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• Ayn't
Skynyrd
• Blue Sugar
• Paul Di Anno
• Doctor and the Medics
• Toby Jepson
• NEW Logan
• Frankie Miller
• Nazareth
• NEW The
Quireboys
• The Rezillos
• Stretch
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Blue Sugar
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| About: |
Formed from the ashes of various localised
bands, BLUE SUGAR feel that their combined years of experience have given
them a firm basis on which to create some memorable music. ‘For too many
years I’ve been working with people who just want to play whatever is
current at the time.” Said guitarist/songwriter Martin Jarvis. “After a while you realise that
you’re not going to get anywhere because by the time you’re ready, there’s
a new fad on the scene. So
forming BLUE SUGAR came with a clear plan; simple songs played well, and
don’t follow any trends.
That’s timeless.”
The one drawback, you may add, is that you’re not very
fashionable. This doesn’t
matter to this band. They’ve
all been around long enough to be at a stage where it’s now about playing
what they want to, with no pressure on anyone to conform.
Formed in 2003, BLUE SUGAR started to build a
reputation as one of the best, and hardest working, live bands in the
country. Such was their impact that after only their first live gig, the
band were booked to support The Heavy Metal Kids on their UK tour. The highlight of that was playing
to a sold out Glasgow Cathouse, where the audience was made up almost
entirely of their fans.
However,
things don’t always go to plan, and just 6 months later, whilst working on
the debut album, original singer Lynsey Dolan stunned the band when she left to pursue a solo
career. She eventually took
with her the band’s original second guitarist, however he was no real
loss and Martin and Bass player, TJ Stirling, decided to carry on,
recruiting singer Kirsty Pirie, and former guitar tech, Matt Grady on
guitar just in time to headline a sold out gig at Glasgow’s Renfrew
Ferry. Kirsty lasted just one
gig, however that parting was amicable, and the band effectively kept a
low profile. TJ by that time was
working on some theatre shows, Martin was getting more and more involved
in artist promotion, and Matt was writing and recording music for
fashion shows, amongst other things.
Drummer Mark Devine returned to his own band, The Twilight
Sad. BLUE SUGAR were
effectively just a memory.
With Martin working as an agent, he had booked 80’s legends, Doctor and The Medics to play a show just outside Glasgow. This was due to take place the day before Martin and TJ departed on tour with Ex Georgia Satellites front man, Dan Baird. The week before the gig, TJ uttered the immortal words, “Hey, it would be fun to do the Medics gig……” A couple of quick phone calls found that Matt was available, and long time friend, Davy Gray, currently on hiatus from the Pete Loaf band, agreed to do the gig, “for a laugh, and to play real rock ‘n’ roll again.” One rehearsal, TJ on lead vocals, and a new song, saw BLUE SUGAR take to the stage to a great response. Maybe, just maybe.
With TJ and Martin now working with Dan Baird and
Homemade Sin, and Martin also working with ex Mott The Hoople legend, Ian
Hunter, there wasn’t much time to think about BLUE SUGAR. However, a song written about
their exploits in Europe convinced Martin and TJ to get some recording
done, even if it was to be done for their own pleasure. Decanting to Frielance Studios,
run by writer/producer, Greg Friel, the band laid down 3 tracks. “To be fair,” said Martin,
“whenever I’ve been in the studio before, it’s been with engineers who
just do as they are told. As
such, you don’t really get an outside ear giving you constructive
advice. Working with Greg
meant that he was challenging me all the way, including the use of
keyboards which I had never really thought about before. As such I think we have better
songs as a result.”
Finishing the tracks co-incided with a call to join rock legends, Nazareth, as special guests on their 2006 tour in Glasgow. This time Matt was unavailable so, with Davy Gray back on drums, the band has been completed by former Easy Tiger keyboard player, Steve Lightbody, and the baby of the band, Craig Griffin, takes over bass duties, leaving TJ free to concentrate on vocals and general crowd excitement. There is already the possibility of additional dates later in the year, which may form part of a full tour. It’s too early to say yet, however one thing is for sure, Blue Sugar are back!
From left to right: Blue Sugar 2006 - Craig Griffin, TJ Stirling, Davy Gray, Martin Jarvis and Steve Lightbody.
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Forthcoming Live Dates: |