Hello everybody!

It’s been another busy but brilliant year. It started with the fantastic Celtic Connections where I played gigs with Eddi Reader and also with Roddy Woomble and Kris Drever. Myself, Roddy and Kris performed on BBC2's The Culture Show and BBC Scotland’s Celtic Connections TV shows. A highlight of the festival for me was taking part in the Transatlantic Sessions at the Royal concert hall, getting to play with Nanci Griffith, Dan Tyminski, Kathy Mattea, Jerry Douglas, Tim O'Brien and loads of other brilliant singers and musicians was a real treat. Earlier this year myself and Heidi Talbot had a lovely time touring with Eddi Reader, playing 45 shows in the UK and Ireland. The summer was great fun too, catching up with friends and playing at loads of festivals including Cambridge, Tonder, Towersey, Moseley and Colonsay. I’ve just finished some very enjoyable promo dates with Mark Knopfler in London, Paris, Cologne and Madrid. You can watch us play on the French TV show Taratata here: http://www.mytaratata.com/

I’m delighted to be nominated for a Spirit of Scotland award. The awards take place on the 8th December and will be on TV a few days after. Previous winners include Ewan McGregor, JK Rowling, Jack Vettriano and Paolo Nutini.
“This unique awards scheme recognises the individuals who inspire Scotland, leading the way in Scottish culture from food, music, the environment and screen to art, business, writing and sport and who through their achievements are making every year count.”
You can vote for me if you fancy! http://www.glenfiddich.co.uk/

It’s been busy year in the studio producing and playing on records. I spent a few days in London playing on Mark Knopfler’s fantastic new record “Get Lucky”. Idlewild have just released their new CD “Post Electric Blues” which features myself on fiddle and Heidi sings on 2 tracks. I also guested on Eddi Reader’s new record “Love is the Way” and Boo Hewerdine’s brand new album “God Bless the Pretty Things”. Look out for the new Teenage Fanclub LP next year with me fiddling away on it! I just finished producing a new Kris Drever album called “Mark The Hard Earth”. We had a great time making it, Tim O’Brien flew over from Nashville to join us for a few days... he can totally sing and play! We’ve just had a brilliant time recording a new Heidi Talbot record. Myself, Ian Carr, Ewen Vernal, Kris Drever and Heidi spent a week in North Berwick with Calum Malcolm, playing, laughing and eating biscuits! The record will be called “The Last Star” and will also feature Andy Cutting, Michael McGoldrick, Phil Cunningham, Donald Shaw & Eddi Reader. It will be released on Compass in America and Navigator in the UK.

There are a few more gigs and things before the end of the year. Myself, Kris and Roddy are playing a few shows, supported by Heidi and Boo. Visit www.drevermccuskerwoomble.com for details. I’m looking forward to performing with Eddi Reader at the Homecoming Scotland show in Glasgow and with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra - A History of Scotland show at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, both late November. There will also be 2 shows at Edinburgh’s Queens Hall with Phil Cunningham’s Christmas songbook on the 21st and 22nd of December, featuring Phil, Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, myself and a brass band. Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without it now! I’m finishing off the year with Phil on the Hogmanay show, it’s the perfect way to end the year.. playing music with your pals.

I’m delighted that next year will see me touring with Mark Knopfler, it will be brilliant to be on stage with all the guys again. I will be touring all over Europe including 6 shows at the Albert Hall. Please see www.markknopfler.com for all the dates. The second half of the year I will be playing some UK and Ireland shows with Heidi, please see www.heiditalbot.com for details.

That’s it folks! Thanks for all your support over the last year and hope to see lots of you next year. Have a good one!

Best wishes John

www.johnmccusker.co.uk
www.underonesky.co.uk
www.drevermccuskerwoomble.com

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