Rab Noakes + support from Holly Clark

Rab's first album was released in 1970. Thirty years later in 2000, Rab formed his own record label and released a couple of new discs. In the intervening years Rab Noakes has made his presence felt as a creative entity across music and media.

Impressed by the success of Scots Bert Jansch and The Incredible String Band Rab dusted down an old guitar and began touring in Britain and Denmark with a set embracing pop, country, and folk. Prior to the release of Rab's first album in 1970 (Do You See The Lights?: Decca) five Noakes songs appeared on albums by Archie Fisher and Barbara Dickson. A relationship with Gerry Rafferty has continued since Noakes was a founder member of Stealers Wheel. Noakes played guitar on one of Rafferty's recent albums, Over my Head.

Lindisfarne and Rab met in NE England when they were each playing regularly in that part of the world. The group demonstrated its respect for Rab by recording one of his songs on each of their first two albums. They also shared a producer in Bob Johnston who had introduced Bob Dylan to working in Nashville with the Blonde on Blonde record. Noakes himself recorded in Nashville with acclaimed producer Elliot Mazer. The resulting album, Red Pump Special, remains a collectors' item and is cited as an influence by several young upstarts.

Noakes worked with Terry Melcher at Lennon's Tittenhurst Park on an album for Ringo Starr's record label. 

 Rab Noakes has also been involved with some high-profile music production activity on shows such as John Byrne's 'Your Cheatin' Heart' and Elaine C. Smith's TV series. Neon continues to provide quality TV and radio programmes from its base in Glasgow's Kinning Park. The unique knowledge and abilities in the Neon team continue to give the programmes an edge.

Having sat on the Scottish Arts Council for four years Rab was appointed to the Joint Board of SAC & Scottish Screen in 2006. Rab is also elected Chair of the Executive Committee of the Musicians' Union. 

"Catchy melodies and gritty lyrics that speak for everyman." BBC Radio Scotland

"His intense and compelling style always works its magic on audiences and never fails to inspire. It would be easy to compare Rab's guitar work to that of 1960s artists such as Jansch and Fred Neil, however it is his own unique vocal and intelligent turn of phrase that have kept him at the cutting edge of songwriting for the best part of thirty-five years."

"Stunning." - Living Tradition

Holly Clark is a 19 year old singer/songwriter from Kirkcaldy  having started writing  songs last year, inspired by artists like KT Tunstall and Ed Sheeran.