Hamish Stuart

Event information

Glasgow-born Hamish Stuart shot to fame in the 1970's as the falsetto voice and guitarist of the Average White Band, his distinctive songwriting and vocal and guitar style helping pave the way to AWB's extraordinary worldwide success. Hamish spent the rest of the 1980's touring, writing and recording with a galaxy of soul legends, including Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and George Benson.

Hamish joined Paul McCartney’s band (where he switched between guitar and bass as necessary with McCartney) for McCartney's 1989 comeback album, Flowers in the Dirt, and appearing on several other albums and McCartney's world tours of 1989 and 1993.

He left the support role with McCartney to seek a belated solo career, culminating in 1999 with the CD Sooner or Later, 17 years after his final AWB recording. Released on his own Sulphuric Records, it was a gem, sounding much like a classic 70s AWB disc, but with a generally mellower, soulful feel. Leading with the upbeat instrumental, "Sooner," the album captured much of the old AWB groove while mixing in touches of Philadelphia soul ("New Kind of Fool") and Urban Adult Contemporary ("She Is My Lady"). Most of the disc was a collection of well written midtempo numbers ("Makin It Up," "I Don't Wanna Be A Rock," "Care For You") that lyrically discussed male-female relationships in a surprisingly vulnerable manner. And topping if off was "Midnight Rush," a hot funky tune that could have been an Average White Band cut, circa 1976. Stuart's voice, which spent more time on “Sooner or Later” in normal range than in his familiar falsetto, was solid throughout, and his guitar work and backing band were excellent.
Two years later, his Hamish Stuart Band (drummer Ian Thomas, bassist Steve Pearce, keyboardist Andy Wallace, percussionist Jody Linscott, guitarist Adam Phillips and saxman Chris Davis) released the very good Real Live album that covered both classic AWB material and some of Stuart's solo material in an intimate concert setting. Stuart also recorded an jazz/funk instumental album with Thomas, Jim Mullen and Pino Palladino under the group moniker Jimjam.

Hamish continues to perform live with his band and is producing other acts, most recently Gordon Haskell and Swedish singer/songwriter Meja Beckman. He is a consummate performer and his shows continue to sellout and wow audiences wherever he plays.