STRATHAVEN: FRETS / The Strathaven Hotel

Friday 1st November, 2024

7:00pm

Event information

THE COWBOY MOUTH
Grahame Skinner: vocals / acoustic guitar; Douglas MacIntyre: guitar / backing vocals; Laughlin Allan: bass / backing vocals; Douglas Hannah: drums / percussion:

PRESENT
The Cowboy Mouth release their first new track in 30 years on the Last Night From Glasgow label. The Swimmer is taken from the forthcoming album by the group (Faultlines), which the group recorded in Beetroot Studio in Airdrie.
The Cowboy Mouth formed in 1994 by Skinner and MacIntyre, releasing two album in quick succession on the Hamburg-based Marina label. The albums - Life As A Dog (1994) and Love Is Dead (1995) - were well received prior to the group taking a hiatus. Last Night From Glasgow reissued Life As A Dog last year, resulting in some concerts with labelmates The Bathers for which Allan and Hannah joined the group.

The chemistry between the four musicians was immediate, resulting in songs being written and an album being recorded after a period of pre-production rehearsals taking place on a farm in rural South Lanarkshire.

PAST
Grahame Skinner achieved international success as vocalist with Hipsway, whose debut album and attendant hit single (The Honeythief) provided the opportunity to tour the world.
Grahame Skinner and Douglas MacIntyre first met at the latter’s 21st birthday party. At that time Grahame was a member of Jazzateers and recording their album for release on the Rough Trade label. The eponymously titled Jazzateers album received critical kudos and positive reviews in the music press, however the group disbanded soon after the release of the album.
Grahame and Douglas then formed a short lived group - White Savages - who took their name from a James Chance track and were influenced by the New York sound of Television and early Talking Heads. Bass player in White Savages was MacIntyre’s friend Laughlin Allan - both had been in a school group in Strathaven with drummer Douglas Hannah.
It all comes round.

Xan Tyler‘s album Holding Up Half The Sky explores themes of female empowerment. Released on the 24th May on Last Night From Glasgow, it reached No.4 in the Official Scottish Albums Chart and No.10 in the Official UK Vinyl Chart the following week. With plays on BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Scotland and Absolute Radio as well as numerous online stations, Holding Up Half The Sky has received favourable reviews in music press and news outlets alike.

The album is produced by Boo Hewerdine and recorded by Jamie Savage at Chem 19, featuring Louis Abbot (Admiral Fallow), Adam Scott (Album Club), John Rooney (Starry Skies), Emma Pollock (The Delgados), John McCusker on violin, cellist Pete Harvey and Swedish multi-instrumentalist Gustaf Ljunggren.

Although this is Xan’s debut solo album she has had an incredible and extensive career. After getting her start in music as a backing and session singer, she then went on to collaborate with a number of artists, producers and labels on various projects. This includes; creating two albums and touring with Mad Professor, working with dance music producer Timo Maas, releasing an album as Let It Come Down with Shimmy Disc legend Kramer, providing backing vocals for Naomi Bedford and Paul Simmonds and being signed to Alan McGee’s Creation Records as half of synth-pop duo Technique.