DKOS Wed 2nd Feb 2022
Kirsty Heggie. /. Kieran Sweeney. / Paul Walker & Karen Pfeiffer. /. Erin Ponsonby. /. Brian Heron. /. The Cafeorchestra

Kirsty Heggie Wed 2nd Feb 2022

Kirsty Heggie has become recognised across Scotland for her soulful and striking style of lyrics and song composition.With a voice compared to the great 60s folk singers, Kirsty is also known for her “wild” finger-picking style on classical guitar, but is as of yet to show-case her equally skillful piano playing abilities.Kirstys songs have followed her own maturity and taken a step into a universal appeal whereas once they spoke to a minority.

Her works unreservedly delve into complex issues of the human heart and it’s multi-dimensional nature.Kirsty has earned sharp observational abilities and a wit that give her musical storytelling and powerful vocals a distinguishable appeal.

After years spent obsessed with 60s folk music and travelling minstrel-like through Europe with her guitar, Kirsty wants to share the journey she has been on in rediscovering her actual roots, settling in her home-town.
Here she is working on a community music project, reconnecting with family, bonding with her long lost mother and admitting that she is more Scottish than she ever would have believed.

Kieran Sweeney 2nd Feb 2022

My journey through music started with the simple teaching of three chords around sixteen years ago, at the time I was part of the Cumbernauld Youth Theatre; which help build my confidence as a performer. Throughout this time I offered to help out on anyway I could with music in several shows that were being performed and began to sing at an open mic night they hosted. This lead me onto studying drama and performance at university, here I began to hone both my performative and singing skills.
Through working with music societies; I performed lead guitar for a few musical theatre shows: “Rent” and “American Idiot”, as well as performing my own songs and covers in the University’s Union. Outside my academic studies I began attending open mic nights and jamming sessions around Glasgow, some of the venues include; The Clutha Bar, The Scotia Bar, MacSorley’s and St Luke’s Bar. Attending these further expanded my repertoire and managing to successfully get myself a few paid performances in and around Glasgow. With the expanse in my repertoire this helped me with folk festivals, primarily The Portpatrick’s Folk Festival which to this point I have been attending and continue to do so. In the present day I am now reforming my social media platforms and helping with free-form work, I recently helped out
The Weegie Warriors with a cover of “Flower of Scotland” and a cover album to help raise money for charity that supports those with mental health needs, this caught the attention of a care home where I performed at an afternoon tea break and have been asked back for future events..

Paul Walker and Karen Pfeiffer Wed 2nd Feb 2022

Whilst Paul Walker & Karen Pfeiffer are acclaimed for their image provoking songwriting, expressive vocals and authentic musicianship, they are frequently recalled for their warmth, humour and their remarkable ability to engage with their audience. Karen’s natural theatricality and life affirming playful energy compliment charmingly with Paul’s calm geniality and combined they magically turn a great performance into a real event.

The duo has toured its shows extensively taking in New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Ireland and most corners of the UK, wooing audiences with Karen’s southern German accent tinged with an ‘oatcake induced’ North Staffordshire dialect from Paul’s heritage.

Poised to record a new album in Germany just when the pandemic halted things, the past  months have seen them focusing their attention on writing, recording and most importantly, developing their online presence. Their weekly live stream ‘Afternoon Tea with Paul & Karen’ is now in excess of 90 shows and attracts a dedicated international following. The new album ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Me Duck’ is now set to be released in Spring 2022.

“With two grand voices – individually and in harmony” (Folker-German Folk Magazine), Paul Walker & Karen Pfeiffer offer a versatile miscellany of self-penned and imaginatively arranged songs, delivered with guitar, woodwind instrumentation and occasional percussion.

“I’ve never seen our audience so spellbound!” (Malc Gurnham, Bedworth Folk Club)

So, what is it that makes this internationally touring Anglo-German duo so irresistible?

Erin Ponsonby. Wed 2nd Feb 2022

Erin Ponsonby is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter from Clydebank who released her Debut Single Want Me Too on all digital stores/platforms in February 2017. Erin has been gigging for the past few years where she firstly supported Into the Ark in 2015 on their UK tour through DF Concerts in The Garage, Glasgow. Since then she has played in many Glasgow venues such as The Barrowlands, King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Broadcast, Nice N Sleazy, Classic Grand (Through ‘Behind the Noise 2015/16’), The Clutha and many more. Erin supported both Hue & Cry in the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock and Into The Ark, yet again, after they placed 2nd on The Voice UK, in Saint Luke’s in February 2018. Erin constantly has gigs lined up as she develops further in to the music industry and plays regularly with Newborn Sessions. In 2020, Erin graduated with a First Class BA Honours degree in Popular Music from The University of the Highlands & Islands after receiving her HNC and HND at West College Scotland, Greenock. As well as this, Erin is a busker in Perth, Loch Lomond Shores & Stirling and she appeared on BBC Scotland’s Emilie Sande’s Street Symphony in 2019.
Erin’s debut EP, Little Town, was released on all digital stores on the 24th of April 2020 to which her debut music

Brian Heron Wed 2nd Feb 2022

I’m a singer-songwriter who has been writing and performing for over 45 years in the local Inverclyde area. I have been in many local cover bands and used song writing and music as an important part of my work as a social worker and employability worker for over 30 years. I have written songs with young offenders, people who experienced unemployment. Syrian children and many other groups. I am now retired and plan to be more active as a singer-songwriter within my local area and have recently set up the Inverclyde Acoustic Open Mic Sessions which ran for 12 weeks and was very successful.

The Cafeorchestra Wed 2nd Feb 2022

The Cafeorchestra are a unique gypsy jazz quartet made up from four of Ayrshire’s top musicians. All the members of Cafeorchestra have a rich past in the music business and have played together in various other bands, however, it’s only in the last 4 years that the quartet came together and defined its own niche in the local music scene.

The Cafeorchestra have played in many local venues and festivals over the last two years and have now released their 2nd CD. Last train to Bratislava. The quartet and are looking forward to playing the opening set on the main stage at Doonfest 2022. John Duffy is a renowned bouzouki player whose name is legend in the music world, his vocals add a touch of class to his haunting songs.   Karen Henderson, who had a long, successful career as a traditional fiddler, has redefined herself discovering a love for improvisation and rhythmic accompaniment to the gypsy songs. After many years as the bass player in the Gaiety  Theatre working, with the Jim Cosker trio then with Gordon Cree, Martin Henderson adds the essential bass beat that makes the music dance. Iain Newlands fingers fly over the guitar as he captures some of the magic of Django Reinhardt in his inspired solos. Iain, Karen and Martin, lock together, creating some  incredible, tight, rhythmic accompaniments for John’s soulful vocals to flow over. This is a quartet who have found a little touch of magic in what they are doing.