Raintown to perform for 'home audience'

The duo – Paul Bain and Claire McArthur – will take to the stage on Sunday, August 15, sharing a bill with Dougie MacLean and a number of up-and-coming acts.

"We will play a selection of songs from our forthcoming album, as well as our single and a few covers," said Claire.

Paul added:"It's good to play for a 'home audience' as we will give people who maybe haven't had a chance to hear us. We're hoping it'll be a nice day and lots of people bring their kids. We also have a few 'groupies' who follow us around and see us regularly, some have even been talking about how they're going to handle 'this America thing'!"

"Because we do have some people who see us frequently it's important not to just do the same things the same way at every gig. We need to be fresh, maybe change our arrangements a little."

Raintown have just completed a media tour spanning most of the UK, which included several radio interviews and press appearances.

"There's a fair bit of buzz going on at the moment," said Paul. "We've been getting played on a number of radio stations in the UK and futher afield. "A friend recently emailed to say we'd been played on the main breakfast show in New Zealand – we've no idea how that came about!"

"The tour helped us get our name about and meet several of the movers and shakers on the British country and Western scene," said Paul.

The couple, who have performed as Raintown for the past three years, are also planning a second trip to Nashville, the home of country and western music, where they will be performing at Cadillac Ranch neighbouring the famous Sky Lounge during the CMA Awards weekend.

Certainly they are not short of ambition. "Our goal is to be the number one European pop/ country act and go to the States following success in the major territories outside the US. We want to prove we can sell records and tickets," said Paul.

Raintown's single, Just One Kiss, went on general release at all major download services a week ago and sales have been very encouraging.

"It proves there is a UK market for our kind of music," said Paul.