Celtic Music Radio’s CD album of the week is ‘Dusty Boots on a Gravel Road’ by Bill Adair.
April 2010 saw the release of Bill Adair’s second album for Sad Jeb Music, ‘Dusty Boots on a Gravel Road’.
Combining influences from folk and blues, Bill’s music addresses universal themes of love, work, loss and redemption. Equally at home singing a traditional Scottish ballad, playing blues from the Mississippi Delta or performing one of his own songs, Bill’s performances are complemented by a natural story-telling style that is both thought-provoking and entertaining.
From his home base near Glasgow, Bill is in constant demand as a solo singer at festivals and folk clubs all over the UK and has also gained a reputation as an interpreter of the poems and songs of Robert Burns and performs at Burns Suppers throughout the country.
In September 2008 Bill released Along The Miners’ Rows, to critical acclaim. The CD was written and recorded to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Auchengeich mining disaster and featured a range of songs written by Bill including Along The Miners’ Rows, How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live and The Day That All The Lights Went Out.
‘Dusty Boots on a Gravel Road’ contains both new songs by Bill and some fresh interpretations of works by Robert Burns, Ewan MacColl, Billy Edd Wheeler and Robin Laing.
This is a very personal album which varies in mood and arrangement. Full of melody and thought-provoking lyrics, there is much on which to reflect. Most of the songs are recorded simply with voice and guitar, although several have been given added depth with rich harmonies and some fine cello playing.