In a career spanning over thirty years
Fraser Speirs name has become synonymous with diatonic harmonica
playing of the highest quality (Paul Jones described him
as “a great harp player with a gorgeous tone”).
Based in Glasgow, Scotland, he has built an enviable reputation
for professionalism in the recording studio, in radio and
television, and live on stage, appearing over the years with
performers as diverse as Alexis Korner, Muddy Waters, Homesick
James, Champion Jack Dupree, Marion Montgomery, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson,
John Herald, and contemporary artists such as Carol Laula,
Rab Noakes, John Wright, Hans Theesink, Eddi Reader, James
Grant and Carol Kidd.
Occasional outings leading his own blues band, the Blues Cruisers, are interspersed
by duo appearances with Rab Noakes, Rod Clements (ex-Lindisfarne), Adrian Byron
Burns or Allan Jones, and band outings with Tam White's Shoestring, Rab Noakes
Varaflames, Karen Matheson, James Grant and Carol Kidd.
A sell-out performance
of Fraser Speirs and Friends, with many of the above artists in the Glasgow
Royal Concert Hall during "Celtic Connections" in
January 2000 was recorded and the album, “About Time” was
released later that year. “Lights Back On” with
Rab Noakes followed in 2001 and “Let’s
Go To Town” with Allan Jones released in 2003.
Touring with the Carol
Kidd band, (China, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, Viet Nam, Hong Kong
and Cambodia, Dec 1995 - Dec2002), and (Belgium, Holland,
Germany, Denmark, Ireland and Turkey, 1995 - 2004), with the Tam White Shoestring
band have introduced his playing to new audiences and provided collaborative
opportunities with musicians from diverse cultural and musical backgrounds.
More recently cross cultural concerts at Common Ground Festivals, featuring
American
blues, gospel, blue-grass and old time players alongside folk artists from
around the U.K. have led to invitations to play and teach in the U.S.
Over
a hundred album credits and extensive radio and television
session work reinforced by festival appearances supporting
Eric Bibb, Buddy Guy, Van Morrison,
James Taylor and Al Green among others and tours with the Blues Cruisers
have defined for Scottish audiences his status as an artist of the highest
quality.
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