Luke Jackson QnA
Canterbury folk/blues singer-songwriter Luke Jackson plays live solo, in a duo and a trio – and matches that live experience with a series of albums that have had the critics falling over themselves to praise the blues-tinged new talent they find there. Luke has been performing since he was 13 and
was nominated in the 2013 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for both the Horizon Award for best emerging talent and the young folk category.
No stranger to the Highlands, Luke is back playing in a duo with Elliot Norris at three north dates over the next week. He answers Margaret Chrystall’s questions on his career
Q I know this year you have released your first live album Solo: Duo: Trio and it has been getting lovely reviews. Why did you want to do a live album and what were the challenges of making it?
A I wanted to do a live album because my songs evolve and have changed so much once I’ve recorded them in the studio. I also find that being on a stage and performing the songs allows me to get my best performance across.
I gig in three different formats, solo, duo and trio, and I really wanted to show that by doing a set in each outfit. The only challenge for making this live record was making sure we knew how to play the songs!
Q You seem to produce albums regularly. Does making each one mean you can move on to the next? Have you got loads of songs piling up that you want to get out there to people? And does recording and capturing each phase of your career mean you have concrete reference points?
A I’m writing all the time and am always working on new material. I love writing, it’s a real therapy for me so even if I never released another album, I’d still be writing songs just for the joy of it.
I release albums as and when just to give new material to my audience and keep things fresh and new.
I put in a lot of time and effort into each record but once it’s released I’m already thinking about the next.
Q What do you love about playing live to a crowd of people?
A The buzz of seeing people feed off your music is unlike any other. I write songs for the love of writing music, I never expected it would connect with people in such a way, so being able to perform my own music and feel as if people are getting something from that is simply amazing.
Q Where have been some of your best Highland and north of Scotland live moments/experiences?
A I love touring Scotland, they are great crowds. Highlights would have to be playing HebCelt Festival last year and also playing in Inverness at the beautiful Eden Court to a sold-out room.
Luke plays with Elliot Norris – folk guitarist and member of Radio 2 Folk Award nominated Gentlemen Of Few – at the Torridon Inn on Friday, October 26; an early start from 3pm at Hootanannys, Inverness, on Sunday, October 28; and at the Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore, on Tuesday, October 30.
