A fire in the heart

Graduating with a first class law degree, the singer, songwriter (and now, BBC radio presenter) could have been making a career in court, not on stage.

However, in 2004, his 2004 demo album, recorded in just four days on an 8-track recording machine, led to an inivitation beyond his wildest dreams.

He was asked to open for country music sensation Kris Kristofferson, an opening that would lead him down the road of music.

With the help of the Trashcan Sinatras, Hart’s debut studio album in 2005 earned critical acclaim.

Then, in his next album, he welcomed Kris kristofferson and Eddie Reader into the recording studio to add their own musical flair.

Now, however, he has a new band of musicians to call upon, The Lonesome Fire.

A band defiantly in the classic mould, Scotland’s Roddy Hart and The Lonesome Fire are set to make their mark this year with the release of their long awaited eponymous album.

Having released three acclaimed independent solo records — Bookmarks, Sign Language, and Road Of Bones — and The Dylan EP with Mercury nominated artist Gemma Hayes, Hart decided to eschew the traditional singer/songwriter tag and share the limelight with some friends.

Now, he is concentrating on building an exciting and formidable seven-piece band.

Working with the producer of Coldplay’s multi million selling album XnY, the band spent most of 2012 ensconced in the studio.

They recorded in locations as diverse as a Glasgow church, the band’s own rehearsal room in Govan Town Hall (once home to Franz Ferdinand), and the legendary Dean Street Studios in London (the birthplace of albums by Bowie and The Smiths).

There, they managed to create a vividly widescreen sonic landscape, and a sound that is unique, and definitely all their own.

This year promises to be the year the band’s darkly compelling conjunction of classic Americana and Celtic soul truly begins to gather steam.

They had the perfect start — performing in The Hydro last month in support of legendary Scottish duo The Proclaimers.

Roddy said: “We had an amazing time playing Scotland’s shiny new 13,000 capacity venue.

“Now, as we hit the road for our own Scottish mini-tour. we really hope everybody will come out and support us.”

Roddy Hart and The Lonesome Fire play The Arches tonight (Friday).

Tickets are available from www.seetickets.com.

You can catch Roddy’s radio show on BBC radio Scotland every Thursday night from 10.05pm.