Rapper holds EP fundraiser for Lourdes trip

AN OBAN rapper is using his tongue-twisting talents to raise money to help disabled children.

Kevin Irvine, 28, who uses the stage name K9 Kev, is holding a launch night for his new EP on February 13 at Cuan Mor.

All the money raised will go to help Kevin fund a trip to Lourdes with the Hosanna House and Children’s Pilgrimage Trust (HSPC). The trust organises trips to the French pilgrimage site for disabled and disadvantaged children and adults.

Kevin, who is an assistant development worker at Lorn Resource Centre, as well as a volunteer youth worker at Oban Youth Café, hopes the launch night will kick-start his fundraising. He needs to raise £600 for the ‘help a helper’ scheme to secure his place to Lourdes this summer.

He said: ‘I’m having the launch night and charging £ 5 entry, which will hopefully raise around £ 300 if there’s a good turnout. The trip is free for the children but the helpers have to pay their own costs. It provides a fantastic week of respite for the children.’

Kevin’s latest recording, his fifth release and his first solo output for 10 years, features a wealth of local musical talent, including Rory OB, Citizen 9, Lush Puppies, and the Signal Fires.

Kevin said: ‘ The EP took eight months to record. It’s called Dear Diary and is based around the past 10 years of my life and my music – me

reflecting on my life and how hip-hop helped me through my teenage years, when I lacked confidence at school.’

Kevin said the EP is also the end of his rapping as, by his own admission, ‘ the rhymes don’t come as quick as they used to’. His plan is to focus more on the production side of music in the future.

‘The song Dear Diary is one I’m particularly proud of. It features the Lush Puppies, who sang the backing track.

‘It’s about me reading from my diary and my thoughts when I am eight, 14 and then finally 40, and reflecting on them.’

The gig at Cuan Mor is going to be noteworthy for another reason – Kevin will be performing his song Live for the

Weekend live for the last time. ‘It’s the song that people seem to associate with me,’ said Kevin. ‘It was played on XFM radio by Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol in 2007, after I met him outside a gig in Glasgow and freestyled the song to him.’

As well as assistance from local musicians, Oban artist Anna Twigg designed the cover art for the EP.

The gig starts at 7.30pm on Saturday, February 13, at Cuan Mor, and is £ 5 at the door. To donate to the ‘help a helper’ pilgrimage, visit: www. justgiving.com/ hcptgroup43

To see an exclusive clip of Kevin rapping, visit: www. obantimes.co.uk