Based in Leicestershire, Zambian born Robin Auld is a guitarist and singer who incorporates blues, African and country influences into his music. He has released 12 albums and had numerous radio hits in South Africa including two number ones. Robin performs solo at roots acoustic gigs and does electric gigs with a 3 piece line-up, and apart from many tours of his own has opened for acts like Lloyd Cole, Angelique Kidjo , Osibisa, Jackson Browne and Michelle Shocked. He’s performed and recorded in New York, London, Nashville and played events like Womad, the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, Belladrum Tartan Hearts and Cambridge Folk Festival.
Born to Ayrshire Scots parents in Lusaka, Robin's childhood was spent alternating between Southern Africa and Scotland, a state of constant movement reflected in the African and celtic influences in his music. The beach and surfing were the main elements of his early years in Cape Town, and he considered becoming a pro surfer at one stage. A guitarist first, he played as a sideman in various line-ups before starting to write and record his own songs. His first three albums were produced by fellow South African Kevin Shirley, who has credits with Led Zeppelin and Joe Bonnamassa amongst others. He learned to play the guitar by listening to Hendrix, Ry Cooder and Neil Young. Later on he absorbed influences from the various guitarists of Southern Africa such as Louis Mhlanga and Philip Tabane, these influences resulting in the contemporary mix of roots and pop that make up his sound today. Recent years have seen him writing critically acclaimed solo shows of comedy, stories and music with his last, “Only in it for the money”, touring nationally in SA, and a new show, "Hippo in the garden" booking into venues in the UK.
Having released through both major and independents, he now releases through his own label, Free Lunch, which also publishes the novel "Tight Lines", and "Kelp", a collection of poems and short stories which can be found on the litbit page. His solo acoustic shows are energetic and upbeat, featuring his original guitar stylings, bluesy harmonica, humorous asides, soulful vocals and a pounding right foot!
"A genuine and unaffected flowing together of cultural strands..and, unlike a lot of singer-songwriters you can, hell you should, play this loud." Unpeeled UK.
"Sunkissed and generous of melody". Whisperin'and hollerin' Ireland.
"Meltdown, ambient and sublime". Tasty UK.
"Damn fine tunes, go buy it." Iafrica Entertainment, SA.
Also see www.myspace.com/robinauld or find me on iTunes
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