GORDON McPHERSON - COMPOSER

From the plettie to the plateau - so is the story of Gordon McPherson.
Gordon was born in Dundee in 1965 and studied composition at the University of York in the 80's.
His particular take on composition isn't the kind of cliched material you'd normally associate with in the world of classical music. No highbrow themes such as Greek mythology cropping up in his work, instead, Gordon prefers to have his compositions reflect ordinary real life experiences, or as he puts it - "Never write about Brazil if you've never been to Brazil". So as a consequence, his works are based around subjects such as cars, computers, getting drunk, relationships, and so on. Musically he can be inspired by such diverse sounds as country & western, Bavarian herding calls, punk, chamber music, all sorts of genres of music absorbed. This mixture of ingredients filtering through into his compositions has the end product as much humorous as they are discordant. You can get an idea perhaps from some of his titles - "Handguns" - "On E" - "Impersonal Stereo" - "Cash"....to name just a few. They don't exactly conjure up a comfy night out at the Proms!
Gordon's music is often heard in Scotland, with his work performed on his home turf too. For example, some local references - he composed the music to celebrate the 200th anniversary of The Battle of Camperdown. He also wrote the music for the opening of the DCA. There have been collaborations with other Dundonians such as for Don Paterson's play "The Land Of Cakes" at the Rep, and with guitarist Allan Neave, for the Dundee International Guitar Festival.
Then there are the commissions from the BBC, festivals and ensembles all around Europe, and if that's not enough, he also teaches at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama, as well as lectures at St Andrews University.
That brief insight into Gordon McPherson, I think confirms, that he is indeed, on a higher plane!

BAXTER PARK FESTIVALS - 1980'S

In July 2010, I put an article up on Retro about the "Peoples Festival" that took place at Baxter Park in 1981.

This was coordinated by a group of Anti-Nuclear organisations who went under the banner of No Nukes Music.

The review I posted back then came from Cranked Up fanzine, but it didn't really contain much info about the bands who were playing.

The review above, however, was published in the Courier and gives an account of the same event, including naming some of the acts who were performing.

So there was - RB's - Gypsy Joe - The Shoplifters - Alternative - Toxic Effects - Blaise - plus a few others.

There are also a couple of words from those in the crowd who give their opinion of the event - which appeared to get a thumbs up in general.

The other item is for another Baxter Park festival, this time celebrating International Youth Year - which was 1985.

Some of the bands taking part in this do were - AAGA - Chilli Peppers - Life Support - Plastic Surgery - plus others.

This article appeared in Deadbeat fanzine.

You'll need to give the Courier item a click to read the enlarged version.

CITY CENTRE BALLOONS - 1980'S

A glimpse along the High Street on 25th July 1985 caught this wee lad in the top picture carrying a couple of large balloons.

They don't appear to have cheered him up any mind you. Still girnie!

And a glimpse along Reform Street in the mid/late 80's caught these 2 characters carrying a heap load of balloons.

The balloons were used to advertise McEwans Ale who were sponsoring the Jazz Festival, the balloons being placed around all the venues where the gigs were taking place. So being snapped in Reform Street means they had just dropped a few balloons off at the Old Bank Bar. You can also see a jazz banner hanging above the duo in the middle image.

Colour photo by Neale Elder.

B&W photos by The Bear.

DUDHOPE PARK BANDS #2

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Here are some more bands who were performing at the Dudhope do, only I haven't got the names of these acts. So if anyone can identify any of them, drop the info into the comments.
If you need a closer look, click them to enlarge.
Photos by The Bear.

DUDHOPE PARK FESTIVAL - 1980'S

Just wondering if David Cook had a hand in the stage set for this outdoor do up at Dudhope Park around 1987, give or take a year? Painted brollies! It always rains at Glastonbury, but seems like it was decent weather for this one.
That looks like Alain Breitenbach AKA Legrand on stage. Can't quite make out the other guy with him.
I do know that a couple of members of Joe Public are strolling by. The guy with his sleeves rolled up, and the blonde lass, Caragh Mackay, the band's singer.
The guy on the left with the hat played on stage with Caragh's father, Joe Mackay, also on the bill.
Photo by The Bear.

DUNDEE JAZZ FESTIVAL - SUMMER 1988

July 1988 saw another installment of the annual Dundee Jazz Festival.
Here is the events list published in Street Life magazine.
There were 3 parts to the festival - the main big acts with the likes of Remmy Ongala, Donald Byrd, Humphrey Lyttleton etc. Then there was a secondary late night line up featuring local acts such as Dougie Martin and Jimmy Deuchar. Finally there was the Jazz Village which was basically lots of gigs taking place around the city pubs.
Being spoilt for choice was courtesy of the reliable Platform Jazz team.
If I was still in Dundee back then, I'd have been along to the Rep like a shot to catch Donald Byrd!

PEOPLES FESTIVAL OF MUSIC - 1981

This event called the Peoples Festival Of Music took place at Baxter Park on 29th July 1981.

It consisted of stalls selling various knick-knacks alongside those who were selling politics - CND, Anarchists, Friends Of The Earth and so on.

There was also a kiddies farm, and of course there was the main music festival itself.

I haven't got the full band list as to who played that day but Dundee rockers, No Fixed Abode were on, as were a couple of punk bands, with Perth's ska outfit, the RB's, top of the bill.

The main complaint in Sid Gripple's report at the top, published in Cranked Up, was the lack of enthusiasm in the crowd.

Sid also suggests the smaller than expected turnout may have been down to the fact that the Royal wedding was being televised the same day!

Well whatever was causing the apathy, all I know is I wasn't at Baxter Park that day, neither was I at home watching any Royal nonsense because I was actually in the middle of a tour of Spain & Portugal with my Inter Rail card, and on the 29th July 81, I was in Lisbon.

I probably would have popped along to Baxters though if I was in Dundee.

So to read about Sid's account of the festival, click onto the image to enlarge it.

Ditto, if you want to have a nose around the photograph of the festival crowd to see if you recognise anyone.

 

Photo by DC Thomson.

DUNDEE JAZZ FESTIVAL - 1987

This review of the Dundee Jazz Festival at the Rep, comes from an NME dated June 1987.
The acts mentioned are - TOMMY SMITH'S FORWARD MOTION - COURTNEY PINE - TAM WHITE - TED HAWKINS - STAN TRACEY - and Dundee's own, HAVANA SWING.
Plenty well known names on the bill that year.
The piece was written by local music journalist, Bob Flynn.
I think you should be able to read it ok as it is, but anyone struggling can click onto the image to view the large version.

HAMPDEN'S SILENCE - 1970

Largs, in Whitehall Street, were Dundee's sole ticket outlet for a rock & pop music festival at Hampden Park in June 1970.
The event called "Scene '70" was organised by bandleader, Harry Margolis, and announced in February that year, but unfortunately, the festival was cancelled just a couple of days before the big day.