Andy Shanks

About Andy Shanks

Singer songwriter from the North East of Scotland


Bio
Andy Shanks is an award-winning singer-songwriter from the North East of Scotland. With eclectic tastes, he is best known for his work with Jim Russell on their critically acclaimed ‘Diamonds in the Night’ album and for his songs which have been recorded by many artists, most notably June Tabor.



His solo set is a journey though stories and characters he has met on the way and will often move from traditional to jazz and country depending on the tale. Lyrically his songs conjure up closely observed characters, places, frequently Fife or Aberdeenshire, and often take a side swipe at contemporary scots culture.

Andy has toured in Scotland and beyond as far afield as North America and recorded and performed with many fine musicians over the years. Most recently working with Christine Kydd on her new album ‘Shift and Change’.

He has a keen interest in Scottish writing and culture and appeared in the BBC documentary ‘The Promised Land’ championing MacDiarmid’s ‘A Drunk Man Looks at a Thistle’ and its place in Scotland’s cultural revolution.



'A remarkable talent … beautiful, sinewy, meaningful songs, lovely stuff '

The Scotsman