SWEETWATER BAND

Kilmarnock’s Alternative Rock Band

Robert Neil

I set off on a cold winter’s evening to a secret man cave to meet Sweetwater Band. Thanks to my driver we found the legendary place where the alchemy of music making takes place.

The band’s second collection of songs has just been released on vinyl, and they were all there to greet me. They are, Stuart Dudgeon on vocals and guitar, Dean Pearson on bass, Kenny Morrison on drums, and Garvin Lindsay on guitar. Each one of them is humorous and very welcoming, but Gavin is a force of nature and never short of anything to say.

Gavin explains: “The new album, I Had So Much Left To Say, is a tribute to a dear departed friend and slide guitar player, George Young. His playing was brilliant, and he added little magical flourishes throughout the songs.”

In a voice tinged with sadness Gavin admits: “We will never find another player that could replace George, and his spirit is very much all over the album.”

I asked Gavin if there was an intention to have a slight Americana feel to the songs. He laughs and says: “It was down to all of us being huge fans of Yellowstone and other stuff written by Taylor Sheridan.”

This sets us all off on a conversation about other TV shows by Sheridan, Landman in particular.

I tell the band that I keep going back to the first track, ‘No Country For Old Men’ and that it’s possibly due to my love of fiddle and slide guitar. At this point Gavin becomes very animated and says: “I am really glad you like that one. The fiddle on that track is played by John C Grant who is well known in the Ayrshire music scene and is well respected by those in the folk music circle as well.”

Personally, it’s one of those tracks I keep returning to as I continue to find little pockets of sound that unfold with repeated listens.

What becomes clearer as the evening moves on is the camaraderie between the band members. They all seem to be driven towards the same goal which is making music. This obviously pleases them and they hope others will enjoy their music as well. Stuart, lead vocalist, states that they’re not aiming to become major rock stars and are simply enjoying making music together on Thursday nights.

“We are really enjoying the freedom of doing things at our own pace,” he says.

I ask the band where the album was recorded.

“At Up The Bracket Studios,” Gavin confirms, “which is right here.”

I look around and see that I have failed to notice the soundboard and computer in the room. He also explains that the final mixing and production was done by Martin Cuthbert who is another good friend of the band.

At this point Gavin says: “Oh, I almost forgot…” and shows me a vinyl copy of the album. Honestly, as a collector of vinyl, I have to say it is truly a beautiful and well produced product which I can only have admiration for. Every care has been put into the detail and the actual record itself seems to glisten and illuminate the whole place. There is also a 32-page booklet included which is highly impressive, as is the 13 Deluxe Record Label. 13 Deluxe is an independent recording company, also from Kilmarnock.

I can see this means so much to the whole of the band and Gavin confirms this by stating: “To have something of our own sitting amongst all the vinyl I have collected throughout the years is truly special.

We have been together seven years and the people at Elastic Stage have done us proud.”

It’s great to hear him acknowledge those outside of the band itself, this time Elastic Stage, the on-demand vinyl platform for music creators and record labels.

As for the future, they all agree they will keep meeting on a Thursday night and that they will continue to help and encourage younger up-and-coming bands in the area. As for me, I will continue to listen to ‘No Country For Old Men’ and the other brilliant songs on I Had So Much Left To Say.

You can find Sweetwater Band on Facebook and can download the album on your usual streaming platform.