Tune Up - Music Touring Across Scotland

Roddy Hart

In a relatively short time, Roddy Hart has established himself as an important and influential emerging talent on the Scottish musical scene. At only 26, and with his eyes fixed firmly on re-igniting the merits of classic songwriting, his already prolific work has generated a substantial fan base. Following in the wake of artists like Dylan, Springsteen, Browne, Young and Finn, his guitar, harmonica and piano-driven songs impact on all who hear them and have subsequently earned him much respect from fans and critics alike. A run of sold-out shows and great reviews have him earmarked as one of Scotland's best kept secrets and destined for great things.

Roddy began exercising his own creative ambitions with a series of home-recorded demos, culminating in the 2004 independent Adorno Records release "Home Tapes". Highlighting his inventive use of instrumentation, and demonstrating a talent for honest and intimate songwriting, the album was awarded much radio and press attention. In further recognition of his standing as a promising writer and diverse performer, he was personally invited to open for Kris Kristofferson on his UK tour, and followed this with an appearance at the legendary South by Southwest festival. Soon after he completed a successful boundary-busting five week tour of America, and has recently returned from a short Japanese tour (in support of the Trashcan Sinatras). Having opened for a number of other artists such as Ray LaMontagne, John Prine, Teddy Thompson, Roddy Frame and Kelly Joe Phelps, and strengthening his status at his own solo headline shows, he continues to build on his growing reputation as an exciting and eclectic songwriter and musician.

He recently completed recording his debut studio album, "Bookmarks", aided by funding from the Scottish Arts Council. It is released this spring on Vertical Records.

A unique talent on the Glasgow music scene, Roddy Hart is the rarest of things: a singer/songwriter who continues a long established tradition, yet has found his own voice in the process.

"writes songs that ache with emotion - beautiful, acoustic led, melody-rich pieces...sung in a voice filled with power and delicate fragility. He is a seeking, youthful talent, quite clearly burning with creativity"
Daily Record

"Hart has a distinctive voice and enormous commercial potential...The potential to achieve commercial and critical success on a wide scale is huge, and on this form Hart could well be the next singer-songwriter to do Scotland proud"
Sunday Herald

"[like] a young Willie Nelson or Bruce Springsteen. Great songs...that will restore your faith in songwriting"
Sunday Mail

"With an earthy voice full of character and an impressive array of musicianship on show, Roddy Hart is quite clearly a local talent worth treasuring."
The List