Fife musician Stevie Agnew is to showcase his first album at Dunfermline’s Carnegie Hall after a bit of help from a Perthshire pal.
The son of Nazareth founder member Pete Agnew, Stevie is no stranger to the stage, having performed with the 70s rockers over the years.
The 41-year-old has carved out a career playing covers at gigs across Scotland but he only began writing his own music after a chance meeting with Glenfarg lyricist and percussionist Chris Smith.
The album they created was released in February and it has since gained rave reviews across the world, reaching number 39 in America’s airplay chart and 36 in the UK’s roots music chart.
Stevie, of Dunfermline, said: “I met Chris at a charity event and he asked me why I had never released an album. I told him I didn’t think I could write songs.
“I had resigned myself to playing covers in bars, which is fine but then Chris sent me some lyrics and they were so good it brought it out in me. The songs then wrote themselves.”
Chris said: “We wrote an album we wanted to write, rather than it being contrived. We thought that if anyone else liked it, it would be a bonus. We’ve been bowled over by the reaction.”
They called in favours from a host of famous friends to play on Wreckin’ Yard, which was recorded in Chris’s house in Glenfarg last year.
Pete Agnew performs on one track and Kirsten Adamson, daughter of the late Big Country founder member Stuart Adamson, duets with Stevie on another.
Also playing on the album is Stevie’s brother Chris Agnew, of punk band The Rezillos, and Ali Ferguson, who performs with Stiltskin.
Chris said: “It took 16 months to produce. We recorded most of it in my living room.”
Stevie said: “Chris’s dogs were running about while we were recording and his daughter was often there too. She ended up doing some stomping on one of the tracks, which we recorded in Chris’s bathroom.”
Chris added: “It was difficult, but we’re very proud of the album.”
The showcase at Carnegie Hall on September 21 will be held to raise funds for a studio, where they hope to record Stevie’s second album, Bad Blood and Whiskey.
Stevie also hopes to travel to America, where radio stations are clamouring to offer him live spots on air.
Despite supporting big acts such as Stereophonics and Status Quo in arenas, he admits to being nervous about playing to 500 people in his home town.
“This is my first big gig, with my own crowd, doing my own material,” he explained. “And I’ll know most of the people, so it will be daunting.”
However, he will not be alone on stage, having arranged a nine-piece band and several guest vocalists, including one 16-year-old Perth High School pupil who also performs on the album.
Beth Malcolm, the daughter of acclaimed folk singer Jim Malcolm, duets with Stevie on two tracks and will appear on stage at Carnegie Hall.
Stevie and Chris have also called in the talents of Live Aid sound engineer Johnny Ramsay for the one-off gig.
Chris said: “I sent him the album and he loved it and wanted to do the sound. We were delighted.”
Pete Agnew is yet to be confirmed for the gig but Stevie said he may make a surprise appearance.
Stevie said: “He’s done a great job and I’m hoping he’ll join me on stage for one of the songs.”
Tickets are available now by visiting www.onfife.com/events/stevie-agnew-live