littleroots musings

CD Review - Bob Leslie "Fat Cat"

2011-11-23T18:19:00.001Z

Twelve months on from his last offering,Fat Cat is the latest CD from Glasgow based singer songwriter Bob Leslie. Aswell as featuring some of Glasgow’s finest session players Bob here enjoys thesupport of his family, daughters Madeleine and Alice helping out with albumcover art and backing vocals respectively.

The musical styles on this CD range fromthe ragtime feel of “One size don’t fit all” through the acoustic picking of “Suddenlythe sun” to the mid tempo slide guitar driven “It wasn’t down in Texas”.

The subject mattermoves from tall tales and lost love and “Kid with a gun” celebrates the lifeand times of Louis Armstrong. I am reminded at times of the work of US singersongwriter Bob Cheevers whose strapline “I don’t know if these stories are truebut they happened to me” could well apply here. No bad thing as far as I’mconcerned.

All in all a goodpiece of work and you can get it, and more information, from www.bobleslie.biz

Latest Gig Listings

2011-08-22T20:33:00.001+01:00

Thurs 25 August 8 pm John Hinshelwood

Tchai Ovna, Otago Lane, Glasgow G12 8PB

0141 357 4524

Mon 5 Sep 8 pm John Hinshelwood

Glenfarg Acoustic Music Club, Glenfarg Hotel, Perthshire PH2 9NU

01337 831116

Sun 18 Sep 8 pm The City Sinners

Linwood Welfare Club, Napier Street, Linwood PA3 3AJ

01505 328851

Wed 5 Oct 8 pm John Hinshelwood

Irvine Acoustic Music Club, Vineburgh Centre, Irvine KA12 0PS

01294 551047

Thurs 6 Oct 8 pm John Hinshelwood

Falkirk Acoustic Music Club, Tolbooth Tavern, Tolbooth Street FK1 1NL

07535 097296

Fri 21 Oct 1 pm John Hinshelwood

Lemon Tree, West North Street, Aberdeen AB24 5AT

01224 337686

Thurs 3 Nov 8 pm The City Sinners

The Village, Edinburgh EH6 4DN

0131 478 7810

Sat 5 Nov 8 pm The City Sinners

Station Hotel, Stonehaven AB39 2NE

01569 740600

Please check with venues for admission prices and exact start / finish times

Bluegrass session has moved!

2011-05-14T16:09:00.002+01:00

The bluegrass session which was started earlier this year has moved! It will now be held the second last Monday of each month at The Arlington, 130 Woodlands Road, Glasgow. Next date is Mon 23rd May.

latest gig news

2011-04-17T13:15:00.004+01:00

Tuesday 19 April 8 pm, John Hinshelwood and Tim Black Acoustic Music Club, Bully Inn, Quarter (near Hamilton) 01357 520528

Friday 22 April 1 pm, John Hinshelwood The Lemon Tree, West North Street, Aberdeen. 01224 337686

Sunday 1 May 8 pm, The City Sinners Linwood Welfare Club, Napier Street, Linwood 01505 328851

Sunday 15 May 8 p.m John Hinshelwood and Tim Black The Royal Oak, Infirmary Street Edinburgh 0131 557 2976

Thursday 26 May 8.30 pm, The City Sinners Caley Sample Room, Angle Park Terrace Edinburgh 0131 337 7204

Thursday 2 June 8 pm, John Hinshelwood and Tim Black St Andrews in the Square, Glasgow 0141 563 0454 (opening for Katy Moffat)

Sunday 5 June 4 pm John Hinshelwood and Tim Black Argyll Arms, Rothesay, Isle of Bute 01700 502643

Sunday 19 June 8 pm John Hinshelwood and Tim Black State Bar, Holland Street, Glasgow (with Kathy Stewart) 01389 879273

Bluegrass Session

2011-03-22T17:22:00.002Z

There's a new Glasgow bluegrass session running the last Tuesday of each month at the The Lismore, 206 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, G11 6AA.

TEL: 0141-576-0102

Next session is 29th March.

All the latest news...

2011-01-30T17:21:00.000Z

Hi and a happy new year from all at littleroots.

The City Sinners are pleased to announce that Kathy Stewart has now joined on a permanent basis, replacing Sandra Gellatly, who left the band in September.

Kathy is an old friend of the band, and sang on John Hinshelwood’s “holler til dawn” CD back in 2002. She is also a singer / songwriter of some distinction, with her two solo releases “Celestial Shoes” and “ Hopes, Tears and Tambourines” both gaining considerable critical acclaim.

The band are looking forward to working with Kathy, and would like to thank Sandra for her contribution to the City Sinners over the last three years, and wish her well in future projects.

Please note that the Sinners’gig at Glasgow’s Grand Ole Opry on Friday 20 May has been cancelled. This is due to rescheduling on the part of the Opry management. Future City Sinners’gigs at the Opry will be on Saturdays, and we will let you know as soon as definite dates are confirmed.

Meanwhile, we are currently putting together gig plans for 2011. In the pipeline are return visits to Glasgow for RB Morris in April and Ben and Kari Bedford as part of their respective UK tours.

John Hinshelwood has gigs confirmed for Glasgow’s Tchai Ovna on 1st March, Quarter Acoustic Music Club in Hamilton on 19 April, The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen on 22 April and The “Wee Folk Club” at the Royal Oak in Edinburgh on 15 May, plus more currently being negotiated. Looking further ahead, John has return visits to the Acoustic Music Clubs at Irvine, Glenfarg, and Falkirk confirmed for later in 2011.

A review by Bluesbunny’s Peter McGee of the Sunshine Delay / John Hinshelwood Band gig at Glasgow’s State Bar back in November is now up the littleroots website. Thanks also to our friends at the Bluesbunny website for including John and Sandra’s “Shattered Pleasures” among their top ten CDs of 2009.

As always, we will keep you informed during 2011 of forthcoming musical plans for the City Sinners, John Hinshelwood Band and other friends of littleroots.

State Bar Gig Review

2011-01-12T15:13:00.002Z

Here's what the nice folks at Bluesbunny said about our recent gig.

John Hinshelwood, The Sunshine Delay live at The State Bar, Glasgow

It’s a Sunday night. Men and women all over the world are huddling in pubs. In the case of the State Bar, it’s crabbit old men playing dominoes. Not my preferred crowd, but then, the John Hinshelwood Band and the Sunshine Delay had to share the room with them. It was a close call in terms of turnout but the music got the words anyway.
Recently reconvened, the Sunshine Delay exist as one of the finest alt-country acts to emerge from Edinburgh. That probably doesn’t seem a great compliment but you’ll need to see them to accept my words. Whether hammering out cover versions or doing their own songs, this act - led by David and Paula McKee (husband and wife, since you ask) - took the basics of country western music and added a saccharine twist. Moreover, they did so with the involuntary addition of dominoes as percussion. Credit is also due to Brendan O’Brien, who impressed on the shoebox. Must be the most uncomfortable instrument of them all.
Next was the redoubtable John Hinshelwood, complete with band. Never one to let a crown down, Hinshelwood tore through a set of largely original material which more than made up for his complete lack of patter between songs. Seemingly starved of the chance to deliver a tune from the Gram Parsons songbook, John was nonetheless in good form. However, the treat of the night came from Tim Black, whose jazz-indebted solo effort correctly garnered both applause and acclaim. Watch out for John Hinshelwood, whatever company he may be in.A brief “rammy” involving both bands would then take place. “Rammy” is this instance being a shorter version of a hootenanny. In the end, it was a delightful version of “Your Cheatin’ Heart” that ensured that the old boys were going home happy.In short, more Sunday nights should be like this. Good music, good booze, and the dominoes crowd are entirely reasonable if you just agree with them while keeping a sensible distance. Goodnight.

Reviewer: Peter McGee
Review Date: 21 November 2010

The Sunshine Delay

Back catalogue

2010-08-04T11:04:00.005+01:00

In a shameless attempt to shift some back catalogue we've put some information and sound samples from John Hinshelwood's last CD, holler 'til dawn, on the site. Click here to access.

The Brickyard Blues Band

2010-03-27T13:58:00.002Z

play their debut gig at The Solid Rock Cafe, Hope Street, Glasgow on Saturday 8th May at 4:30 pm.

Dsecribed as "rock music with a twist of blues and a dash of country" the lineup of Barry Hochfield Guitar and vocals, Colin Devon Guitar and vocals, Jimi Johnson Bass Guitar and vocals, Fiona Couper vocals and Eric Stewart Drums will be playing a mixture of originals and well chosen covers.

Ben Bedford

2010-03-06T11:05:00.002Z

Coming to the State Bar in Glasgow soon is US singer songwriter Ben Bedford.

This is just one of the quotes from his website:
“Land of the Shadows is one great album from start to finish, chock - fullof stunning songs and fine performances. The opening song – Twenty One – was selected asone of our favourite tracks of 2009. A powerful anti-war anthem. We await Ben’sBritish visit with keen anticipation.” Iain Anderson, BBC Radio-Scotland

Ben Bedford
The State Bar
Holland Street
Glasgow
Wednesday 17th March, 8:00 pm, £10

Latest gig news

2010-03-03T11:11:00.001Z

Short notice I'm afraid but we've had to cancel this Friday's City Sinners appearance at Glasgow's Grand Old Opry due to illness. We are scheduled to play there later in the year so look out for those dates.

A modified line-up will play Glasgow's Star folk club at St Andrew's in the Square tomorrow (Thursday). John Hinshelwood will be joined by Tim Black on guitar and Tim Clarke on bass.

Some gigs for the new year

2010-02-07T11:16:00.002Z

We are pleased to announce that highly rated, US songwriter Ben Bedford, will be playing at the State Bar in Glasgow on Wednesday 17th March. This is one of only five UK dates that Ben will be doing, so catch him now before his “up and coming” status rapidly changes to that of universally acclaimed performer. More details soon. http://benbedford.com/

John Hinshelwood and Sandra Gellatly will be headlining at “Live at the Star” at St Andrews in the Square in Glasgow on Thursday 4th March. They also have a headlining date at the Acoustic Music Club in Glenfarg on Monday 5th April.

In addition, the duo have a couple of City Sinners appearances at The Albion Club in Yoker on Monday 22nd February, and at Glasgow’s famous Grand Ole Opry on Friday 5th March.

For details of start times and admission prices, contact the venues.

Monday 22nd February - City Sinners at Albion Club, Yoker . 01389 380415
Thursday 4th March - John Hinshelwood and Sandra Gellatly at St Andrews in the Square, Glasgow. 0141 563 0454

Friday 5th March - City Sinners at the Grand Ole Opry, Glasgow 0141 429 5396

Wednesday 17th March - Ben Bedford at The State Bar, Glasgow 01389 879273

Monday 5th April - John Hinshelwood and Sandra Gellatly at the Glenfarg Acoustic Music Club. 01577 830241

Richard Dobson in Glasgow

2009-11-22T16:50:00.001Z

Fresh from a US tour, singer songwriter Richard Dobson is playing some UK dates in December.

Catch him downstairs at the State Bar, Holland St, Glasgow on Monday 7th December. 8.00pm tickets £10

Some quotes from his website:

TOWNES VAN ZANDT "His rhythms and ideas are great. His words are precise and never wasted. He's one of my favorite songwriters."

STEVE EARLE "Richard Dobson is a great songwriter."

NANCI GRIFFITH "Richard Dobson is the Hemingway of Country Music."

JOHN PRINE "Richard Dobson is one of the best songwriters in Nashville - make that the whole United States."

http://www.richard-j-dobson.ch/

Shattered Pleasures

2009-10-30T17:02:00.002Z

The new CD "Shattered Pleasures" is receiving widespread airplay across Europe and " Hear Your Voice" has reached number 26 in the Hotdisc European Country chart.

John and Sandra will be Stewart Fenwick's guests from 2 - 5 p.m this Sunday afternoon (1st November) on his Celtic Music Radio show. http://www.celticmusicradio.net/ . Remember, if you haven't got a copy yet, it is available from this website and also from CD Baby

updated giglist:

Tuesday 3rd November - Opening for Katy Moffat at The Village in Leith.

Thursday 5th November - Liquid Ship, Great Western Road, Glasgow.

Saturday 7th November - with City Sinners at the Civic Centre, Ardrossan.

Thursday 12th November - Tchai Ovna Tea House, Otago Lane, Glasgow.

Saturday 14th November - The Georgian Hotel, Coatbridge ( with Bob Cheevers )

Monday 7th December - Opening for Richard Dobson at the State Bar, Holland Street, Glasgow.

Ballinluig cancelled!

2009-09-23T20:56:00.002+01:00

Unfortunately the forthcoming City Sinners gig on 3rd Oct at Ballinluig hall has been cancelled. Poor ticket sales are blamed and apparently a couple of other gigs in the area over the summer suffered too. A real shame as we went down a storm when we played there at this time last year...

Sound samples now available

2009-09-06T13:41:00.005+01:00

CD credits and some samples from Shatterd Pleasures are now available from here or via the link on the Buy CDs page.

The CD launch

2009-08-30T13:49:00.007+01:00

John and Sandra would like to thank all those who attended the launch of their new CD “Shattered Pleasures” at Curlers on Byres Road on Saturday evening.
John and Sandra, backed by their band - Iain Barbour (electric/acoustic guitars), Tim Black (electric/acoustic guitars), Tim Clarke (bass), Brendan O’Brien (drums), and Malcolm McMaster (pedal steel) performed all 12 songs from the CD, plus a few old favourites.
Earlier in the evening, the large and enthusiastic crowd had shown their appreciation for excellent sets by Alan Tall and George Stott.

If you were not able to attend the launch, the CD can now be purchased online here from the Buy CDs page.

“Shattered Pleasures” will be the album of the week on Celtic Music Radio from Sunday 30th August. John and Sandra did an interview on Saturday afternoon with the station’s Bill Morris by way of a preview. If you missed the broadcast, it will be repeated between 18.00 - 19.00 on Monday 31st August, and on the “Listen Again” facility. (1530 AM and online at http://www.celticmusicradio.net/)
The CD is also receiving regular airplay on UKCountry Radio, and Sunny Govan Radio.

We look forward to seeing you at our gigs in October and November, details on the What's On page.

First Airplay!

2009-08-16T17:49:00.002+01:00

Tracks from Shattered Pleasures are to be featured on the playlist at www.ukcountryradio.com from next Monday. There will soon be a page here with some sample tracks and the opportunity to buy the CD.

John Hinshelwood & Sandra Gellatly gigs

2009-08-07T16:51:00.008+01:00

John and Sandra will be appearing as follows over the next few months. Lineup depends on the venue and can vary from a duo to a six piece band.

Sunday 4th October - The Royal Oak, Edinburgh

Wednesday 7th October - Scotia Bar, Glasgow

Friday 16th October - Corbie Hall, Milngavie (with Doghouse)

Thursday 22nd October - St Andrews in the Square, Glasgow (with Rab Noakes)

Saturday 24th October - The Merrick Hotel, Seamill

Thursday 5th November - The Liquid Ship, Glasgow.

Thursday 12th November - Tchai Ovna, Glasgow.

Saturday 14th November - The Georgian Hotel, Coatbridge (with Bob Cheevers).

Up and running again!

2009-05-26T19:36:00.007+01:00

Hi folks, littleroots.com is back with a brand new look and fresh content. Biggest news is the new CD from John Hinshelwood and Sandra Gellatly coming soon to a website not a million miles from here.

This site is also the contact point for littleroots lutherie and there will soon be a page dealing with the making and repair of stringed instruments and other services we can offer.

Sinners at the Opry

2009-04-08T13:25:00.005+01:00

The City Sinners are opening for Rolling Stones tribute act Sticky Fingers this Thursday (9th April) at the Grand Ole Opry, Paisley Road Toll Glasgow. (pic shows current lineup)

The City Sinners

2009-03-15T17:47:00.006Z

Glasgow's City Sinners will be presenting their show, based on the life, times and music of Gram Parsons, at Cumbernauld Theatre on Saturday 28th March 2009.

click here for more information