Dave Dick

Dave started learning the 6 string acoustic guitar around 1967. The late 1960s were exciting times for a young guitarist  - coming out of the folk revival were such huge talents and guitar visionaries as Wizz Jones, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn and John Martyn. The discovery of the world of black acoustic blues from early in the century – Blind Willie Johnson, Robert Johnson, Skip James – through word of mouth and the very rare and expensive blues “albums” occasionally poured over in student flats...all helped to foster a lifelong interest in blues based music.

In 1970 he was given advice [and a bottleneck] on open tuning for his guitar by none other than Fraser Spiers, the Scottish harmonica wizard ... that style has been a mainstay for almost 40 years.
Never narrow minded in his musical tastes, probably just as well having become competent as a guitarist at what we now know was the end of the 60s ‘blues boom’, Dave played in folk bands such as ‘The Whole Hog’ in the 1970s folk clubs; mixing Cyril Tawney with Blind Blake!

In 1977 a chance encounter with the very young Eddi Reader in Kilmarnock Folk Club, lead to the formation of the trio Pigmeat with guitarist Angus Aird. Living and playing together round Scotland  - with the odd foray to Cambridge and London – the band was a musical success but not a financial one and inevitably Eddi moved on. Angus headed for France where he still makes a living as a full time folk musician. Dave went busking to France, Holland and Germany...

Soon after this, in 1979, Dave began his career as a professional bird conservationist - an all encompassing area of work, although he often travelled with a guitar in the boot of his car and kept in touch with old friends in the music biz, particularly Dick Banovich and Spider Mackenzie. The few gigs played were cameo appearances, usually in Highland hotels, jamming with other musicians.

This self imposed exile from performing started to unravel, when he played at the memorial concert for the much missed, superb folk guitarist Tony Cuffe in Glasgow, with his old friend from the 1970s, the guitarist Jim Gilbert.

For the last 5 years and more Dave and Jim have been playing as ‘Wing and a Prayer’ at Festivals, folk clubs, cafes and teahouses and the occasional pub. As of this month, July 2009, Dave and Jim are now both full time musicians.

It's been a long and very enjoyable road so far.  In Dave’s playing he hopes you can hear some echoes of that pleasure and passion, shared with musicians from all over the world and through some very interesting times.