Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Banding together
Pete recruits trio of top musicians for gig
“It’s important to me to play my music with people who fit my songs and fellow musicians I look up to who have confidence in me.”
The passionate words Kirkwood rocker Pete MacLeod used to describe his first headline Glasgow gig highlight how excited the musician is to be sharing a stage with some of the industry’s finest instrumentalists.
The singer-songwriter will be joined by guitarist Steve Cradock and drummer Steve White – regular collaborators with legendary musician Paul Weller – and ex-Lightning Seeds bass player Martyn Campbell for the ‘Pete MacLeod & Band’ show at Glasgow’s St Luke’s venue on February 18.
Pete will utilise the multiple talents of his experienced bandmates to perform tracks from his two critically-acclaimed albums, Rolling Stone and Crestfallen.
He told the Advertiser: “I’ve toured with a lot of bigger acts, including Happy Mondays, but feel that it’s the right time for me to do my first big headline show in Glasgow.
“I enjoy doing solo acoustic gigs, but a lot of people go to shows looking to hear bands play.
“I’ve managed to put a great band together for the upcoming gig and performing as part of a four-piece is something that I’ve always liked.
“It’s important for me to play my music with people who fit my songs and fellow musicians I look up to who have confidence in me; the two Steve’s and Martyn more than fit the bill and I can’t wait to perform with them.
“The two Steve’s haven’t played on stage together since Glastonbury in 2011, so I’m honoured they have chosen my gig for a reunion.
“I’ve written quite a lot of new songs and will play some of them at the gig and new and old fans will have the chance to hear tracks from my two albums.
“The gig is at St Luke’s, which is a converted church and has a sign on the wall saying ‘St Andrew’s’ – and my middle name is Andrew, so it’s meant to be!
“Seriously though, it’s a beautiful venue and I’m very excited to perform in front of what will hopefully be a packed house.”
The announced Glasgow headline slot comes hot on the heels of another big boost for Pete’s career after he signed a deal with a top music publishing company.
He said: “I have joined up with Wardlaw Publishing, who are based in London and work with artists across the globe.
“It’s different territory to signing with an agency or manager; this is an important aspect of music and it helps give purpose to my work.
“I feel like signing the deal has justified all of the time I have put into learning my craft of being a music writer.
“You can’t go chapping on everyone’s doors with your songs, so it’s very reassuring to know a massive company like Wardlaw will be backing my work going forward.
“I’m very happy with the deal and hopefully what has happened to me can act as an inspiration to other budding singersongwriters out there; anything can happen if you just keep believing and put in the hard work.”
The ‘Pete MacLeod & Band’ gig starts at 7pm and is for those aged 14 and above; tickets are available now by calling 0844 477 1000 or visiting www.ticketweb.co.uk/ event/246625