The other day I found myself staring at the departures board at an unfamiliar airport. I was temporarily taken by the choices in front of me and it felt a little disappointing to be heading in the opposite direction when there was a flight to San Francisco leaving within a couple of hours.
It is there my daughter and family live and it started a mental travelogue which took me across the continent and inevitably landed me in America’s Music City. Spinning my smart phone map I was delighted to see I could quickly locate the house where the family lived then slipping across I went for a virtual drive through Nashville’s West End past all the old familiar land marks. It reminded me of nights when I’d be writing in the city and inevitably tune my rental car radio to 650 MW and the city’s great WSM Radio Station. There, in the days before he took a well deserved retirement, Eddie Stubbs would broadcast every evening and suddenly the airwaves became a place of discovery. No artist would ever be played without the pre or post explainer from the erudite Eddie and I particularly recall one night him explaining to the listener how well The Delmore Brothers were always attired. It didn’t matter the occasion, Eddie told us, the brothers always came to a concert or radio session wearing suits and ties impeccably laundered.
It reminded me we need to play some Delmores music on the show and on this week’s packed AC we shall bring you a significant Delmores hit which will inspire the second hour where we are playing some great current country duets including a fabulous new track by Glaswegians Alice Faye and Julian Santamaria.
Before all that we will welcome Courtney Marie Andrews as our special guest. Courtney is in Glasgow to play at St Luke’s on Monday evening and although I couldn’t make the gig I just received gushing praise from some family members who were there. Courtney is an old friend of the show and over the last ten years she’s made a series of beautifully written and produced albums which highlight her singing and songwriting. The new album Valentine comes complete with all the usual heartbreak we’d expect and as well as exploring the background to the songs we’ve asked Courtney to pick some of her favourite country songs. You won’t be disappointed.
It all starts at 8 pm this Tuesday evening on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Scotland FM. Join me live if you can.