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Joe Cassady & The West End Sound

joe cassady and the west end sound:- "Called, "an alt-country innovator . . . in the tradition without being derivative," New York based, Avenue A Records recording artists Joe Cassady and The West End Sound, combine the best of the singer-songwriter tradition with roots, Americana and modern rock forms. Their debut CD What’s Your Sign? was named as one of the best CD’s of 2007 by editors of USA Today and Soundstage! and was spun by legendary UK DJ Bob Harris on his BBC2 radio show. The follow-up, 2009’s THE 47TH PROBLEM reached the top 10 of the Euro-Americana Charts and has also received extensive airplay in the U.S, Australia and South America. Founded in 2005 out of Manhattan's Lower East Side by lead singer and songwriter, Joe Cassady, Joe Cassady & The West End Sound are among the main protagonists in a growing roots/rock music scene arising in the Big Apple.

oxbow lake

The word ‘eclectic’ is liberally used to describe bands/artists, as are the terms ‘experimental’, ‘independent’, ‘grass roots’ or ‘alternative’ but The ‘Oxbow Lake’ are a truly eclectic tribe, roaming through numerous genres, performing at a grass roots level, constantly evolving and thus avoiding easy categorisation.

In essence, they have the true spirit of the 60’s jam bands, whom they occasionally cover in their live sets and the DIY ethics of the punk movement.

Regardless of the genre, they make the songs their own by a combination of disregard for convention and a very distinctive sound. Live shows are upbeat, funky and danceable affairs - audiences are drawn to them like fire flies to the flame!).

Their tunes are emotional but always delivered with an infectiously happy, dare I say, ‘vibe’?; Intense whilst nonchalant, angry whilst cheeky, frequently remembering the joys and pains of life itself.

They have recently released an EP, ‘Neanderthal Blues’, and are now recording an album, ‘Away from the Main Stream’. The EP is one for summer days lying out on the grass.

www.myspace.com/oxbowlake

tim scott

Better order a shot before last call because Tim Scott’s second album, Rarely Fall is gonna touch places you forgot were tender. After the first guitar riff, there you are in his makeshift Denton, Texas studio, beer in hand listening to his stories as he scribbles lyrics on the back of a receipt. His voice soft and sad, or gravelly and mad as hell, while confessing things you thought only you went through.

Alan Frew

Alan Frew is a contemporary folk/pop artist from Troon, Ayrshire in the west coast of Scotland. Citing his late father as well as the music of John Martyn Will Oldham and Beck as his main influences Alan has a soul searching sound that could apply to many musical genres. Debut 'Go Easy' which is released on 4th of July this year is a mostly acoustic album, melancholy but uplifting with sparkling variation and depth of emmotion and is available through itunes,CD baby or directly from his myspace site. His sister Maryann Frew from Inverness performs backing vocals on the release and will accompanying him. Alan is also a member of Jill Jackson's band and has toured extensively with the band over the last two years. Following a gig at T in the park with Jill in July he embarks on a summer tour promoting his own material with gigs around the uk. Alan's own self-financed debut album Go Easy is due for release on Monday, July 20 for Further details see www.myspace.com/alanfrew

'Village Sunsets' is a grass roots based series of gigs/events (Music, Comedy, radio etc) run by volunteers, bringing entertainment to the doorsteps of folk in aberdeenshire.

On this page you can get details of gigs (music, comedy, art) and our radio show (see player to the left)

All profits going to good causes and community projects (so far a large amount of money has been raised for the collieston amenities funds for the pier repairs, new hall and the like)

Details of previous shows below:-

show no 11 and final show - summer solstice show was a fare well to the village sunsets by having a selection from some of the best bits from the village sunsets so far. .

note from andy: "village sunsets is the only event of any kind in collieston that unites people and brings them together regardless, to enjoy themselves. its been an inspiration to me and from it a great band has sprung up (the oxbow lake orchestra) and some great friends. but this is a fragmented community wrought by pathetic in fighting and politics and I don't want to get in the middle of that and we've attracted so much petty jealousy due to our success. we've raised a load of money for the village and gave a lot of people a good time. let's leave it there". .

deviltrain headlining was a storming show with the audience jumping around for the whole set playing their unique brand of country rebel music tinged with ne humour. roberto cassani italian/scottish comedy minstrel was hilarious as always and the oxbow lake orcherstra (heavy with trad folk) really let rip. The open mic jamming gave some folk the chance to show there talent. that's what the village sunsets wanted to achieve so a special thanks to them. all in all a great night.

roberto cassani the office christmas party

deviltrain at belladrum festival

most recent show saw the oxbow lake orchestra stand in at the last minute and captured in 'night time' scope (?) by maria hall and jeremy.... "neanderthal blues"!

spring equinox 09 show no 10 - maria hall and band (including the sound man michael!) were stars, keeping us entertained through the night, with passion and roots the collieston audience loved them! Andy tucker and friends had car troubles so the oxbow lake orchestra stood in with a couple of hours notice (and without months of activity) to play one of their better shows all funked up with live jams and andy's wah wah pedal getting an airing! least said about the jani lang band the better....

show no 9 (newburgh) - 2008's village sunsets summer festival was held in newburgh and was also a belladrum tartan heart festival fringe event, with a showcase of international and local artists.

the Lorelei, lou vargo (from tennesseeeee), james brown is annie (from edinbuuuuuuurrrrg), the woodland roots orchestra, the oxbow lake orchestra and ruby and the emeralds

show no 8 (collieston) - sell out private event to celebrate billy and nicola's wedding. the brilliant samba sene and diwan, the superb roberto cassani and the local hero's deviltrain, entertained through the day by the oxbow lake orchestra

show no 7 (collieston) - sell out show celebrating st. patrick's, spring equinox and in memory of marge swan, with paddy rasta, cousti the hilarious duncan guthrie and stephanie laing and the oxbow lake orchestra

show no 6 (collieston) - sell out show was a celebration of caribbean culture... a kind of 'tropical' sunsets, to cheer up those dark mid-winter nights!, with

aka ska, macumba and a surprise guest the hilarious Roberto Cassani - see Ness MP3 site to download his album:-

show no 5 (collieston) - Autumnal sell out show with Samba Sene & diwan, Devil train and Fiddes

the oldest groover in collieston meets samba sene and diwan

show no 4 (collieston) - summer festival 07 with the moonshiners, diane cluck, roberto cassani (comedy), barry bliss and the box players plus photography by sue arber

show no 3 (collieston) - in the summer Belladrum 'tartan heart' festival fringe event with Nuru Kane and Jane Gillman

show no 2 (collieston) - summer solstice 07 sell out show with amy duncan and james grant (it was that rare thing - a 'sit down affair')

show no 1 (collieston) - spring 07 sell out show with Sophie Bancroft and the hell fire club

some of the notes from artists that have performed:-

Samba Sene and Diwan: Fantastic night on Sat; great fun for us and met loads of fantastic people. You guys sure know how to PARTY! Feel free to invite us back any time! One love

Deviltrain: Quite simply the best gig, venue and crowd reception you are likely to find. Absolutley loved it, amazin experience and hope you will have us back

roberto cassani: "Hey folks, had a ball gigging in your stunning village. You are amazing people and you sure know how to party. Call me up anytime, I'll always find space for you!"

james grant: "It was a pleasure, I admire what you're trying to do up there and good luck with it. They were a great crowd, they made it easy for me. Like to see the place again sometime when the sun is shining, no guarantee of that, I know.."

amy duncan: "we had a lovely weekend, and I enjoyed playing in your lovely village. Thankyou for making us feel so welcome, and looked after! What a beautiful and special place Collieston is..."

willie of the hellfire club: "thanks again for inviting us to take part in a great night in Collieston and your hospitality, beer and great chillie. They villagers know how to party. I thought Sophie's set was great stuff and the crowd were really appreciative and listened as well as danced to all the music on offer. Any time you want us back we're available."

songs for collieston

in gratitude of the great folk of collieston, various artists have been influenced by playing the village sunsets to write a song about the experience or have re-interpreted old collieston songs

They are available for free download from ness mp3 (if you don't have a myspace site), just click link below

http://www. nessmp3.com/music/village_sunsets

comedian duncan guthrie who recently played aT THE VILLAge sunsets, at the scottish comedy awards below:-