Adam Holmes (SCO)
Sun 19th November 2023Doors 6.30pm, show 7pm – all seated show
We love a great voice here at TLR, and this is one of the best. It’s the return of the wonderful Adam Holmes, accompanied by Jen Austin (ex-Fara) on keys. Adam will be playing material from his latest album, Hope Park and from across his career.
Adam Holmes
Adam cut his teeth in the world of folk music. Taking a space at the end of the bar in legendary folk pub Sandy Bells at eight years old to soak up the music. Age 15, the death of a close friend and a cascade into addiction. Leaving school and moving out of the family home aged 16, he worked construction by day and battle rapped by night. He found his way out through the focus of rapping until a singer booked didn't show, Adam stepped up and discovered his singing voice.
On the very same day he was finally offered a carpentry apprenticeship aged 19, he received a phone-call offering him a place in the semi-finals of the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2009. He hasn't looked back since.
Adam Holmes lyrics resonate like ancient folk songs, his melodies familiar and uplifting. It’s not unusual to feel tears during his live shows which have the feel of a boozy church service. James Bond meets Robert Burns. Classy and timeless. New album, 'Hope Park' featuring Scotland’s best musicians and a visual release with Scottish writers Ian Rankin, Irvine Welsh and Darren McGarvey.
Adam's 5 albums gained him 3 Scottish Album of the Year Nominations and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Nominations. His songs have featured on:
• BBC Radio 2
• Radio 3
• BBC Scotland,
• Edith Bowman’s BBC Scotland Quay Sessions show
• Virgin Radio
His masterful writing and enchanting voice has seen him work and share stages with: Martin Simpson; Karine Polwart; John Prine; John McCusker; Graham Coxon (Blur); Ladysmith Black Mambazo; Martin Green (Lau); Adrian Utley (Portishead)
In 2022, Holmes wrote, produced and starred in the short film 'Riley'. He is currently in pre-production for a feature film due to commence principal photography late 2023. Riley can be seen on YouTube. As well as working as a performer, Holmes offers songwriting commissions and coaching via his website. He also runs the School of Songwriting YouTube Channel - @schoolofsongwriting
'Captivating… Entrancing…a potent style of his own…' - Metro
'An ideal example of everything that’s good about acoustic / traditional music…' - Folk Radio UK
'The best Scottish male singer of his generation…' - The Courier