Rock, Salt & Nails

Rock, Salt and Nail may be the most exciting band to emerge from the Shetland Islands, off the coast of Scotland. Led by guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Paul Johnston, the band combines the musical traditions of their homeland with the intense drive of contemporary music. The group's sound was described by BBC Scotland announcer Tom Morton as "an astonishing vibrant mix of traditional tunes, contemporary songwriting, and blazing instrumental brilliance -- acoustic music rooted in Shetland but with the energy, intelligence, and fire to take on the world." Morton's view of the group was reinforced by www.lismor.co.uk, which described the band's repertoire as "Shetland-bluegrass fusion, jigs, reels, and hillybilly hoedowns, which smack you right between the lungs." Although it was formed, according to Johnston, as an excuse to party, Rock, Salt and Nails has continued to attract new fans with its turbo-charged music. Their performance at the Shetland Folk Festival, shortly after their inception, transformed them into one of Scotland's best-loved new bands. A veteran of numerous bands in Edinburgh and a qualified architect, Johnston is joined by his wife, Fiona, on keyboards and vocals, John Clark on bass, Russell Gair on drums, and Magnus Johnston (no relation) on fiddle. Releasing their debut album, Waves, in late 1993, Rock, Salt and Nails embarked on a 30-plus date tour of the U.K. the following year.
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