Nothing beats a bit of get up & go

Little Fire is set to headline a new festival and here he shares his musical news...

There’s nothing cooler in music than DIY and making it happen.

And it’s always encouraging and inspiring to see musicians making things happen their way and on their own terms.

Sometimes it can feel a bit like kicking against apathy but then that’s what it’s all about.

Sometimes you just have to get the fire started yourself and then other people will come and join the party and that’s exactly what Ayrshire musicians and gig organisers Shaun and Liam McCluskey of Ayrshire band Echo Valley do.

The McCluskey brothers are great young guys with a huge passion for music and they are doing great things for new music locally organising their Live Side of The Moon events which take place at West of The Moon in Ayr.

The band have announced their next show which will see them perform as part of UWS Freshers Week at West of The Moon on Wednesday, September 23.

This looks set to be a whopper of a gig with Brothers, Codist and Enemies of The State all performing. Tickets for the West of the Moon gig are £ 6 from the bands or £ 7 on the door.

● The Harbour Arts Centre in Irvine has announced a special show later in year featuring Irvine songman John Cooper, to my mind one of the greatest music talents ever to sprout from this fertile ground.

An Evening with John Cooper will take place on Saturday, November 28 and will feature John performing songs he has written across the years in addition to support from some friends and local artists.

John is an absolute devotee to the craft of song- writing and a real inspiration to those who are fortunate to know or have met him.

His immense gifts were recognised on an international stage when multi- Grammy Award winning American songwriter Jimmy Webb offered John a song- writing contract and covered his song One of The Few for his 1982 album Angel Heart.

John has throughout his career been invited to pitch songs to artists such as The Carpenters, films such as Full Metal Jacket and is currently working with a number of artists launching their careers in the music industry.

A talented soul the likes of we’ve never seen before and will not see again, John is One of The Few.

Tickets are on sale at the Harbour Arts Centre priced £ 10. Hugely recommended and a unique chance to see this artist in his home town of Irvine.

● Indie music legend Johnny Marr is coming to Ayrshire. The music genius was an integral part of The Smiths for over 20 years and is hugely respected as an artist in his own right.

It’s certainly nothing less than an absolute coup from the Freckfest team who do so much to promote new music in Ayrshire as well as bring established giants in their fields to Ayrshire.

The concert will take place at the Grand Hall in Kilmarnock on Thursday, October 15 and I can see this selling out in an absolute flash so please if you are intent on going then get your tickets sharpish from the Palace Box office or online at www. eastayrshireleisure.com

● This Friday will see the awesome Ziggi Battles perform at Paris Match in Kilmarnock. Well worth a visit this Friday to Paris Match just for Ziggi. Kick off is at 9pm.

Hot gossip from the local music scene