John Lilly, winner of HankFest Ghostwriter in the Sky contest 2005, has been invited to appear at the annual Thomas Fraser Memorial Festival on The Shetland Isle of Burra on 9-11 November 2006.
Thomas Fraser of Burra Isle, Shetland, passed away in 1978 aged only 50. Thomas had been a fisherman and crofter - ordinary you might say - yet he left a stunning legacy: 1000s of songs recorded at home in his small croft house using a reel-to-reel recorder. Not music traditionally associated with Shetland entirely, for Thomas was an exponent of the country and blues styles and his passion was the guitar. 25 years on, these tapes were brought to light and to a world audience courtesy of his grand son Karl Simpson. Now as just testament to his legacy, America’s leading oldtimey aficionado and Country and Blues style exponent makes the pilgrimage to Shetland to pay and play his tribute.
John Lilly is a multi-talented acoustic music performer from Charleston, West Virginia, specializing in Americana, roots country, and traditional folk music. His creative original songs recall the sounds of earlier generations, while his innovative treatment of early country and traditional music is timeless. According to one reviewer, "If Hank Williams had a sunny disposition, he'd be John Lilly."
John has released three self-produced CDs. "Broken Moon," released in 2000, earned enthusiastic reviews and widespread radio airplay. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine called it one of the "most unusual and interesting acoustic disks of the year." John's second CD, "Last Chance to Dance," released in 2003, debuted at the #1 position on the international Freeform American Roots radio chart and rose to the #4 position in Europe on the Euro-Americana radio chart. His third CD, "Blue Highway," released in 2005, is a collaboration with legendary Tennessee fiddler Ralph Blizard.
John is widely recognized as a powerful performing songwriter. In 2005, he won the international Ghost Writers In the Sky songwriting contest, sponsored by HankFest, a Chicago-based festival honouring the music of Hank Williams. John won a customized guitar for his original song "Blue Highway." He was a finalist in the 2002 Chris Austin Songwriting Competition at MerleFest in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, chosen from 853 entries and placing third in the Country category for his song "Broken Moon."
John was born in Illinois in 1954 and has travelled and performed extensively. A former member of the Green Grass Cloggers dance team, John spent years playing traditional string band music with groups including Ralph Blizard and the New Southern Ramblers. He is a former a tour guide at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, and is currently editor of West Virginia's Goldenseal magazine. More information is available at www.johnlillymusic.com
Tickets for the Festival are on sale from Friday 20th October at Da Peerie Shop, Lerwick; Scalloway Meat Co., and the Hamnavoe Shop, Burra. www.thomasfraser.com
John Lilly Dates 2006
Kirkcaldy Thursday 2nd Nov Acoustic Music Club The Polish Club, Bennochy House, Forth Park Drive, Kirkcaldy Opening for Brian Willoughby and Cathryn Craig -
Friday 3rd TBA
Newcastle Saturday 4rth with Tim Obrien The Cluny 36 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 2PQ Enquiries: 0191 230 4474 Box Office: 0191 230 4474
Edinburgh Sunday 5th Jazz Bar TBC
Glasgow Sunday 5th Campsey Folk Club (venue TBC)
Inverness Monday 6th Hootananny More info
Huntly Tuesday 7th The Tin Hut Folk Club Gary Taylor 01542 832970
Shetland Burra Thomas Fraser Fest 9th 10th 11th Nov
