What you need to know about the very best of Americana music showcase in the city

The popular Glasgow Americana Festival rolls into action on Wednesday night (October 7) with the veteran Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn playing at St Andrews In The Square.

That kick-starts a run of seven gigs over five days and three different venues.

Now in its ninth year, the bash aims to deliver the very best of folk and roots music, welcoming acts from across the pond and homegrown talent.

And there’s a couple of names that festival organiser Kevin Morris (pictured above) was especially pleased to land for this year.

“There’s two that we’ve been trying for years to get,” he says.

“That’s Bruce Cockburn and Tom Russell (who‘s at St Andrews In The Square on Friday, October 9), who are doing separate shows and are the main attractions this year.

“It’s been several years since they’ve played Glasgow, so it’s really good they’re back for this. I’ve been trying to get Tom from the word go but the schedules have never suited. Now we’ve finally got him - I think they both eventually just gave in!”

Aside from the two heavyweight names, the rest of the festival line-up is an interesting mix. There’s a collaboration between Liverpool songstress Kathryn Williams and Michelle Stodart of pop group the Magic Numbers on Thursday at the CCA.

Texan Danny Schmidt brings his indie-folk style to the Glad Café on Saturday for an afternoon gig, while the same night sees half Welsh, half Mississippi duo Lewis and Leigh arrive at the venue.

Soulful singer Sam Lewis then pulls double duty on Sunday October 11, headlining a matinee gig at the CCA alongside pianist Krista Detor, before returning in the evening for the Hazy Recollections showcase that features various acts all performing to round the festival off.

It’s Lewis, an emerging talent based in Nashville, who Kevin thinks might steal the show at the event.

“Sam Lewis will be the find of the festival,” enthuses Kevin, who runs the Fallen Angels Club for roots music in Glasgow too.

“He’s playing both the Sunday shows, doing the Sunday matinee as well as Hazy Recollections and his voice is very soulful for someone so young, as he’s only in his 20s.

“In recent years there’s been guys like Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson coming through and making names for themselves, with a more old fashioned approach to how they sing and write. There’s so many polished singers or X Factor singers now that it’s really nice to see something different to that.”

Kevin knows all about the success of the likes of Sturgill Simpson - he booked him for last year’s festival. Although not a giant weeks-long jamboree like Celtic Connections, it’s been bringing talent like Simpson to Glasgow that has helped the Americana Festival become a regular event.

And Kevin has noticed more and more gig-goers are visiting from further abroad to take in a show or two.

“We’ve noticed more and more that people are travelling to Glasgow for it, and staying for a couple of days,” he says.

“We’ve had people coming from Finland, Spain and far out parts of Scotland, which is nice. I think the fact we stick to the same dates every year has helped us, because people know that we’re always going to be the first Wednesday in October. We’re gearing for our 10th anniversary next year, which is quite exciting.”

While this year’s festival hasn’t even started yet, Kevin admits that his mind has already started thinking towards how he’ll mark a decade of Americana at next year’s festival.

“There’s some ideas in mind for it,” he says.

“We’re hoping to try a retrospective type event for it, just getting various people who’ve played the festival over the years back for the 10th anniversary.”

He also admits that the Americana festival benefits from the selection of venues it can use.

“We’ve had great support over the years from various venues,” he adds.

“The CCA has been big part of the festival almost from the start, St Andrews in the Square has become an important part of the festival and the Glad Café is great, even more so now that I live on the south side…

“Celtic Connections has built a platform here over the years, and so has the Americana festival, so people really do love that American folk music in Glasgow.”

Glasgow Americana runs from Wednesday October 7 to Sunday October 11. More information at www.glasgowamericana.com