Fans keeping my spirits up
Scots singer-songwriter has kept his followers entertained with livestreams from his kitchen
SCOTS alt.blues troubadour Dave Arcari’s tour schedule may have been decimated by Covid but the Loch Lomond-based singersongwriter refuses to be downhearted.
Having only been able to play one show since the start of the year – his annual home territory shindig at Buchanan Memorial Hall, Drymen, in February – Dave has seen a run of UK gigs, two US tours and all his scheduled summer festival appearances KO’d by the pandemic.
As a full-time solo touring artist and songwriter, how have you weathered the storm so far?
Livestream concerts have been a crucial income stream. The enthusiasm and generosity of my fanbase has been amazing – and has really helped me through everything, spiritually as well as financially.
You did a weekly livestream series, Blues’n’2s, and from Monday will be doing a new one, Cookin’ Up The Blues. What’s it about?
It will combine my love of cooking and food with some songs. It’s quite a challenge. Not least because a lot of my favourite recipes take too long to cook in a livestream – making Andouille sausage is a two-day process. The series will include barbecue from my smoke pit and outdoor grilling using skills I’ve learnt from my US tours. Music and food seem to go well together.
You also like a chat..
I love chatting with folk after gigs as much as playing the gig. I’ve moved from a “stage” to a table where my wife, Margaret, and I have a drink and virtual chat with folk.
Are you Scotland’s Seasick Steve?
Not really but I can see the similarities – beard, slide guitar, blues-based stuff. We shared these traits before we knew each other.
I first heard of him via a DJ on Lochbroom FM. I was a bit sceptical because of the name – I cannae go novelty names or solo artists who use weird names to try to make themselves sound like a band.
Anyway, we stuck Dog House Music on in the car and really liked it. Nothing particularly new to me though – it sounded a bit like a cross between John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.
We’d been playing it for a week or two when a London guy who had done a feature on me in Mojo magazine asked if I could get some Scottish shows for this American guy now based in England.
I was about to tour Europe so told him I’d get in touch the following year to do some double-header shows around spring time. That was that until Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny when who should appear but Seasick Steve? He stole the show and viewers’ hearts. I thought that would be the shows together out the window and kinda forgot until I was asked to play with him at the Arches in Glasgow. We had a blast and hung out a bit.
A few months later, we played together for T on the Fringe at the Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh. We hung out some more and it was my 43rd birthday, so we had a wee party backstage.
He has been supportive and encouraging, telling me to stick to what I do and not change. Good advice.
Is livestreaming the way to go until live music comes back?
While I still sell CDs and vinyl via my online shop, live shows are where most physical music is bought so sales have taken a hit with lockdown. Streaming doesn’t generate a load of cash, so the royalties from performance and airplay of my music has been an important
income stream. However, performance royalties generated from live shows, particularly bigger festivals and venues, has dwindled too so I’m looking to sync music – music “synchronised” in TV, film, games and related use.
So, is releasing music over for the moment?
While the music itself is no longer a great income stream, regular releases keep fans engaged and help raise awareness of an artist and their music.
What else is planned for 2020?
A Finland and Estonia tour originally scheduled for June has been rescheduled for November – fingers crossed.
● Dave Arcari’s Cookin’ Up The Blues starts on Monday at 8pm, streamed at facebook. com/DaveArcariMusic