On December 4th, I will be releasing my upcoming single ‘Sleeping On Your Own’.
It is one of a collection of songs that I have written, recorded, and produced from my bedroom during all the madness that has gone on this year.
Having just graduated from the University of Glasgow in June, I was confronted with the quietest summer I have ever had. A summer that would usually be filled with a multitude of gigs and opportunities. Being someone who cannot sit still for more than around five minutes, this wasn’t particularly easy to come to terms with.
In adversity, however, it’s amazing how you can learn to adapt. I soon turned my active hobby of audio production into much more. A viable way of creating and releasing music.
Cut to now, and I have very nearly finished a fully self-produced EP. This is the first song from it.
Back at the start of 2019, my friend Murray and I promised each other that we would attempt to complete the Edinburgh Half Marathon in 2020.
As many of you will know, Murray sadly passed away at the end of November. He was a best friend, flatmate, drinking chum, budget pun provider and all the rest.
I felt it was only right to keep that promise and run the full Edinburgh Marathon in his memory on Sunday 24th May 2020.
Teenage Cancer Trust
I will be raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust, an organisation devoted to helping young people living with cancer.
From his earlier illness in his late teens, right up until his final days, TCT were able to provide a remarkable amount of support for him in every way possible.
Please donate whatever you can by clicking the link below – it is hugely appreciated ❤️ & the £2,000 target is getting closer!
Performing for the BBC at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – August 2019
As I finished my third year at Glasgow Uni, at the end of March, I found myself with 6 months off until I started back at the end of September!
I had a whole load of ideas to fill my time. At the top of the list was training for a half marathon, planning out summer gigs and getting several new songs produced and ready for release at the end of the year.
As I look back now, at the end of September, it’s been an eventful six months but I couldn’t have imagined how bizarre the last Sunday, in this six month period would end up!
Songwriting
During the months of April & May, it was all about getting five songs ready for the production studio. I decided to go with Mark Morrow for the production and booked him for five days at the start of September.
The production of the new songs was not the only thing I booked in May…. I also registered for my first ever half marathon in Glasgow. Running is not my thing & I’d never done anything like this before, so this was going to be a real challenge!
Summer Gigs
As July approached, the summer gigs started increasing and it was only going to get busier. I found myself booked to perform at the Ladies Scottish Open at The Renaissance Golf Club in East Lothian.
The only other person performing that day was ex-Westlife star, Brian McFadden! Lovely guy and I learnt quite a bit from his on stage patter – he definitely knows a thing or two on how to hold a crowd!
Me ‘n Brian McFadden
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019
I ended up with 20+ gigs over the Edinburgh Festival in August, most notable were a couple of gigs for the BBC and a gig at Malones, supporting the Hoosiers. The guys were in town doing a Fringe show called ‘Felix & the Scootermen: Self-Help Yourself Famous’.
Their Fringe event was a spoof/comic show based on life in the music industry. Irwin & Alan took on the personas of Felix Scoot & Lee Delamare, AKA ‘Felix & the Scootermen’ – I thoroughly enjoyed it!
It was great getting to chat to them both after our gig at Malones and pick up some valuable advice on the way.
Irwin (L) & Alan (R) from the Hoosiers – Malones, Edinburgh – Aug 2019
Production Studio: Mark Morrow
September got under way with five days in the production studio with Mark Morrow. I felt well prepared for this and Mark was great to work with. Mark is mixing and mastering the tracks at the moment and I’ll be releasing the first, of these songs, during November.
With Mark Morrow in the production studio – Edinburgh Sep 2019
Solheim Cup
The following week, I was provisionally booked to perform a private event at the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite get it sorted in time. I still managed to get tickets and catch some of the golf, sun and beers on the Friday!
Solheim Cup – Gleneagles – Sep 2019
Dunhill Links Championship
This leads me on to this last weekend – the final one of my six months off Uni! I was booked to perform two gigs at the Dunhill Links Championship in St. Andrews on Friday & Sunday evenings. I also had the small matter of my biggest challenge of the year on the Sunday morning in Glasgow!
Firstly, on the Friday night, I was playing at the St. Andrews Brewing company. This was the third year I’d done this event and it was as good as ever!
Great Scottish Run Half Marathon
Secondly, I was up earlier than usual on what turned out to be a bizarre Sunday. I was running my first ever half marathon, The Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run Half Marathon, and fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support.
I had some doubts over the last few months but I was determinedto do it – I had trained for it and hoped the training would pay off. I’m glad to say that 2 Hours 3 mins after starting, I completed this challenge and achieved my £500 fund raising target. So grateful to everyone who contributed – thank you!
Great Scottish Run Half Marathon – Glasgow Sep 2019
There wasn’t too much time for celebrations, though! A private event at the Dunhill Links Championship back in St. Andrews that evening beckoned.
The Final Twist…
Finally, after the Sunday evening event, I was invited back to an ‘after-party’ and, as I had my guitar with me, I ended up playing a few tunes. The bizarre bit happened when, out of the blue, Hollywood actor, Bill Murray appeared right next to me and asked if we could do ‘Loch Lomond’ – I didn’t even realise he was at the party!
Here’s a Facebook link to a short video I posted earlier today of Bill Murray and me singing ‘The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond‘ last night –click here. Afterwards, he kindly had a beer with me and passed on some useful advice.
Bill Murray & me singing ‘The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond‘ – St. Andrews, Sep 2019
As if the night couldn’t get any stranger, there was a knock on the door & it was the police, asking us to keep the noise down…. the guitar got put away after that!
Bill Murray got up and apologised to the police. He got everyone’s attention and told them to respect what the police said… and we did! Bill Murray is a lovely man but it was a very odd evening indeed.
Six month ago, I couldn’t imagine running a half marathon in Glasgow, never mind finishing the day off in St. Andrews, singing with Bill Murray and having a beer with him! It certainly has been an eventful summer… with a bizarre twist at the end!
New tracks will be coming out from November onwards, so please watch this space!
It will be a night, filled with amazing original music, raising funds for Brewgooder , so please come along & bring a few friends! Brewgooder works to bring clean water to communities not only to help with bare essentials of existence but to empower communities to make radical, transformative steps themselves to help break free from poverty and into a better life.
HOSTING Venue: Malones, Morrison St or McKirdys Steak House, Morrison St – Steak House Chizuru Tei, Morrison St – Japanese Fusion, Sushi, Bento, Noodles, Teppanyaki Ignite Indian Restaurant, Morrison St – Indian Chop Chop, Morrison St – Chinese Vietnam House, Grove St – Vietnamese Ola Kala, Morrison St – Greek Restaurant/Grill Rodi Turkish BBQ, Morrison St – Turkish BBQ
….& finally…
Irwin & Alan from The Hoosiers have a comedy show “Felix & The Scootermen: Self-Help Yourself Famous” on every day at 4:40pm at the Underbelly, Bristo Square until until 26 Aug! TICKETS: Felix & The Scootermen: Self-Help Yourself Famous
My day at the Ladies Scottish Open in East Lothian included watching some of the top lady golfers on the Ladies European Tour battle it out over the Renaissance Golf Club. I was very fortunate to then perform a live music session with Brian McFadden just after the golf finished. In the evening, at the Renaissance at the evening BBQ. All finished off with an overnight stay at Renaissance – great day!
Hugh Kelly & Brian McFadden – Ladies Scottish Open – 10 Aug 2019
