Alan Brown: News

The elegant portrait-hung Pink Room in 16th Century Castle Menzies is the setting for the sixth successive year of my Summer Show THIS IS SCOTLAND … AND YOU’RE WELCOME TO IT!

It's an evening of gentle music and comedy written and presented by me and focussing on this very part of the world known as Highland Perthshire.

Starts at 8 pm each Thursday evening from 20 May to 16 September, tickets are £6 on sale at the venue or may be reserved by phoning Castle Menzies on (01887) 820982.

BUT!

Apologies to all prospective customers because I've had to cancel the show for various reasons - mainly lack of interest. So May's delicious home-made shortbread will remain a tempting mystery to the great public but I hope to be able to do something else later in the season aside from my other singing and compering activities.

November 2009 is the official release date of my new album AT THE WATERFRONT.

It’s a collection of 15 of the songs I have featured most often at the various venues in which I perform all year round in beautiful Highland Perthshire.

The instrumental warm-up gives way to MAIRI‘S WEDDING, from the island of Lewis, followed by THE UIST TRAMPING SONG, also from the Western Isles, before I introduce one of my own songs HOMECOMING, written for my show This is Scotland … and You’re Welcome To It! which I present over the summer months in the wonderful setting of Castle Menzies, near Aberfeldy.

From the glorious years of Skiffle - and how often do you get the words Glorious and Skiffle in the same sentence? comes HAVE A DRINK ON ME. (Please note that this does not constitute an offer.) DUELLING BAGPIPES was put together after a visit by four rather depressed canoeists who were looking for hot food at 10 pm. In Scotland? DOIN’ JIMMIE RODGERS PROUD is a tribute to one of my musical heroes from the USA. I finish the song with part of one of his greatest hits WAITIN’ FOR A TRAIN.

The songs of Robert Burns are close to my heart and A RED, RED ROSE is the first of three on this album. Then it’s the stirring rebel-rousing Jacobite song WHA WADNA FECHT FOR CHAIRLIE about the 1745 Rising. Then it’s Skiffle again, and memories of another musical hero - Lonnie Donegan - with PUTTING ON THE STYLE, an American folk song which, incidentally, had original lyrics of Young man in a carriage, driving like he’s mad, with a pair of horses he’s borrowed from his dad. Nice to see that juvenile delinquency was on the go even at that time.

The Scots cattle drovers who emigrated to the USA must have enjoyed the wide open spaces of the prairies and the sun on their backs and HOME ON THE RANGE is one of their classic songs. Aberfeldy was the birthplace of the Black Watch regiment and TWA RECRUITIN’ SERGEANTS dates back to the Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800’s. CORN RIGS is Burns the lover and THE WEST HIGHLAND LINE celebrates the laying of the track across wild Rannoch Moor. FOR A’ THAT is the humanitarian Burns: That man to man the warld o’er shall brithers be for a’ that, and the album finishes with another of my own songs THE BOYS OF THE OLD BRIGADE to honour the characters who are fast slipping away from us.

The CD is available at gigs for £5 or send me an email.

Once again the Pitlochry Autumn Festival is being held to coincide with the immensely popular Enchanted Forest, an outdoor sound and light show in Faskally Woods.

I'm appearing for a mind-boggling 17 nights in a row as part of the street entertainment, beginning on Friday 17 October. You'll find me at the top of Station Road, Pitlochry and you'll easily recognise me as I'll be the one who is blue with hypothermia!

Just to let you know that when I upgraded my account with my Internet Service Provider, they allocated it to a different Mr Brown. How can that be, I hear you ask incredulously; it's not THAT popular a name! The result was that I was unable to go online for a whopping 12 days as no one could find the fault. It was rectified at 10 am on Thursday 29 May, leaving me to sift my way through 566 emails. If you've written to me you'll get a reply eventually ...

You can tell it's Spring by the snow showers, but I've begun a busy run of gigs at The Waterfront in Kenmore. On Wednesdays I'll be presenting HEROES (see below) and on Fridays it's BROON'S REEL, my evening of Scottish songs and music. Hope to see some of you there at some time.

announcing a new themed evening paying tribute to my musical heroes down the years - from Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers, Frank Sinatra and Fats Waller through to Lonnie Donegan, Robert Burns and Jimmy Shand! First performance is for diners at The Waterfront in Kenmore on Monday 24 March. Phone the restaurant for details on (01887) 830829

Just finalised details for THIS IS SCOTLAND ... AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO IT!, my evening of music and comedy at beautiful Castle Menzies. This will be my fourth year presenting it and there's a much longer run this time around. It takes place each THURSDAY at 8pm for the months of APRIL right through to the end of SEPTEMBER and I'll be publishing more details nearer the time.

Didn't think I'd see the day when I'd be appearing here - the UK's biggest trad (and other) music festival but thanks to Margaret Bennett and the Aberfeldy & District Gaelic Choir it happened! Read all about it in the Press section of this website.

One of my most requested musical packages is the PUTTING ON THE STYLE show where I celebrate the popular music of the 20th century.

It’s a journey through the music which has played such an important part in our lives - everything from rock’n’roll to jazz and big band; music hall comedy to skiffle; folk, traditional and country; Hollywood musicals, novelty items and romantic ballads, plus my own award-winning songs.

And thanks to musical technology (where I play all the instruments you’ll hear), it’s a sound that’ll knock you sideways.

IT'S singalong time to the hits of the 40s, 50s and 60s
IT'S a small, smooth-sounding combo which is very suitable for diners … and for dancers
IT'S the intimate atmosphere generated by an ’unplugged’ singer/songwriter
IT'S a Scottish folk group with local songs and tunes and even ceilidh dances (complete with demonstrations of how to do them!)
IT'S a mixture of them all, delivered with lashings of wit and humour

… and - of special interest to prospective bookers, hotel owners etc - whichever sound you want, it’s all performed by one man … for the price of one man!

I thrive on audience participation whether it's coach parties, private functions or the locals in the bar and I won’t take up acres of space; all I need is a cosy wee corner.

It’s music for every occasion, so have a listen to my PUTTING ON THE STYLE section on my MUSIC page, and contact me.

In addition to solo gigs and playing in ceilidh bands, May & Alan Brown present BROONS' REEL - THE CEILIDH! It's an informal evening of Scottish entertainment with songs, tunes and ceilidh dances. And don't worry if you don't know how to do the dances, because we'll show you how in a FUN way. Have a look at the poster in the Photos section and contact Alan for more details.