Matt McGinn
Upcoming Events

30 years after his death, the people and musicians of Scotland were most definitely “Keeping Matt McGinn Singing” by organising a number of events and concerts to celebrate his life and music and to keep his values alive.

In January there were 4 Matt McGinn concerts, as part of Celtic Connections and the Celtic Connections Fringe. In February there was one in the Calton, where “McGinn of the Calton” was born, in March the Linlithgow Folk Festival held their 6th Annual Matt McGinn concert, and on 13th April there will be a concert in Rutherglen, where Matt lived for 25 years.

Saturday 27 October at Westwood Parish Church, East Kilbride at 7.30.

Thursday 1 November at Greenock Burns Club the Tontine Hotel.

Saturday 3 November at the Larkhall Swimming and Leisure Centre at 7.30 PM.

These tribute shows by Red Yo Yo to Matt McGinn, are the group’s attempt to ensure
that Matt’s songs are sung and heard by as many people as possible. Although Matt
was at the forefront of the Folk Scene in the Sixties through to his untimely early death
in January 1977 many of the themes of his songs are extremely pertinent to some of
today’s issues.

Matt who wrote over 400 songs was a proud Glaswegian, born in Ross St. near
the Barras. He wrote about many of the things which he thought affected the people,
not only of Glasgow but the wider world. They could be humorous like possibly his
most famous song The Red Yo Yo, about work and politics as in the Ballad of
John McLean, or the wonderful poignant and sad Ibrox Disaster.

Matt McGinn was a genius. He is remembered in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.
for the contribution he made to the World Folk Scene. Surely it is now time for the City of Glasgow to make a permanent memorial to him for the fame and honour he brought to the City. He certainly deserves some form of official recognition.

Red Yo-Yo is a small group that delights in the songs, stories, and poetry of Matt
McGinn. The group consists of John Cassidy who tells the story of Matt’s life,
and Robbie Vennard who plays guitar and sings Matt’s songs.

When available they are assisted by Derek Gillespie playing double bass, and Lawrie
Kennedy playing Bodhran, snare drum, and cymbals.

They present a 2 hour programme in song and pictures entitled,“A Tribute to Matt
McGinn”, for expenses, and any proceeds are donated to a charity of their choice or
to a charity nominated by the organisers of any venue where the show is performed.

Robbie started playing fiddle aged eight but graduated to the guitar because it was more acceptable in the days of Rock n Roll! Like John, he first came across Matt McGinn in the mid sixties during the folk music revival.

He sang & played in many of the Folk clubs of the day where Matt and many other weel kent faces were also performing. He considers that many of Matt’s songs are as fresh and relevant today as they were then, and regrets that there is no-one today who writes the kind of topical songs that Matt did.

Robbie still plays fiddle and also banjo & mandolin, and Derek is trying to teach him to play the
double bass!

Lawrie is a heavy metal rock drummer but some time ago he was blackmailed into playing folk music and the Bodhran.

Lawrie is not his real name but he uses this alias because if it became known what he was playing he would be expelled from the Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Club! He has to continue playing for us since we won’t give him back the negatives!

Robbie - 01294 215457
John - 0141 641 7529