Michael Marra: The Bard of Dundee and Modern Scotland Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, December 13th 2017 Michael Marra – musician, artist and force for good – was a precious Scottish gem. He was unique in his art but also in his delivery and style; singularly understated, modest and often humble to the extent that at times he hugely underpromoted himself and his … [Read more...] about Michael Marra: The Bard of Dundee and Modern Scotland
Search Results for: Michael Marra
Michael Marra and the Search for the Soul of Scotland
Michael Marra and the Search for the Soul of Scotland Gerry Hassan The Scotsman, October 27th 2012 Scotland has had its moments in the last week: the drama of the SNP NATO vote, the revelations of the EU legal advice, and the tragic death of singer-songwriter Michael Marra. What if anything do politics, legal manoeuvrings and matters of life and death have in … [Read more...] about Michael Marra and the Search for the Soul of Scotland
Gerry’s Favourite Music of the Decade
Gerry’s Favourite Music of the Decade Gerry Hassan January 3rd 2020 My countdown of the grooves I was listening to over the past decade. First, this is my chart so the criterion is mine alone! It is dominated by new things from the last ten years, but includes compilations, reissues and even a few albums from previous decades. Second, nearly as important as what is in … [Read more...] about Gerry’s Favourite Music of the Decade
My Favourite Music of the Year: 2018
My Favourite Music of the Year: 2018 December 21st 2018 Gerry Hassan This is my fourth year of doing a comprehensive music list of things I have bought, been listening to, and had come my way in the past year. It has been as usual an eclectic year musically but highlights include the Southside Record Club (meeting at Some Great Reward record shop) and listening to some … [Read more...] about My Favourite Music of the Year: 2018
My Favourite Music of the Year: 2017
My Favourite Music of the Year: 2017 December 19th 2017 NEW ALBUMS The Visitor – Neil Young and Promise of the Real Neil Young’s roving and rocking spirit look at the America of today. Hit and miss in places - but some hard rock and roll such as opener ‘Already Great’. Dark Matter – Randy Newman Newman in typical sardonic form with his first album in … [Read more...] about My Favourite Music of the Year: 2017
My Favourite Books of 2017
MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2017 December 15th 2017 Here is a selection of my books of the year. By its nature, this is subjective - made up of books I have read, enjoyed and been impressed by, and isn’t thus an attempt to comprehensively cover every subject. While the vast majority of books listed were published this year, there are a few from late 2016, and a couple … [Read more...] about My Favourite Books of 2017
The People’s Games Still? The State of Scottish Football
The People’s Game Still? The State of Scottish Football Part One Gerry Hassan April 11th 2012 This is an appropriate time to survey the state of Scottish football. Celtic have just been crowned champions and Rangers are in administration awaiting the next stage of that saga. It is the week before the Scottish Cup semi-finals, and that other important part of the … [Read more...] about The People’s Games Still? The State of Scottish Football
What’s the Story of Scotland’s Future?
What’s the Story of Scotland’s Future? Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, April 28th 2011 Like many people I have been watching and reflecting on the Scottish Parliament elections, and finding them in equal parts fascinating and frustrating. In one way, these are elections of some theatre and drama, the Labour-SNP contest, the background of the cuts, what happens to … [Read more...] about What’s the Story of Scotland’s Future?
The Times are Changing Musicially
The Times are Changing Musically Gerry Hassan The Scotsman, September 18th 2010 Music connects emotions, transports us from the here and now to strange, bewitching lands, giving us heroes and heroines to follow. In times of change, music has played a major role. In the 1960s across the West, the Beatles, Stones and Hendrix created music for a generation of protest; … [Read more...] about The Times are Changing Musicially
A Short List of Things I Love About Living in Modern Scotland!
A Short List of Things I Love About Living in Modern Scotland Gerry Hassan August 26th 2010 Years ago – inspired by the ending of ‘Manhattan’ the film – I wrote a list of over twenty things that made feel glad to be alive. Woody at the end of the film – feeling down in the dumps – cites a load of things that make life worth living; I cant remember if like me he cited … [Read more...] about A Short List of Things I Love About Living in Modern Scotland!