Andy Shanks profile picture

Andy Shanks

About Me

Andy is a singer songwriter who writes contemporary Scottish folk songs. He started singing with folk group 'Rattlebone' in the 80's with Jazz guitarist George Burt, multi instrumentalist Jim Russell and singer Craig Mair. After a number of years doing the rounds including the Lorient Celtic festival the band reduced to a three piece and when Andy moved north to just Jim and himself. Started playing self penned material and won the Jack Stewart song writing competition and the Edinburgh song writing competition in quick succession. A number of other awards followed and growing recognition as both a dynamic live act and as powerful songwriters. Recorded an album with many musical friends Davey Scott ( The Pearlfishers), Bill Wells ( Scotland’s number one jazz composer) and all round good guy , John Burgess, Brian Mcalpine, Wilf Smith( Capercallie)Wendy Weatherby and Lindsey Cooper (Tubular Bells double bass player) and many others and landed a recording deal with Culburnie Records. Massive critical acclaim for the album and continuing live shows paused for a while when Jim moved south to England. Andy now performs with fiddler Peter Cameron and following on from successful expeditions to Ireland and California continues to write and perform a growing bank of unique songs. Alongside performing he is currently involved in song writing projects for the 'Newmakar's Trust' contributing to the 'In an Aroon Ainster' CD, 'Songs in the Lea of Time' and ' From Scotland to California' The songs themselves have been recorded most notably by June Tabor who has recorded both ' The fiddler' and 'The Dancing' on her new Album' Apples'. Other artist to record the songs are, The Sangsters and Crooked Jack.
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 13/08/2007
Band Website: andyshanks.com
Band Members:
Influences: John Martyn, Bert Jansch, Jim Russell, George Burt, John Renborn, Davey Graham, Sandy Denny, Richard Thomson, Davey Scott, Paul Simon,For news and information www.andyshanks.com
Sounds Like: Looking at the world through the eyes of a song, John Martyn, James Taylor, George Burt, Jim Russell, Pentangle, Paul Simon, June Tabor, Richard Thomson
Record Label: Culburnie Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Dunfermline Folk Weekend

After a year of Peter Cameron being lost in the wild highlands we are getting back together for a gig in Dunfermline on Saturday as part of the Dunfermline folk weekend. 3.00 at the Baldrickburn Bowli...
Posted by on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:01:00 GMT

Andy Shanks and Carol Anderson in Edinburgh this Wednesday

Carol Anderson joins Andy Shanks for Edinburgh Festival Gig on Wednesday. Hugely talented Scots fiddler from Aberdeenshire will be playing with me in the Speigle Tent in Edinburgh on Wednesday night a...
Posted by on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:52:00 GMT

Slideshow


Posted by on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:22:00 GMT

Dunfermline Folk Club on Wednesday

One of the best places to listen to music in Fife. The Thistle Tavern on Wednesday. I am looking forward to visiting some old and some new songs at Dunfermline next week. If you are around drop in it ...
Posted by on Fri, 29 May 2009 11:16:00 GMT

Andy Shanks and Dick Gaughan in Dundee next Sunday

Next Sunday (1st Feb) 8 pm  at the Woodlands Hotel in Dundee I am supporting the legendry Dick Gaughan. It should be a brilliant night. It seems ages since Dick was up in this neck of the woods and th...
Posted by on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 04:42:00 GMT

Songs in the Key of Fife on i Tunes

A quirky collection of songs I have written over the last few years all about Fife. Some recorded with King Creosote (Kenny Anderson) that captures some of the stories that come tumbling out of the Ki...
Posted by on Sat, 02 Feb 2008 05:09:00 GMT

Pitenweem CD

Pitenweem CD The Newmakar's Trust have put up the money for the CD so it's serious writing and recording time. I have about twelve songs on the go and I still up for suggestions on others. Need to get...
Posted by on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:18:00 GMT

Back from California and into Pitenweem

Back from Cakifornia and working on the songs from the Pitenween Festival.  The States were great the audiences out there are so generous and the kids we worked with just enthusiastic and brillia...
Posted by on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 03:59:00 GMT

Off to California

On the 1st of October Pete and I are off to California to sing and write some songs. This could be even better than last time and we had a ball then. Looking forward to seeing old friends and making s...
Posted by on Sun, 02 Sep 2007 08:33:00 GMT