ONE OF SCOTLAND’S FINEST SINGERS TO PERFORM AT THE BAMA THEATRE

ONE OF SCOTLAND’S FINEST SINGERS TO PERFORM AT THE BAMA THEATRE
By Kevin Ledgewood
Scottish folksinger and songwriter Jim Malcolm will be featured in a performance on Acoustic Night on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bama Theatre. Presented by The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa, the project features both solo and ensemble performances of a wide range of acoustic music throughout the calendar year in the intimate setting of the theatre’s Greensboro Room. Cover charge is $10 with a full service bar available.
Traveling the world with his guitar, harmonicas and engaging wit, Jim Malcolm sings the traditional songs of Scotland and his own masterfully crafted songs in a style which is modern and accessible, yet utterly authentic. He is highly regarded as an interpreter of the songs of Robert Burns and has been described as “one of the finest singers in Scotland in any style.”
With family roots in Perthshire and Strathclyde, the artist has been a professional musician since graduating from Edinburgh University. His first arena was the folk music scene in Scotland, where he gigged in almost every town and isle from Berwick to Benbecula and from Stranraer to Lerwick. Working solo or in various bands and combos in far flung pubs, hotels and clubs toughened him up for a future life on the road.
Solo tours in England, Ireland, Denmark and Germany followed, including musical adventures in some off-the-charts places like Uganda.
The opportunity to join the already established Celtic folk/rock band Old Blind Dogs saw Malcom further explore countries on the European continent and North America, travelling as far as Alaska and Hawaii. Over his eight years with the band, he recorded three studio albums and a live cd. As a solo performer with ten solo CDs to his credit, he is in the top handful of simultaneous guitar and harmonica players in the world. He plays guitar mostly in the folk guitar tuning dadgad in both fingerpicking and plectrum styles.
His career highlight of 2011 was a performance of his own songs “Lochanside” and “Battle of Waterloo” with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at a sold-out concert in Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall. The list of artists who have performed and recorded his work is steadily growing, but includes Kate Rusby with The Poozies, Beppe Gambetta from Italy, Uiscedwr, The McCalmans, Alyth McCormack, North Sea Gas and Tich Frier.
In 2004 Malcolm was voted Songwriter of the Year at the annual Scots Trad Music Awards, and to date he is the most nominated Scots singer for the Scots Singer of the Year Award, having been nominated three times.
Alongside his original work, he has recorded a great many Scottish songs, from early ballads through Burns and Tannahill to William Soutar and his great hero, Jim Reid. He enjoys reworking old songs that form the kernel of Scotland’s great folk tradition.
For more information about the artist visit jimmalcolm.com.
The Bama Theatre is located at 600 Greensboro Ave. in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council, CAC or Bama Theatre, patrons should LIKE the Facebook page “The Arts Council – Bama Theatre – Cultural Arts Center” and follow tuscarts on Twitter. Call 205.758.5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.