Kirk Lothian - Piano / Hammond Organ / keyboards
Kirk has played with many of the Glasgow and Edinburgh blues bands for the last 20 years. ThIs has seen him sharing the stage with artists such as Main Street Blues, Rev Doc and the Congregation, The Jensen Intercepters, The Magic Blues Surfers and the Violet Leighton Band.
MARTIN BARRETT - GUITAR
As well as being the Guitar player for many years with The Tennessee Hotshots, one of the most respected Rock n’ Roll bands in the UK and Europe, Martin was also an integral member of The FretTones. He also regularly tours with Bands such as John Miller and his Country Casuals, The Wholly Cats and German recording Artists Marcel Bontempi & Ira Lee.
AL GARE - DOUBLE BASS
AL SPENT MANY YEARS WITH KING PLEASURE AND THE BISCUIT BOYS AND THEN ROUGHLY 15 YEARS WITH IMELDA MAY. HE HAS ALSO RECORDED WITH SIR TOM JONES, JEFF BECK, BRIAN SETZER AND MANY MORE.
Gary Woodside – Drums / percussion
Gary is one of the finest Funk, Soul and Rhythm n’ Blues drummers playing today in the country. He has previously worked and recorded with the Ham-fat Four and the Boogaloo Investigators.
DEKE MCGEE AND HIS BAND
‘COME ON HOME’
Scottish saxophonist extraordinaire, singer songwriter, band leader, Deke McGee is back with a wonderful new release. Thirteen tracks pf differing styles of blues here, ranging from jump, rhythm and blues, jazzy swagger, these are tunes to get the listener tap their toes at least and go out and catch this band on tour. Alongside Deke is Duncan Kennedy on guitar, Kirk Lothian on piano, Al Gare on double bass, Gary Woodside on drums and Jimmy Steele on baritone saxophone. Together they are a formidable unit of accomplished musicians who just gel so well together. This sounds like a live recording, so good is the production. Gravy Train, the opening tune is a stomper and sets the tone, for the rest of the release. Here Comes Trouble is peppered with mellow sax notes and a driving beat, it is about the lyrics here, a feelgood tune. Coming Back To You keeps a mellow tone, a slow bluesy tune full of melody and the sax solo is sublime. Lay Your Head Down Beside Me, is uplifting, another feelgood tune, bound to be a crowd pleaser. Goodbye So Long I’m Gone, takes the listener to New Orleans, very danceable and infectious tones abound, this highlights each band member a pure joy. Preservation Blues has an ethereal quality very atmospheric. Jump blues tones pepper the wonderful, House Rent Party. Sunshine Blue Skies slows the pace, a blues ballad with full emotion and full band feel. The title song has a swagger of its own with the narrator pleading with his partner, a great composition. Last tune is Somebody Have Mercy, an all-encompassing song about the human condition and social problems. Something here for any music lover, this is quality musicianship, this evokes the adage that the genre’s real power lies in feel, space and songs that sound like they have been around forever. A wonderful release highly recommended.
COLIN CAMPBELL
BLUES MATTERS JULY 2026
