Skerryvore and Tide Lines

Past and present band members of Texas, The Silencers, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Average White Band will be represented at this year’s 15^th Darvel Music Festival.

Red Sky July feature the honey tinged vocals of Shelley McErlaine and Charity Hair, ably backed by Texas guitarist Ally McErlaine. They will kick off the festival on 23 September and will be supported on the night by the excellent Roddy Hart and The Lonesome Fire and Ayrshire’s finest Sean C Kennedy.

24 September concert will bring together soul legends, Hamish Stuart, Steve Ferrone and Molly Duncan of AWB fame. Steve Ferrone is undoubtedly one of the best drummers on the planet and he is taking time off the rigorous Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers touring schedule to fly in from the USA to play a handful of UK shows to promote the trios new album under the name of 360. Five other top musicians will complete the 360 line-up including Steve Pearce (Van Morrison/Sting) on bass. Edinburgh funkateers James Brown is Annie will be the support act. This band are really making waves across the UK soul/funk circuit and with an electrifying stage presence they are not to be missed!

After a few months break the festival returns on 2 December with Scottish celtic rock/traditional music award winners Skerryvore headlining. The band have been favourites at Darvel for many years and their show is one of the festival’s most eagerly anticipated nights. They will be joined on the bill by the quirkily named Irish traditional music champions, Socks in the Frying Pan and rock based local favourites, the Colin Kennedy Band.

The final show on 3 December will feature ex- Silencers JJ Gilmour and Phil Kane. JJ has been lauded for years as one of the best singer song-writers in Scotland and his live performances never disappoint. Two superb exponents of alt- country/rock will join the line-up namely, Dropkick and First Charge of the Light Brigade. Local band The Railwaymen will get things underway on the night.

So there you have it four fantastic shows for music lovers to enjoy at Darvel Town Hall – doors open for each concert at 7pm.

Tickets are on sale now at JH Donald, Kilmarnock, Anna’s Gift Store and Thistle du Florist in Darvel, Tickets Scotland, Glasgow and on-line at the festival website, http://www.darvelmusicfestival.org/the-festival.aspx