Artist description Tommy Beavitt is a singer-songwriter based in the Highlands of Scotland. He has been recording and performing original material since 1989, touring throughout Europe and also in America and Australia. His songs are humorous and quirky but unafraid to venture into the darker realms of human experience. A key influence on his sparse, fluid guitar style and expressive vocal style has been Michael Hurley, doyen of the currently voguish Americana genre. Tommy has performed and recorded with some of Scotland’s finest musicians including Toby Shippey (Salsa Celtica), Conrad Ivitsky (Shooglenifty), McFall’s Chamber Orchestra, John Rae, Stevie Christie (Proclaimers) and David “Demus” Donnelly. The recent Holding Water was released on Boatshed Records and co-produced by Toby Shippey and James Locke (Chimes)

Music Style lyrical contemporary folk

Musical Influences Blues, bluegrass, country,

Similar Artists Joseph Spence, Michael Hurley, Dr John, Bob Dylan, John Martyn, Blind Willie McTell, Leadbelly, Nick Drake, Van Morrison

Artist History Tommy Beavitt was born in Sydney, Australia on the ninteenth of April, 1968, to an English couple who were half way through their journey along the hippy trail of Asia. As a baby he travelled back with in an old British Army Jeep through some of the most exotic countries in the world. He has therefore, visited such landmarks as Samarkand, the Khyber Pass, Hiroshima, Moscow, but unfortunately can’t remember any of them. After a spell in Northamptonshire, England his parents took him to the ‘dropout community’ of Scoraig in the north west of Scotland, which he continues to frequent.After a spell sampling the delights of the festival scene in the mid eighties and a couple of years working on a fishing boat, Tommy followed his own wanderlust over the Atlantic to visit his mentor Michael Hurley, an American troubadour. After touring with Hurley (aka snock) he went to Australia where he worked variously as a musician, farm worker, builder and fisherman.On his return to Scotland in 1989 and armed with a repertoire of self-penned songs, Tommy recorded his first album. Called Breaking Wind, it sold 500 copies and formed the basis for Edinburgh band, the Night Kitchen. In 1994 In the Night Kitchen, featuring a further 10 original songs, was recorded. Various tours around Europe with a nine piece band ensued, culminating with a headlining show to several thousand people at Edinburgh’s Beltane Fire festival in 1996.The Night Kitchen was disbanded shortly after and Tommy has been performing solo or with guest musicians ever since.

Group Members Tommy Beavitt

Instruments Guitar, vocals, fiddle, harmonica

Albums Breaking Wind (1989) In the Night Kitchen (1992) Eschatology (1994) Decalogue (1999) Holding Water (2003)

Press Reviews “The lyrics are like a poem and Tommy sang his heart out of his mouth...very emotional and wunderful, just with his acoustic-guitar. A song for lonely nights and rainy days. Great!” Strehl Music, Germany “My two absolutely favourite song writers are Paul Brady and Jackson Browne. The Celtic fringe feel of Tommy’s work is beautifully in the same tradition as Mr Brady's. And he is definitely influenced by Jackson Browne, even down to his favourite chord sequences in middle eights. You can analyse this as the "bring it on home" return of Irish traditional music to its roots, after being processed in the New World. But whilst that is all very interesting, it's really about Brady listening to Jackson's (and the Eagles) records. Tommy’s stuff reminds me of Brady, and that, coming from me, is a real complement “.Paul Taylor, Pira International, UK “...rolling palm wine style draft of the blues...intelligent words, competent guitar picking and extraordinary soaring even howling, emotion piercing vocal...” - Medicine Music, Scotland “Absolutely terrific. Laid-back and tight. All we need now is a small round table, some cold coffee, and a crowd filled room. Great feel. Realistic ambience.” Zubin in the Park, San Francisco, USA “It's immediate Tommy's influences are deep rooted.......this great street corner blues song would be at home in NEW 'AWLINS.........SPECIAL” - Bluefrog Music, Germany “Tommy, who hails from Scoraig, had already played a well-received opening set. He fingerpicked his acoustic guitar, sang and whistled his way through his own compositions – including ‘Thrillseeker’ and ‘Love Hopes’. Like Dana, Tommy made his strong feelings against the war in Iraq very clear. He introduced his song. ‘Thrillseeker’, by saying that anyone who turns on the television and watches footage of the war is basically a thrill-seeker”.– J.T. Northern Scot “It is terrific ! I love the songs and melodies - and the accompaniment is bang on and full of surprises. Lots of wonderful touches - fiddles, backing vocs, Wurlitzer etc etc. Just fab mate - I'm very impressed, and "Love Hopes" is a mischievous classic” -Mike Scott,, Waterboys

Location Inverness, Scotland - United Kingdom

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