TWO of Scotland’s finest singer/songwriters join forces with their respective bands for an evening of top notch Americana music.

The John Hinshelwood Band and Kathy Stewart and The Frequent Flyers will combine talents as part of Biggar Little Festival at the Crown Inn on Sunday, October 26.

Since settling in the Scottish Borders, New York born Kathy Stewart has delighted audiences and critics alike with her angelic voice and poignant, heartfelt compositions, drawing comparisons with Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith. Her debut release “Celestial Shoes” earned her a five star, CD of the month accolade from Country Music People magazine, and universal acclaim also greeted the release of the follow up “Hope, Tears and Tambourines”, with Maverick calling it “pure gold”.

Kathy is currently working on the, as yet untitled, follow up. Her talents as a writer have also been widely recognised, and a song she wrote with Andy M Stewart, “Donegal Rain” was recorded by country music superstar Vince Gill.

Apart from working with her own band, Kathy has been much in demand as a session singer, and has recorded with artistes such as Dick Gaughan, Silly Wizard, George Hamilton IV, Gerda Stevenson, and Patsy Seddon-Steele.

Over the last three decades Lanarkshire based John Hinshelwood’s finely crafted country influenced songs have earned him a reputation as a writer and singer of distinction.

He has recorded with, among others, ex Byrd Gene Parsons and legendary Scottish songwriter Rab Noakes, and shared a stage with many distinguished performers including Roger McGuinn, Tim O’Brien, Martin Simpson and Darrell Scott.

His three CD releases “Holler til Dawn”, “Shattered Pleasures” and this years’ “Lowering the Tone” have all received widespread critical acclaim, with the latter described by influential publication Maverick as “ a superb album of beautifully crafted songs”. A track from it, “What’s Left is What’s Right”, reached number 4 in the European Independent Country Music chart.

John and Kathy are also part of country-rock band The City Sinners, who appeared at Biggar Little Festival in 2012.

Tickets for the gig are £8 and further information is available from www.littleroots.com