SongsByJimBurne

All is good in the World once again; the angst surrounding the CD printing issues has evaporated. The CDs have arrived - they look great and - I hasten to add - sound great.

So now the time has come to turn our attention to the CD launch party. Wah hay :-)

Every day is sunshine CD Launch Party

We will be launching the new CD, 'Every day is sunshine' on the 8th of October 2010 in Bacchus (Glassford Street, Glasgow city centre). Music, song, laughter and convivial chat starts from 8pm. The CD won't be officially released until October 11th - so this a chance to get a copy and hear it before the rest of the world. :-)

A room full of talented musicians

There will be many great musicians coming along to entertain you on the night. We will be playing all the songs from this brand spanking new record, accompanied by those who actually played on the recording. Now that could well be a recipe for disaster - as we haven't rehearsed this grand vision - or - as is more likely - it could turn out to be a simple recipe for fun and good music.

So far, those musicians confirmed to be there on the night include, The Moonshiners (Bluegrass players extraordinaire), singer and multi-instramentalist Dinny, singers songwriters Johnny Russell and Sharon Campbell; songwriter, singer and all round good person Scott Macdonald, virtuoso guitarist and friend to the stars (well friend to me) Graham Mackintosh.

The Moonshiners will be playing a set, as well as accompanying me on the song 'Beneath these Scottish skies'

More reasons to get of your ... off the sofa

Apart from the fact that it's a chance to meet up with old and new friends and listen to some good music; there are a couple of other reasons why you might want to ignore the telly - take your slippers back off - and get your body out the door:

• It's on a Friday; so no worries about getting up for work in the morning; if indeed you have work to get up for.
• It's free.
• Your presence will bestow much honour upon the evening and of course it will be great to see you.

That's the pitch. Looking forward to seeing you on the night.

All the best,
Jim
p.s. All welcome; no need to wait for a gold embossed invitation before confirming you are invited.

Buy my debut CD. It's great music!

Things have been rolling along at a fair rate recently on the music front; music all finished for new record; design completed; launch party venue booked (8th October in Bachus Cafe Bar in Glassford street in Glasgow), publicity person employed for the big PR push.

Today I received the CDs of my new album; and felt instantly deflated and depressed to see that the printing was awful. They looked nothing like the original design - they look all washed out and as if I had printed them myself on a printer with the ink running out.

So now I have masses of CDs sitting in my house that I'd be embarrassed to give to anyone. I've emailed the CD company and await their response. It's not yet a total disaster - as I still have time to get another batch made. But right now I'm not happy about things - particularly as when I phoned them the message said that they no longer take phone calls and all correspondence must be by email. What kind of public relations exercise is that?

Gigs and CD launch party

That's the down stuff. The up stuff is that I'll be playing at the Lomond Festival at the end of this month (31st July); supporting The Electrics. I'm looking forward to it - going to be great.

Also - nothing is going to stop the CD launch party. With Pat's help we'll get everything done - no matter what.

So put Friday 8th October in your diary, it's going to be a real good night. The plan is to play the entire album live with all the people who played on the recordings. If I can get everyone along - The Bluegrass band The Moonshiners will be there, Scott MacDonald, Dinny, Chris Barrett, Johnny Russell and Sharon Campbell, Graham Mackintosh - all adding their talents to the songs on the night.

I've still to get the date with them confirmed - but The Moonshiners have said that they will play a set on the night - assuming there are no clashes with their other gig dates. The Moonshiners are one of my favourite bands - I know you wil enjoy them.

Don't dare go on holiday that week! I look forward to seeing you there.

All the best, Jim

Buy my debut CD. It's great music!

Chords for songs: We all need the days (When rain don't fall)

You can hear this song on my Myspace page.

Buy my debut CD. It's great music!

Jonathan Brocklebank requested the chords for The handles broken on my cup. Happy to oblige. :-)

Buy my debut CD. It's great music!

It's been a musically rich last couple of weeks; wrote some new songs (I've posted demo recordings of them to my Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/dexterslim); played some really enjoyable gigs, including the launch of the 'Butterfly song' single, and finished the recordings for my next CD.

CD news

I needed to add fiddle to two of the tracks in my forthcoming CD (Down by the Wildwood and You don't know) - and luckily for me I found Kurt Baumer, a former Nashville Tour Fiddler. Kurt has added some fiddle magic to both tracks. I'm sure you will love what he has done; certainly I was blown away with his playing.

I've made some changes to the CD track list: the final list of songs will be:

• It's raining outside
• Down by the Wildwood
• You don't know
• Every day is sunshine
• Can't catch the Butterfly
• Don't go pissin' in the wind
• Tell me you love me again
• Always looked for the good in me
• Black sky blues
• Beneath these Scottish skies

The CD will be called 'Every day is sunshine' and will be released by Hillhead GWE Records. I'm excited about putting this album out, I think it's my best yet.

We need to think about a launch date, get the cover art done and think about how to promote it when it is released. If you have any ideas for spreading the word - don't keep them to yourself - or if you can help in any way it will be much appreciated.

Gigs

A week past Thursday I played at the Glasgow Art Club (in Glasow obviously) and then on the Friday night I played at Blackheath Halls in London.

A particularly highlight of the Glasgow Art Club gig was Dinny singing backing vocals with me - and for the first time - singing the lead vocal on the song 'Every day is sunshine'.

Both had top-notch music from the other acts. At the Art Club I played with Jamie Flett and his brother Andy - and on the Friday the headline act was Benny Gallagher (famously part of the songwriting duo Gallagher and Lyle).

The supporting acts for the Blackheath Halls gig included Janette Geri (all the way from Australia) and Richard Llewellyn-Davies. It was a great night of music - we really enjoyed ourself. It was also nice that a few friends came along to provide support - including Mary and Alex; friends of Pat's who also put us up (or put up with us) while we were in London.

Pat has been doing all the work getting these great gigs - so thanks Pat; I wouldn't be playing anywhere at all if it was up to me. :-)

I have a few gigs coming up in Glasgow you might want to check out:

Next Wednesay 2nd June in Ivory Blacks 56 Oswald St supporting a band called Bitter Ruin http://www.myspace.com/bitterruin

Next Friday 4th June at That Devil Music - The State Bar, Glasgow.

Be good to see you at one of these gigs.

Have a good bank holiday - and a good week.

All the best, Jim

Buy my debut CD. It's great music!