Songsmith Don rolls out his debut album

Mar 17 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

INTERNET sensation Don Nicolson goes out on the road this week to promote his debut album.

The Perth-based singer-songwriter, whose debut collection The Sandpiper Chronicles was completed earlier this month, has lined up a short tour of Fife and Tayside.

Nicolson will call in at in venues in St Andrews, Crieff, Alyth and Montrose as he starts building up to his live slot at the Rock the Catwalk charity gig in Perth Concert Hall on May 2.

Originally from Dundee, the guitarist writes and performs original material in a mix of ballads and feelgood, upbeat numbers.

The Sandpiper Chronicles, which was produced by Nick Green, follows on from Don’s resoundingly successful participation in BBC3’s internet-based, Upstaged new music talent contest last year.

Performing his straight-from-the-heart songs he came second in the competition after receiving thousands of on-line votes from an audience made up of all ages and genres of music fan.

Despite finishing ahead of a welter of entrants from all over the UK, many observers believed Don deserved to lift the winner’s trophy, attaching a hint of controversy to his eventual runners-up finish.

But determined not to let his enthusiasm wane, the talented musician has continued writing in preparation for his debut set.

Nicolson, who works locally as a bus driver, cites influences as diverse as Coldplay, Paulo Nutini, Marc Cohn, Jeff Buckley and Dougie MacLean.

The songsmith’s live work has included numerous gigs around the country over the past six years and two main stage appearances with Dougie MacLean at the Pethshire Amber Festival.

In 2006 he won the event’s songwriter of the year award and he reached the final of last year’s Idol competition.

According to Don’s management, Flying Pixie Promotions, passion rips through each track on Sandpiper in a soul and imagination-stirring listening experience.

The troubadour recently supported Johnny South and more gigs to coincide with the new album’s launch are being planned.

Check out www.myspace.com/donseventy7 or www.youtube.com/donseventy7 for more about the singer.

See Don Nicolson in Perthshire at Crieff’s Meadow Inn on Sunday from 2.30-5.30pm, and at Alyth’s Burnside Inn on March 28.