Indie stars to hit Campbeltown for 2024 songwriters festival
The 15th Kintyre Songwriters Festival, running over the weekend of June 7-9, promises another wonderful weekend of entertainment in Campbeltown, with the line-up packed with some of the most exciting names in the indie-pop music scene.
The Friday night showcase in Campbeltown Town Hall will be headlined by Alex Amor. Hailing from suburban Glasgow, Alex is a creative, singer/songwriter and flautist who studied textile design at art school before music led her to London.
Her conversational indie-pop songs, inspired by Big Thief, Tame Impala and The Staves, are a vehicle for connection as much as they are personal reflection.
Also performing on Friday are ambient indie-folk duo Quiet Houses, comprising Jamie Stewart and Hannah Elliott, who met at school in Edinburgh and moved to Manchester to study music.
After seeing The Staves perform at the Glasgow Art School, the pair resolved to start writing songs together. Having been nominated for BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year 2024, the band have featured at Celtic Connections and have played a number of festival and support shows. Inspired by artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, Adrianne Lenker, Babygirl and Gracie Abrams, Quiet Houses fuse indie-folk textures with lush pop production.
Performing for the first time at the festival is young local singer/songwriter Elyce Walker, while Ragbag of Contradictions (Chris Annetts) will be returning to showcase quirky songs from his recently released debut album. Regular performers like Dave Fee and Craig Bedson will be joined by the debut of songwriting partners Les Oman and Gordon Hanning, who are currently recording under the name Ghost Rock.
Local rockers Under Smoke make a welcome return to the line-up along with all-female band Angel Face who feature musicians with local connections from Helensburgh, Kilcreggan and Arrochar.
The Friday line-up is completed by The Twisted Melons who will be previewing brand new songs and tracks from their forthcoming fifth album while The Gilchristians will open the show performing the songs of festival founder Kenneth Gilchrist.
Saturday night sees a return to Campbeltown for ex-Pronto Mama frontman Marc Rooney with his brand new indie rock band Frank So.
Marc was a regular online performer during lockdown and released some critically acclaimed singles under the guise of Bright Light Rooney before returning to rockier sounds with Frank So in 2024.
Also on the Saturday bill is Alice Faye, a remarkable artist who stands out in the vibrant Glasgow music scene.
Her deep appreciation for classic 1970s pop, 1960s folk, and country traditions takes on a new and exhilarating dimension, enriched by the dramatic chanson influences of iconic figures like Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel.
The final guest act on Saturday is Scottish solo act Grayling. Hailing from a wee house in Bonhill, where the sounds of Queen, Carole King and Billy Joel reverberated through the walls, Grayling grew up in a musical family but shied away from performing and stepping into her own light until later in life.
Busking on the banks of Loch Lomond saw the start of her full-time music career. Her time is now spent writing in her flat in Glasgow, leading songwriting workshops and gigging with friends and bandmates around Scotland.
Grayling’s first EP Greenhouse, released in August 2022, had a focus on getting well, growing through painful experiences and learning to care for oneself.
Renowned local folk act The Sarachs play on Saturday, a little less “wild” than before but with bassist Alex Johnson returning to the festival stage.
Another artist with strong local connections is Gareth Croll, who will play an acoustic set, and Dave Bisset, best known as a member of local legends The Wee Toon Tellers.
Che Martin again brings his Dylanesque balladry while Ruairidh Wallace, frontman of indie-folk band Curiosity Shop, will perform a solo set.
Unpredictable rockers Gullion will play another anticipated set and the bill is rounded out by theatrical acoustic rockers Medunom and passionate rocker Iain McIntyre.
An open stage will also run over the weekend. The Commercial Inn will host the final free entry night on Sunday with headliners The Gilchristians supported by an open stage with the artists who have performed over the weekend.
Tickets are available from AP Taylor on Campbeltown’s Main Street, or online at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kintyre-songwriters-festival-2024-tickets-885601797817.