The Gospel According to Mr Niz with the Bevvy Sisters & Soundhouse Choir

Stuart Nisbet (Niz) is well known for his work as Scotland’s first session guitarist, perhaps with China Crisis or the Proclaimers or with Kylie at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

Tonight he presents a personal passion as Joe Nisbet Jr. with The Gospel According to Niz, featuring special guests The Soundhouse Choir and The Bevvy Sisters. The music was made in homage to his father Joe Nisbet, an evangelical preacher with whom he toured across the southern states of America as a child. It ignited a lifelong fascination with the classic sound of the black gospel quintets of the 40s and 50s and the commitment and excitement of that music. It took four days to finish the record, but 30 years to start it. It was the first time he’d sung on a recording.

Stuart and The Bevvy Sisters first worked together in Dick Gaughan’s band a decade ago but it was at a gig only last October that the Sisters first heard Joe Nisbet Jr sing with his trio - Nico Bruce on string bass and Neil Weir on trumpet. They fell in love and tonight’s concert was born.

Heather Macleod, of the Bevvy Sisters is also Director of the 100-strong Soundhouse Choir. The Queen’s Hall extended their endorsement to the community choir in 2017 and have since presented two outstanding performances here. In addition to their contribution to the Gospel tonight, Soundhouse Choir will open the concert by sharing their work so far on a programme of Music from Scotland that they will present at the International Choir Festival in Santiago de Cuba in October this year.

Bringing together these three fabulous elements makes for an uplifting and soul-filled night to remember.

Stuart has been involved closely in the music for the feature film ‘Wild Rose’ with Irish actress Jessie Buckley in the lead role. Sian Monaghan (drums/percussion) who was also involved in the film, is joining the band tonight and they are all going out on tour, including a date at Glastonbury.

Tonight’s’ performance is part of The Queen’s Hall’s Creative Learning and Community Programme and our 40th Anniversary celebrations where we work closely with musicians who have a long standing relationship with The Queen’s Hall.