Allan Johnston

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(updated Mar 2007)

Scottish singer and songwriter Allan Johnston's songs are strongly influenced by the Scots and Irish traditions and some thirty-five years of participating in the Scottish folk scene.

Living in Edinburgh since 1971, Allan was introduced to the scene through Ayr Folk Club in the late Sixties and, his father being from Coleraine in County Derry, his frequent visits to Ireland since childhood have led to Ireland being the inspiration for many of his songs.

An accomplished singer and guitarist, Allan Johnston's songwriting talents are rapidly gaining recognition with Irish band Craobh Rua having recorded and adopted his song The Shore 'Neath The Tide as their band anthem, and the late Paddie Bell of Corries fame having included a number of his songs in her repertoire. Since taking up playing the bouzouki a few years ago Allan is now the proud owner of a custom built arch top bouzouki built by Nigel Forster of Newcastle Upon Tyne and generally uses this and his George Lowden spruce top guitar for live performances.

Read about Allan's albums Hey You, Voicecall and North of the Border and check out the free mp3s and song lyrics. Buy them securely online from Tradmusic.com or direct from Allan.

Free mp3 clips from Hey You (each 1.83Mb):
Hey You * Paddy Fahey's / The Ship In Full Sail * Tae The Beggin' *Dreamtime

Since 1999, when he retired early from a career in the civil service, Allan has been free to give more time to his music and this has resulted in the release of two more albums, "Voicecall" and "Hey You". Increased touring since 1999 has taken Allan to Folk Clubs and Festivals all over Scotland, England, Ireland, Italy, Australia and New Zealand and year 2007 saw him tour Italy with Tom Napper, play some Scottish clubs with Mike Slessor, tour Australia and New Zealand solo and play a few gigs with a new 4 piece band (The Posse). Tom Napper is a well talented banjo, mandolin, octave mandolin player and singer from Leeds (see www.napperbliss.co.uk). Allan's longstanding fiddler friend Mike Slessor played with Allan in various groups including The Allan Johnston Band born out of his 1989 "North Of The Border" album. The Posse features Allan with his brother Johnny (also a talented singer guitarist and songwriter) alongside John O'Rourke (keyboards) and Derek Stark (electric guitar) both of whom played in the Allan Johnston Band.

Looking to year 2008 Allan is available for folk gigs solo or as a duo with either Mike or Tom. The Posse have recorded an 8 track demo featuring a wide range of music from trad folk to selfpenned songs and Richard Thomson, and Beatles covers. Be warned that the Posse is not an out and out folk band and will be looking for gigs that suit an anything goes for fun approach.

Other musicians that Allan has collaborated with since 1999 include Aidan O'Rourke (fiddler), with Blazing Fiddles and Lau, John Martin (fiddler), with the Tannahill Weavers, Leo McCann (button box), Tim O'Leary (fiddler, multi instrumentalist and singer), Laurence McElhinney (button box), Harry Lawson (Irish pipes/multi instrumentalist), Gavin Pennycook (fiddler), Mike O'Malley (button box) and Kathryn Nicol (fiddler).

Allan served as secretary of the Leith Folk Club for its first two and a half years and is now an honorary member of the committee. Leith Folk club presents high quality main acts every Tuesday in The Village Bar, South Fort Street, Leith. See www.leithfolkclub.com for full information on past and forthcoming acts.

Photographs by Norman Chalmers & Paul Turner.

Allan can be contacted at: Cora-Linn Records 23 Dudley Terrace Edinburgh EH6 4QQ telephone +[44] (0)131 553 3271 or by email to: allan.johnston@blueyonder.co.uk