John Graham and Jim Jack’s debut album features an eclectic mix of many of the favourite songs from their live act with contributions from some of the most talented contemporary songwriters from Scotland and further afield.

Graeme Miles’ haunting ‘Eldorado’ hints at a life of missed opportunities while Iain Ingram’s ‘Calton Rose’ and ‘Braes o’ Appin’ are love songs in the Scottish tradition and Steven Clark’s ‘Coming Home’ talks of the plight of the many refugees cast adrift in the world today.

Jim King’s ‘West Coast Days’ and ‘Home To The Kyles’ from the pen of Duncan McCrone and Celly Paterson evoke memories of summer days on the Clyde Coast. From earlier days of the folk revival come Ewan MacColl’s ‘Manchester Rambler’ and Matt McGinn’s enigmatic ‘Magic Shadow Show’. John and Jim’s love of Americana is also represented in the rollicking ‘Truck Driving Man’.

John Graham and Jim Jack have played in Folk Bands since the 1960s.

John co-founded The Clydesiders in 1968 and remained a member till they became inactive in 2000. The band recorded 10 albums and appeared regularly on TV and radio including STV’s ‘Thingummyjig’ and ‘Highway’, and the Terry Wogan programme on the BBC.

Initially the fiddler in the band, John developed into a multi-instrumentalist and plays a range of instruments on the album.

Jim started playing the folk clubs and pubs in Edinburgh with The Portlands before moving to Glasgow and forming Carterhall.

The band was resident in the Doune Castle Bierkeller throughout the seventies as well as playing in folk clubs and recording two albums. Jim went on to sing and play guitar in rock bands before rekindling his interest in folk music.

John and Jim’s act recalls much of the spirit of the folk clubs in the 60s and 70s with plenty of chorus singing and a fair measure of humour thrown in.

John and Jim are aided on the album by Cy Jack on Keyboard and Calum Maclean on 5 string banjo.   

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