Under the Radar: Jonnie Wallace

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Formerly a drummer, Jonnie Wallace has ditched his sticks and reinvented himself as a singer-songwriter. Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon approve of the move

Jonnie Wallace first came to our attention as the drummer for teenage sixties revivalists Ayakara, who built a decent following in their native Edinburgh before disbanding in 2018. Since then, he has moved from his kit to assume frontman duties, carving out a niche as a singer-songwriter with a penchant for confessional lyrics.

Earlier this year his weekly streamed shows were clocking up several thousand views each, before he took a break to prepare for his next single release, I Talk Too Much. A reflection on a date which didn’t quite live up to expectations, it came out on Friday and was accompanied by a performance on Facebook Live. A music video recorded on a roof terrace overlooking Leith is set to follow on 28 November.

In keeping with his ethos of keeping busy, next month will see Wallace pre-record a live show at Galashiels’ Mac Arts, which will be aired on emerging music platform, Underground Sounds. For updates visit www.facebook.com/jonniewallacemusic

Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run the Born To Be Wide music industry seminar and social events. For more information visit www.borntobewide.co.uk

Un-Convention is a community interest company creating conferences, gigs and events for the makers and champions of independent music. Over the past 12 years, Un-Convention has hosted 105 events in 10 countries helping to develop artists, establish co-operatives, labels and launch revolutionary live music touring model Off Axis. Un-Convention is the UK partner for JUMP, a pan-European network of conferences and festivals, visit https://www.unconventionhub.org/

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