Dundee Westfest — Sunday 7 June, Magdalen Green
Westfest was my first time visiting Dundee in decades. Usually, I’m skimming the city circling its many roundabouts on the bypass, so driving over the Tay Bridge felt like seeing the city with fresh eyes.
Thanks to my sponsor Intro2Music, I was staying at the APEX Hotel — a very comfortable place to spend a few days.
Dave Wilkinson and I played on the 'Sarah Buick' Acoustic Stage. The stage setup was spot on, and we got a brilliant response from the audience, with many seeing us for the first time. We kept most of the setup-tempo, and songs like 'Line Up Some Country' and 'Lay Me Down a Pallet on the Floor' went down really well. 'Barstools and Booze' was our final number, which always gets the crowd singing along.
Hats off to these fantastic young performers who also played the Acoustic Stage that day: Sean Findlay, James Liandu, and Demi McMahon. Definitely worth checking out.
Gig done and guitar packed away, I wandered over to the main stage and caught Boogalusa's performance. Seeing festival organiser Alan Wilson on the washboard and Kevin Findlay with his fab fiddle licks was a real treat.
A brilliant day with lots of friendly folk, making for a great introduction to Dundee and its music scene.
I always love playing at Haddstock. It’s a great chance to meet up with friends and soak up the festival vibe. Dave Wilkinson and I have played there a few times over the years, and we were delighted to be asked back.
We showcased a new song, 'Take Me Back to Georgia', alongside old favourites 'Dark Valley' and 'Line Up Some Country'. Seeing the crowd sing along to 'Lay Me Down a Pallet on the Floor' and 'Barstools and Booze' was brilliant.
A big shout‑out to the fab crowd who came to see us — a mix of new and familiar faces, including some who travelled through from Edinburgh.
Definitely a day to remember.
Tayfest Saturday 23rd May — Acoustic Stage
This was my first solo gig at Tayfest, and driving up to the venue, I could feel the buzz in the air.
I loved playing on the Acoustic Stage as I was near the audience and could catch sight of their feet tapping along to my songs. I kept my set pretty upbeat, and that seemed to go down well, judging by the response I had from members of the audience.
One of the highlights for me was seeing my pal Stan Urban putting his voice and piano through their paces with some classic rock ’n’ roll. The audience loved it, as did I.
Another treat for me was meeting Alan Wilson, one of the festival organisers. Alan is also the Chairman of Dundee's WestFest, and I’m looking forward to hearing his band, Boogalusa, at Dundee Westfest.
My sponsor, Mick McCluskey from intro2music and I spent the rest of the day chatting with other performers, catching up with friends, and sharing selfies with fans.
All in all, it was a wonderful day to be playing outdoors at a summer festival.
