Acclaimed country and Americana duo, My Darling Clementine got the new series of Perth Theatre’s The Monday Night Thing off to a harmonious start on Monday 25 February.
Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish are making a welcome return to Perth following their much-praised appearance at the 2015 Southern Fried Festival.
Speaking ahead of the show, Michael recalled how Perth inspired his early musical direction:
“Whenever I come to Perth, I always think of Townes Van Zandt. It was in Perth, in the late 80’s, that I first because aware of him and his music, courtesy of John and Barclay Thomson who used to run Goldrush Records. John had a very rare copy of the film Heartworn Highways, the cult film about the Outlaw Country movement in Texas and Tennessee in the mid 70’s. It had a very profound effect on me and my musical outlook was changed forever. Years later I toured with Townes and we played a show in Perth.
The lines from his wonderful song A Song For, also come to mind;
"London to Dublin, Australia to Perth, I gazed at your sky and I tasted your earth
I sung out my heart for what it was with. Too late to wish I’d been stronger” 'That is Perth, Scotland, not Perth, Australia’ he would point out when introducing the song.
So yes, both Lou and I are really glad to be back in Perth. It has been too long since we last played here. Maybe we will bring a Townes song with us for the occasion.”
Michael and Lou will be joined by Al Gare on double bass, last seen in Perth playing with Imelda May, and Edinburgh’s Iain Sloan on guitar and pedal steel.
March Monday Night Thing gigs in Perth Theatre’s Joan Knight Studio include traditional music from Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle, Irish singer-songwriter Jack Lukeman, alternative rock from indie icon Kristin Hersh and world-class jazz from Tommy Smith and Brian Kellock.
April kicks off with original Fence collective member James Yorkston and continues with an intimate solo show from multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter Brian Kennedy, a melodic rock and blues double bill with Helias and the Simon Kennedy Band, William Soutar celebration In a Sma Room and musical mastery from fiddler Jenna Reid with Harris Playfair and Mr McFall’s Chamber.
Lucy Spraggan plays an all-standing show in May, followed by jazz from phenomenal young pianist Fergus McCreadie and his Trio.
Andy Shearer, creative director for contemporary music for Horsecross Arts, the creative organisation and charity behind Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre said:
“The Monday Night Thing has quickly established itself as a great night out for discerning music-lovers looking for something a little different. Audiences have really responded to the intimate atmosphere of the Joan Knight Studio as have the artists, who love the high production standards we can deliver in what is a relatively small venue. We’ve always tried to cover a lot of musical bases with the Monday Night gigs and the spring season continues that. We kick off with some great country soul from My Darling Clementine and the rest of the series features world-class Celtic traditional music, some brilliant singer-songwriters, world-class Scottish jazz, the cream of Perthshire-based artists and our very first all-standing gig in the Studio with Lucy Spraggan - something we’ve been waiting a very long time for as that was always a key part of the vision for the venue from the earliest stages of planning the new building.”
The Monday Night Thing is in Perth Theatre’s Joan Knight Studio from Monday 25 February until Monday 13 May. For tickets and info about The Monday Night Thing click here or call Horsecross Arts Box Office on 01738 621031.
Tuesday 26 February 2019