DKOS Artists for Mon 23rd Jan 2023 – Martin Stephen Jones /The Pilgrims Society / Whiskey Por Favor. / Daniel Drever / Liz Jones
Martin Stephen Jones
Martin Stephen Jones is a singer songwriter from Greenock aka Sugartown who writes songs in English and Spanish. Martin blends soul, blues, folk, country and Spanish/Latin American musical influences drawing from the likes of Eric Bibb, Elvis Presley, Status Quo, Hank Williams, Pedro Infante, Tam White, Johnny Silvo, John Prine, Nanci Griffith and Billy Joe Shaver. Martin started out in the folk scene through Danny Kyle singing a capella at his Giesabrek Clubs at folk festivals throughout the country. Martin has appeared at every Danny Kyle Open Stage at Celtic Connections except for 2003 when he was living in Valencia, Spain. Over the years, Martin has supported Kim Richey, Martha L. Healy, Jenn Butterworth and Laura Beth Salter, Yvonne Lyon, Alistair McDonald and Gaberlunzie. Martin appears regularly at the Greenock Boat Club Sessions and the Dunoon Acoustic Sessions and in 2021 celebrated his 40th birthday taking to the stage with friends such as Ciaran Dorris and John Graham and Jim Jack. Martin has played headline shows at Glasgow’s Lentfest festival in the past. Martin is a presenter on Celtic Music Radio and also goes out on Dunoon Community Radio every Wednesday night from 10pm to midnight with his show Wednesday Nights with Martin Stephen Jones. Martin has been volunteering with Common Wheel singing in care homes in Glasgow and played a sheltered housing concert in East Kilbride last year which was very well received.Martin hopes to record an album in the future and to do more with his music.
PILGRIMS SOCIETY
Al McIntyre – bassist /Eric Mauricia – singer and percussionist / Joe Djaelani – singer and solo guitarist / Louis MacDonald – Mandolin, Fiddle and Harmonica /Miroslav Cuba – drummer boy /. Philip Ologe – singer and rhythm guitarist
Pilgrims Society is a group of musicians who were connected by a love for the music of the past and by belief that this music still has place on the World Stage today.
As a band we live and create in Scotland – some by default and some by choice, even though we come from different walks of life, different cultural backgrounds, differing levels of music education and even from different continents, it all comes to life once we strike that first musical note, that same language of music cuts through any difference.
Our inspiration lies in music that brought 60s and 70s black America to the dancefloor, namely funk, soul, afro beat with a generous taste of Latin American groove.
All our material is written by us, and it varies from slow jams to energetic dance numbers. The mixture of modern and more traditional instruments gives our sound a twist, which we hope you will enjoy as much as we do!
Whisky Por Favor
Whisky Por Favor is the exciting duo of Spanish singer/guitarist Javier Burón and Scottish guitarist Innes Cardno.
Originally formed in Aberdeen, the Edinburgh based duo combines a blend of traditional Spanish and Latin American genres with the traditional folk music of Scotland and beyond!
Expect a swashbuckling array of original songs and folk standards that have been reimagined with a Latin twist and a dash of Gypsy jazz.
Since the release of their debut single “El Síndrome Del Emigrado” in 2020 the duo have played some prestigious venues on the UK’s folk and jazz circuit including the Blue Lamp (Aberdeen) and Le Quecumbar (London).
DANIE DREVER
Daniel Drever is a guitarist and composer from Glasgow who gives solo instrumental performances on acoustic guitar. His original compositions and arrangements take inspiration from rock, jazz, classical and contemporary acoustic styles and strive to celebrate and explore the instrument in a novel way. In live performances, original works are paired with renditions of guitar music by pioneering guitarist/composers such as Michael Hedges, Andy McKee and Isato Nakagawa; players who closely inform Drever’s own acoustic playing style.
LIZ JONES
London born, Cumbria reared and Edinburgh homed, 36 year old Jones has had an ideosyncratic life with a series of contrasting jobs and music projects avoiding fixed employment for all but
9 months of her adult life. But a consistant purpose of original music making has taken over since 2015. With a foot in the roots, blues and folk worlds, Liz has refused to fit neatly into a genre with critics finding her hard to place. None conformity makes sense for her songs, bisexuality, any way the wind blows style and character. A huge pessimist with yet a touch of ‘tough as old boots’ optimism makes her subjects and performance unique.
Liz has worked with Dean Owens, Bernie Marsden, and in 2022 headlined Orkney Blues festival, opened at the Royal Glasgow Concert Hall for Kingfish and is taking booking for festivals in the UK and shows in Europe currently. It’s worth noting none of this has come from PR or representation, but personal recomendations. To this point, Jones has managed herself as a performer and recording artist independently.
The debut solo album Bounty [Released 18th Nov 2022] has been played by Iain Anderson of Radio Scotland, and on Radio Orkney, and has reached radio stations across the world. A track has been playlisted by Joe Bonamassa and Dons Tunes and the release has triggered interest from venues and promoters for 2023