Jamie

Sounds like we're in for a great night then.

Good....it is good isn't it?

Just had word that the show is now billed simply as James Yorkstson+support (IE no Athletes) hence the edit above - watch this space for further info on the line-up.

support is now Pete McConville - www.myspace.com/lazysheepdog

Yeah, well it was a bit of a conumdrum for us whether to go seated for this show or not, and it did seem a bit odd for some of Foxface's songs and the heavier moment of Roddy's set, but I definately think it focuses people's attention more for the quieter tunes (and makes folk less prone to talk during them).

Album's out now - I like it more than I like Idlewild, but what do I know. Idol Wild what do you think? Guff perhaps?

Probably won't know that until a week or two before the show, but I'll let you know if I hear any rumours.

I'm afraid I don't know. Were you thinking as support or alongside?

Fair play to you Offramp getting the tickets so soon given I hadn't included the link yet! It is http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?agency=TCOMUK&organ_val=22345&schedule=list and here's a preview of the new album James Yorkston The Year Of The Leopard Once youve heard this arresting, intimate and subtle album, you may find yourself wondering how to categorise it. Of course, you may do the sensible thing and not care how it should be categorised - which suits James Yorkston just fine: his first album, the lush and rousing Moving Up Country was often labelled alt-country, his second, the sparse, meditative Just Beyond The River, tended to get corralled under the term new folk, neither appellation seemed accurate. His stunning third album, The Year Of the Leopard, confounds categories once again. Simply, Its an uplifting wee beauty. If theres a traditional side to it, its following the tradition of individual singer-songwriter albums which conjure and inhabit a genre which lasts just as long as the needles in the groove. Id love it if people had the same response to this album as I do to, say, Johnny Cashs American Recordings III , or Jacques Brel, or Lal Watersons own songs, or that amazing new Scott Walker album - music that stands in its own world music that isnt in a crazed rush to exist solely in one genre says Yorkston. We might add to that list the hushed, ineffable bits of John Martyns One World, Van Morrisons St. Dominics Preview or Talk Talks Spirit of Eden. That last one connects directly with this album, because The Year Of the Leopard was produced by former Talk Talk member Paul Webb, alongside the bands acclaimed engineer, Phill Brown. Yorkston approached the team after hearing their understated but enthralling work on Out Of Season, Webbs Rustin Man album with Beth Gibbons [Portishead]. I really liked how that was modern sounding but not bright, old-school but not old-fashioned, warm but not too cosy, and I knew that would suit these songs, says Yorkston. The Year of the Leopard features Jamess own, very spare arrangements, blending his extreme-close-up vocals with an acoustic guitar, electric piano, clarinets, violin and concertina and a gently thrumming rhythm section, which Webb and Brown captured with some nice old valve mics and analogue tape. Paul brought great enthusiasm to the record. Hes a real believer, says James. Once again, the music was recorded with his trusty sidekicks Reuben [accordion/concertina], Doogie [double bass], Faisal [percussion/lap steel], and Jon [fiddle] who accompanied James on both his previous albums. Also singing with James is the wonderful HMS Ginafore, from the Fence Collective. Though the recording of the album was fairly swift, the run-up to it lasted almost a year. It took a year of not panicking, says Yorkston. I put in weeks of turning up to the rehearsal space and just playing guitar, or learning traditional tunes, when suddenly a song or a lyric would emerge. Theres actually a lot of spontaneity about it, because I concentrated on those songs that came to me quickly, unexpectedly, that feel like something you already know. James Yorkstons musical background has encompassed everything from garage punk to country rock, but he grew up in a small village in Fife, Scotland, and has been a long-time participant in the famed local Fence Collective, where music is cherished but not treated pompously and diversity and cross-fertilisation have always held sway. Yorkstons music retains those qualities, plus a deep seam of rurality. I consider myself a Fifer and I intend to move back there some day, says James, now a slightly uneasy inhabitant of Edinburgh. Although Edinburgh has its attractions, I dont think I could ever call any city home. In the past, his music has concentrated on that undercurrent of misplacement, and a sometimes turbulent personal life. But, more settled now, James is making music to match his new mood. Though not without its shadows, this is Yorkstons most optimistic record.

The Lemon Tree website is temporarily unavailable at www.lemontree.org due to some on-going technical maintenance You can access the site for the moment at http://www.lemontree1.plus.com/ and a full schedule of events for which tickets are available to buy on-line can be found here http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?agency=TCOMUK&organ_val=22345&schedule=list Apologies for any inconvenience.

The Lemon Tree website is temporarily unavailable at www.lemontree.org due to some on-going technical maintenance You can access the site for the moment at http://www.lemontree1.plus.com/ and a full schedule of events for which tickets are available to buy on-line can be found here http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?agency=TCOMUK&organ_val=22345&schedule=list Apologies for any inconvenience.

James Yorkston Play the Lemon Tree on 21st October, with the 3rd JY album Year of the Leopard released on Domino in late September James Yorkston plus support Saturday 21st October Doors Open 9pm/Support 9.30pm 9 (6 concessions and Regulars) Box Office: 01224 642230 www.jamesyorkston.co.uk

James Yorkston Play the Lemon Tree on 21st October, with the 3rd JY album Year of the Leopard released on Domino in late September James Yorkston plus support Saturday 21st October Doors Open 9pm/Support 9.30pm 9 (6 concessions and Regulars) Box Office: 01224 642230 www.jamesyorkston.co.uk

You've got another chance Amy - she's back on the 2nd of Sept Bic Runga: +support Saturday 02 September Tickets 9 (6 concessions & regulars) Doors Open: 9pm Show Starts: 9.30pm Back in double-quick time after a great show in June, Bic Runga's uniquely phrased pop songs and hauntingly beautiful melodies have already earned her a special place in the pantheon of New Zealand song. Her third album Birds was released in New Zealand in November and is her third consecutive number 1 album, already achieving multi-platinum status like its predecessors. Bic Runga might well be the success story of 2006, her first two albums received huge critical acclaim in the UK and her last album Beautiful Collision was hailed as one of the best albums of the year in Mojo and Uncut in their end of year round ups. www.bicrunga.co.uk

Here's the finalised line-up The Epics King Voodoo Finniston Bill Ely and the Catnips (watch the fek out Elvisness) Kill Baby...Kill (as a duo - Sharon / Steven, is there a special name for the half-human, half robot version of KB...K) Emma Forman Duffel's Coat (Simon Gall's new instrumental jazz combo) Tupelo Town Assembly featuring Phil Rae from Lorenzo Snow Collective, Amy Sawers, Jim Ewen and Andy Stephen from staccato set (and one other tbc) Dave Dixon will compere

Have been in touch with our Music Programmer regarding this, and it won't be happening till later than October now - probably into next year.

Stanley to support

Stanley to support

Ease into the weekend every Friday at the Lemon Tree with a leisurely lunch and some of the best acoustic music around. Performances start at 1pm and admission is FREE. 4th August Daniel Smith and George Pearson Demon piano player Daniel Smith is joined by bassist, guitarist and singer George Pearson for a feel-good lunchtime of jump blues and boogie-woogie. 11th August Chris and Thomas Combining American roots instrumentation with soothing vocal harmonies, this duos rustic sounds and heartfelt songs are filled with thoughtful lyricism, harking back to the likes of Nick Drake, Simon & Garfunkel and Bob Dylan. Also 18th August Roger Sutcliffe 25th August The Wilders 1st September John Alexander 15th September Beverly Smith and Carl Jones 22nd September David Fellows and Nat Chalamanda 29th September Neil Thomson and Gerry Cambridge 6th October Dan Arborise

Ease into the weekend every Friday at the Lemon Tree with a leisurely lunch and some of the best acoustic music around. Performances start at 1pm and admission is FREE. 4th August Daniel Smith and George Pearson Demon piano player Daniel Smith is joined by bassist, guitarist and singer George Pearson for a feel-good lunchtime of jump blues and boogie-woogie. 11th August Chris and Thomas Combining American roots instrumentation with soothing vocal harmonies, this duos rustic sounds and heartfelt songs are filled with thoughtful lyricism, harking back to the likes of Nick Drake, Simon & Garfunkel and Bob Dylan. Also 18th August Roger Sutcliffe 25th August The Wilders 1st September John Alexander 15th September Beverly Smith and Carl Jones 22nd September David Fellows and Nat Chalamanda 29th September Neil Thomson and Gerry Cambridge 6th October Dan Arborise

8pm doors 8.30pm Strobing Goat 9.20pm Project: VenHell 10.10pm Acoustic ladyland Midnight Curfew

Hi Kirk, did you get my e-mail with Lemon Tree gigs for August? Cheers Jamie

8pm doors 8.30pm Strobing Goat 9.20pm Project: VenHell 10.10pm Acoustic ladyland Midnight Curfew