JimMalcolmbiography‘OneofthemostoutstandingtalentstohaveemergedthroughtheScottishfolksceneinyears’TheIndependent‘Quietly,unforcefullyandundeniablystunning’MojoJimMalcolmistheultimateScotstroubadour.Travellingtheworldwithhisguitar,harmonicas,andengagingwit,hesingsthetraditionalsongsofScotlandandhisownmasterfullycraftedsongsinastylewhichismodernandaccessible,yetutterlyauthentic.HeishighlyregardedasaninterpreterofthesongsofRobertBurns,andhasbeendescribedas“oneofthefinestsingersinScotlandinanystyle”.Thoughhenowworkssolo,Jimwasleadsingerwiththeworld‐renownedandmulti‐award‐winningOldBlindDogsforeightyears,afantasticexperiencewithsomeofScotland’sfinestmusicians,takinghimtothemostprestigiousfestivalsinNorthAmericaandalloverEurope.WithfamilyrootsinPerthshireandStrathclyde,JimhasbeenaprofessionalmusiciansincegraduatingfromEdinburghUniversity.HisfirstarenawasthefolkmusicsceneinScotland,wherehegiggedinalmosteverytownandislefromBerwicktoBenbeculaandfromStranraertoLerwick.Workingsoloorinvariousbandsandcombosinfarflungpubs,hotelsandclubstoughenedhimupforafuturelifeontheroad.SolotoursinEngland,Ireland,DenmarkandGermanyfollowed,includingmusicaladventuresinsomeoff‐the‐chartsplaceslikeUganda.TheopportunitytojointhealreadyestablishedCelticfolk/rockbandOldBlindDogssawJimfurtherexplorecountriesontheEuropeancontinentandNorthAmerica,travellingasfarasAlaskaandHawaii.Overhiseightyearswiththeband,Jimrecordedthreestudioalbumsandalivecd.Jim’s2011releaseSparklingFlashseesabandreunion'acrosstheether',asseveralDogsmembersmakeaguestappearanceontheCD.AsasoloperformerwithtensoloCDstohiscredit,Jimcanmixitwithanyoneoutthere.Aswellasarenownedsinger,heisinthetophandfulofsimultaneousguitarandharmonicaplayersintheworld.Heplaysguitarmostlyinthefolkguitartuningdadgadinbothfingerpickingandplectrumstyles.Hisconcertsarealwayshighlyentertaining,pepperedwithfunnystoriesandobservations,inthegreattraditionofScottishartiststhroughtheages,JimhasfeaturedmanytimesonradioandtelevisiononbothsidesoftheAtlantic,unfazedbycamerasandcompletelyathomebehindamicrophone.Thereleaseof2011’sCD‘SparklingFlash’marksamilestoneforJim.Hehasnowrecordedfiftysongswhichareeitherentirelyoriginalorwerebuiltbyhimaroundsomeancientfragmentoftext,apoemormelody.Hiscareerhighlightof2011wastoperformhisownsongsLochansideandBattleofWaterloowiththeRoyalScottishNationalOrchestraatasold‐outconcertinGlasgow’sRoyalConcertHall,agreathonourandpleasure.Thelistofartistswhohaveperformedandrecordedhisworkissteadilygrowing,butincludesKateRusbywithThePoozies,BeppeGambettafromItaly,Uiscedwr,TheMcCalmans,AlythMcCormack,NorthSeaGasandTichFrier.In2004hewasvotedsongwriteroftheyearattheannualScotsTradMusicAwardsandtodateheisthemostnominatedScotssingerfortheScotsSingeroftheYearAward,havingbeennominatedthreetimes.Alongsidehisoriginalwork,JimhasrecordedagreatmanyScottishsongs,fromearlyballadsthroughBurnsandTannahilltoWilliamSoutarandhisgreatheroJimReid.HeenjoysreworkingoldsongsthatformthekernelofScotland’sgreatfolktradition.Tocelebratethe250thanniversaryofRobertBurnsJimreleasedhishighlyentertainingDVDBardHairDay,infrontoffans,familyandfriendsinPerth.It’sreallyfunny.AthomeJimspendsalotoftimewithhiskidsandflyfishingonthewonderfulriversandlochsofPerthshire.Heenjoyshunter‐gatheringforthelikesofgeans(wildcherries),hazelnuts,wildgarlic,blaeberriesandwildgooseberries.Inthewinters,whichhavebecomeverysnowy,hehasbeenlatelyheadingforGlensheeSkiResortwithasnowboardandagreatdealofpadding.Iceisquiteahardlanding.
