Sons of the Rock

...to the online home of Scottish folk band Sons of the Rock.

Here you will find the latest news, background information, details of upcoming gigs and appearances and ways to listen to clips and to purchase the new album 'Acoustic Routes'.

Please feel free to contact the band if you require any further information, or if you would like to book them to play.

	The band’s new album 'Acoustic Routes' is being well received and hopefully will be played on various radio stations in the UK and abroad
	'Time Spent Wi’ You' - The band is presently working to remix this original album and it is hoped to re-release it in 2007.
	The band's new web site is now up and running, providing information about the band, their music and their current activities.
	Buy the new album online! - Now available, purchase and download 'Acoustic Routes' from the comfort of your home. Click on the Shop option for more details.

	Elaine Allison (vocals) Elaine was born and raised in Stirling and attended The High School of Stirling before going on to study Physiotherapy at Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh. She still lives and works in Stirling and is married to Philip. They have a son and a daughter.

	Norrie Black (guitar & vocals) Norrie was born in Perth but spent his formative years in St Ninians on the outskirts of Stirling. After leaving The High School of Stirling, he studied Mining Surveying and Building and is managing director of a land survey company. Norrie has lived in Edinburgh since 1980. He is married to Cecilia and has three daughters and three grandchildren.

	Bob Blewitt (guitar & vocals) Bob was born in the historic village of Bannockburn, just outside Stirling. He also attended The High School of Stirling. He is the Appeals Director for Strathcarron Hospice and still lives in Stirling. Bob is married to Hilary and has one daughter.

The name of the band is taken from the name given to people who are born within the old city walls of Stirling. The fact that none of the band qualifies as an actual 'Son' is purely incidental.

Stirling is one of the most historic cities in Scotland and has strong associations with William Wallace, King Robert the Bruce and also with the Stuart kings and queens.

Norrie and Bob started singing together in their teens. Like many other young men in the Sixties, they formed a four-piece band. The band was called 'The Kossacks'. The lineup was Norrie on lead guitar, Bob on rhythm guitar, Derek Kinnaird on drums and Cookie Harrison on bass guitar. Unfortunately, the life span of 'The Kossacks' was short as the band had neither drums nor bass guitar!

'Sons of the Rock' was formed by the boys in 1988. Elaine joined in 1994, increasing the harmony range and enabling a wider repertoire of songs to be performed.

The musical influences of the band range from Scottish/Irish traditional folk music through to American folk and Country music with some classical and choir and middle of the road music thrown in for good measure. The sounds of the Sixties were also a huge influence on Bob and Norrie

Norrie: "My Grannie bought me my first guitar when I was twelve. My dad, like Bob’s dad, was a great performer, albeit only at family functions so I was also exposed at an early age to a wide range of musical influences. When I reached my late teens I started a folk band called 'The Crown Folk Trio' and we were the resident band at The Stirling folk club during the middle Sixties. I then went on to form a four-piece band called 'Turkey Rhubarb'. Bob and I lost touch for some years but then got together again to form the original 'Sons of the Rock' in 1988. I think we have developed a sound which brings together all the musical influences in our lives."

Elaine: "I have been singing all my life, originally in choirs, musicals and music festivals. I first heard Norrie and Bob at one of their gigs and was smitten by their type of melodic acoustic music. I asked if I could come along and sing a few songs with them because I wanted to experience singing through a microphone. The boys encouraged me to continue singing with them. (They say they have been trying to get rid of me ever since but I won’t take the hint!!) Now I am seldom caught singing without them."

Bob: "I was raised in a family which loved music and I was surrounded by it as I grew up. When bands like The Beatles and The Hollies came along I was blown away by the sound and harmonies."

For information about bookings please contact Norrie Black at norrie@sonsoftherock.com

"Acoustic Routes" is a collection of some of the Band's favourite songs from traditional Scottish, Irish and English music to contemporary Canadian and American. The album reflects the various influences which have helped shape the Band's lyrical and harmonic style.

1.	Festival Lights	Nick Keir	(3:48)
2.	Isle of Eigg	comp. Robin Laing / pub. Grian Music	(3:15)
3.	Fields of Athenry	Pete St John	(4:38)
4.	John Anderson	Robert Burns	(1:25)
5.	Generations of Change	Matt Armour	(4:22)
6.	Trouble in the Fields	Nanci Griffith	(5:18)
7.	Song of the Plough	Nick Keir	(4:14)
8.	After the Goldrush	Neil Young	(2:00)
9.	Four Strong Winds	Ian Tyson	(4:33)
10.	Worker for the Wind	Rory and Calum McDonald	(4:38)
11.	Nursery Rhymes	Traditional (arr. Sons of the Rock)	(3:19)
12.	Man in the Moon	Gerry Spurlock	(4:37)
13.	Somewhere Along the Road	Rick Kemp	(4:23)
14.	Dancing at Whitson	John Austin Marshall	(4:28)
15.	She Moved Through the Fair	Trad / Padraig Colum	(2:58)

You can get in contact with the band using any of the following three methods:

Post:	Sons of the Rock c/o Norrie Black, 25, Downie Terrace, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, EH12 7AU, Scotland

Telephone:	+44 131 334 4323

Email:	norrie@sonsoftherock.com bob@sonsoftherock.com elaine@sonsoftherock.com

If you would like to purchase a CD version of the new album, Acoustic Routes, please send a cheque/money order for Ł11.25 (Ł10.00 plus Ł1.25 p&p) to the address above. Please remember to include your name and address with your order!

We are more than happy to fulfill international orders for the new album. Please get in contact for costs and postage details.