Described as “one of Scotland’s best kept secrets”, Glaswegian singer/songwriter Roddy Hart promises to shake off the tag with the release of his second studio album Sign Language on Vertical Records. Inviting comparisons with greats such as Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty, Hart has established himself as an artist in the classic mould, and is gaining a growing reputation for his live shows with his band, The Lonesome Fire.
After graduating from Glasgow University with a first class law degree, Hart eschewed the most obvious of paths to release his self-recorded demo Home Tapes, which subsequently sold out. The demo brought him to the attention of US legend Kris Kristofferson, who invited the young singer to open for him on his U.K. tour. Kristofferson then added vocals to Hart’s debut studio album Bookmarks, alongside Scottish singer Eddi Reader. The record was released to critical acclaim in 2006 on Vertical Records (and 2007 on U.S. label Compass), and was described as an “instant classic”. It was named as one of the Sunday Mail’s top ten albums of the year.
Subsequent tours followed with both Kris Kristofferson and Eddi Reader in the U.K., and Hart performed with Kristofferson at the Royal Albert Hall in April 2008. He has toured America in support of the Trashcan Sinatras (including a slot at the prestigious industry festival “South by Southwest”), played shows in Japan, Spain and Ireland, and has opened for other artists such as John Prine, Ray LaMontagne, Teddy Thompson, Rosanne Cash, and Deacon Blue. In the summer of 2008 Hart was asked to perform at the International Leonard Cohen festival in Edmonton, Canada, broadcast live on the national CBC network.
In January 2009, Hart was commissioned to write new melodies to existing Robert Burns’s poems to celebrate the launch of Homecoming Scotland. This led to an invitation to perform for the Queen at the Scottish Parliament, to mark its 10-year anniversary on July 4th, 2009. He also started the year with a 3-month stint on BBC Radio Scotland, presenting his own show. He continues as a regular stand-in for the station’s much-loved Iain Anderson.
Sign Language is scheduled for release on 9th November 2009, with tour dates to follow.
"Bookmarks" Press Reviews
"The real deal; a mature, measured songwriter...[producing] such an accomplished record" (Album of the Week) Scotland on Sunday
"Stunning...[An] instant classic...sure to stand up for decades to come" Global Rhythm Magazine
"All the makings of a classic...timeless...a well crafted, stunning album" 5 out of 5 The Sunday Mail
"Great lyrics, great voice, great songs. This young man deserves to be a star" 5 out of 5 The Daily Record
"Hart has given us something very special here" 5 out of 5 Maverick
"He combines a bit of young Dylan with a Costello croon...The highly memorable Bookmarks marks an impressive debut from Hart, and sets the bar high for his future efforts..." 4 out of 5 AllMusic.com
"The voice, like a fledgling Willie Nelson, captivates" Uncut
"Echoes of a young Jackson Browne or Ron Sexsmith...Outstanding" The Daily Express
"A genuinely distinctive singer crafting genuinely literate, affecting, soul stirring music...verging on the hymnal...exhilirating" Americana-UK.com
"Bookmarks is one of the purest invocations of classic Americana...think Springsteen, Petty, and Ryan Adams..." Harp Magazine
"Hart is all heart, beating with intensity and evoking a fragile yearning" Inside Entertainment
"[A] beautifully made...impressive album" Country Music People
"Invigorating the past and present with creativity and intelligence...Bookmarks is an impressive record...that could sit aside Willie Nelson’s early career and Ryan Adams’ current solo work" Amplifier Magazine
"A remarkable debut album" PopMatters.com
"Scottish wunderkind Roddy Hart has the heart and soul of a Nebraska farm hand...'Bookmarks' bears all the hallmarks of classic Americana" No Depression Magazine
heyy! it's sophieevans from the sheffield gig :)! me and ben love 'send a message' haha! it's the only song we knew at the gig! keep it up your great, hopefully we'll be seeing you soon as the main act and not support act! <3 x
i Heart Roddy Hart (L) You Played Brilliant In Stoke at the Sugarmill :D had a great night, and thanks a bunch for signing my ticket and taking a photo of me and my friend with tommy reilly :P xxx
Gaaaaaaad Rodddddy, i just listened to and watched "Send A Message" it's pure genius. it's legend i love it. i'll need to come see you live one day for sure your music is amaaazing my parents met you at a gig they went to, im not sure what one, it was quite a few years back and they got your CD i loved that, but this is AMAAAAZING
Looking forward to the new album Roddy! The sampler sounds great - will hope to catch you live again at some point before too long: seems ages since we saw you with Eddi Reader in Portsmouth.
