
"Hurt" (CD/12 inch ED, My Dark Star, 1991)
"Woodenwire" (cassette EP, My Dark Star, 1992)
"Saint Francis Songs" (CD EP, Iona Gold, 1993)
"Za's Za's Garden" (CD/cassette album, Iona Gold, 1993)
"Living In A Foreign Country" (CD EP, Iona Gold, 1994)
"The Strange Underworld Of The Tall Poppies" (CD album, Marina Records, 1997)
"Even On A Sunday Afternoon" (CD EP, Marina Records, 1997)
"Banana Sandwich" (CD EP, Marina Records, 1998)
"The Young Picnickers" (CD album, Marina Records, 1999)
"Across The Milky Way" (CD album, Marina Records, 2001)
"Sky Meadows" (CD/vinyl album, Marina Records, 2003)
"A Sunflower At Christmas" (CD album, Marina Records, 2004)
"Up With The Larks" (CD album, Marina Records, 2007)
"The Umbrellas Of Shibuya" (7 inch single, Marina Records, 2007)
"A Sunflower At Christmas (Expanded version) " (CD album, Marina Records, 2009)
GUEST APPEARANCES:
Andy Shanks & Jim Russell, "Diamonds In The Night" (CD/cassette album, Culburnie Records, 1997)
Bill Wells Vs Future Pilot AKA, "Bill Wells Vs Future Pilot AKA" (CD album, Domino, 1998, engineer)
Various Artists, "Songs For Marshmallow Lovers" (CD album, Marina, 1998)
Duglas T. Stewart, "Frankenstein" (CD album, Vinyl Japan Records, 1998)
Robin Laing, "Imaginary Lines" (CD album, Greentrax Records, 1999)
Tannas, "Suilean Dubh" (CD album, Lochshore Records, 1999)
Various Artists, "Caroline Now! - the songs of Brian Wilson" (CD album, Marina, 2000)
The Gentle Waves, "E.P." (CD EP, Jeepster Records, 2000, engineer)
John Herrald, "Roll On, John" (CD album, Spit And Polish, 2000, engineer/co-producer)
Future Pilot A.K.A. "Tiny Waves, Mighty Sea" (CD album, Geographic Records, 2001)
The Bill Wells Trio, "Incorrect Practice" (album, Geographic, 2001, engineer/co-producer)
Tom Clelland, "Little Stories" (album, Spit And Polish, 2001)
Various Artists, "You Don't Need Darkness..." (album, Geographic/Trattoria, 2001)
Amy Allison, "No Frills Friend" (album, Diesel Only, 2002)
The Bill Wells Trio, "Also In White" (album, Geographic, 2002, engineer and mix)
Space Kelly, "Space Kelly Fanclub" (album, Syft Japan, 2002)
Ricky Ross, "This Is The Life" (album, Papillon, 2002)
John Miller, "Those Old Country Songs" (album, Shoeshine, 2002) 
Isobel Campbell, "Amorino"(album, Snow Storm Records, 2004)
Ally Kerr, "Calling Out To You" (album, Neon Tetra, 2004)
The BMX Bandits, "Down At The Hop"(album, Spit And Polish, 2004, engineer/musician, 2004)
Kim Fowley, "Fantasy World" (album, Spit And Polish, 2004, engineer)
Maher Shalal Hash Baz, "Blues Du Jour" (album, Geographic Records, 2004, engineer)
Amy Rigby, "Till The Wheels Fall Off" (album, Signature Sounds, 2004)
Amy Allison, Everything And Nothing Too" (album, Spit & Polish Records, 2005)
David Hamilton, "Tunes From The Glen" (album, 2005, featuring Davy Scott on guitar & piano)
Tom Clelland, "Life Goes On" (album, Whistleberry Records, 2005)
Ricky Ross, "Pale Rider" (album, P3, 2005, producer/musician)
YeonGene, "Me & My Burt" (CD album, Beatball Records, 2006, producer)
The B.M.X. Bandits, "Bee Stings" (CD album, Poppydisc, 2007, musician)
The B.M.X. Bandits, "Take Me To Heaven" (Internet single, 2007, musician) 
WEBSITES:
http://www.pearlfishers.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/thepearlfishers

PERFORMANCE:  Britpop influenced act formed in 1996 by local musicians and ex-members of Hipster, James Archibald (drums), Stuart Gray (vocals), Doug Hendry (guitar) & Steven Morton (guitar), along with Glaswegian bass player Rob McKinlay. The band made their debut supporting Arab Strap at the Cathouse in Glasgow, before changing their name early in 1997 to Starsail.

The PHANTOM ENGINEER:  Glasgow based act formed in 1998 by David Keenan (guitar, ex-Telstar Ponies), John Hogarty (ex-BMX Bandits/Telstar Ponies) & Falkirk based jazzman Bill Wells (also a solo artist). They released their debut experimental self-titled album in 1998 on Paperhouse Records.
RELEASES:
"Phantom Engineer" (CD album, Paperhouse Records, 1998).

PIPEDOWN:  Eclectic act formed in 1998 and featuring Denny born percussionist Steve Fivey. The rest of the line-up comprised Les Moore (pipes), Axel Campbell (mandolin) & Steve Reid (guitar), and they released their only album, "The First Measure" on Greentrax in 2002.
RELEASES:
"The First Measure" (CD album, Greentrax Records, 2002)

PRETTY KAMIKAZE:  Act formed in 1996 by former Cyanide Dolls members Paul Deans (bass), Kevin O'Donnell (guitar) & Michael Thom (vocals/guitar), along with Chris Catley (drums). The band supported the likes of Annie Christian & Dodgy, before O'Donnell "disappeared" in 1999. At that point Deans, Thom & Catley formed Immune. O'Donnell later turned up in London based band The Be Be See.

PUSH:  Act formed in 1997.

The RADOOS:  Britpop type band who played live in 1996. After a year off they returned to live work in 1998.

RECESSION:  St. Mungo's High based act who started playing live in 1995.

Louis REID:  Former singer with Loudwig, Reid played solo from 1996 onwards. She hooked up with former Simple Minds keyboard player Mick McNeill, who produced various demo tapes in the late 1990's.

RE:SEARCH:  Electronic act formed from the ashes of Final Solution in 1991 by Alan Benzie (mixing), Gordon Robertson (keyboards) & Stephen Smith (mixing). Pre-empting stuff that the Chemical Brothers did much better later on, Re:search did live shows in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and once filled the QMU to bursting. The act featured occasional vocalist Maggie McCann, and also featured dancers as well. Re:search recorded tracks for 2 CDs - "Out There - A Thread Through Time" (a compilation of various Scottish electronica-type bands) & "'Twist" (a compilation of Chris & Cosey covers). The band finally gave up the ghost around 1996, with Benzie moving to London to become a web designer, whilst Robertson later became a comedy script writer for the like of "The Karen Dunbar Show" & "Only An Excuse".

The RESIDUALS:  Bonnybridge/Denny Sex Pistols tribute from 1999 - 2000, featuring Peter Moffat (vocals), Hami (bass), Kev (drums, also with The Straw Dogs) and Sid (guitar). Upon splitting Hami formed Stillife.

RIVERDOG:  Act formed in 1997.

ROOKED:  Denny High based act who started playing live in 1995, and then after a year of relative silence continued between 1997 and 1998.

The ROOM:  Four piece act formed in 1999 by brothers Jake Gillespie (bass) & Scott Gillespie (guitar), who soon changed their name to Abigail's Truth.

 ROSELAND:  Band formed in 1992 by ex-Big Heart musicians Stephen Myles (guitar), Alex Paterson (vocals) & Alan Stewart (guitar), along with Donald Konkol (bass) & John Barrie (drums, ex-Liberators). They also played in an acoustic version, as The Roseland Trio. In 1994 they lost their bass player, but still managed an appearance at "The Event In The Tent" in Grangemouth. The band continued to play live into 1995, with Myles & Stewart later forming Sunhouse.  In 2005 the original line-up of Myles, Paterson, Stewart, Konkol & Barrie reformed, before losing Konkol and advertsing for a new bass player. London based, Laurieston born bass player Doug Strathie then joined the band, whilst also playing with Brett Marvin and The Thunderbolts, but left in summer 2006 before the band could perform live. By the end of the year they had once again called it a day, with Stewart returning to his first band, Dutch. Paterson, Myles & Barrie were then re-united with Stewart in The Lucky Dogs.

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