Ruby Blue

A folk-pop group from Edinburgh, Scotland, Ruby Blue was formed in 1986 by dilemma pupil Rebecca Pidgeon (b 1963, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; vocals) and Roger Fife (b 1963; electric guitar/bass). Adding Anthony Coote (bass) and Erika Spotswood (support vocals), the group released “Provide Us Our Flag Back again” on indie label Red Fire in 1987. The debut record was an enterprising mixture of folk, blues, jazz and pop with Pidgeon’s crystal-clear performing bringing comparisons using the past due Sandy Denny. Adding a drummer (Chris Buck, changed in 1990 by Karlos Edwards) Ruby Blue created an electric audio for concert events and gained interest helping John Martyn. Pidgeon also pursued an effective acting career, showing up at the Country wide Theater in London and in the film The Dawning. Both Anthony Coote and Rebecca Pidgeon departed by the end of 1990, pursuing her marriage towards the playwright David Mamet. Her substitute was Erika Woods (Spotswood); who took over business lead vocals using a music group that was still struggling to find commercial achievement, which belies their considerable skill as authors and performers.