Local folk singer Ian is back in the Burgh
JONATHAN GEDDES
A Rutherglen folk singer will return to his roots this Friday for a special gig.
Ian Bruce, who attended Rutherglen Academy as a child, will perform at the Meeting Place at Stonelaw Church.
For many years Ian has been one of the best known faces on the Scottish folk scene and a wonderful ambassador for the Scottish singer/ songwriter genre all over Europe and beyond.
Currently recording his 25th album, he started out in his old school’s legendary ballads club.
The group, taught by teacher and future MP Norman Buchan, developed a huge number of acts that later flourished in the thriving Scottish folk scene of the 1960s.
Other teachers included Adam McNaugton, who later wrote the Jeely Piece Song.
Ian and his brother Fraser were then involved with a former pupils club at the Guides Hall on Clincarthill Road, which meant they could continue to perform, and the brothers regularly gigged together for many years.
Ian also worked as a solo act, with a particular interest in the material of Robert Burns, and this is his first appearance at the Meeting Place in over two years.
He has also regularly played shows at Rutherglen Town Hall in the past several years, including with his performing partner Ian Walker.
He is currently involved in promoting the remastered rerelease of one of his earlier albums, 1995’s The Naked Truth Volume 1.
His continual return bookings to festivals in Towersey, Warwick, Bromyard, Cleckheaton, Bedworth and farther afield are a testimony to his following amongst aficionados of Burns, fans of contemporary folk songs and even pop songs of the present day.
Support on Friday will come from South African songstress Miriam Erasmus and local stalwarts the Mairs Family Band, who play country and traditional music.
Doors open at 7pm, the show will start at 7.30pm and tickets are priced at a £5 donation.
Tea/coffee and home baking are included, children go free and there will be limited seating available.