The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
● ROCKTALK GIG GUIDE
● A visit from Southern rockers Skinny Molly next week kick starts a series of Kinross gigs.
The veteran Nashville outfit are back at the Green Hotel on August 25 having built a reputation as one of the venue’s most popular turns in recent years, and the quality is equally high the following night when award-winning blues/prog guitarist Chantel McGregor is the big draw.
Those two shows come ahead of a set from former Georgia Satellites frontman Dan Baird and his band Homemade Sin on September 1.
Formed in 2004, Skinny Molly are led by former Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blackfoot guitarist Mike Estes, who’s joined by fellow six-stringer Jay Johnson, bassist Luke Bradshaw and drummer Kurt Pietro.
Staples of the Americana stalwarts’ live set include anthems written by Estes’s former bands, along with original country blues material plus covers of tracks by ‘70s and ‘80s hard rockers Molly Hatchet – Skinny Molly was co-founded by Dave Hlubek, the main songsmith from the Flirtin’ With Disaster rockers.
Meanwhile, multiple British Blues Awards winner Chantel McGregor, 33, hits the Green on August 26 to promote her forthcoming live album Bury’d Alive, which is due to be unleashed on September 6.
The Leeds College of Music graduate released her debut long-player Like No Other in 2011 with her sophomore effort Lose Control appearing four years later. Besides playing tracks from both on her current tour, Bradfordborn Chantel’s also debuting new tracks earmarked for her next studio outing.
Separately, Dan Baird & Homemade Sin head back to the Green next month as part of a tour backing their fifth studio LP Screamer.
It’s the American South band’s first release since their frontman was given the allclear following a health scare two years ago. The four-piece also includes Jason & The Scorchers guitarist Warner Hodges and ex-Georgia Satellites drummer Mauro Magellan.
Cowpunk pioneer Baird released ‘90s solo albums Love Songs For The Hearing Impaired and Buffalo Nickel on uber-producer Rick Rubin’s Def American Recordings before launching Homemade Sin with 2005 set Feels So Good.
Four further studio albums – including Circus Life (2013) and Rollercoaster (2017) – and a batch of live releases followed, with Baird, 65, also earning plaudits for his solo opus SoLow two years ago.
Bookings for all Mundell Music’s Green Hotel gigs are available via Ticketweb. Skinny Molly and Dan Baird tickets cost £23.60, while it is £19.40 for the Chantel McGregor show.
● Alt-country troubadours The Countess Of Fife hit Perthshire later this month in between Edinburgh Fringe gigs.
Led by Rezillos legend Fay Fife and ex-So You Think You’re A Cowboy guitarist Allan Lord Mcdowall, the four-piece are playing Comrie’s White Church on Saturday week. The show comes amidst a series of weekly performances being given by the band during August at the Natami art gallery in Edinburgh’s London Road.
COF are next up at the capital venue on Sunday, with their final Fringe appearance taking place a week later on August 25. Completely separate from Fay’s work with original punks The Rezillos, fans can expect to hear the 2016-formed project’s download singles Don’t Dress Me Up and Your House Is Full Of Baby Dolls alongside such live favourites as Wandering Star and Bad Breed.
White Church tickets £16.76 via Eventbrite.
● Courier Country DIY punk collective Make-ThatA-Take has lined up a diverse session at Conroy’s Basement tomorrow.
The Meadowside venue is hosting four no-nonsense alternative outfits, headed up by folk-punks Katie MF who are making their debut at the venue. Joining the London outfit on a strong bill are Tragical History Tour in full band mode, chamber pop exponent Nicola Madill and lo-fi rockers Buffalo Heart.
Tickets £5 via MTAT online or £6 at the door.
● Danish hardcore warriors Hexis play the only Scottish gig on their European tour at Conroy’s on Wednesday.
They are supported by Swiss extreme metal exponents Zatokrev and queercore rioteers Gay Panic Defence. Tickets £7.40 via the MTAT website or £10 at the door.
● Ex-Sergeant frontman Nick Mercer Jr takes his acoustic songsmithery to Dunfermline’s PJ Molloys tomorrow. Tickets £7.95 via Ticketweb.
● It’s Human League tribute Love Distraction at Clarks on Sunday afternoon. Tickets £11.25 via Eventbrite.
● Cherry Bombz play Tams Bar tomorrow from 3pm and Harlequins on Sunday night.
● Number 57 has sets from Headroom and Bedrock this weekend.