Jill set for album launch

Feb 25 2011 by Andy Newport, Paisley Daily Express

ROCK chick Jill Jackson will follow in the footsteps of fellow Buddie Paolo Nutini this weekend by staging a singalong session at a popular Paisley record store.

The former Speedway singer released her second solo album on Wednesday and will now give her loyal fans the chance to get up close and personal with an album-signing get-together at Apollo Records, in Causeyside Street, tomorrow afternoon.

Jill, 32, will perform a number of hits from her new LP, Back to Zero, and will also take time to chat to fans about her latest compositions.

Her performance at Apollo Records comes five years after a fresh-faced Paolo launched his arrival on the music scene with a packed-out in-store concert, organised by the store’s owner, Mike Dillon.

Now Mike, who is also a local Lib Dem councillor, is looking forward to another bumper crowd ploughing through his doors as fans look to meet Foxbar girl Jill and get hold of her new tunes.

He said: “We have supported Jill ever since she was in Speedway and I think she is an amazing talent.

“She is a genuine star. I went to see her at Paisley Arts Centre about a year ago and I was stunned by her guitar playing.

“Forget your X Factor rubbish, Jill really does have something special.

“We have always supported local acts like Paolo and a few others and watched them go on to bigger things. Now I just hope this is a stepping stone to bigger things for Jill.

“She definitely deserves to perform on a bigger platform. I heard that she did a tour with Glasvegas recently and, in some of the places they played, she went down better than the band.”

Mike added: “People will always recognise real talent and that’s what she is.

“Jill is just another in the endless line of talented people to come from Paisley.”

The sing-along session takes place at Apollo Records tomorrow at 1pm.