December is now upon us.
It?s been a busy November for me. I played some great gigs with Eddi Reader in England, plus my own ondon show at the Slaughtered Lamb. I was playing the night of the big US election so it was back to the hotel after the gig to keep an eye on the news. Hopefully they?ve got the right guy now in Obama, fingers crossed. Mind you he can?t do any worse than George W! It all reminded me a bit of Blair getting in to power back in 97. I hope Obama turns out better than he did. I?ve been in the studio this week recording a track for the forthcoming Navigator compilation of the songs of Scottish songwriter Sandy Wright. Lot?s of great artists have covered Sandy?s songs over the past few years including Kris Drever, Eddi Reader and Boo Hewerdine to name just a few. I?ve recorded his song Can?t Win, Can?t Lose for the album. I recorded in a great wee studio in Glasgow run by Mark Freegard. Playing on the track I had John Douglas from the Trashcan Sinatras on Ukulele , ex Proclaimer Stuart Nisbet on guitar/dobro and my old mate from The Felsons and now a very much in demand session player Kev McGuire on double bass. Look out for the album in the new year. Just one more show for me this year. It?s a hometown gig for me here in Edinburgh at The Voodoo Rooms on the 3rd December. Looking forward to it as it?ll be the first gig with Kim Edgar on piano. Kim?s a singer/songwriter and great musician. She?ll also be opening the show. We are planning to tour together in 2009. Booking shows now for the Spring in the UK and France. I?m also doing a short instore performance and signing at Coda in Edinburgh on the 13th December. 2008 has been a very positive year for me. I was delighted to sign with Navigator Records and get Whisky Hearts out properly through Proper. I?ve had some fantastic reviews for the album and some great support from well known faces ? Irvine Welsh and Russell Brand etc. In fact Irvine is using the title track from Whisky Hearts in his new film that will be on our screens in January. It?s called Good Arrows. Look forward to seeing that. Heard some cool, interesting records this year. Some new and some older discoveries. I?ve enjoyed the Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver records (like everybody else it seems) and the latest Nick Cave. Also Joan As Policewoman and the fantastic Gramercy Arms albums, but one of my favourite records I heard for the first time this year is a record from around 1969 by Sixto Rodriguez called Cold Fact. I love this record. Check it out. I also have to say that the forthcoming Eddi Reader record sounds lovely. Here?s hoping December is a good month, stress free and full of just the right amount of festive cheer. Here?s to a fab 2009. Cheers Dean
