Spark up with Ayrshire's Little Fire

Nov 2 2012 by S, Ayrshire Post

It’s been a really exciting week for me so far as I’ve booked my flights down to London to go and support Joan Armatrading on November 10.

It will be a night I’ll remember for a long time to come and to put it mildly it’s a massive honour.

Joan Armatrading was born in the West Indies and brought up in Birmingham, she’s been nominated three times for a Grammy, twice for a Brit award and is a winner of the coveted Ivor Novello award.

She was honoured by the Queen with an MBE and she was the very first female singer songwriter from the UK to gain considerable international success and to debut at Number 1 in the Billboard Blues chart.

•Stiff Little Fingers have announced they will be performing in Kilmarnock on the November 20 at the Grand Hall.

The first full album release from SLF ‘Inflammable Material’ released in 1979 continues to be in my mind one of the finest punk albums ever created.

•The South Ayrshire Youth Forum Awards are calling for entries for young people to be nominated for their outstanding achievements in a wide range of categories or for their positive contributions to the local community.

With categories including arts and entertainment, sport, community involvement and unsung hero it would be fantastic if you could take a look at the website for the award nominations and send in yours today.

Nominations close on November 9 so if you know a great upcoming musician, artists or a young person contributing positively to the community aged between 14 to 25 in the South Ayrshire area then give them that wee bit of recognition they deserve and nominate them.

Find out more at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/youthforum/awards.aspx

•Black and White Boy release their debut EP on Friday, November 2 at The Basement in Ayr.

Support comes from A Band Cadence and Mark Hogg.

•I’ve recently been listening to a lot of material from a great new singer songwriter called Rosie Bans, the talented vocalist is a rising star and her influences range from Tori Amos to Chopin to Imogen Heap. Check out Glasgow based singer songwriter Rosie Bans at www.facebook.com/rosiebansmusic

•I’d just like to say a few words to commemorate the passing of great Scottish musician Michael Marra who sadly passed away last week.

Born in Dundee, Michael was a hugely respected and influential musician who helped to rejuvenate folk music in Scotland.

Little Fire recommends :

Friday , November 2: Paul McKenna Band at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway

Bombskare, Sleepy eyes Nelson, The Laynes, Only Guilty Man – Bakers Nightclub Kilmarnock

The Dreaming Spires, Johnny Graham, Rose Parade, Matt Scott – Pivo Pivo Glasgow

Saturday, November 3– Darvel Music Festival - One Last Secret, North Atlantic Oscellation, North Stars & The Aboriginals – Darvel Town Hall

Sunday, November 3- Vukovi – The Electric Circus, Edinburgh