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Kinnaber Junction / Blog

Kinnaber Junction is born

Happy New Year to you all. 01 Jan 2017 marks a new chapter in my musical journey as I stop gigging as Gary Anderson and start gigging under the name Kinnaber Junction.

There are a few reasons for the change but chiefly was due to the top darts player Gary Anderson it was very difficult to find any of my material online.

Why Kinnaber Junction? When I started planning the new album I decided to do it differently than previous and invite musicians I'd crossed paths with over the years. Some of them I have known for years and some for a fairly short time but all made a huge impact on me and I know they would all bring loads to the album.

What does this have to do with Kinnaber Junction? KJ is a railway junction about 100 yards from our house. It used to be the point where the east and west lines converged before heading north to Aberdeen. For me the album is like a convergence of ideas and musicians who I've wanted to work with and therefore seem like the ideal name.

Hopefully a new Kinnaber Junction website will see the light of day and the album should be out around the start of May but hopefully we'll manage to give you a sneak preview of a couple of the tracks before then. Stay tuned......

Yearly round-up, "Rebranding" and Kinnaber Junction

As the holidays are just around the corner I’d like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and most importantly thank you for your continued support.

2016 was supposed to have been all about my new album and there was certainly plenty going on that front (see below) but with gigs coming in I couldn’t say no so it ended up a busier year on the live front than I had anticipated as well.

F’n’3Gs had a quieter year but still some great gigs to look back on. We’ve now played together almost 15 years and it’s still a buzz to play alongside such great musicians.

After our support for Dougie MacLean in 2015 Kith and Kin kept things going with a few local gigs including Montrose Music Festival and a wee spot at Lynne’s daughter’s wedding at the beginning of December.

On the solo front I’ve opened for a host of great acts including Kelley McRae, Blue Rose Code and finish the year with the Old Blind Dogs. Thanks to the promoters and artists for these amazing opportunities. I made a return to The Ugie Folk Festival (always a pleasure) and made my first appearance at the Aberdour Festival and a return to the open mic stage at Perthshire Amber.

“Re-branding” and Kinnaber Junction It has not escaped my notice that finding me on google can be difficult due to a certain darts player. Therefore I’ve decided to gig and record from 2017 under the name Kinnaber Junction so look out for changes to my Reverbnation and Facebook pages shortly.

As I mentioned 2016 was meant to be about my new album and although it has taken longer than expected it’s now well underway and we are getting towards the end of the recording and I’m hoping to have it ready for release late spring early summer 2017. It is being released under the Kinnaber Junction banner and the title will be Looking At The Tracks. When I started to plan the album I decided on a different approach it in as much as I would get as much help as possible rather than doing everything myself. I put together a wish list of producer/engineer and musicians who I had crossed paths with over the years, had admired, and knew would bring something special to the mix. To my surprise everyone who I approached agreed. I cannot thank them all enough for the time and effort they have, and are, putting in to ensure the finished album is as good as it can be.

Producer/Engineer – Mo Dickson Drums – Mike Knowles Bass – Jim Reid Piano/Violin – Rhona Macfarlane Lead Guitar – Sandy Tweeddale Harmonica – Neil Wishart Viola/Cello – Karen Harper Backing Vocals – Anne Anderson Backing Vocals – Lynne Anderson Backing Vocals – Clare Hesketh Backing Vocals – Christian Cooper

The results are sounding great and I can’t wait to share them with everyone. With the number of folk involved I’m not yet sure how Kinnaber Junction will evolve in a live sense (apart from me playing solo under the name) but we hope to do at least one launch gig where everyone is involved.

I was keen to give everyone as blank a canvas as possible to work with and let them develop their parts and that approach has worked really well but the results are such a mix of what I enjoy listening to and have influenced me over the years it could have just as easily been planned. I also got the offer of help with the album artwork from David Clark who has captured some fantastic images. I won’t give anything away at this stage but let’s just say the health and Safety officer took the day off!!

Well I’ll round off at that and look forward to a fantastic 2017 which will hopefully include plenty gigs and radio to promote Looking At The Tracks. If there is anywhere you think I should be playing please feel free to get in touch. With the list of events “taking a break” in 2017 growing ever longer it’s clear things are tough at both local and national levels so any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers and see you down the tracks Gary

2015 review

Happy New Year to everyone who has supported my music over the last 12 months. I thought I’d stick with my annual tradition and do a wee review of what I was up to in 2015. Jan-Mar I kicked the year off with 2 appearances at Celtic Connections playing the Danny Kyle Open Stage where I earned a “Highly Recommended” and for the second year played the Late Night Sessions which again was well received. The Late Night Sessions also saw the premier performance using my new Moon 0003CE guitar. I also appeared at the Big Burn Supper Festival in Dumfries under their emerging artists programme. Feb found me busy with the Carrons supporting both Big Country and Donnie Munro as well as a solo support for Archie Fisher at Edinburgh Folk Club. Apr-Jun In April everything got thrown into turmoil as Anne was diagnosed with breast cancer and months of treatment started. Her positive attitude was absolutely amazing and I ended up not having to cancel any gigs which was always a possibility. MoFest was hectic as always performing solo, with F’n’3Gs and The Carrons. MoFest also saw the launch of F’n’3Gs mini album “Uncovered”. We were all really pleased with how it turned out.

Jul-Sep July kicked off with the end of Anne’s treatment and the very next day our daughter Morven’s graduation. I had supported The John Langan band solo as well as returning to Barry Mill for Music at the Mill. The beginning of August saw the Carrons heading north to play at Belladrum which was a great experience. The month continued with other local festival appearances solo and with both bands. Over the last few months I had also been rehearsing with my sister Lynne after we were heard doing a floor-spot at the Folk Club earlier in the year and were asked if we would like to support Dougie MacLean. The gig was a great success and our set went down really well. Gig-wise September came with an unexpected end when, at the last minute, I picked up solo support slots for the band Coast for a mini tour which linked in nicely with solo gigs at Dundee Celt Fest and Hootanany’s in Inverness. The last week was spent on a song writing retreat at Moniack Mhor ran by Karine Polwart and Findlay Napier. This was a fantastic experience and produced loads of ideas and techniques for future writing as well as making some great new friends. The month closed on a real high when we discovered Anne’s treatment had been successful and the cancer was in remission. Oct-Dec October saw me back at Perthshire Amber and a return visit to the Wee Folk Club in Edinburgh, one of my favourite gigs to play. Another out of the blue invitation found me supporting the Blockheads. A huge thanks to local promoter Charlie Campbell who has been huge help to me this year. The end of November saw me playing my last gig with the Carrons and I wish them all the best for the future. The remainder of the year was spent preparing guide tracks for a new solo album which I am really looking forward to getting my teeth into in 2016 with the help of some great musicians who’ve agreed to play on it and Mo Dickson, who produced the F’n’3Gs CD again twiddling the knobs. The year closed with another great Hogmanay gig at the Black Abbot with F’n’3Gs. While the focus of my attention is definitely the album I’ve already got some great gigs to look forward to and this will be interspersed with Anne and I celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this year. Thanks again for a fantastic 2015 and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible again in 2016. Gary

Supports & songwriting

September was supposed to be a quiet month with two main focuses. Supporting Dougie Maclean and a weeks songwriting retreat. I should have known better....

The month started with serious rehearsing with my sister Lynne in preparation of our new venture, Kith & Kin, taking the stage at Montrose Town Hall to support Dougie Maclean. It was a fantastic night and left both of us excited to take the new duo forward.

The following week saw Kith & Kin in action in Perth before I headed off on a wee last minute solo tour, supporting Coast in Oban and Anstruther as well as slots at Dundee Celt Fest & Hootananny's in Inverness.

This left me in the right location to start a weeks songwriting retreat at Moniack Mhor near Beauly. I arrived not really knowing what to expect but quickly found myself in the middle of a fantastic bunch of people along with fantastic tutors in Karine Polwart and Findlay Napier. Everyone recorded 1 song they had written that week under the watchful eyes/ears of producer Ben Seal and the results were unbelieveable. I came away from the week with 3 new songs and at least another 3 in the pipeline but more importantly some great new friends including a fantastic singer/songwriter from Aberdeen, Christian Cooper, who I hope to work with again and a network of writers I'll be consulting with for a long time to come.

Currently on a couple of weeks breaks before getting back into the saddle with F'n'3Gs 17 Oct Pageant, Arbroath CC& TC 24 Oct Montrose Town Hall Kith & Kin 25 Oct Neptune, Montrose F'n'3Gs 31 Oct Brechin Monster Ball Solo 01 Nov Perthshire Amber Open Mic Solo 01 Nov Wee Folk Club. Edinburgh

I'll also be recording some demo's in preparation for a new CD which I would hope will be out next year.

Thanks to all for your continued support.

Gary

It's been a great year

Hot on the heels of my last blog (Oct 2012!!) I thought I'd have a wee review of 2014 which has been a great year musically and personally with plenty irons in plenty fires. Jan-Mar I kicked the year off by joining a number of musicians from Montrose and indeed musicians all round the country as we staged a weekend of gigs raising money for the Clutha support fund, set up after the helicopter crash at the music venue in Glasgow the previous November. At the end of January I headed down to Celtic Connections where I did a live session with Celtic Music Radio and also played the Late Night Sessions finally getting the Celtic Connections logo behind me. Another debut came in early March when I played the Wee Folk Club in Edinburgh. Apr-Jun In April I finally cajoled my way into a band Colin Clyne was putting together to support an album launch later in the summer. i got in when I told him I could play mandolin as well as guitar (I forgot to mention I didn't own a mandolin...details). A heavy rehearsal schedule followed to get us up to scratch but it has payed off and if you've not seen Colin Clyne and The Carrons catch us in 2015. May brought the annual MoFest and it was bigger and better than ever before kicking off with Status Quo as the headline act. I played solo, a short set with Colin (in a shop window) and a couple of gigs with F'n'3Gs (our gig in Busby's was undoubtedly one of the best we've ever played. After the MoFest Madness was passed F'n'3Gs headed into the studio to record some of our own songs with the incredibly talented Mo Dickson twiddling the knobs. Although the recording went great, due to an ongoing health issue the final mixes are still a wee while away but hopefully to too much longer to wait. Jul-Sep The summer was dominated by the launch of Colin's album The Never Ending Pageant as we play all round the country promoting it. Again if you've not heard it grab yourself a copy. In July I was given the huge honour of performing Bamse at the event to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Bamse's death. I met Captain Hafto's Daughter and Grandaughter and CD's headed off to various locations after the ceremony including Norway and Canada. Early September found me writing and recording a song in preparation for the Scottish Independence Referendum on 18th. I vowed a "no" vote would mean the song would never be heard however I reconsidered and it's being going down great with audiences since then. Oct-Dec During a holiday in Minorca I read a book called The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot and then wrote the song Three Locks. I could write a whole blog on this (and might do yet) but I'll spare you just now. Look it up it is probably the most fascinating story I've ever read. The end of the year threw up some great gigs as I supported Skerryvore twice and played at the Scottish House Folk Festival in MacGreggors Barn and again played at Dougie MacLean's Perthshire Amber Festival. I also did a live internet TV program "Live At Captain Toms" which can be seen at www.kpx.tv. I'll close out the year by joining my old muckers Heidrum for a few tunes to celebrate their 10th anniversary and then with another sell out gig at the Black Abbot on Hogmany with F'n'3Gs. 2015 kicks off with a gig at The Big Burns Supper in Dumfries, a return to Celtic Connections and then in February supports for Archie Fisher at Edinburgh Folk Club (solo) and for Donnie Munro and Big Country (with The Carrons). A huge thanks to everyone who continues to support me fellow musicians, promoters, venues, fans and especially family. See you all in 2015 Gary

New CD + performing with Boo Hewerdine

It feels like my birthday presents came early this year. I finished my second cd, Hair o' the dog, and released it in time for a gig at the Clatterin Brig restaurant. I am really pleased with the results and I've uploaded 2 of the tracks here to give you a taste of it. The album is recorded much more like my live performances with most of the songs stripped back to guitar and vocals, although I couldn't resist "band" arrangements on a couple.

Hot on the heels of this was my long anticipated support slot for Boo Hewerdine. The gig was a huge success and was made even better when Boo allowed me to perform 3 of his songs with him. I sang harmonies on Patience of Angels and Muddy Water and sang and played guitar on Sweet honey in the rock. This is undoubtedly the highlight of my musical career to date and the memories will be with me for a long time to come.

Next up is a gig with F'n'3Gs then start preparing for the open mike stage at Dougie McLean's Perthshire Amber festival at the beginning of November.

Can things get better? Watch this space