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Jim Byrne

About Me

New CD released

I'm very happy to report that my new CD, 'On these dark nights' is now available to buy.

"Your CD has been played a lot in our house: it's fantastic!

One of my favourite albums this year!

I like it very much: fine guitar playing, a sympathetic voice and good tunes. it makes us feel good, my wife and I."
Jan Byker

"The gig last night was wonderful. We are listening to the CD this morning over breakfast. Fab voice. Love the words."
Basia Palka


"Said it before, say it again, the songs and geetaring are great"

Gill Maxwell

"Jim's ballads are a blend of the familiar and the romantic. Tunes from the heart which you catch yourself singing (in my case in the shower only)"
Issi Wilson

"I have been listening to Jim's new album ON THESE DARK NIGHTS over the weekend and I think it is fantastic."
Dougie Wilkinson Clannan An Drumma

On these dark Nights, the new album by Jim Byrne

New and old friends have brought their talents to the studio, making this a unique recording. Mick West, nominated for the award of Scottish Traditional Singer 2008, sings backing vocals on two of the tracks and Geoff Martyn, Peter Byrne and Robert Ruthven, all great players, add their magic to these new songs.


Compact Disc

Buy the physical CD via our secure Paypal link .

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Trip to Italy inspires debut album

After an Italian Road to Damascus experience in June this year, Glasgow songwriter Jim Byrne has been forging a new path as a solo artist and his album 'On these Dark Nights' will be launched on December 12th 2008.

The music has been described as "contemporary folk, alternative country and laconic, acoustic blues' - it includes new songs and a bonus track, written and performed with Vivian Scotston and Madalaine Hart in Italy.

Having played with various bands in Glasgow and Clydebank (Jim's hometown) including: Loris, The Hemingways, The Primevals and Dexter Slim and the Pickups, Jim has many years' experience playing in rock and pop bands. He also achieved some claim to fame as the person who gave Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand his first gig, when he established Glasgow's cult music venue, The Kazoo Club in the late 80's.

An invite from Chris Difford

In May this year he was invited to participate in Chris Difford's songwriting workshop in Monestovole in Italy, where his enthusiasm for songwriting was reignited after spending a week writing and performing songs in the company of other artists including Mari Pellow, Linda Lewis, Vivian Scotston, Jan Biker and Madelaine Hart.

Picking up the acoustic guitar leads to a raft of new songs

Since his return has had a wonderful time performing as an acoustic artist, playing his new songs at gigs, folk clubs and festivals around Scotland. His reception as a solo performer has been remarkable with reviews in Spiral Earth.co.uk and 100% successful track record of being invited back to each venue performed.

And a debut album

The positive feedback and constant requests for a CD encouraged him to put together this album, where both new and old friends have brought their talents to the studio, making this a unique recording. Mick West, recently nominated for the award of Scottish Traditional Singer 2008, sings backing vocals on two of the tracks and Geoff Martyn, another graduate of Monestovole, was keen to participate in the project, playing Wurlitzer on one of the tracks and recording some of the album tracks at his own studio.

Long time musical buddies also got in on the act and two other Clydebank fellows, Robert Ruthven and Peter Byrne, Jim's brother, lent their considerable musical talents to the venture as did Graham MacIntosh, who's much in demand as a guitarist.

New website launched

Check out my new website, contemporary folk and Alt country songs by Jim Byrne - for updates and music.
Up in the morning
Look out the window
I see the birds
I see the sky
I see the clouds as they are rolling by
I see the sea and I sea the shore
Now what do you see?
Put on your wellies
put on your big coat
time to go splashin'......
"We were delighted to have Jim Byrne in our FESTIVAL SHOWCASE and MUSIC AT THE CROSS OUTDOOR STAGE. His highly innovative compositions were well received by our Festival-goers and we would certainly welcome him back" Murdie Kennedy, Linlithgow Folk Festival
"Excellent! Jim is breath of fresh air amongst Glasgow's acoustic scene" Dochan MacMillan, Free Candy Sessions
"'Jim Byrne's unique and personal set at the Open Mike session at The Place Music Club Milngavie, was perfectly suited to the intimate, cabaret atmosphere in this popular club. His engaging lyrics and slick guitar puts Jim firmly on the performance circuit in Scotland. Worth looking out for." Erne Parkin, The Place Folk Club, Milngavie.
"Special mention should go to Jim Byrne and his laconic folk blues.." David Kushar, UK new Folk and Roots music (SpiralEarth.co.uk )
"...his accomplished guitar work, well crafted songs and sensitive singing were very well received." Pedie MacNeill, Colonsay Festival Organiser
Singing and writing songs since birth (well after the football and bike riding). Acoustic, bluesy folk and country style songs of love, heartbreak and the Scottish weather. From Glasgow, Scotland.
Currently playing festivals and gigs throughout Scotland - recently at Colonsay Folk festival and featured on the Linlithgow Folk Festival Showcase. Soon to be supporting Canadian singer songwriter Allison Lickley in The Liquid Ship and Supporting Southern Tenant Folk Union in Brel in Glasgow's West End.

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Bands Jim has played in include The Primevals , The Hemingways , Hyperstar, Dexter Slim and the Pickups and of course his most recent band Loris .
In the early 90s he set up the Kazoo club in Glasgow - which launched many a Glasgow band's career - and gave Alex from Franz Ferdinand his first ever gig.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/15/2006
Band Website: songsbyjimbyrne.com
Influences:

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Get access to:


    Free Mp3 ringtones to download A uniquely designed lyric sheet Win free CDs News about my latest musical adventures


Influences

Ryan Adams, folk, roots and acoustic music, Kris Drever, The Poozies, Elvis, Wrigley Sisters, John Martyn, Gram Parsons, Teenage Fanclub, The Magic Numbers, John Prine, The Vines, Beck, Loris, The Beatles, Keith Richards, Rolling Stones, 60s Folk Rock, 70s Glam Rock, Beach Boys, Tom Waits, Jazz, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Chet Baker, Punk, Mavericks, Jimi Hendrix,The Buzzcocks, The fall, Marc Bolan,T-Rex, The Kinks, Captain Beefheart, Jon Wayne, The Undertones, Loyd cole and the Commotions, Van Morrison, The Pogues, Kings of Leon, Ry Cooder, Pop music from the year dot onwards, pre-war blues players, Professor Longhair, Orange Juice, Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, The Creeping Charlies, Bach, Hank Wangford (first album), Plato and his philosophical cronies, The Monkeys, Hank Williams, Dr John, Dr Feelgood, Bert Jansch.

Subscribe to Jim Byrne's, 'Adventures in Acoustic Music' newsletter.

Win free CDs, get discounts on CD and get the latest news on new releases, gigs, and other stuff as it happens! You will receive a newsletter via email about once a month.

Be assured I respect your privacy. Your email address will never be passed on to anyone else. You will be able to remove yourself from this list at anytime.

Click here to subscribe to my newsletter.


Sounds Like: John Martyn, Ryan Adams, John Prine, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, JJ Cale
Record Label: Hillhead GWE Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Songwriting blog: it disnae or widnae rhyme Jim!

I think I must have a condition called rhyme blindness (a condition I've just invented). Making rhymes isn't something I'm consciously striving for when writing songs; sometimes they do and sometimes ...
Posted by on Sun, 17 May 2009 13:37:00 GMT

Otis Gibbs gig, Moniaive Folk Festival and new song

I'm looking forward to meeting Otis Gibbs next Monday  (18th) at The Twisted Wheel (Queen Street Glasgow) as part of the Glasgow Festival of Americana. I'll be opening the show for Otis. Check his mus...
Posted by on Wed, 13 May 2009 03:19:00 GMT

Hearing my own music coming over the speakers in a cafe

Here's a thing that put a smile on my face; I was working in Offshore (a cafe I frequently use as my office) and heard a song that sounded very familiar to me coming over the speakers. It took me a fe...
Posted by on Thu, 07 May 2009 08:43:00 GMT

Here's me in Oran Mor on Celtic Music Radio

On Saturday I was invited along to chat and play as part of Celtic Music Radio May day celebrations. The show is now on the listen again feature.You will have to excuse my croaking voice; we had been ...
Posted by on Mon, 04 May 2009 14:28:00 GMT

Celtic Music Radio and gig at Butterfly and Pig

I had a busy but enjoyable weekend playing music; on Saturday I chatted and played on Alex Jenkins Celtic Music Radio show, which was part of an outside broadcast from the Whiskey Bar Oran Mor in Glas...
Posted by on Mon, 04 May 2009 04:31:00 GMT

Home recording problems

A little update to my previous post about recording music at home. So far I haven't really got anywhere, other than having learned some new words. The most important new word I've learned is 'latency'...
Posted by on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:41:00 GMT

Learning to record at home

I've been spending some time trying to figure out how to record my songs at home; the idea being that I'll do the recording in my own time - them book a studio to get them mixed, by someone who knows ...
Posted by on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:15:00 GMT

New song uploaded: Down by the Wildwood by Jim Byrne and Carol Kidd MBE

Over the Easter weekend I spent some time recording a song I co-wrote with the Jazz singer Carol Kidd MBE (musical genius and beautiful person) - a song called 'Down by the Wildwood'. I usually only u...
Posted by on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:22:00 GMT

New songs uploaded: You always look for the good in me

I've uploaded a new song. It's are rough home recordings - so I aplogise that is not studio quality. It's just me playing my acoustic guitar and singing - while sitting in our living room.The songs is...
Posted by on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:27:00 GMT

Playing this Friday (6th) with Andi Neate at Woodend Bowling Club

I'll be playing a gig this Friday (6th March) with Andi Neate at Woodend Bowling Club. This is a Sounds in Suburbs promotion organised by Alan Hendry. Alan always puts on good people - so I'm expecti...
Posted by on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:41:00 GMT