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“He takes ‘folk’ and shakes it until it rattles” Scottish musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, record producer and man of social conscience. Dick is one of the worlds most admired guitarists and songwriters and his work with Billy Bragg, Andy Irvine and bands Boys of the Lough, Five Hand Reel and Clan Alba is legendary. His guitar playing is innovative, sensitive, expressive, and beautiful; his voice is by turns tender, angry, passionate and totally unique. Nobody sings like Dick Gaughan. Born from Highland Scots and Irish parents, Dick Gaughan is the established voice of Scotland, singing songs of struggle, resistance and love. A professional musician and singer since 1970, Gaughan made his first solo album in 1971 and has recorded extensively since then and in many countries and in various combinations. He’s produced 15 solo albums and contributed to a further 20 compilations. His work has always entwined with the Union movement and the album ‘True and Bold’, made for the Scottish Mine Workers Union during the miners strike of 1985 was a most notable and powerful album.
Much of Dick’s output has been a mixture of traditional and contemporary material mostly of other writers. His latest work has focused much more on his own song writing and his latest album “Lucky for Some’ includes eight new songs out of ten on the album. And while his love of the tradition guides most of his endeavours his writing covers a wide spectrum of contemporary social and political issues. Gaughan has also become a prolific record producer and composer; composing music for films for the BBC, Scottish Arts Council and independent producers; in 2004 composed a brand new continuous 90-minute suite of 12 sections arranged single-handedly by its composer and combining traditional instrumentation with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera. Dick’s greatest musical love is for the ancient traditional Scots ballads. Also known as The Muckle Sangs (the big songs), these are the big story songs, which form a substantial part of Scotland's living wealth of traditional song. Full of mystical and supernatural references, they are very dramatic and powerful, and Gaughan is the greatest living exponent of these powerful traditional compositions. Lists his greatest influences as Karl Marx, Groucho Marx, Flann O'Brien, Bert Jansch, Betty Frieden, John Lennon, Vladimir Illych Lenin, Hugh MacDiarmid, Davey Graham, Doc Watson, Hank Williams, Jeannie Robertson, Ewan MacColl, Somerled, Bertolt Brecht, his mother (Gaughan's mother, not Brecht's), his father (likewise), Calgacus, Dolinna MacLennan, Crazy Horse, Sandy Denny, Martin Carthy, Clarence White, Sean O'Riada, Jack Mitchell, John MacLean, Big Bill Broonzy, Hamish Henderson and Robert Burns. Dick Gaughan’s Brisbane performance will be at the East Brisbane Bowls Club, Lytton Rd, East Brisbane 7.30pm Thursday 25 October 2007 $25 / $22 concession Tickets at the door; for reservations ring 3379 4178
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