Coming Up
The Old Bridge Inn is fast gaining a great reputation for it's diverse and interesting music program that covers everything from informal folk sessions, to ticketed shows for some of the best acts Scotland and beyond have to offer.
Spring has been jam-packed, with some brilliant performances at our midweek Close The Curtains nights from the likes of Kris Drever & Eammon Coyne, Roddie Woomble and his band, Rachel Sermanni, The Boy Who Trapped the Sun and The Bevvy Sisters. The weekends have also gone off with a bang, with the likes of Public Service Broadcasting, Laki Mera, Halcyon, Federation of The Disco Pimp, Washington Irving, Woodenbox, Randoplh's Leap and Kid Canaveral all strutting their stuff.
That's the past though, so we now look forward to a busy summer season, with a great diversity of guests on offer.
midweek, we CLOSE THE CURTAINS
outside of the weekends, we close the curtains and dim the lights, for a series of intimate, candle-lit gigs in our conservatory. These shows will all be ticketed, at as low a cost as we can manage. Our goal is to be able to bring as high quality of guest to Aviemore as possible, which makes ticketing essential. A limited number of tables are available for dinner during these shows (unless otherwise stated), for which booking is strongly recommended. If booking a table, payment for tickets will be required at that time. All other tickets will be for sale on the door that night. Doors at 8.30pm, show starting at 9pm.
weekends mean LATE NIGHT LIVE
Late Night Live comes at the weekends, where the music gets a bit louder, the drinks flow a bit faster and things go on a bit later. A band plus DJ continues to be the format of these nights, often with one of the band themselves spinning for the night, offering an insight into the musical influences that go into the bands own sets, but more importantly keeping you dancing either side of the band being on stage. Entry to all Late Night Live gigs remains free, with things kicking off about 10pm. We've also applied for a number if late licenses to allow these gigs to take on a clubbier aspect and for more acts to feature.
Check out our listings below or look us up on...
Facebook: facebook.com/theoldbridgeinn
Date: Wednesday 29th May
Artist: Dylan Sneed
Tickets: £4
In a sense, American songwriter Dylan Sneed has been working on his latest album, Texodus, his entire life. In 2008, this Austin, Texas native left his home state for good, trekking across the country to the small, charming town of Hartsville, South Carolina. In the years to come, he would travel more and finish writing this album that so closely mirrors his artistic journey.
The songs of Texodus are personal and intimate, yet they explore universal themes. The title track, which opens the album, describes a restless soul racing down a dark highway, resisting the temptation to settle for the status quo. "The Garden," the next track, laments the ever-changing seasons of life. In "Midnight Promenade," Dylan depicts a sleepless night where doubt and hope struggle in the heart of a man. Texodus cuts a wide emotional swath, and songs like "Selfish Boy," "Love You Like I Do," and "Climb This Wall" playfully ruminate on being in love, or just on the cusp of it. The thesis of the record, "All Around Me," proclaims the ubiquitous nature of true friends, faith, and home. "Under The Sheets," a lullaby for dreamers young and old, brings the record to a close.
Texodus was a grassroots effort through and through. Dylan's fans funded the production of the album through a campaign on Kickstarter.com. They even provided support for an international radio promotion and European tour through a second Kickstarter campaign. Dylan achieved all of this success without the aid of a record label. Even the recording process itself was unconventional and homegrown. Dylan, along with producer Judd Bolger (bass, keyboards, vocals, guitars), Jeff Rogers (drums, vocals), Haley Shaw (vocals), Nathan Fox-Helser (violin), and photographer Wade Griffith met in a friend's century-old farmhouse deep in the lowcountry of South Carolina. They tracked the album in five days in their makeshift studio. On certain tracks, you can hear creaking boards, crickets, and even a two by four in place of a snare drum. Acclaimed Americana songwriter Jonathan Byrd mixed the album.
Long before writing and recording Texodus, Dylan Sneed grew up in the rich cultural climate of Austin. After a short-lived stint in Corporate America, he began to hit the road, discovering his taste for the touring life. After relocating to Hartsville, he continued to tour across the U.S. and into Europe, while sowing the spirit of the Live Music Capital of the World into his new homebase. When not hard at work on his own career, he spends time developing concert opportunities for his fellow artists through his promotion company, Artsville. Texodus is a picture of a man in process; a portrait of an artist becoming.
For the latest on Dylan Sneed, visit http://www.dylansneed.com/
Press quotes:
"Like a sober Townes Van Zandt." - Kevin Oliver, Columbia Free Times
"Brilliant...a splendid album." - Ralph McLean, BBC N. Ireland
Date: Sunday 2nd June
Artist: SOUTRA
Tickets: £4
"Soutra" became an official band in the spring of 2011 and by that summer were touring extensively throughout Scotland, including the wonderful "Insider Festival" and "Tall Ships" in Orkney in their portfolio of gigs. When not touring, they may frequently be heard lending fresh texture to the Edinburgh session scene.
Soutra's unique blend of influences have produced a sound that has been described as "blurring the traditional musical boundaries, ranging from the soulful and sensitive to wild and wilful".
"future-trad-twang-step grooves"
Date: Thursday 6th June
Artist: Sunshine Social
Tickets: £4
The newest signing of Glasgow label Innovation Music and recipients of the prestigious 2010 Billy Kelly Song writing Competition, this young six piece fuse the intimacy of open mic and the riotousness of a festival gig. They merge and layer a wide range of genre-crossing influences from Arcade Fire to Al Green; from Flaming Lips to the Twilight Sad.
Sunshine Social have amassed a loyal and passionate fan base and are known in Glasgow for their stage-filling, multi-layered sound as well as their dynamic live shows. They combine autobiographical and introspective lyricism with accessible, foot-stomping tunes, resulting in a release of noise, dancing, joke telling and balloons. With debut EP, The Long Trek Home praised by critics and fans alike the band are now in the process of recording their debut album with Innovation, due for release in Autumn 2013.
Of The Trek Home -
‘It's a fine start, full of folkish reflection with jaunty accompaniment... guaranteed to get your feet stomping... an accomplished debut.' - The Skinny
Sunshine Social Live Reviews -
‘As they enter the stage for a last minute sound check, the crowd starts to energize and pushes forward excitably; when sound checks and microphone tests are cheered, you know this band has a dedicated following and you expect a more than decent show.' - Ravechild
‘their mandolin-infused, nu-folk is infectious. The six-piece along with their mixture of influences and instruments, from glockenspiel to banjo via cowbell, are definitely ones to watch. The highlight of their set was their brilliantly executed percussion finish; the kind that Friendly Fires would wet their pants over.' - Gutter Magazine
Sunshine Social on Twitter
Sunshine Social on YouTube
Date: Thursday 13th June
Artist: The O's
Tickets: £4
We're excited to welcome the O's from Texas. Here's what they say of themselves..
We started our group in the summer of 2008 after a show we played with another
group that we bother played in. Having known each other through all of our
other groups(Polyphonic Spree, Young Heart Attack, Slick 57, Rose County Fair,
Hi Fi Drowning, etc), it was an easy upstart and it took no time at all jumping
in head first. We both had songs that we felt needed to played but no band to
use as an outlet. Thus, we formed The O's and three months later, we entered
the recording studio and recorded an EP which ended up being half of our first
album, We Are The O's (Released 2009 Idol Records).
We have since toured relentlessly all across the US, UK, Europe, and even jaunted
to Hawaii hi-fiving friends and fans alike; just trying to keep ourselves out
on the road and creating new music for good people. In 2011, we recorded our second
album with the Grammy award winning Stuart Sikes. Entitled "Between The Two," we decided to play every
instrument on the album and had Stuart man the helm. It was liberating and
excited and brought us further than we had been before.
We released that album and hit the road again jumping back and forth across the
great ponds, made music videos, bought and broke vans, bought and broke gear,
ate poorly, ate well, had fun and not so much fun, met amazing people, learned
a lot about life, forgot a lot of things, slept a little, bought and wore out
hundreds of pairs of pants and shirts, resoled our cowboy boots countless
times, played with incredible artists, performed on TV shows, talk shows, radio
shows, festivals, clubs, bars, restaurants, several different countries and
continents, swam in clear water, dredged through the gulf, and other countless,
endless adventures to name.
We did this all as we have always, to make
good music for good people.
And into the future we go when we record
our third studio album to be released in early 2013. We decided to record the
majority of the new album, at the recommendation of our great producer, Chris "Frenchie" Smith,
in Tornillo, TX at the legendary Sonic Ranch Studio. Its a state of the art, top
notch studio where we could stay on site, eat on site, and record without
distractions while making it. (Other than the delicious Sonic Ranch Salsa
de Roja that lead to many debates on whether or not anything would taste good
without it afterwords...) We are finishing up the album at The Bubble
in Austin, TX and look forward to getting it out the door and into everyone's
hands!
See you folks on the other side and we look forward to the ride.
Date: Sunday 16th June
Artist: Blue Rose Code
Tickets: £4
London-based / Edinburgh-born Blue Rose Code is singer/songwriter Ross Wilson. Featuring legendary bassist Danny Thompson (Kate Bush, John Martyn, Talk Talk etc), Blue Rose Code's beautiful, classic sounding songs have been described as 'Caledonian soul'. Debut album 'North Ten' is out now on Reveal Records (home to Lau, Joan As Police Woman, Kris Drever, Roddy Woomble etc), a perfect fit for an artist's who's debut features legendary bassist Danny Thompson.
Raised in a council high rise by his grandmother on the east side on Edinburgh, Wilson skipped school to endlessly listen to his records (Motown,Chet Baker, John Coltrane and the unholy trinity of Van Morrison, John Martyn and Tom Waits). Ross found solace in music, but soon became addicted to the drink and drugs he had been heavily consuming in an effort to escape a troubled upbringing. Following the death of his grandmother Ross escaped to London, dogged by alcoholism and addiction and despite his troubles, Blue Rose Code was formed and soon started to get rave reviews for early live performances.
Through 2009 and 2010 Blue Rose Code shared the stage with many celebrated writers including Bert Jansch, Kris Drever, King Creosote, John Renbourn and James Yorkston. Unable to shake off his addictions, Ross gave up playing music altogether until sobriety and redemption came unexpectedly, in Brooklyn, NY. Having been persuaded by friends to once again pick up his guitar, Ross played to small but rapt audiences in Williamsburg before returning to the UK where Blue Rose Code has since enjoyed a steady snowballing of new fans and momentum.
Ross will be performing solo at The Old Bridge, playing tracks new and old.
Date: Sunday 30th June
Artist: David MacGregor
Tickets: £4
David MacGregor is a virtuoso solo finger style guitarist and composer from Scotland. For many years he was based in the UK playing in several bands. In 2009 after having a lesson with the award winning guitarist Martin Taylor, he decided to concentrate on an international Solo Jazz Guitar career.
In April 2012, he released his first solo Jazz guitar album "Resonance". So far, he has performed solo concerts in the UK, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Mexico.
His solo performances have met raving reviews from promoters and gig goers. The mixture of virtuosity, emotion and a relaxed stage presence makes each performance enjoyable for any kind of audience.
Currently, David is in Mexico touring, writing new material for his second Album and preparing his future tour dates in America and Europe.
Date: Thursday 4th July
Artist: Sharon King & The Reckless Angels
Tickets: £4
Edinburgh based Scottish Singer Songwriter & her band The Reckless Angels (Jenny Hill: double bass & BVs, Laura Beth Salter: mandolin & BVs, Rowan Rheingans: fiddle, banjo & BVs, Dutch born mandolin player & singer Vera van Heeringen & Scottish fiddler Amy Geddes)
PENNYBLACK MUSIC.COM ‘If Sharon King doesn't break through with this latest collection, then there really is no justice in this world. ‘Nothing = Everything' is one of the strongest sets of songs that has been released so far this year, and one hopes that it won't be the last we hear of these three talented girls making music together. It's a beautiful piece of work, timeless, affecting and an album that you'll keep near.'
SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY **** ‘measured, well produced ...personal, strong minded and often very moving' NORMAN CHALMERS
R2 MAGAZINE **** 'This gem of an album... is one of those increasingly rare records that presents as a musical arc, with a cohesive beginning, middle and end and a sense of ambition to tell stories that stick in the imagination. King pulls you into her world and it's a lovely place to be.' RACHEL DEVINE
Sharon King & The Reckless Angels Facebook page
Date: Friday 12th July
Artist: LATE NIGHT LIVE presents, Mystery Juice
Tickets: free, in the bar, no seating
MYSTERY JUICE have been peddling their particular brand of Scottish breakbeat-blues for a number of years. They started out running club nights in Edinburgh, which then spread to a residency in Belfast and tours around the UK. A bizarre connection with Russia led to various tours, 2 Russian-only album releases and many festival appearances playing to audiences of up to 100,000. Recently, Mystery J...See MoreDescriptionAn incredibly vital mix of heavy funk grooves, blues guitar, searing electric fiddle and machine-gun vocals. Mystery Juice rock the house every time they play. The rhythm section of Donald Hay and Joe Peat grab you by the neck while Donald MacDougall digs guitar licks straight from the Mississippi delta. Tim Matthew's fiddle takes the traditional idiom to the nth degree of distortion while his impassioned
vocal delivery leaves you in no doubt that he means every word.
The 'Eye For An Aye' EP was recorded in the band's own studio and will be released on vinyl only (although each purchase also has a download code for iPod users). The artwork is classic screenprint design by the amazing Superlectric Industries and the first 50 copies will be individually handprinted making each one a one-off work of art.
Date: Thursday 18th July
Artist: Cairngorms Ceilidh Trail
Tickets: £5
Established in 2007, the Cèilidh Trail provides employment and professional development opportunities for up to eight young musicians aged between 16 and 22 per year. The CCT is co-ordinated locally by the Development officer with support from Feisean nan Gaidheal as part of the wider ‘Slighean Ùra- New Routes' project. Participants undertake intensive training and then tour, accompanied by a professional musician as mentor, to perform at public venues throughout the National Park area. This project has raised awareness of the Fèis movement in the eastern part of the National Park, with participants being hailed as great ambassadors for both traditional music and young people in general.
Date: Thursday 25th July
Artist: The Dave Manning Duo
Tickets: £4
He's played Folsom Prison. He's opened for the likes of Dan Bern, Mose Allison, and Squirrel Nut Zippers frontman James Mathus. He's held up traffic all over the west puttering along in an old VW Microbus that Arlo Guthrie autographed. Dave is living his life in the old tradition of the traveling-storytelling songwriters.
Dave is a two-time finalist in the Alaska Song of the Year Contest in the "Alaska Songs" category. He also received an honorable mention in the 2001 Anchorage "Press Picks" for his excellent songwriting. The Anchorage Press called his CD "a treat from beginning to end."
Dave tours in "Vincent" his '65 Microbus. In a time when the traveling storyteller and songwriter have long been replaced by television and Karaoke, Dave is still out there with the last of them. Cruising at a lazy 50mph and playing in a different town every few days, Dave isn't afraid of "paying his dues." His bus is full of stories of the road from AK to the high deserts of Arizona and everywhere between.
Dave's previous job as a documentary videographer for Heartbeat Alaska; a show specializing in bush Alaska, allowed him into the lives of amazing people from all over the North. You may have seen his work on PBS, ABC, CBS, FOX and the Discovery Channel. The people and places he sees first hand ring out in his songs, (sometimes they don't tell you the whole story on TV).
Dave's voice is most often compared to Tom Waits, and his style on the piano varies widely from soulful ballads to blues, country to boogie-woogie. He is the definition of an engaging performer; even improvising songs based on audience members' names. He always brings along his fist-full of blues harmonicas that round out his sound. He is also an award-winning published poet, and has both spoken word and music releases.
Date: Thursday 31st July
Artist: The Alistair McCulloch Trio
Tickets: £4
Alistair McCulloch is one of the most sought after fiddlers in Scotland today, both as performer and teacher. His versatility and breadth of repertoire have kept him at the forefront of the tradition for over 15 years.
Six months in the making, Alistair's long awaited third album 'Four Seasons In One Day' was released in August 2009. The beautifully textured recording captures Alistair's playing at its best, with renewed freshness combined with supreme musicianship.
This will be Alistair & co's 3rd trip to The Old Bridge, with each better than the last.
Interested in playing at OBI? Or got press enquiries? Please email owen@oldbridgeinn.co.uk. Please note we receive a lot of enquiries so will endeavour to reply to as many as possible. We now have all acts booked for April & May, so any offers should be for after these dates.st Julyst
Coming Up
Food Served
Lunch 12-2pm Monday to Thursday
12-3pm Friday to Sunday
Dinner 6-9pm Sunday to Thursday
6-10pm Friday and Saturday
Opening Times
Midday to Midnight Sunday to Thursday
Midday to 1am Friday and Saturday
