KENNY SPEIRS & JUDY DINNING

 

Kenny Speirs sings Scottish folk songs, but the songs of recent years. With accompaniment from guitars, piano, accordion and whistles he soothes his way through well-loved tracks. A gentle but compulsive album.

Kenny Speirs was a founder member of the Scottish Borders based John Wright Band - considered to be one of the most popular and successful folk bands in the UK, Holland, Germany and Denmark. February 2002 however, is the start of a new career for Kenny, with the formation of a new band and a solo career. He will concentrate on his band Real Time, in addition to performing as part of a duo and occasionally as a solo performer.

Kenny's career over the years has encompassed a wide and varied range of musical styles - he has from an early age played West Coast, pop / rock and acoustic folk music. Kenny has also carved out a career as a solo performer, singing traditional Scottish songs, many from the beautiful Borders country in which he lives. He has also turned his hand to writing his own songs and instrumentals.

 

 

Judy Dinning is a singer/songwriter who performs her own compositions as well as those of contemporary writers from the USA and UK. Drawing also from the library of traditional songs of her native North East, she plays guitar, keyboards, dulcimer and percussion. Her own style is predominantly English, with her main influences being Sandy Denny, Maddy Prior and Jacqui McShee; but she acknowledges that the American singer/songwriters Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez have also been a great influence in her musical career. Judy is also a great admirer of the Irish tradition and the singing of Naimh Parsons and Mary Black in particular.

Judy began singing early; almost as soon as she could walk - and talk. Although Judy has a classical training and a London College of Music Diploma in Voice, her first love was always traditional music and her first forays onto the folk music scene were at the local folk club in Hexham, Northumberland, both solo and with local group Passport.