Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake is set to take his occasional solo career one step further – unveiling a brand new set at this year’s Tigerfest, at Dunfermline’s Carnegie Hall.
The Fanclub mainman is joining forces with David Scott – arranger, broadcaster, BMX Bandit and founder of The Pearlfishers – for the evening of Friday 16th May, which will see an extravaganza of songwriting, each helping the other out on their material and roughly alternating between Blake and Scott-penned songs. The audience can expect the unexpected, with some unusual cover versions. “It’ll be one set with lots of different little detours,” said Scott, whose Pearlfishers releases are usually lush affairs. So the string section employed will also appear on some of Blake’s material with Fanclub tunes such as ‘Planets’ and ‘Did I Say’ likely to feature.
The Carnegie Hall’s impressive sound system and spacious stage should prove useful for what will be a lineup approaching football-team size. “The plan is to have another couple of guys who’ll take a sort of creative midfield role,” jokes Scott, “able to go on mazy runs down the flanks but get back in defence when required.”
The Pearlfishers catalogue will also benefit. “It’s pretty much a privilege to be able to present your songs with a big line up… and with an iconic figure like Norman alongside, I guess I’ll feel happy whatever I play and hope that the good folks of Dunfermline do too,” says Scott, who is likely to work on Blake’s upcoming solo album. He has already worked on releases by artists such as Alex Chilton, Kim Fowley and Evie Sands and wellas singer songwriters like Ally Kerr and Ricky Ross.
Blake has also done some production – “Norman produced three tracks on The Pearlfishers’ Up With The Larks so I’d like to repay that and more,” confides Scott.
As well as working with Euros Childs (Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci) Blake has, like Scott, appeared on the Scottish Arts Council-sponsored Burnsong event, so his solo work should come as no surprise. However, Teenage Fanclub fans can rest easy – the band are also working on new material. So rather than diluting the band’s output means even more additions to an already considerable back-catalogue.
And fans venturing to Fife can expect a unique evening – as can the 2 performers. “I love the Carnegie Hall – it gives me chills every time,” confides Scott.
He can be sure that Tigerfest-goers feel just the same.
David Scott and Norman Blake appear at the Carnegie Hall as part of Tigerfest on Friday 16th May.
Tickets: 01383 602302 or at www.ticketweb.co.uk.
More at www.tigerfest.co.uk