Two generations of songwriters for The Ironworks

SINGER-SONGWRITERS from two different generations are the latest acts booked to appear at Inverness's Ironworks.

Dick Gaughan, who comes to the Inverness venue on Thursday April 12, is steeped in the traditions of folk and Celtic music, but his influences are far wider than those alone.

A passionate performer with strong political beliefs, his 1981 album Handful of Earth was voted the finest folk album of the decade, but the much admired singer and guitarist remains a key figure on the Scottish music scene.

Comparative youngster Benjamin Francis Leftwich comes to The ironworks on Friday October 12th.

Just 21 and has yet to release his first album, Yorkshire born Benjamin first stared playing guitar at the age of 10, ditching his teacher after just a couple of lessons and teaching himself from the records that inspired him instead, among them the Rolling Stones, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan and Elliot Smith. By 15, he was writing songs and playing with a band on the York music scene, before starting work as a solo artist at 18 and beginning to write what now makes up his forthcoming debut album ‘Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm’.

“That’s what I am,” he states.

“I don’t think I’m folk, nor am I straight indie. I write songs and I play guitar and I think it’s varied on the album and it will be in the future. That’s what I feel like I’m making.

"The title singer-songwriter is appropriate. The term is usually applied to people like James Morrison and James Blunt, but really they play down-the-line pop. It’s people like Elliot Smith, Bob Dylan and John Lennon that can be considered true singer-songwriters.”

Tickets for both shows go on sale from 10am on Friday 2nd March.