Here’s a song I’d forgotten about, perhaps rightly so. This dates from the first Glasgow Songwriting Festival I attended in 2017, in Govanhill Baths. Findlay Napier, who organised it, recently asked participants to offer any examples of songs they wrote at the Festival. I was at a session led by country singer Jim Hunter, whose … Read more
I’ve been working on a new approach to one of my songs, scoring it for a string quartet. If I can get it right I’d like to do it for a few more. I’ve been supported and mentored in this by Ged Brockie, my guitar teacher; we spend as much time talking about composition as … Read more
This is the story of the best accolade I ever received as a songwriter, and how I never thought I’d be able to share it with anyone. The Henderson From 1979 to 1980 I worked as a nursing assistant in a very unusual psychiatric hospital called the Henderson Hospital in Sutton, Surrey. Although it was … Read more
Darren Thornberry is an American singer songwriter living in Lafayette, Colorado. He spent a few years in Edinburgh, as part of the music scene I came into when I joined the Out of the Bedroom open mic night. He had a great band, Thorn’s Musical Journey, who shared my launch gig for the Roadblock album, … Read more
My session for Ruby Tuesday Sessions this week, featuring three unrecorded songs, Only The Sea (solo version), Beggar of Love and You Just Want the Thrill. Plus the most gormless-looking video thumbnail I’ve ever been part of. How I’ve been doing this, in case you’re interested. The last couple of times I’ve balanced an iPad … Read more
Hi – here are some more songs from live lockdown sessions. This was from the Ruby Tuesday sessions on 23rd June End of Tears A Careless Blow Polecats Rossignolet du Bois (French folk song) The Ballad of Bob Dylan Green Lights All The Way