6th July 2024 | |
Doors 7.15pm | |
The Voodoo Rooms 19a West Register Street, Edinburgh New Town EH2 2AA |
|
£20 + bf Find Tickets |
|
Visit the event website here | |
Dana Gillespie’s 2021 memoir, Weren’t Born A Man (Hawksmoor Publishing), lifted the lid on one of entertainment’s wildest, most adventurous and creative lives. Dana was born in 1949. Mid-childhood, she moved from the country to central London just as a full-scale blues revival was under way. By 16, she was recording singles for Pye. In 1968, she was signed by Decca, leading to two LPs, the second of which, Box Of Surprises, was written entirely by her. At the turn of the decade, Dana was in the original London cast of two prominent musicals – Catch My Soul and Jesus Christ Superstar. Simultaneously, she was part of a team of session singers (Elton John, David Byron, Madeline Bell) who recorded soundalike versions of pop hits for Avenue Records. She and childhood friend, David Bowie, were both managed by Tony Defries and his MainMan company.
In 1973, Dana’s third album, Weren’t Born A man, recorded at Trident Studios and produced by Bowie, Mick Ronson, Robin Cable and Dana, came out on RCA. The follow-up, Ain’t Gonna Play No Second Fiddle, appeared in 1974 and Dana undertook a US tour in support of it. While Dana was working on demos for her third RCA album, MainMan imploded. Unable to record while still in contract, Dana returned to the UK and sought gigs and acting jobs, appearing in The People That Time Forgot (1977), The Hound Of The Baskervilles (1978), Nic Roeg’s Bad Timing (1980) and Mai Zetterling’s Scrubbers (1982). Among the people with whom she acted were Doug McClure, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Denholm Elliott Joan Greenwood, Terry-Thomas, Kenneth Williams, Roy Kinnear, Penelope Keith, Prunella Scales, Art Garfunkel, Harvey Keitel and Kathy Burke.
In 1982, Dana resumed her recording career with Blue Job (Ace Records), a collection of early 20th century bawdy blues numbers. She kept one foot in the pop camp with the 1984 album, Solid Romance (Bellaphon), which spawned international hit, ‘Move Your Body Close To Me’, before committing to the blues full-time. She founded and ran the Mustique Blues Festival with Basil Charles OBE, for two decades. In 1997, she joined the UK leg of Bob Dylan’s tour as ‘special guest’. There are now two strands to Dana’s recording career which run in parallel; her singer/songwriter blues albums for Ace Records and (in Europe) Wolf Records, and her albums of bhajans (devotional songs). Dana tours worldwide, including India, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Britain and beyond, frequently performing with the London Blues Band. She regularly appears in the UK capital at the 606 Club, Chelsea, and The Temple of Art and Music, Elephant & Castle. Her Decca recordings have been anthologised as London Social Degree (RPM, 2019) and her RCA recordings as What Memories We Make (Cherry Red, 2019). Dana’s most recent albums are Under My Bed (Ace, 2019) and Deep Pockets (Ace, 2021).
Find tickets with Ticketweb: | Search now |
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!The Monochrome Set return to Scotland to promote their new album of 'Marc Riley Sessions from 2011 to 2022 with a date at The Voodoo Rooms on 24th May!
READ MOREFor the first time in 36 years, Johnny Hates Jazz will be embarking on their first ever headline tour of the UK and overseas! Don't miss them live at the Voodoo Rooms on Wednesday 29th May!
READ MOREThe authentic Led Zeppelin experience bring the raw energy and thunderous hits of one of the greatest bands in history to The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh on Saturday 1st June!
READ MORECelebrating the legacy of the greatest of all time Prince on his born day, 6 hours of non stop Prince, bring your dancing shoes!
READ MOREJohn Bramwell, an English singer-songwriter and frontman for the three-piece alternative rock band I Am Kloot, plays The Voodoo Rooms on Thursday 13th June!
READ MORECatch Bernard Butler, a Brit and Grammy Award winning musician, when he plays The Voodoo Rooms Edinburgh on Friday 21st June!
READ MOREComedy rap series, Epic Rap Battles of History, which pits notable historical and pop culture figures against one another in a rap battle format is coming to The Voodoo Rooms on Sunday 30th June!
READ MOREAfter repeated sell out shows, Anne Gair and her band are taking the show on the road in 2024 with a date at The Voodoo Rooms on 18th July!
READ MOREAmerican musician, singer-songwriter, composer and producer John Murry returns to the The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh on Tuesday 23rd July!
READ MOREVeteran drummer for PIL, Killing Joke, Nine Inch Nails and Pigface, Martin Atkins will be showing slides and telling stories at The Voodoo Rooms on 5th August.
READ MOREHeathen Apostles are doing a three day residency at The Voodoo Rooms from 5th to 7th August as part of the Fringe Festival.
READ MOREEdinburgh based Lizzie and the Banshees are a Siouxsie & The Banshees Tribute band and if you've yet to see them perform, you're in for a real treat!
READ MOREEdinburgh Blues Club presents Kara Grainger at The Voodoo Rooms on Thursday 19th September!
READ MOREComing to Edinburgh... The Amy Winehouse Experience provide, without doubt, the most authentic recreation of Amy Winehouse, designed to entertain and deliver the experience of Amy at her very best!
READ MOREIndie folk duo The Bygones are on a UK tour in 2024 with a date at The Voodoo Rooms on 21st September!
READ MORENashville based singer-songwriter Jill Andrews is on a UK in September with a date at The Voodoo Rooms on the 25th!
READ MOREVeteran broadcaster and songwriter Tom Robinson comes to The Voodoo Rooms on 5th October, playing songs from the albums 'Power in the Darkness' and 'TRB Two'!
READ MOREStone Foundation have collaborated with Paul Weller, Nolan Porter, Graham Parker, Carleen Anderson, Kathryn Williams and many more... catch them live at The Voodoo Rooms on 12th October!
READ MOREStone Foundation have collaborated with Paul Weller, Nolan Porter, Graham Parker, Carleen Anderson, Kathryn Williams and many more... catch them live at The Voodoo Rooms on 12th October!
READ MOREExpect blues, expect roots, expect Americana but, above all, believe in the words of Rob Tognoni: "make no mistake we will always be the S.H.I.T!"
READ MOREGerry Jablonski and the Electric Band have a unique trademark sound and style and you can hear them when they return to The Voodoo Rooms on 25th October!
READ MOREComedy legend, actor, writer and poet Nigel Planer joins Henry Normal, BBC Radio 4's 'poet in reticence'. Expect poetry, stories, jokes, Q & A, fun, knitwear and a few surprises.
READ MOREThe Icicle Works bring an evening of acoustic music to The Voodoo Rooms on Saturday 26th October!
READ MOREFollowing the recent release of his autobiography ‘A Very Simple Mind’, Derek Forbes is now on tour promoting it! Catch him at The Voodoo Rooms on 12th November!
READ MORELack of Afro brings the 'Square One' Live Tour to The Voodoo Rooms on Friday 15th November!
READ MORESmoove & Turrell, a funk & soul group hailing from Gateshead, return to The Voodoo Rooms on Sunday 17th November!
READ MOREWell-known for their energetic live shows don't miss Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra when they come to The Voodoo Rooms on Sunday 1st December!
READ MOREScotland's silliest surgeon, Dr. Bonk, is back with his hit SELL-OUT SHOW 'Dr Bonk's Macarbaret', an evening of drag, burlesque, music, comedy, and medical mayhem!
READ MOREAll welcome to the Scots Music Group fabulous monthly fundraising ceilidhs at the St Brides Centre! Come on your own, with friends or in a group.
READ MOREJoin host Michael Dodds every Wednesday at The Three Sisters for an evening of music, singing, poetry, comedy and much more!
READ MOREEdinburgh Ceilidhs invites you to a ceilidh in the Charteris Centre with caller Ken Gourlay, ceilidh band and piper.
READ MOREGet yourself down to The Globe Bar Edinburgh for the best fun you can have with a microphone on a Thursday!
READ MOREJoin renowned British concert pianist Warren Mailley-Smith for a performance of sensational classical and romantic works for solo piano at St Giles' Cathedral!
READ MOREAnnasach Ceilidh Band invites you to our regular ceilidh in the hidden gem of Edinburgh’s Old Town, The Counting House!
READ MOREFierce Friday returns with your Majesty season 2 winner Tina Justina, bringing her very own show to debut at The Three Sisters!
READ MORECastle Chorus is a small, friendly choir open to anybody who loves singing. If you’re interested in coming along, singing some songs and meeting new people, feel free to just turn up on a Thursday!
READ MORE