Southern Fried treat for Southpaw

Jul 18 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Southern Fried treat for Southpaw

LOCAL band Southpaw, proud champions of Americana, are delighted to warrant a coveted slot during Southern Fried – the ambitious three-day Festival of American Roots Music centred on Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre from August 1-3.

Southpaw form part of the star-spangled weekend programme showcasing some of the best of the new country genre.

Among Perth-bound stars are Nanci Griffith and Alain Toussaint, along with Scots songbird Eddi Reader, who joins a string of artists paying tribute to the legendary Hank Williams.

Southpaw band manager Ron Whytock, a key player on the local music scene over more years than he cares to remember, said: “This is a massive coup for Perth and hopefully we’ll secure other events on this scale. It’s profiling Perth across the country.”

Gav Munro, Southpaw guitarist and vocalist, admits the band will have to be on their mettle for their Late and Southern Fried performance at Perth Theatre on August 2. It’s also a chance to promote their new EP, “Stop The Time,” which is being snapped up at HMV in Perth.

“We’ll come out with all guns blazing. We won’t be on stage at Perth Theatre until the back of 1am so it will be a challenge keeping the boys sober!

“But this is a cup final for us and we have to bring our A-game. We’re the only local band involved and we’re following Rachel Harrington and the Wilders, who are class acts.”

But Gav insists the itinerant local heroes, who ignited a memorable Hogmanay show at the Concert Hall, won’t be fazed by their latest engagement, which follows hard on the heels of a return trip to Norway for a festival luring 35,000 music fans.

“When you’ve played in a bar full of trawlermen in Stornoway and in a remote hall tucked away in a Highland glen, Perth Theatre holds no fears! We’ve played bars with signs insisting ‘no boilersuits on the dancefloor after 8pm’ - and had a great time!

“We’re following the Wilders, who play high octane bluegrass. They’re a tough act to follow but we’ll be up for it.”

Southpaw have already crossed paths with gifted US singer songwriter Nanci Griffith, who graces the Concert Hall on August 1.

Gav recalled: “We were over in Norway for a previous festival and I woke to the noise of a woman hollering in the wee sma’ hours. It sounded like quite a stramash on the floor below so I went to investigate.

“Nanci’s road manager and I ended up struggling with a six-foot-plus drunk Norwegian cowboy who was covered in blood from Lord knows what. We ended up locking him away in a toilet because the nearest police were three hours away.

“One of the band, who shall remain nameless, had crashed out on the hotel settee. He suddenly woke up to see Nanci standing there in her pyjamas - and decided it was time to take out the mobile phone for a picture! Luckily we’d already met.

“Fortunately she’s still speaking to us and it’s great that Nanci’s coming to Perth for the first time.

“There’s growing awareness and appreciation for quality country music so an event like Southern Fried is a huge plus for Perth.”

Call 0845 612 6329 for Southern Fried ticket details or visit the website www.horsecross.co.uk