The Bluebells (acoustic matinee show)

The Bluebells perform an all-ages, acoustic matinee show at the Cumberland Arms in Newcastle on the afternoon of Sunday 18th May.

“… skiffly immediacy, a squall of harmonica, the scrape of fiddle and embedded pop harmonies – it transpires that The Bluebells in the 21st Century will be operating much as they did in the 20th, stripping the years away with warm, melodious guitar and Glasgow soul.” ~The Scotsman

The Bluebells enjoyed a whirlwind career spanning the early 1980’s with a recording output including three U.K. hit singles.  “I’m Falling”, “Cath” and “Young at Heart”made with a procession of producers including Elvis Costello who became a mentor and teacher to the band. Guitarist and ex-fanzine publisher Robert Hodgens (aka Bobby Bluebell) wrote instantly memorable classics in collaboration with the two McCluskey Brothers who completed the Bluebells’ essential troika and Kenneth McCluskey sang them in a likably unaffected voice, making every track count

 With the release of their debut album “Sisters” in 1984 on London Records, the band toured widely in Europe and North America developing their live sound and signing to Seymour Stein’s Sire Records in the U.S.

Robert and the brothers parted company amicably in 1986 with Ken and David forming and releasing records as the McCluskey Brothers while Robert concentrated on song writing duties for various other artists including Texas and the late Sinead O’Connor as well as his own group The Poems.

In 1993 when “Young at Heart” hit the U.K. No 1 spot following its use as a T.V. advert for Volkswagon the chaps met up for some fun Top of the Pops appearances.

 The Bluebells are delighted to be playing again having recently received two premier Scottish Music Business Awards including “The Tartan Clef Award for Song Writing.” at the star studded Nordoff –Robbins charity annual fund raiser at Glasgow Barrowlands.

Following the re-release of the Classic album repackaged “Sisters” album on the Last Night From Glasgow The Bluebells were encouraged by the label and fans to record new material which has manifested itself in the excellent new album “The Bluebells In The 21st Century” released in April 2023.

Bobby, Ken, and David are currently performing a variety of acoustic gigs as a three piece and as a full six piece line up augmented by Campbell Owens (Aztec Camera) on Bass, Douglas MacIntyre (Love and Money/Creeping Bent Organisation) on Guitar and Mick Slaven (Bourgie Bourgie,Paul Quinn, Del Amitri) on lead Guitar.

“…the Kings of Glasgow Cool” ~ Into Creative