Project Description
Interview
with
William Hutton
from
CLAYMORE
Interviewer – Dave Bruce
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For any new fans, how did Claymore come together?
I started Claymore in Scotland in the late 70’s and came together as a duo with myself William Hutton, and the other founding member Richard Gibbons were at college in Glasgow. Then I emigrated to Australia in 84’ and re-started the band, which has slowly evolved to the current line-up of seven amazing musicians.
Who are you biggest musical influences?
My Biggest musical influences would be Trad bands like The Corries, The Tannahill weaver’s, Capercaillie RunRig, and early Prog rock bands like Genesis and Yes.
What’s unique about your sound and performance?
Claymore are a unique band within the Australian music scene. Drawing on generations of Irish and Scottish folk tradition, Claymore’s biggest strength lies in their ability to blend traditional sounds and music with contemporary rock sounds, forging a band like no other.
What is it that inspired your very successful event A Celtic Christmas?
A Celtic Christmas was born from an idea between myself and Damien Leith, Australian Idol winner and Irish man. After a couple of drinks one night we both got chatting about Christmas and our different family traditions at home, realising the common theme was music, fun and laughter, so why not bring some of that hometown Christmas cheers from Ireland and Scotland to our new home here in Australia. A Celtic Christmas was born and after its first huge success at a gig at Palms at Crown in Melbourne, the audience reaction was , “We want more”, and so now in its third year it continues. This year as Damien is entertaining family from home for Christmas, so the Legend that is Eric Bogle has stepped us to join Claymore.
What’s the event like for the uninitiated?
The event is a couple of hours of pure fun and entertainment, lots of great music and dance and always a few surprise guests turning up to have a sing or a play. It is a roller coaster ride!
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What’s your favourite Christmas tradition?
A quiet family Christmas dinner of amazing Australian seafood and a wee nap in the afternoon.
This year it will be A Grumpy Celtic Christmas on the 20th of December in St Kilda. Why so grumpy?
Look, it will be grumpy in name only J All Scots can be a wee bit Ba Humbug at this time of the year and Eric Bogle is no exception… He’s well known for his grumpy persona, but a joy at heart really, All joking aside it will be a fun filled event full of cheer.
You’ve performed live around the world. What is the best part of performing live?
The rush of hitting the stage in any part of the world is like a drug to any musician, I just can’t get enough of our audiences and the thrill of being able to do this as a job, I’m very privileged.
If you could tour with anyone, who would it be and why? (Dead or alive)
Simple Minds from Glasgow or Mark Knopfler, another great Celtic Musician who Rocks. I just love what they do.
What more can we look forward to from Claymore?
Well next year we have already started planning well in advance, Claymore will once again be performing at The Port Fairy Folk festival and we hope for a spot at The National Celtic Festival in Port Arlington a little later in the year. Lots of regular gigs around the country and perhaps a wee trip to Canada for a small tour, that’s what I’m working on right now.
Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – YES – Close to the Edge
Artist – Marillion
Movie – Die Hard
Place to visit – Paris
Venue to play – The National Celtic Festival @ Port Arlington
Food – Cray Fish
Drink – Single Malt Scotch
Person in History – William Wallace
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?)
Don’t Have one but The Claymore Band Logo would be up there on the list and The Scottish Flag.
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Check out Claymore below
Facebook Website
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Claymore need little introduction to audiences. Heralded as one of the world’s premier Celtic rock bands, an evening in their
company is always an unforgettably loud experience. Claymore’s live shows demand that you are on your feet from the
outset. This enigmatic band of multi-instrumentalists not only manages to combine traditional elements of Celtic music, but
they take that passion and soul and rock it right into the 21st century. Few bands can pull off the sensitive task of re-educating
the traditional realm into the modern day, but that’s something of a specialty for Claymore. Not only that, but they manage
to write beautiful original Celtic compositions, and even lend their style to some power rock classics.
There is little that Claymore haven’t done throughout their career. They have a host of impressive album releases under
their belt and a long list of festival performances to their name. Since the band’s inception more than two decades ago,
they’ve released five impressive albums, and performed internationally from gigs in New York, Scotland and New Zealand,
to several headline appearances at the reputed Festival Interceltique De Lorient France. Combine this with performances at
the biggest festivals on the Australian circuit and you’ve got an impressive musical resume.
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AMNPLIFY_DT
My nickname is “The Amnplifier”. Why? Because around here my focus is on being a conduit for providing greater outcomes that people come here for. My day to day “work” is living in the moment, and I love helping others concentrate on finding their connection to themselves through their experiences.
Why start a music environment? The truth is I love music, I love writing, and I love life. I work with musicians every day, and I feel certain that I will be until they put me in the ground. I have been managing people in businesses of some sort for over thirty five years so along the way I have developed some “wisdom” from my regular and constant “observations”.
Amnplify your experience. That is what we want you to do here, and if you want to let me know why you do, or don’t, shoot me a message on Facebook.
Hope you enjoy yourself here and find something that hits you somewhere.
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