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Dave Arcari and Ismo Haavisto

Wednesday 22 November, 2023 7.30 p.m.

The Glad Cafe, 1006A Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow G41 2HG

A double bill of blues, Americana and roots music featuring Dave Arcari (Scotland) and Ismo Haavisto (Finland).

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£12 advance / £15 on the door.

Dave Arcari

• SLIDE guitarist & songwriter Dave Arcari’s alt.blues sounds owe as much to trash country, punk and rockabilly as they do pre-war Delta blues and have been showcased via seven internationally-acclaimed solo album releases.

A finalist in the UK Blues Federation’s UK Blues Awards 2023, Arcari has had his music featured in numerous BBC TV programmes as well as popular USA series The Deadliest Catch.

The ultimate validation for Arcari’s music and performance came in 2019 when National Reso-Phonic Guitars launched the ‘Dave Arcari signature model’ guitar. Arcari joins an elite and exclusive group of players who have signature models and is the first – and only – musician outside the USA to be honoured by the iconic instrument maker whose name is synonymous with the development of the blues genre.

While continuing to build his audience in the USA with once or twice-annual tours since 2013 – including official showcases at SxSW in Austin, Texas – Arcari also maintains his presence on the UK and European touring and festival circuits.

Arcari’s festival appearances include Glastonbury (UK), Red Rooster (UK), BluesAlive (Czech Republic & Poland shows), Moulin Blues (Netherlands), The Great British R&B Festival and Peer Festival (Belgium). He has also played industry showcases at the North by North East (NxNE) music festival in Toronto, Canada and he was a finalist the UK Indy Music Awards reaching the top four in his category (best male solo artist).

A series of shows with folks including Steve Earle, Alabama 3, Seasick Steve, Toby Keith and Jon Spencer along with his relentless UK and European tour schedule have established Arcari as a formidable international solo performer who is fast building a media reputation as a ‘hell-raising National guitar madman’.

A former debt collector, Arcari cut his musical teeth busking on the streets of Glasgow before forming his first band Summerfield Blues which won the Alexis Korner Memorial Trophy and accolade of Scottish Blues Band of the Year at Edinburgh International Blues Festival in1993.

He went on to form pioneering alt.blues trio Radiotones, releasing three studio albums between1998 and 2003 before embarking on a solo career.

In between times, Arcari also played guitar with Union Avenue – an oddball collective playing least expected covers (think The Clash, Pink Floyd, Undertones, Bob Marley) in a late 50’s/Sun Records-era Cash style. The band landed record of the week on Mark Radcliffe’s Radio 1 show with their version of Motorhead’s Ace of Spades.

ISMO HAAVISTO

Ismo Haavisto is a professional blues artist from Lahti, Finland. His 30-years-plus blues career guarantees a great performance. The blues come from deep down in his soul. Ismo is known as a great singer, harmonica player, guitarist and songwriter. He has released ten albums and nine of them include mostly his own song. Ismo mainly performs his own songs, but his live set does include a few classics too. He does gigs as One Man Band and with Trio. The gigs are all over Finland and abroad. He’s toured in the USA, Scotland, Spain, Germany, France, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

Ismo Haavisto One Man Band is the hardest working ensemble – it works as well in living rooms as at festivals. Haavisto plays guitar, slide, harmonica and naturally sings. Stomp box and foot tambourine provide a solid beat. This is something unique that you must see and hear!

Ismo Haavisto Trio is one of the best blues trios in Finland. There’s the great Ville Vallila on bass and the mighty Mikko Järvinen on drums. Haavisto sings and plays guitars, slide and harmonica. In the show you can hear songs from semi-acoustic Country Blues to electric Rhythm’n’blues.

Once in a while Ismo does gigs with other groups like Ice Mo’ & The Zydecoolers and The Fabulous Jefes. He has co-operated with other solo artists like Andres Roots (EE), Dave Arcari (UK) Brian Kramer (USA) and Howard Fishman (USA). Ismo has a set of his own songs for big band and recorded the album “Fire Breath” with Lahti Big Band in 2016. In addition, Haavisto is often asked to guest or sit in with other blues bands.

So keep your eyes open, you’ll never know where you might see this hard stompin’ guy play’!

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