(band history)

 

Originally formed from the remnants of a punk band and an alternative rock band.

 

Frank and  Stevie, having formed  the band "Paradise So Far"  met Bob, a sax player with the then recently defunct band  "Abandon Your Head"......... while "oot buskin" in Glasgow and invited him to "spark up"  (sit in for a few numbers).

With band roots reaching back to the 1960's, what was eventually to become the Raggle Taggle Gypsies then evolved through various pop/ folk/ rock, mainly accoustic busking formats.

 

The Flying Headband... Mr Rhythm...Children of the Universe being some of the bands formed along the way.

 

Frank & Stevie moved from punk to a more melodic pop/rock sound with their band "Paradise So Far"  taking influences from bands such as U2, Simple Minds, and David Bowie while still retaining an  inate connection with their  roots, music being so much a part of the Glasgow way of life.

Growing up and listening to the songs of Matt McGinn, Hamish Imlach & Eric Bogle, Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, plus all that great Irish & Scottish  music from bands such as The Dubliners, Planxty , The Pogues and The Waterboys, has been a great musical heritage for the boys.

 

The Raggle Taggles gradually replaced busking the streets of Glasgow during the 1980's (many tales to tell)..... with gigs in many & varied hostelries throughout  Scotland, including festival gigs, weddings and charity events.

 

After venturing to the continent several times in the early 90's, touring across Holland, Germany, Poland and a 30 date whistle stop tour of Sweden, the Raggle Taggle Gypsies were invited to appear at the Arran Folk Festival in 1994.

 

During this time the band enjoyed a period of some success and recognition with various press articles and features covering the bands activities.

This wave of publicity was generated not least as a result of the attentions of  Danny Kyle, Glasgow's "Godfather of Folk" (now sadly deceased) who showed a great interest in the the band and was influential in the Raggles securing a respected reputation within the Scottish folk scene.