Homecoming Scotland Finale Celebrations
West Dunbartonshire’s Homecoming Hoolies!

Homecoming Scotland Finale Celebrations have now been finalised for West Dunbartonshire, with two top musical events which will take place in Clydebank, and Dumbarton over the last weekend in November.

The very best in traditional and contemporary Scottish music has been sourced both from the finest local talent and leading Scottish musicians to devise individual programmes for each of the three Hoolies - concert and ceilidh style events.

The performers were checking out the venues to tie down last minute details on lights and technical detail.

Brian Hughes and the Lone Sharks who are playing both of the Homecoming Hoolies said, “We are delighted to have been invited to contribute to the local Homecoming Scotland celebrations, which gives us the chance to reach an audience maybe under the impression that country music is all cowboy hats and sad songs.”

“Our music is good time rocking’ modern country guaranteed to get the hands clappin’ and feet stompin’. For all those of a certain age who remember the thrill of attending live concerts, this is the perfect chance to get out at the weekend and relive those glory days. As we very rarely play anywhere locally, we are especially looking forward to seeing friends and families in the audience, and to hopefully making new friends and fans!”

Doors open at 7pm and will be licensed till midnight. Tickets are only £5 and can be picked up from the Playdrome in Clydebank, The Meadow Centre in Dumbarton and The Vale of Leven Swimming Pool on Main Street, Alexandria.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE FINALE CELEBRATIONS POSTER.

West Dunbartonshire’s Events Team is absolutely thrilled that each of the Hoolies will have its own unique mixture of performers. Jim McKelvie said, “Although we had initially planned for three separate events, we had to pull one of the events planned for Moss O Balloch, due to waterlogging on the ground and high winds weather warning for the event night. So we are playing it safe and keeping it cosy with teh first Hoolie and Clydebnak Town Hall on Friday 27th and Dumbarton Burgh Hall on Saturday 28th of November. Event Team are delighted that we have managed to pull in such a variety of performers for each Hoolie in order to ensure that there will be something for everyone, at each event.”

Marie Christie, Homecoming Scotland 2009 Project Director said: “Essential to the success of the Homecoming Scotland Finale Celebrations is the creation of a strong and inspiring programme of events across Scotland. We are delighted that West Dunbartonshire’s three Homecoming Hoolies will be part of these important celebrations which are creating Scotland’s biggest ever St Andrew’s Day celebrations.”

Please see the following programmes for both Hoolies and all performer biographies.

Clydebank Town Hall, Clydebank on Friday 27th of November. 7pm - midnight
Celtic Spirit
Raggle Taggle Gypsies
Brian Hughes and the Lone Sharks
The Picts

Dumbarton Burgh Hall, Dumbarton on Saturday 28thth of November. 7pm - midnight
Celtic Spirit
Christine and John Sparks
Brian Hughes and the Lone Sharks
Surprise Act - TBC

Notes to Editors:

Celtic Spirit
Quirky pipes and drum combo, cheeky chaps, Celtic Spirit http://www.celticpipes.co.uk perform traditional Scottish bagpipe and drum tunes such as ‘Atholl Highlanders’ and ‘Flower of Scotland’ whilst also covering popular rock and pop classics, such as Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ and the theme from Star Wars. Having entertained massive crowds at Hampden football and rugby finals, the boys have played many a concert, entered and won several competitions and are no strangers to radio and TV appearances. Life long best pals Jason Prentice and Brian Kennedy are the drummers with a never ending pool of talented pipers to pull from after years of competitive performance at Pipe Band Championships, sometimes playing as a three man band and expanding up to a full ten piece Scottish Pipe Band, regardless of the size of the band, these boys are a full scale riot!

Christine and John Sparks
Stunning singer Christine Sparks and guitarist husband John Sparks provide a dazzling mix of high energy music, spine tingling traditional Scottish music and ballads and sophisticated jazz standards, renowned for playing a varied set to entertain all age groups and tastes. http://www.sparksmanagement.co.uk/  

Brian Hughes and the Lone Sharks
Brian Hughes and the Lone Sharks are one of the UK’s finest original material bands, having established themselves as a ‘hot ticket act’ in the UK country music festival scene, where they have set the standard in original material shows, and are now viewed as contenders for the ‘Next Big Thing’.

With three successful album releases behind them, and a fourth currently in production, Brian’s songs are the rock on which the live performance is built. Wonderful musicianship accompanied with professional attitude and driven commitment guarantees no one leaves a Lone Shark show unimpressed, and with the resurgence of BritCountry, the band preach the ‘original material’ gospel with a passion.

The songs have been recognized by leading American music house Atlanta Music Group who immediately offered Brian a songwriter contract and invited him to travel Stateside to play shows in Nashville, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia. http://www.brianhughesmusic.com/  

The Picts (CLYDEBANK TOWN HALL ONLY)
The Picts are both a concert and festival band playing original material as well as a ceilidh and covers band, young, energetic and very experienced band specialising in a mix of ceilidh with celtic rock tunes, the band Formed in February 1997 and have become one of the most popular live acts on the folk rock and concert scene. They have reached out with their unique brand of celtic rock and captivated hundreds of audiences both at home and abroad. There is a considerable influence of original material combined with the traditional. The songs and instrumentals are upbeat, powerful and irresistible for dancing, yet retain their original sentiment, feeling and intimacy.

To download the full programme and find out what is taking place in your area, visit www.homecomingscotland2009.com/finale  

ENDS