Our Song of the Day is from the seven-piece band Police Dog Hogan whose chronicles are occasionally featured by Guardian journalist Tim Dowling who plays banjo in the band as well as contributing to the songs of main writer and vocalist James Studholme. Our Song of the Day is finely crafted emotive song and musically is far removed from their usual high-energy fusion of country, folk music and bluegrass.
Fraserburgh Train is their new single which will be released on June 6, 2014 to mark the forthcoming 70th anniversary of D-Day. The song tells the story from the viewpoint of an unnamed Scottish soldier “The youngest of Lord Lovat’s brigade” who is seasick, terrified and longing for home.
When 1 special service brigade landed on D-Day, only one soldier on sword beach, indeed in the whole invasionary force, was wearing a kilt: Bill Millin, personal piper to commander Simon Fraser, the 15th Lord Lovat.
On the grounds that English war office regulations did not apply to Scotsmen, lord Lovat defied a ban on deploying bagpipes in combat and ordered his piper to play. While his comrades fell all round him, Millin stood and played “Hielan’ Laddie” and “The Road To Isles.” Only later did he discover that the German snipers were reluctant to shoot him for fear of wasting a bullet on a madman.
The video was directed by Noah Harris
Live Dates
Thursday 26 June 2014
The Half Moon, London
Friday 27 June 2014
Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Tewskesbury
Sunday 3 August 2014
Frinton Summer Theatre, Frinton
Saturday 14 June 2014
The Union Chapel, London
Saturday 21 June 2014
Watercombe Music Festival, Dorchester
Friday 4 July 2014
Maverick Festival
Saturday 26 July 2014
Deer Shed Festival