Fife's Top Quality Singer

This page contains My Latest Gig review and My Bookings.

My Home Page

Hi and welcome to my website - the source on information on what I do and where I do it!

I currently gig around Scotland, but may be persuaded to go further afield if the gig is right, so don't be afraid to ask.  I usually perform once or twice weekly in pubs and clubs as a solo act, covering a wide range of styles and songs.

My usual night consists of 3 x 40 minute sets, with musical styles ranging from pop and rock to blues and jazz. If you have any special song requests or genres in mind for your evening, just let me know in advance.

My fee is very much dependant on what you want, and when you want it!  Just get in touch with your event date and time and any other info you think I may need.  NB For wedding bookings, please note that you will require a DJ for the rest of the evening.  I have a few contacts in the business so maybe I could sort that out for you too!

I can also provide over an hour of Bond themes/jazz/lounge songs under my belt.  If any of you pubs or clubs out there are having a casino night, I could make the atmosphere that little bit more authentic.

I've also depped for a few bands, so if your singer is on holiday/ill and you need someone to fill in, give me a shout.

If you have any suggestions, queries or comments please feel free to leave me a message or email me.

NEWS.......NEWS......NEWS....

I have recently been invited to sing backup vocals for the very talented Gary Collins, One of Scotland's foremost Elvis Tributes.  Here's what `The Stage` had to say about him ...

"Vocalist Gary Collins owes much of his musical style to Elvis. I’m willing to bet that this big powerful singer has been singing rock’n’roll since he could speak. And  Perhaps investing in a rhinestone suit and setting up as a Scottish Elvis tribute might be a lucrative avenue for Collins to explore."

I'm really looking forward to performing in the live show soon.  Watch this space...

My Latest Gig...

NB - Where I've played a venue a few times, more comments are available by clicking on Past Gigs...

Please be aware that these reviews constitute my opinion only, and should not be used to influence your decision on visiting/performing in a venue. We all have good gigs and bad gigs, which may be due to a number of factors.  you may have a good gig one time, then a not so good one next time (or vice versa).

 Saturday 27th June - The Weavers, Kirkcaldy

There was a big crowd of people in the pub when I arrived, and the numbers grew as the night went on.  There was a group of revellers out for a birthday party, and quite a few new faces from other pubs in the area.  They were obviously out to have a good time, and the general level of noise was amazing.

The birthday party were rarely off the dance floor during the latter half of the night, and had a lot of enthusiasm for my ABBA and disco music, which they seemed to prefer. 

You know, as a singer you can be prepared for many things.  You can have lyrics books on hand in case you forget the words, you can even have a back up of your backing tracks on an mp3 player or phone just in case your laptop/mini disc player goes down.  What you can't plan for is what happens mentally when your equipment fails.  You may have all the necessary hardware in place, but it's amazing how unsettling an experience it can be when everything goes quiet and the crowd all turn as one to see what's going on. 

That's what happened tonight at the Weavers. 

Al worked really quickly (thanks Al) and gave me sound again within minutes, but without the backing going through my new compressor.  No problems, you might think.  Sorted. Carry on.

Well the sound was sorted but my `flow` had been interrupted, and the sound coming through my in ear was now vastly different than before.  And each track needed levelling.  Now it's not been that long since we bought the compressor, but I was used to it, and now felt a bit lost. 

These reasons all sound like excuses, and to be honest I have to admit that there was really only one bit of kit not working properly on the night - me.  My lesson to any would be singer out there?  You can plan for everything but the way you react when things go wrong. 

But hey, no one is perfect - alas not even me.

I spoke to Marie and Paul, the owners, at the end of the night, and began to apologise for the sound and my finishing on the stroke of twelve, but they both admitted that they hadn't noticed anything wrong.

So there's another lesson - if you smile and be as professional as you can during any sound problems, you can just about get away with it!

Saturday 20th June - Kilbarchan Bowling Club, Johnstone

Well aren't I just the trooper?!  Another last minute gig - this time covering for Janey Kirk herself.  Unfortunately she had a bad cold, and couldn't make it to this country gig. 

Oh yes - country.  Not my favourite genre of music, but the people at the club were forewarned that I would be doing a mixture of music styles.  Their country appetites were to be satisfied by my good pal Tam - under the name Tommy Silver. He is part of Fife's best duo act, 2gether, along with the powerhouse Mags (that'll be a fiver Mags & Tam!). His country set just kept on giving hit after hit, and the crowd were up for a good night.  I must admit to enjoying it myself, and despite my so-so attitude towards the genre I found myself tapping my feet and dancing about a bit.

My sets were mixed, but I did throw in the odd country song from my "Yee-ha" section of my set. (Yes that's actually the name of the bit of my set).  I had a few sound problems towards the end of the night, for which I must apologise.  Inspector Al is on the case.  Finishing off with "Cabaret", I was met with even more cries for "More!", but had to draw the line somewhere.  Hope to see you all again, guys!!!

Friday 19th June - Minto Club Lochgelly

This was another last minute stand in gig for me, but a welcome one.  I was meant to be doing a party this Saturday, but it was cancelled, so I was happy to get some work!  Unfortunately Jay Silver, who was meant to be doing the gig, was taken ill, and I was free. 

The gig itself was relatively good, and reminded me why the Minto is the place to go on a Friday.  I had a large group of "More mature" folk in from start to finish, who were clearly out to have a good night.  Given that they had brought crisps, I reckoned they were going to be in a while.  So I dusted off a few old favourites (a bit of Carpenters) and kept the crowd happy for the night.  Happy days.

Saturday 13th June - Otter's Head, Glenrothes

I was a last minute stand in for this gig, but I must admit to being happy with the welcome I received given the circumstances.  There was a party going on in the lounge, which meant that there was the occasional clash of sound when the adjoining door opened, but nothing too bad. 

The crowd were a little quieter than usual, and I can only imagine that a lot of the noisy ones were at the party!

Sunday 7th June - Merchiston Hearts Social Club, Edinburgh

Well it's been almost exactly two years since I appeared at Merchiston Hearts, but the last review I wrote could be used word for word!  The crowd were happy and enjoying themselves, but then the bingo finished!  Only kidding - they were all very friendly and happy to be entertained, but not up to a dance about.  Fair enough.  So I did more than my usual share of ballads and gave them a bit of Shirley Bassey, which always goes down well.  Hope it's not another 2 years til my next gig there.

Saturday 6th June - Fair Isle Bowling Club, Kirkcaldy

It was a pleasant surprise when my agent told me I'd be needed here.  It's just down the road! I met more people from my street on the night than I have since moving in nearly a year and a half ago!

I was a last minute stand in for Bobby Dee, and I was initially a bit fearful that the people who had paid to come and see Bobby wouldn't be happy at some strange woman turning up.

I needn't have worried.  Apart from the lounge feeling like a sauna for most of the night it was a wonderful gig, with many compliments and "thank you"s both during and at the end of the night.

Saturday 23rd May - Valleyfield sports & Recreation Club, High Valleyfield

Well after a wee SNAFU last week which resulted in no gig for me, I was glad to get back to work.

This week at the Valley Club wasn't your typical gig here.  I often say that in these relatively small towns there is always a party going on somewhere - unfortunately tonight's one wasn't at the Valley Club. 

I think there had been a wedding that day, so the Club was quiet for the first hour and a half apart from a group of very friendly people from Airth.  They were very encouraging and appreciative, so I'd like to say HI! and Thank You to all you folk from "over the water".  Al has some relatives from around their neck of the woods, and at one point I had to stop to let them all have a good chinwag about who was married to who and where they stayed etc. 

The Club started to get a little busier around 10.30pm, and by 11.30 the place was ready to rock and roll.  Fine, but I was finishing at 12.30!  Typical!  Sometimes I reckon it's be easier all round if acts started at 11.45 and finished at 1am.  But that's never going to happen, is it?

So thanks to all who came to the Club this week - I hope to be booked back soon...

My Bookings...

Should you wish to know about a specific date that doesn't appear here, please e mail me or call.

If you get through to the answering machine please leave a message or I'll not know to phone you back! My crystal ball is broken lol....

Bookings for 2009 so far -

Friday 3rd July - The Shelter, Cardenden

Saturday 4th July - Glen Aden Hotel, Ballater (7.30 til 10pm)

6th - 20th July - Time Off

Saturday 25th July - United Services Institute, Aberdeen

Saturday 1st August - Barry Caravan Park, Carnoustie

Saturday 15th August - Otter's Head, Glenrothes

Saturday 22nd August - Jolly Beggars, Milnathort

Saturday 29th August - The Volunteer Arms, Inverkeithing

Saturday 5th September - Dixon Arms, Glenrothes

Saturday 12th September - Private function

Saturday 19th September - Nairn Lochloy Caravan Park

Saturday 26th September - Harbour Lights, Peterhead

Saturday 10th October - Weavers, Kirkcaldy

12-23rd October - Time Off

Saturday 31st October - Jolly Beggars, Milnathort

Saturday 14th November - Pettycur Bay, Kinghorn

Saturday 21st November - tbc

Saturday 28th November - Otter's Head

Remember - Don't leave it till the last minute to book for Christmas and Hogmanay 2009!

To any of you who may have missed my annual Christmas message, you can view the 2008 one here