Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 6:29 am Post subject: Pure Malt
Pure Malt
In 1984 Gordon McDiarmid and wee brother Tam started off their folk singing days in local clubs and pubs .
Two brothers with accoustic guitars, ‘moothie’ (Gordon) and amazing harmonies. The choice of title for the twosome was plucked from a shelf behind the bar of some gig or another back then, and the boys became known from that time on as ‘Pure Malt’ – a loveable pair with a healthy ever-growing repertoire of songs.
Much praise is directed to Davie Tait, well known folk singer/guitarist from the central region, who passed on much of his knowledge to the boys.
In the years since then their popularity has grown and the shoulders they have rubbed – in the best of places – and celebs they have taken stage with include Andy Stewart at Harthill Miners quite a few years ago now, Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham at Callander Folk Festival; Dick Gaughan at Easter Road in Edinburgh; Gaberlunzie – Callander; Wolfstone – Killin Folk Festival (with Billy Connolly present and making his mark on the occasion); and the Salmon Lie, Killin where Pure Malt headed the bill.
They were made very welcome south of the border on many occasions, particularly at the Tudor Arms, Scotch Corner, and at a Burns Night in Wales were their brand of entertainment was much appreciated.
In 2002 Pure Malt were regular performers at the Blackness Inn, and took stage on occasion for the monthly folk concerts. At the jam sessions there they met up with Tam Clark, a local ‘fairmer cheil’ (farmer’s son) who would join them for the occasional song or two during their gigs. Big Tam, or TC as he is known to ‘the following’, had much to offer by way of bodhran, natural vocal harmonies and charismatic banter, and jelled well in the group, bringing with him his own love of bothy ballads and Burns Suppers. And so, Pure Malt were three! The gigs continued and their following increased.
In 2006, at the Bridge End in Callander, they met up with a Lothian lad, Chas McLeod, who gradually over the months increased input into the band with ‘moothie’, then bodhran, penny whistle and now bass guitar. A talented lad, he's currently mastering the banjo. (The keyboard, he says, is for his own amusement!)
Pure Malt has grown in stature, talent and professionalism and their own blend of music is well-liked and much sought after around the country.
Tam McDiarmid takes life a wee bit easier these days, but makes the occasional guest appearance with the band and he’s just as guid as ever.
So - for the future – the boys have much to offer the folk scene with their traditional Scottish and Irish songs and their more contemporary ballads, and this will be evident given a night with Pure Malt.
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