Guitarist

Derek Young

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About Derek

Professional musician, singer and guitarist. Irish and Scottish Folk, Country, Americana. 60s and 70s Acoustic.
Derek Young's profile picture
Guitarist
Dundee
Public liability insurance of £5 million

Derek has amassed a strong repertoire of songs, both contemporary and traditional Scottish, Irish, Country and Folk music. Derek started his musical career as a solo artist in Edinburgh before forming the Celtic folk band 'Plastic Shamrock'. He was a member of Scottish folk band 'Tipsy Laird' and a founding member of the Scottish and Irish folk group Dec' n' Eck. He has returned to solo performing throughout the UK although he still performs occasionally with 'Eck'. Derek undertakes public and corporate events and has performed at venues as diverse as the opening of a new Brewery in the Scottish Highlands or an airport in the Windward Islands. Derek has performed at beer festivals, St Andrews nights, St Patrick's Day parties, Burns nights, etc. Derek is currently based in central Scotland but happily performs throughout the UK.

Encore badges
5th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 5 years
Musicianship
Genres:
Traditional Irish folk, Folk, Americana, Vintage, Acoustic, Country, Traditional Scottish folk
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Instruments:
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Event types:
Bar / Club / Venue event, Wedding, Hotel / Restaurant event, Corporate event, Burns night, Christmas party, New Year's Eve, Charity event, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Private event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Birthday party
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Derek's Song list

IRISH
Green And Red Of Mayo
I'm Missing You
Only Our Rivers Run Free
Rambling Rover
Mountain Dew
I'll Tell Me Ma
Leaving of Liverpool
Black Is The Colour
Tramps And Hawkers
City of Chicago
Star of the County Down
Bang on the Ear
Spancill Hill
Green Fields Of France
Back Home In Derry
The Town That I Loved So Well
Galway Girl
Whiskey In The Jar
Wagon Wheel
Fishermans Blues
Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Viva La Quinta Brigada
Ride On
Carrickfergus
Cousin Jack
Las Vegas In The Hills Of Donegal
Galway Shawl
Black Velvet Band
Dreamers And Believers
Boat to Liverpool
This Is My Homeland
Dirty Old Town
Fairytale Of New York
Ordinary Man
Brown Eyed Girl
McAlpines Fusiliers
The Irish Rover
Fields Of Athenry
The Wild Rover
Sonny's Dream
Four Green Fields
The Ferryman
Streets Of New York
Red Rose Cafe
McIlhattan
The Boston Rose
Red Is The Rose
The Holy Ground
Clare To Here
Morning Sun And Memories
Streets Of London
The Galway Farmer
Raglan Road
Isle Of Hope
Beeswing
Own Ones
Rare Old Times
The Voyage
The Old Triangle
Nancy Spain
I Used To Love Her
Spanish Lady
Bright Blue Rose
Lakes Of Ponchatrain
Have I told You Lately
It Stoned Me
Flight Of Earls
Strange Boat
I Don't Mind
SCOTTISH
Walking On The Waves
Caledonia
Shelter From The Storm
Wild Mountain Thyme
Take Me Out drinking Tonight
A Mans A man For A' That
Aye Fond Kiss
Bonnie Dundee
Johnny Cope
Killicrankie
McPhersons Rant
The Diamond
Green Grow The Rashes O'
Road and Miles
Twa Recruiting Sergeants
Wha Widn'a Fecht For Charlie
Ye Jacobites
Dark Lochnagar
Westering Home
The Rose Of Allandale
Bonnie Lass O' Fyvie O'
Peggy Gordon
Mangily Boat Song
Scots Wha' Hae'
Glencoe
Shoals Of Herring
Scottish Soldier
This Land
Barnyards Of Dalgetty
Beaches Of St Valery
Jamie Foyers
D-Day Dodgers
Farewell To Sicily
Patriots Heart
Bonnie Scotland
Scotland The Brave
Parcel O' Rogues
These Are My Mountains
Now I'm Easy
Singing The Spirit Home
In Search of Angels
Schiehallion
The Burghead Sands
Men O' The Rigs
1320
Come By The Hills
The Laughs O' Cromdale
I Will Go
Liverpool Judies
Westlin Winds
Maries wedding
Loch Lomond
Jock Stewart
Loch Tay Boat Song
Skyscraper Wean
Freedom Come All Ye
Hermless
Flower Of Scotland
The Lea Rig
500 Miles
Dundee Swing
Auld Lang Syne
Smugglers road
Lads O' The Fair
King And Country
Only The Brave
Every River
Precious Years
Scotland Forever
Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
Calling Doon The Line
The Dawning O' The Day
Dark Island
Freedoms Dream
Come By The Hills
Tom Paines Bones
Both Sides The Tweed
Cairn O' Mount
The Queen O' Argyll
Gently Does It
The Kings Shilling
COUNTRY
Country Roads
Rocky Mountain High
Always On My Mind
Leaving On A Jet Plane
If Tomorrow Never Comes
Ruby
Take It Easy
Fire And Rain
Bobby McGee
Copperhead Road
Sunday Morning Coming Down
Loving Her Was Easier
Don't Let Your Sons Grow Up To Be Cowboys
Already Gone
Mexico
Lucille
Gulf Coast Highway
The Highwayman
My Old Friend The Blues
Help Me Make It Through The Night
Rhinestone Cowboy
Ring Of Fire
The Gambler
Desperado
Lying Eyes
Peaceful Easy Feeling
Sweet Baby James
Carolina In My Mind
Lovers Cross
Most Beautiful Girl In The world
King Of The Road
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
City Of New Orleans
Trouble In The Fields
The Crystal Chandelier
Blanket On The Ground
Gypsy Woman
Radio
The Lucky One
Everything That Glitters Is Not Gold
May The Road Rise To Meet You
She Still Thinks I Care
Shattered Cross
Hopkinsville
One Day At A Time
Walking On The Moon
Banks Of The Ohio
Sweet Old World
You Made it Right
Hard Times
Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness
Send Me The Pillow
Keep On The Sunny Side
Honky Tonk Angel
Early Morning Rain
8 By 10
Sea Of Heartbreak
It Never Rains In California
The Rose
Pancho And Lefty
Leroy Brown
Thunder Road
Midnight Train To Memphis
Much To Young
Seminole Wind
Ghosts Of Mississippi
Man Of Constant Sorrow
Amanda
Galway Girl
The Alamo
Your Cheatin Heart
Hotel California
On The Road Again
Crazy
Let Me Be There
Without Love
Seven Spanish Angels
World Of Our own
Carnival Is Over
This Old Guitar
Mulenburg County
Tennessee Whiskey
Where Rainbows Never Die
The Chase
The Messenger
Freedom Line
60s AND 70s
Heart Of Saturday Night
Who Needs Tonight
Homeward Bound
Where Do You Go To My Lovely
King Of The Swingers
Only Living Boy In New York
Mr Bojangles
Love Hurts
I'm a Believer
Let It Be
Me And Julio
Slip Sliding Away
Lady Eleanor
Under The Boardwalk
Stand By Me
Every Breath You Take
Wonderful World
Father And Son
Amarillo
24 Hours To Tulsa
Can't Buy Me Love
Daydream Believer
Bad Moon Rising
Lean On Me
Saw Her Standing There
Midnight In Harlem
Drift Away
Stuck In The Middle With you
Summer Of 69
Come Up And See Me
Aint No Sunshine
Midnight Train To Georgia
No Woman no Cry
First Cut Is The Deepest
Before You Accuse Me
Fields Of Gold
Flip, Flop, Fly
Unchain My Heart
A Little Help From My Friends
Sweet Home Chicago
Dock Of The Bay
Dance The Night Away
Fireball XL5
Moondance
Stay Young
Let It Grow
When I'm Dead And Gone
The Mighty Quinn
Heart On My Sleeve
I Wanna Stay With You
Tears In Heaven
Breakaway
Wide Eyed And Legless
Tennessee Whiskey
In The Arms Of Mary
Can't Find My way Home
Only Want To Be With You
Always the Last To Know
Wonderful Tonight
Suspicious Minds
Bye Bye Love
Willie And The Hand Jive
If You Could Read My Mind
Hollywood Nights
Old Time rock And roll
Rocking In The Free World
Old Man
Simple Twist Of Fate
Maggie May
When You Say Nothing At All
You Raise Me Up
Stay With Me
Yesterday
You Wear It Well
Have You Seen The Rain
Lay Down Sally
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Layla
Sylvia Mother
I Shot The Sheriff
After Midnight
Like A Rolling Stone
Beautiful Noise
If Not For You
The Joker
Cotton Fields
Hey Jude
I Shall Be Released
Easy Chair
Chimes At Midnight
Wise Men Say
My Baby Wrote Me A Letter
San Francisco Blues
Mrs Robinson
The Boxer
Don't Think Twice
The Weight
Wish You Were Here
One Love
Sound Of Silence
Come Together
Customer questions

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

Let me know and I will adjust to suit. If it is the same day then there really is no problem. A problem would only arise if the date had to be changed. There's always a work round.

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

Not yet. It's something I'm working on. I don't take long breaks - I find that you lose the "momentum" in the audience so I tend to keep breaks to a minimum. If it's a two hour gig more often than not I will just play right through. If it's a three hour gig I will just pause for a couple of minutes to refuel.

How much time do you need to set up?

Depends on the venue but usually 30-40 minutes. I usually try to get to the venue an hour ahead of time.

Can I pick the songs you play from the set list?

Yes. Happy to chat and go through the playlist with you. It's your event so you need to be happy with the music.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes. Totally self contained. I have PA equipment to suit a wide variety of venues. Just need a power point.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

Yes, if there is enough time. Happy to discuss this with clients. If it is a wedding I am happy to learn the brides favourite song, or any other special song for the occasion.

What do your clients love most about your performances?

Flexibility, the willingness to learn new songs and tunes for the occasion. Willingness to perform in a wide range of locations. It's your event so I'm happy to gear my performance to suit you.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Hootananies: Inverness Clathaig Hotel: Glencoe The Kitchin: Edinburgh O'Neils: Dundee, Aberdeen and Stirling Scruffy Murphy's: Perth Mucky Mulligans: Glasgow Airthley Castle: Corporate events Triple Kirk: Aberdeen Stirling University: Staff events Dundee Sailing Club: Burns night and summer BBQs

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Dylan, Neil Young, Pete St John, Paul Simon, Steve Goodman, Kris Kristoferson, Steeldrivers, Crosby, Stills and Nash, the Dubliners, the Corries, Goats Don't Shave, Whistlin Donkeys, John Prine, Steve Earl, Bob Travis, Daryl Scott, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zanzt, Waterboys, Christy Moore, Eric Bibb, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Tommy Emanuel.

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

Once performed for The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) regiment - everyone wearing combat uniforms, a bit surreal. Also performed in an airport departure lounge on St Eustatius in the Windward Islands, again a bit surreal.

Derek's Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£250
Up to 1 hour£250
Up to 2 hours£250
Up to 3 hours£250

Derek's Reviews

From customers:

AT
Alan E
5 years ago

I wanted to say thank you for being part of our wedding day and playing for us at The Kitchin on Thursday 20th June. All the way through from when I first contacted you, you were helpful and open to what I was trying to do, even when I didn't really know myself. It worked out perfectly, and Gemma was so happy. The fact that everyone else then joined in to dance and the sun shone added to the enjoyment. Thanks again for being so flexible and for adding to the memories that people will keep with them.

RA
Royal W
6 years ago

Derek gave us a fantastic Irish night to open our gala week and closed the week with an equally fantastic Scottish night. Both nights were a great success. Derek has been back since and never fails to put on a good night.

Read all 3 reviews