2002: Stone Autumn formed around February 2002. It started with a jam session in Craig's living room working through some old Voodoo Coyote songs using Bouzouki, Doumbek and vocals. Our first performance was at the Glasgow University Postgraduate (Research) Club. This was an open stage event where we performed six songs before a busy, appreciative and enthusiastic audience. We would continue to gain experience on the acoustic circuit by playing various open stages throughout the city. Highlights included hosting an open stage at the Allander Bar, Milngavie with our good friends The Midgierakers (featuring the late and much missed Alan MacGregor) and our first fully blown gig - a 60 min set - at the Research Club on October 21st.

Live in 2002: Glasgow University 27/04/02; Whistlers Mother 28/04/02; Halt Bar 01/06/02; Bon Accord 04/06/02; Halt Bar 26/06/02; Whistlers Mother 28/07/02; Allander Bar 29/07/02; Bon Accord 06/08/02; Halt Bar 07/08/02; Whistlers Mother 08/09/02; Whistlers Mother 15/09/02; Moloco 24/09/02; Bon Accord 24/09/02; Halt Bar 02/10/02; Bon Accord 08/10/02; Glasgow University 21/10/02; Glasgow University 02/11/02; Bon Accord 26/11/02.

First live appearance April 2002

2003: Features the band playing more open stage venues culminating in a three song audition at Clutha Vaults for Andy Paterson's Backroom Acoustic Club. We played two thoroughly enjoyable gigs in the Backroom and on the second occasion, we were invited by Esther Duffin to play a set at Chocolate Therapy. This event was hosted by Esther and Graeme Duffin (session guitarist and ex WetWetWet). This was a marvelous experience and, with the completion of our first four track demo entitled "Songs from the Foundry", ended the year on a very positive note.

Note: We first met Alejo in botanic gardens on Sunday 22nd June while we were practicing in the park. That was to become an important event in the shaping of the current band. It was the day of the West End Festival and Craig, Chas and Ramsay (disgusted at yet another year of not getting to play on Byres Rd!) went to the park for a wee jam and to warm up before heading back down Byres Rd. to a pub to play yet another open stage. It would take 3 years to get on that Byres Rd. stage but thankfully it did happen AND with Alejo (almost 3 years to the day that we met him). Fate!

Live in 2003: Bon Accord 14/01/03; Halt Bar 05/02/03; Whistlers Mother 23/02/03; O'Neill's 27/02/03; Glasgow University 08/03/03; Museo 28/03/03; O'Neill's 03/04/03; Moloco 29/04/03; Bon Accord 29/04/03; Whistlers Mother 04/05/03; Moloco 13/05/03; Whistlers Mother 22/06/03; Moloco 01/07/03; Scotia Bar 09/07/03; 13th Note 09/07/03; Tchai Ovna 17/07/03; Clutha Vaults 22/07/03; Lauries Backroom Club 31/07/03; Lauries Backroom Club 30/10/03; Chocolate Therapy 04/11/03; Bar 185 20/11/03; O'Neill's 27/11/03.

Andy introduces a nervous looking Stone Autumn at the Backroom Club July 2003

2004: This year saw us invest in pa equipment, vocal/condenser mic's and stands. We made a concerted effort to play more prolific gigs and also to broaden our horizons outwith the Glasgow area. In January, after a 20 minute dress rehearsal at The Goat Club, we hit the ground running performing five songs to a packed & extremely responsive audience at Celtic Connections Danny Kyle Stage. Two days later we played a 40 minute set at the Renfrew Ferry - another fantastic experience! These gigs played to a combined audience of over 700 people and we could not have been happier with the favourable comment and reaction received. Further highlights included 2 sets tailormade to suit the Tinderbox coffehouse vibe and headlining a three act Peter MacCalman Promotion at the popular venue Stereo in Glasgow's west end.

Celtic Connections Jan 2004

April 2004: The tail end of April featured us playing a 30 minute set after Ray Allen opened proceedings at the Girvan Folk Festival open stage. Commended for our "impressive playing" and "great contribution" to the festival by organiser Maggie Macrae, we had a great time. We also managed another 4 track demo at the end of May and combined this with our previous demo CD.

June 2004: A "mini tour" of Beanscene coffehouse venues at Glasgow South (June 15), Stirling (June 16), Edinburgh Nicolson St. (June 17) & West End @ De Courcy's (June 24). This tour comprised approx. two 20 min. sets at each outlet and begins around 8pm. The 25th June heralded a major event - playing a 60 min set at the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen as part of the ShellExpro Friday Acoustic Lunchtime Live series of concerts. Then in July, it was off to the Lomond Folk Festival for a 30 minute open stage al fresco set at Balloch Country Park. say)

Sept. 2004: For reasons too complicated to explain and too uninteresting to anyone other than us, our 2nd gig at Stereo on 24th August ended up being the last Stone Autumn (Mark1!) gig. What followed was a period of re-adjustment. Craig and Alejo had been working on some pipe tunes over the summer and got the chance to play these at Carling Academy in December 2004. Ramsay joined us on stage and so a new kind of Stone Autumn was born. We wondered if we could incorporate highland pipes into our song writing......... 2004 ended with a bang but also with a degree of uncertainty about how it would all develop.

Live in 2004: The Goat Club 15/01/04; Celtic Connections (Danny Kyle Stage) 21/01/04; The Renfrew Ferry 23/01/04; Bon Accord 02/03/04; Tinderbox 04/03/04; The Goat Club 18/03/04; Stereo 21/03/04; Girvan Folk Festival 30/04/04; Beanscene Glasgow South 16/06/04; Beanscene Stirling 17/06/04; Beanscene Edinburgh (Nicolson St) 17/06/04; Beanscene Glasgow (west end) 24/06/04; Aberdeen Lemon Tree 25/06/04; Lomond Folk Festival 24/07/04; Stereo 24/08/04; Carling Academy (Club Noir) Dec 04.

Carling Academy Dec 2004

Summer 2005: We emerged from the summer with a new sound (bagpipes with singing) and started rehearsing for a scheduled gig at the Aberdeen Lemon Tree in September. The rest of the story continues on the current news page.

Lemon Tree Aberdeen Sept. 2005

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