Biography
In the late '80s and '90s, alt.blues/roots musician and songwriter Craig Hughes paid his dues playing in alternative rock bands, while at the same time developing his acoustic blues chops as a street musician. Lots of miserable, cold, wet busking from Glasgow through Central Scotland to the Edinburgh Festival and back.
***
While kicking his heels between bands in 2005, the success of a couple of solo acoustic gigs led to a support slot with Tony McPhee of The Groundhogs and the opportunity to record a demo EP in Dublin. The demo was well received and led to gigs in the USA as well as at venues and Americana promotions across Scotland.
Over the last couple of years, Craig has shared the stage with many of the leading names in alt.blues and roots music (as well as in the underground/stoner rock scene) from the UK and around the world. In 2008 Craig began hosting That Devil Music, a successful monthly alt.blues/roots gig in Glasgow, switching to individual promotions in the second half of 2010, with future plans including tours and a festival. Craig's festival appearances to date include Bloom'N'Blues, Altus, Arkansas U.S.A. (2006, 2007, 2010), the Oxjam Ashton Lane Folk Festival, Glasgow 2007, The Glasgow Jazz Festival (Blues On The River, 2009, 2010), Fest For A Fiver (Glasgow, 2010) and Record Store Day (Stirling, 2010, 2011).
Craig has received generous support from local radio in Scotland and online. Since May 2009 he has performed live in the studio and been interviewed several times for The Switchback on Sunny Govan FM in Glasgow, as well as for Celtic Music Radio. Celtic Music Radio also recorded and broadcast a live performance by Craig at Paisley Arts Centre in March 2010 .
***
Craig's debut album is Pissed Off, Bitter And Willing To Share, which was listed by Canada's Blues Underground Network as British Blues Album Of The Year 2009, and placed at number 6 in their overall Top 25 Albums Of The Year. In addition, the album has picked up excellent reviews from UK national music press (Guitar & Bass Magazine, Blues Matters!), music websites such as Loud Horizon, Blues In The Northwest and Still Gigging, and French website Paris-Move. The album has gained international airplay, across the EU, USA, Canada, Croatia, Macedonia etc.
Other releases include: The Graveyard Full Of Blues project (a split release with Sleepy Eyes Nelson), the EP Broke, Lonely and Guilty and the single Hope It Makes You Happy/Blues Like A Hammer. All releases are on Channel Nowhere (Graveyard is a joint release with Cheap Wine Records).
Since 2006, Craig has provided original music for several short films and video projects, as well as the soundtrack for the feature film, Stix and Stanes, which was Scottish BAFTA nominated. In late 2010 Craig co-produced and played on the second album by alt-country/Americana performer Jim Dead, which was released in 2011. Also in 2011, Craig formed the heavy rock power trio Dog Moon Howl with Bryan Campbell and Ally Tennick.
