Tae Sup Wi’ A Fifer: The Pictish Trail

• EVENT PREVIEW Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy, July 14

He is the former Fence Records label manager and Fence Home Game co-ordinator who is as famous for his brightly-coloured bobble hats as he is for his eloquent songs.

Now, eight years after he relocated from the East Neuk to the Isle of Eigg, and five years after his decade-long relationship with Fence Records ended following “differences” with Kenny ‘King Creosote’ Anderson, Johnny Lynch, aka The Pictish Trail, is returning to perform in Fife.

The 36-year-old father-of-one, who has two albums, numerous mini-albums, EPs and singles under his belt, is on the bill for the latest Tae Sup Wi’ A Fifer in Kirkcaldy – organised by his old musician friend James Yorkston.

The Lost Map Records founder, who used to perform alongside Yorkston in the Fence band Three Craws, will appear on the latest eclectic Tae Sup bill alongside American experimental music genius Carl Stone and Irish Traveller Thomas McCarthy.

“I’m excited to be coming back to Fife for a visit,” said Johnny. “I’ve not actually played in Kirkcaldy for a while now. I’ve been living on Eigg for the last eight years. It’s a great place but it makes the East Neuk of Fife look like a sprawling metropolis!” he laughed.

Johnny was studying at St Andrews University when he became involved with the infamous Fence Collective. He was the label manager at Fence Records for 10 years and played in a number of Fence bands. He met James a few times at various Fence events in St Andrews and around the East Neuk. They casually toured a lot together – singing on one another’s songs – and got to know the worst of each other’s “in-jokes”.

When he moved to Eigg after his journalist partner decided to take over the tenancy of her uncle’s farm, he initially ran Fence remotely from the west coast, which he says was “totally do-able”.

But when Fence Records folded in 2013 – the Fence name later being resurrected by Kenny Anderson in a different form – he decided to start his own Lost Map Records.

In a recent interview with The Courier, James Yorkston said he missed the Fence Home Game events, which was one of the reasons why he created Tae Sup – to invite different, eclectic acts to the Fife area.

And James’ achievement in making this work has not been lost on Johnny. “I think he’s doing a fantastic thing – it’s really great,” said Johnny. “Not even just in Fife – there’s nothing else in Scotland that has the sort of eclecticism of what he’s pulling together.

“He’s a really ardent music fan and musician. It’s no surprise to me that the line-ups he puts together for these nights are so varied and so interesting.”