The Big F, a celebration of the world’s most popular musical instrument on the 16th, 17th and 18th September 2011 in Bute.

The Medicine Show will present its own stage at The Big F – Bute International Guitar Festival, featuring:

Cousti – Glasgow’s Blue/Country Rockers are blazing a trail across The Festival circuit and gathering fans and plaudits like Alan McGee, and The BBC’s Bob Harris, Iain Anderson, Janice Forsyth and Ravi Sagoo for their accomplished blend of Roots Rock following the release of the new album Strings To Tracks.

Panama Red – So, you ask yourself, who is this Panama Red? The answer is simple, an original Texas Jewboy and a co-writer with Kinky Friedman, Billy Joe Shaver and Ronny Elliott, Panama Red was a fixture in the 1970s Music Row Outlaw movement in Nashville. His sphere of influence has grown lately to include an annual stint on and in European stages and bars. His irreverent stage comments are interspersed with original, intelligent songs which have been described as “honest’, “elegant’, and “soulful”, by such luminaries as Kinky Friedman, Marshall Chapman and David Olney (also at The Big F). He currently lives “just far enough” outside of Nashville

Cara Luft – Cara Luft is a widely-respected and well-travelled member of the Canadian folk/roots music community. With The Wailin’ Jennys she created one of the most talked about folk groups of the last ten years and recorded the exquisite 40 Days, winner of the 2005 Juno award for Best Roots Recording (Group). Since leaving the trio she has wowed audiences and critics with her solo performances across North America and Europe. Critics have drawn comparisons to Julie Miller, June Tabor, Gillian Welch, Linda Thompson and Brit folk-rockers Pentangle. Cara’s last solo album, The Light Fantastic, has garnered superlatives far and wide.

Isaac Sutherland – Son of Highland legendry guitarist Johnny Fats, Isaac grew up steeped in music, a phenomenon, multi talented multi-instrumentalist, he was lead guitarist with Caithness European Country Festival Headliners Colorado by the time he was 14, these days adding record producer to his many talents, working from his own qpq production studio at the family home at Dunnet Head Light House, he drums with Cousti but also plays Guitar and writes song like no one else.

More guests to follow.

The Big F line-up includes: Dick Gaughan (Scotland) – Steve James (USA) – Panama Red (USA) – Johnny Dickinson (GB) – Preston Reed (USA) – Henry McCullough (Eire) – Rodnet Brannigan (USA) – David Olney and Sergio Webb (USA) – Cara Luft (Canada) – Richard And Marta (Canada/Columbia) – Siobhan Skates and Rosemary Wood (Australia/Ireland) – Jon Strong Band (GB) – Acousticrat (Scotland) – Hokum Hotshots (GB) – Martin Stephenson Band (GB) Lee Patterson (Scotland) – Jonny Boyle (GB) – Alan Murphy Band (Scotland) – Gary Miller (Scotland) – Jack Burness (GB) – Cousti (Scotland) – Tim Wood (GB) – Appalachian Mist (Scotland) – In Cahoots (Scotland), plus local rock bands: Dark Stanley, Little Bay, Fluff And The VooDoo Wah, Sonic Templars.

www.buteguitarfestival.co.uk

The Pavilion Cafe, Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Sat. 17th Sept., 3pm to 11pm

Source: Rob Ellen