SCOTCOUNTRY MUSIC NEWS

The popular Isla Grant is back on tour in her homeland next week, starting in Portree on Wednesday (Oct 1st) followed by Inverness on Thursday, Wellbank Dundee on Friday, then Berwick on Friday 10th, and Inverurie on the 11th.
Isla then heads off to Ireland for a tour that stretches from November 6th right through to January 25th.
To coincide with the tour has a new album, on her own label. "Isla Sings Hank" is quite a departure for the singer songwriter. Usually she performs her own material, but this time Isla features 14 Hank williams classics. It's amazing how she makes these evergreens sound like her own.

Six more inductees were entered into the British Country Music Hall of Fame at the weekend. The event, which took place in Blackpool and organised by Cross Country magazine, saw Raymond Froggatt, Gerry Ford, John C King, Kelvin Henderson, Wally Whyton and Miki & Griff added to the growing list - all excellent and worthy choices. In the UK Awards voted exclusively by the public the results were as follows: Male (Gary Perkins), Female (Donna Wylde), Group (Little Rock), Duo (MT Allan), Entertainer (Tim McKay), People's Choice (Alan Cameron), Song (I Don't Have Far To Fall - John McCane), Original Song (Whisky, Women & Wine - Diablos), Album (Back To Where I'm Going - Brian Hughes), Horizon Award (Ned Kelly). The event itself was a great success with many people attending.

It's a busy month for Country concerts this October:
Oct 11 PETER ROWAN, Tolbooth, Stirling
Oct 12 CORRINE WEST, Castlemilk Hall, Glasgow
Oct 13-14 CORRINE WEST , Abbot House, Dunfermline
Oct 14 GLEN CAMPBELL, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Oct 24 DOMINIC KIRWAN, Alloa Town Hall
Oct 25 SEAN O’FARRELL, Strathclyde Suite, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Oct 28 BRENDAN SHINE, Albert Halls, Stirling
Oct 28 CHARLIE LANDSBOROUGH, Glasgow RCH

Each year Donegal’s Highland Radio, led by Country presenter Pio McCann, bring a listener’s trip to Glasgow, alongside a host of popular Irish Country stars. The listeners enjoy time to shop during the day, and enjoy great music at night. They are joined by locals, who may be meeting old friends, or just enjoy the array of Irish Country music on the stage.
This year’s event is held October 10th-12th at The Crowne Plaza, next to the SECC.
The entertainment includes Philomena Begley & Ray Lynam, Frank McCaffrey, Ann Breen, Theresa Rogers, and Mike Denver.
Tickets for each night can be bought for £17.50 per night (£15.50 for the Sunday night dance) from the Crowne Plaza. Full details at www.highlandradio.com, and don’t forget you can use the same website to listen to Pio McCann Wednesday nights 9-11pm and Saturdays Noon-2pm.

Carson City kick off the month's local Country music entertainment in the Forth Valley with an appearance at the local San Quentin Club on Friday 3rd. The club meet at Polmont Golf Club in Maddison.
The following night Gerry Ford makes his farewell visit to Alloa's Prairie Star Club.
Gerry intends retiring after his visit to Edinburgh's Tucson Club on November 10th, so this will be the local fans last chance to dance to Gerry.
Later in the month The Polmont Linedancers host Springfield on Friday 24th.

Paisley's Jill Jackson is off on tour of the US. She'll be performing in 50 States between now & December with Kevin Montgomery!

Nashville music industry leaders announced plans Tuesday (Sept. 16) for an upscale "senior living" facility for those who have made music their career. To be called the Crescendo at Westhaven and located about 30 minutes south of Nashville in Williamson County, the 180-unit compound is projected for groundbreaking in 2011 and occupancy in 2013. The $95 million project will be owned and supervised by the Crescendo Music Community Fund, a nonprofit organization made up of music industry and community officials, and is to be financed through tax-exempt revenue bonds. At least 70 percent of the units must be reserved in order for the facility to qualify for financing. Tenants will be required to pay an upfront residency fee in the $300,000-$600,000 range, plus pay a monthly service fee. A spokesman for the organization said 90 percent of the initial residency fee will be refunded if the resident dies or moves from the community. In addition to living quarters, the Crescendo will also have a recording studio and performance spaces. Although designed for music industry retirees, the facility will be open to anyone who is at least 62 years old. Funds will also be raised to assist those who can't afford the initial residency fee. Among those on hand for the announcement, which was made at the Westhaven development near Franklin, were Grand Ole Opry stars Jim Ed Brown and Martina McBride.

Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Walker died Friday morning (Sept. 12) in Hendersonville, Tenn., at age 81. A honky-tonk singer best known for his 1958 recording of Harlan Howard's "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down," he also enjoyed a successful career as a radio broadcaster and was inducted into the Country Radio DJ Hall of Fame in 1981. Born Nov. 26, 1926, in Copeville, Texas, Charles Levi Walker began his professional music career in Dallas during the 1940s as singer and guitarist with Bill Boyd's Cowboy Ramblers. After serving in the Army, he formed the Texas Ramblers and began performing in the Corpus Christi, Texas, area in 1947. He moved to San Antonio in 1951 and gained a fan base as a disc jockey on radio station KMAC. As a singer, Walker's first appearance on the country charts came in 1956 with "Only You, Only You," which reached No. 9. Walker scored three other Top 10 country hits during his recording career on the Decca, Columbia, RCA Victor and Capitol labels. "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down" failed to reach No. 1, but it spent four weeks at No. 2 on the Billboard country chart. His other Top 10 singles include "Wild as a Wildcat" (1965) and "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon" (1967). He became an Opry member in 1967 and was cast as country singer Hawkshaw Hawkins in Sweet Dreams, the 1985 film biography of Patsy Cline which starred Jessica Lange. Walker, who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer, is survived by his wife Connie and 10 children.

Kenny Chesney and George Strait received three nominations each when the initial nominees for the 42nd annual CMA Awards have been announced. Chesney and Strait are nominated for entertainer of the year alongside Brad Paisley, Sugarland and Keith Urban. The male vocalist nominees are Alan Jackson, Chesney, Paisley, Strait and Urban. Nominated for female vocalist are Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. Five-time vocal group of the year winners Rascal Flatts received another nomination in the category, this time with the Eagles, Emerson Drive, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town. Up for this year's album of the year are Underwood's Carnival Ride, Brooks & Dunn's Cowboy Town, Jackson's Good Time, Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates and Strait's Troubadour. This year's CMA Awards show takes place Nov. 12 at Nashville's Sommet Center.

It turned out to be a beautiful life for Doc Walker, the Manitoba band that cleaned up at the Canadian Country Music Awards last night.The hometown favourite walked away with five awards ceremony in Winnipeg.
After garnering the most nominations of any musician this year, west Coast newbie Jessie Farrell won female artist of the year, beating out awards host Terri Clark, last year's winner Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Lisa Brokop and Crystal Shawanda.
The Vancouver musician, who burst onto the Canadian country scene this year with her single "Best of Me," also picked up the rising star award and top female talent of the year.
Male artist of the year and top-selling Canadian album went to Scots born Johnny Reid, who belted out his soulful ballad "Thank You" during the show.
The awards ceremony was broadcast on CBC-TV nationally, with encore broadcasts to be aired on CMT.
Winners of the 2008 Canadian Country Music Awards:
Fans' choice: Doc Walker
Single of the year: "Beautiful Life" (Doc Walker)
Album of the year: "Beautiful Life" (Doc Walker)
Video of the year: "Beautiful Life" (Doc Walker)
Female artist of the year: Jessie Farrell
Male artist of the year: Johnny Reid
Group of the year: Doc Walker
Rising star: Jessie Farrell

John Hiatt, Matraca Berg and Tom Shapiro have been announced as the new inductees to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
John, who has written hits for rocker Elvis Costello, Suzy Bogguss and Rosanne Cash, was named in the Songwriter/Artist category. Matraca and Tom were elected in the Songwriter category. Matraca has written such No. 1 singles as “Strawberry Wine” for Deana Carter and Martina McBride’s “Wild Angels,” while Tom’s hits include “No Place That Far” by Sara Evans and Brooks & Dunn’s “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You.” The three new members will be officially welcomed at the 39th Annual Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony, Oct. 26, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel in Music City.

A reminder that The City Sinners (the life, times and music of Gram Parsons) have a gig in Edinburgh this week.The gig is at The Jam House, 5 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JE, Thursday 11th September.

A council by-election is being held in the Bailleston area of Glasgow on september 18th. The Scottish Socialist party candidate is Daniel O'Donnell ! We assume it's not thee Daniel, but one no doubt hoping to pick up a free votes from fans of his namesake.

Jerry Reed, a gifted guitarist who found fame as a recording star and film actor, died Sept. 1 from complications of emphysema at the age of 71.
Jerry was best known for singles like “Amos Moses” and his 1971 No.1 “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot,” both featuring his expert guitar picking. His songs were also recorded by artists including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Porter Wagoner and Brenda Lee. Jerry acted in several movies, including Smokey & the Bandit and Gator. His last No. 1 hit came in 1982 with “She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft).”

Bluegrass boy Peter Rowan plays Stirling's Tolbooth on Saturday, October 11th.

Donna Fargo’s classic tune, “The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A,” is being used in a new commercial for Nike, featuring the United States women’s Olympic softball team.

Savannah Music have signed a distribution deal with Proper Music Distribution, the UK’s largest independent music distributor. The deal includes distribution to retail outlets not only the United Kingdom, but also throughout the rest of the European Union through Proper’s network of sub-distributors.
The first CD to be released in the UK under this new relationship is Michelle’s Everything And More CD on September 29, 2008, followed by her A Wright Christmas CD in early November 2008. CDs from Brenn Hill and R.W. Hampton are set for release to retailers though Proper in 2009.
The artists’ products are also available on their websites and at the usual digital download sites

The Northern Nashville Caithness Country Music Festival (NNCCMF) has just announced the confirmed artists for the 6th annual event...
Once again to be held in the Indoor Riding Centre in Halkirk, the 2009 event will run from 10th - 12th April.
Artists include Heather Myles, Becky Hobbs, Tony Kerr, Robert Mizzell, Mike Bella, Billy Yates, Eamon McCann, Nickels & Dimes, Manson Grant & The Dynamos, The Jacks, Slange Ava, and Kate Bain Band.