Page 32 - BiTS_11_NOVEMBER_2021

NEWS RELEASE

Blues artist re-writes Scottish tradition for his new single

COTLAND's alt.blues troubadour Dave Arcari has made a bold move putting together his new
single Loch Lomond (Home) which is scheduled for release later this month (Friday 22

SOctober).

Never one to shy away from controversy, the East Loch Lomond resident has re-written the Scottish
traditional favourite Loch Lomond to make it more personal and up to date…and arranged the song
for his trademark slide guitar and vocals. And to give the
project even more of a local twist, he secured the help of
local neighbours and friends – collectively named 'the

voices’ of the loch' – to provide a singalong ambience on
the choruses,

"This one'll definitely put the cat amongst the pigeons,"
laughs Arcari. "Some folks'll love it…but I'm guessing
some will think it's sacrilege to adapt such a well-known
song.

"For me, though, it's a natural progression – so much
traditional music has evolved over time and the words re-
written and woven round circumstances as the songs are
passed from generation to generation.

"My wife and I moved to East Loch Lomond over 10 years ago and have been made so welcome that
I wanted to encompass the feeling of goodwill in the song."

The release is also Arcari's way of setting the record straight after an overseas record label called
his bluff and released a more traditional version of the song on an album nearly ten years ago.

"I was putting together an album to licence to a French label and at the last minute they asked me
to add in a Scottish song. I wasn't so sure it was a good idea – plus, the budget was bust, so I
quickly recorded a version of Loch Lomond that – I thought – was so bad they'd see my point. But
they didn't. They loved it and it went on the album!

"Not only that, but it became one of the best loved tracks on that release," he adds. "And I hate it.
It's just not representative of me or my music….that's why I thought it was time to come up with a

version that I could stand behind. So here we are!"

Arcari got the local community – as well as friends from near and far – involved to provide an extra
dimension to he choruses.

"It all started when I performed a rough version of the song during a livestream," explains Arcari.
"A radio DJ and pal (Paul 'Pablo' Stewart) who has been at many of my live shows commented that
he could imagine the crowd singing along to the choruses if I played it live."

That started the songwriter thinking and gave rise to Arcari's idea of putting together the 'voices’ of
the loch' that appear on the choruses.