30 : 4 : 16
'Wide Days' Attracts Record Numbers - see p12 Songs of Separation - p3 :: East & Mid Lothian Youth Opportunities - p4 :: Students play King Tuts - p8
Dundee Musicians' Award Scheme
Grant Applications Now Open
Apply now @ www.leisureandculturedundee.com/culture/music-development-dundee
Applications are now being invited for the Dundee Musician’s Award 2016, with grants of up to a maximum of £500 being available. The Dundee Musicians' Award is staged by Leisure & Culture Dundee. The Award was established in 2008 to support the work of outstanding Dundee-based musicians by awarding grants towards the costs involved in creating new work in any genre, research and professional development.
Fat Goth : by David Yow
2015 Dundee Musicians' Award recipients included the critically acclaimed three piece rock band, Fat Goth, who put the award towards the production and promotion of their fourth album. Other award winners were Cantiones Sacrae, a vocal ensemble, Inkomega, a DJ producer who produces electronic songs with a melodic and tribal-infused touch and Jonny Jewell, a highly visual band who design their own artwork.
The Award support projects that look at creative development through collaborations, working with new partners, or new producers. There does not have to be a recording or gig at the end of the process: the creative process is valid enough. Support will be for applications that will stimulate fresh and innovative work, and to give musicians time to experiment and explore. You can also apply to attend industry showcases or network events.
Past winners include: The Hazey Janes, The Mirror Trap, Fat Goth, Scary People, and AMWWF All applications are considered by the Dundee Musicians' Award panel. The panel help us achieve a broader perspective and may be a mix of musicians and other industry and arts sector professionals. The panel is supported by the DMA Administrator who is a Music Development Officer with Leisure and Culture Dundee Closing date for applications is Friday 29 July 2016. For further information contact: dma@leisureandculturedundee.com or phone 01382 434111. You can download an application form at the weblink at the top of the page. www.facebook.com/MusicDevelopmentDundee
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www.tracscotland.org/tradfest
· · · · ·
Musical Theatre Festivals Concerts Tours Album Releases
Make your music headline news with Deborah Welsh Commercial Media Specialist PR and publicity consultant based in Scotland
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Songs of Separation with special guests Songs of Separation is an outstanding collaboration between ten of Scotland and England’s leading female folk musicians.
Devised and recorded in just six days on the Isle of Eigg, the musicians' album explores the rich heritage of the two countries, drawing on their respective and collective musical experiences and crafting something both new and special. The album was released in January, to exceptional reviews, and had a sell-out tour. There is now a rare opportunity to see the full line up, joined by some very special (very small) guests. It will be the collective's last Scottish date in 2016.
Their new challenge! Songs of Separation members have set out to do a gig which includes up to 100 young people from schools across Edinburgh (and further afield). They are holding a workshop for young people and their parents/carers, prior to the concert, and then involve young people (P3 to P7) in the stage show.
Karine Polwart and Rowan Rheingans at Celtic Connections :
by Sean Purser
photo
The workshop is on the afternoon of Monday 23 May (an Edinburgh holiday), with a gig in the evening.
GIGnotes ..... Songs of Separation - 21 May: Dumfries and Galloway Festival (as part of the ‘Beyond Borders’ tour) / 23 May: Edinburgh Queens Hall (with young people’s workshop) / 5 June: Festival of Voice, Cardiff (with special guests, including Julie Fowlis) / 30 July: Cambridge Folk Festival / 9 September: Kings Place, London. See website below for full details of all the concerts and workshop. www.songsofseparation.co.uk
www.facebook.com/songsofseparation
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Songs of Separation at Celtic Connections 2016 : photo by Sean Purser
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WHAT'S
HOT
EDDI READER
from the latest releases to reach us ....
www.eddireader.com Featuring material from across Eddi’s prestigious 30 year recording career, it includes the acoustic pop of 1988's Perfect (Fairground Attraction), up to her 2015 versions of Moon River and Amy Winehouse’s Love Is A Losing Game
music news scotland
Supported by Creative Scotland, Lamp House Music announce Free ‘One Step Beyond’ music project for 16-25 year olds Lamp House Music – the acclaimed music school and rehearsal studios based in the East Lothian market town of Haddington – is delighted to announce their new project ‘One Step Beyond’ which offers free places for youth music bands and solo artists, ages 16-25, based in East Lothian and Midlothian.
DROPKICK
‘One Step Beyond’ will run in July/August 2016 and aims to enhance participants’ knowledge and experience of the music industry whilst assisting them with the next step in their music careers. Applications are now open.
www.dropkickmusic.co.uk
CLAIRE HASTINGS
'Balance the Light' is Dropkick's most varied collection of songs, showcasing their unique harmony-driven alt. country powerpop. “.....blending almost equal parts alternative, indie-pop, folk and country.” - Maverick Magazine
www.clairehastings.com Whether Claire is singing in the tradition, about her home, sharing life experiences or interpreting the works of Robert Burns and William Douglas, there’s an enduring sense of beauty, in both vocals and music." - Folkwords
Lamp House Music’s ‘One Step Beyond’ will provide the opportunity for up to 50 young people to work with music industry experts, completely free. Each band/artist involved will: rehearse at Lamp House Music in Haddington; record two songs in professional recording studio The Sound Café in Loanhead; plus take part in various music industry workshops - including a music marketing & branding session to include professionally produced photographs and band logo, to form part of a bespoke press pack for bands/artists to use alongside their completed tracks as a valuable promotional tool to support their future musical careers.
in which young people can access it as a professional or career aspiration. Callum Maguire, Education Manager at Lamp House Music, said, “Lamp House Music are delighted to be supported by Creative Scotland to deliver ‘One Step Beyond’ – an exciting multipartnership project which offers an incredible, insightful and valuable experience for youth bands and solo performers. With the aim of significantly enhancing participants’ musical, professional and personal development, ‘One Step Beyond’ will equip young people with the confidence, knowledge and practical promotional tools necessary for the next step in their music careers.”
As part of this ambitious project, Lamp House Music will be working with several partners - involving students from Edinburgh College, providing valuable At the end of the project, participating bands and experience working in a professional creative artists will perform in a live showcase to an industry context, and also working alongside East invitation-only audience which will include several Lothian Council, ELjam (East Lothian Youth Music renowned music industry professionals who will be Forum), Midlothian Council plus high schools offering advice and feedback to all of the performers. throughout East and Mid Lothian to recruit bands and young artists for the project. In the afternoon, following the live showcase there is an open invitation to any young person interested in To apply, bands/artists must complete a short music to come along to a final music industry application form available online or from Lamp House workshop. This will see a panel of experts discuss Music. The deadline date for all applications is Friday the current Scottish music scene and the best ways 3 June 2016.
DEADLY INSCRIPTION
‘One Step Beyond’ is supported by Creative Scotland Youth Music Initiative – Access to Music Making Programme - £16,520. Lamp House Music opened in April 2012. Based in an original Victorian railway building – ‘The Lamp House’ is set in Station Yard, Hospital Road, Haddington. The Music School previously received support from Creative Scotland in the delivery of ‘Music Schools for All’ in 2013-2014 and the ‘Moving on Up’ project in 2015. www.deadlyinscription.com
'A Testament to Sin' is mined from the dark depths of 10 years hard graft by Paisley's melodic metalcore band Deadly Inscription, with a freshness created by the new line-up in the last year. MNS loves this. PLAY IT LOUD!!
THINK YOUR NEW RELEASE IS GOOD ENOUGH TO APPEAR HERE? To be considered for our 'What's Hot' spot send your new album/ep/single to: MNS Top 4, MUSIC NEWS Scotland Romar House, Birgham, Berwickshire. TD12 4NF
Lamp House Music offer high quality but affordable music lessons taught by music tutors chosen for their enthusiasm, friendliness and expertise. Lessons can be taken as part of a group or alternatively one to one tuition can be organised. Having recently celebrated it’s 4th birthday, Lamp House Music is now open 7 days a week to meet customer demand for their lessons. The music facility also offer fully equipped rehearsal studios for professional and amateur bands, weeklong music schools, holiday activities and pop parties. Lamp House Music, ‘The Lamp House’, Station Yard, Hospital Road, Haddington,EH41 3PP
More information can be found at www.lamphousemusic.co.uk/one-step-beyond or by calling 01620 825630.
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music news scotland
SCOTTISH MUSIC CENTRE
............
member profile : Tommy Smith "The Scottish Music Centre's task is to champion the wealth of talent that abounds in Scotland's musical community"
SMC member Tommy Smith (b.1967) is a leading light in European jazz, first and foremost as one of the finest saxophonists of his generation, and latterly as the founder and current director of The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO). These career-defining achievements are framed by his status as an international recording artist; a composer and arranger of extraordinary ambition; and not least, as a jazz educator. His prolific career began in earnest when, aged only sixteen, he recorded his first album Giant Strides. He was rewarded with a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, an experience that has shaped his affirmative approach to jazz. Since then, he has made twenty-six solo albums as a leader for Blue Note, Linn and his own label Spartacus Records. Smith has also earned the regard, support and friendship of the many respected jazz figures with whom he has collaborated and created great jazz. They include, but are not limited to, Gary Burton, Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette, Kenny, Barron, Arild Andersen, John Scofield and Trilok Gurtu. His tenure with the SNJO has seen critically acclaimed performances and recordings of programmed and commissioned works including hugely popular treatments of Ellington, Gershwin, Weather Report and Miles Davis. Tommy Smith is also founder/director of The Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra and is current Artistic Director of the first ever full-time jazz course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He also holds three honorary doctorates from Heriot-Watt, Glasgow Caledonian & Edinburgh Universities and a Professorship from the RCS. His latest album KARMA won him his seventh Scottish Jazz Award for album of the year in 2012. Tommy Smith is a D’Addario Performing Artist and performs exclusively on Select Jazz reeds. Upcoming performances include Tommy Smith directing the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra performing The Music of Dave Brubeck on Friday 29 April at The Queens Hall in Edinburgh, Saturday 30 April at Sage Gateshead [as part of International Jazz Day], and Sunday 1 May at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The following weekend, the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra perform on Saturday 7 May at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in the City Of Music Studio and Sunday 8 May in Edinburgh in The Studio in the Festival Theatre. www.scottishmusiccentre.com/tommy-smith/
www.tsyjo.com
www.tommy-smith.co.uk
www.scottishmusiccentre.com : https://twitter.com/scottishmusic : www.facebook.com/scottishmusiccentre The Scottish Music Centre currently supports in excess of 100 composer, group/small business and corporate members. Offering a wealth of advantages, initiatives include the bi-monthly Composers' Digest and Exposed Melodies podcast series, regular networking events and notification of valuable opportunities, extensive publicity and increased correspondence with national companies, chamber ensembles, soloists and festivals.
For further information, please contact 0141 552 5222 or visit: www.scottishmusiccentre.com
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music news scotland
the mns collection ….
New College Lanarkshire Music students to showcase their talent at Glasgow’s iconic King Tut’s Students from New College Lanarkshire’s popular HND Music course will showcase their considerable talent at what promises to be a dynamic evening of entertainment in Glasgow’s iconic King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut on 20 May. This year’s HND Music Showcase features four bands put together to demonstrate the growing skills and abilities of the 18 students as they prepare to launch themselves into the fiercely competitive music industry. The bands - CURAHO, VALVES, Passenger People and Electric Funk – will perform new material written as part of their course work over the past three years and covering a range of music genres from rock, pop and indie to jazz and funk and country. Each band will perform 30 minute sets in the venue which regularly hosts some of the most promising up-and-coming acts in the UK and is famous as being the place where 90s rock giants Oasis were talent-spotted. The promising potential of this year’s Showcase performers has already come to the notice of industry observers. New College Lanarkshire Higher National (HN) level Music students were Highly Commended at the 2015 World Skills UK competition final in Birmingham’s NEC arena – the only Scottish band to enter the competition.
after winning Channel 4’s talent show Orange UnsignedAct in January 2009. His first single "Gimme A Call" reached number 14 in the UK Singles Chart in its first week of release and more recently, he was nominated in the composer category of the BAFTA Scotland New Talent Awards 2016. Darren Paramasivan, Curriculum and Quality Leader: Music and Sound Production at New College Lanarkshire, said: “The Showcase is now in its fifth year at King Tut’s and it’s proving to be a highlight of the year for students as well as audiences looking to tap in to Scotland’s new and emerging contemporary music talent.
Key to the success of the course are lecturing staff who have worked in the music industry. “It’s quite something for people at the start of their career to be given the chance to Lecturer Yvonne Tipping – known to fans perform in public in a venue so closely and friends as Tippi – was lead singer/rhythm associated with some of the industry’s greats. guitarist for all-girl Glasgow rock band The New College Lanarkshire has a great Hedrons who have toured internationally and reputation for nurturing musical ability and have been special guest openers for bands we hope people will come along to hear just such as The Sex Pistols, Rolling Stones and how good out students are.” 90s grunge sensations Alice in Chains. As a Courtney O’Neill from Coatbridge, one of solo artist, Tippi has also toured with Paul the performers on May 20, said: “To Weller, and supported Iggy Pop, James, Taylor, Tom Jones, Lionel Ritchie, Joe Walsh showcase all of the hard work we have undertaken in one of the best venues in the and is currently doing backing vocals for country, and knowing we are doing this as critically acclaimed duo Hue and Cry. part of a college course makes us feel very Another lecturer, 27-year-old Tommy Reilly privileged. “We’ve learned so much and is a singer/songwriter who gained attention taken a lot of confidence everywhere we have performed. This will undoubtedly be a great Tommy Reilly end to an amazing time at New College Lanarkshire.” Tickets are £5 and are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk The event – which starts at 8.30pm - will be broadcast live over New College Lanarkshire’s student radio station Radio Active Scotland www.radioactivescotland.com
View all the MNS digital publications from links at www.musicnewsscotland.wordpress.com
To find out more about New College Lanarkshire’s full range of Music, Sound Production and Radio Broadcasting courses visit the website below.
www.nclanarkshire.ac.uk
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page 9
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Hùb And Hàb Get In Tune With Gaelic Nurseries Over tha past week Fèisean nan Gàidheal has been touring a new Gaelic play aimed at children in their early years. ‘Hùb Hàb air Ghleus’ (Hùb Hàb in Tune) is based on the theme of music and song which is explored through the friendship of the characters Hùb and Hàb. During the play these characters help each other to discover their own musical gifts. Actors MJ Deans (Hùb) and Iain Beggs (Hàb) are touring the play, visiting Gaelic nurseries and schools in East Kilbride, Kilmarnock, Cumbernauld, Bishopbriggs, Greenock, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The five-day tour started at Mount Cameron Primary Gaelic Nursery in East Kilbride and the final performance was at the Glasgow Gaelic School nursery. The play is aimed at the 3-5 year age group but is also suitable for young primary school children. At some of the performances, primary one and primary two pupils from the attached Gaelic medium school also attended. ‘Hùb Hàb air Ghleus’ was written and directed by Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Drama Officer Angus Macleod, with additional musical support from Gaelic singer Kirsteen Graham and Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Fèisgoil Manager, Eilidh Mackenzie, who also wrote some of the song material specifically for the play. Fèisean nan Gàidheal is very grateful for the funding provided by Bòrd na and other plays in the future. Fèisean nan Gàidheal will endeavour to accommodate the needs of these formal and informal education early Gàidhlig to deliver its existing drama service and to develop and deliver years groups in the coming months.” new drama projects for early years age groups. Angus Macleod said: “We plan to further develop early years Gaelic drama provision and provide access to age appropriate language-rich theatre-style performances for the wider pre-school sector. There are many community based Gaelic playgroups and parent and toddler groups in the area that would benefit from the opportunity to access this play
www.feisean.org/en/hub-hab-get-tune-gaelic-nurseries/
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music news scotland
Wide Days Enjoys Record Attendance This year’s Wide Days music convention attracted a record 250 delegates (up 25% from 2015) and saw almost 1,000 registrations for the free showcase programme, which featured a majority of female-fronted acts.
representatives from RISE, the Scottish Conservatives and the Scottish Greens advocating the adoption of the Agent Of Change Principle. There were also calls from the panel for Creative Scotland to do more to support the contemporary music sector, improve transparency and engage with the industry. “The success of this year’s event is an endorsement of a programme which is designed to be relevant to the whole industry,” says Wide Days founder Olaf Furniss. “This is further underpinned by all our partners from 2015 renewing their association with the convention, and the addition of several new partnerships.”
The SSE Hydro, Creative Carbon Scotland, PRS For Music, MBM Commercial and the British The event, which took place in Edinburgh on 22Academy of Songwriters, Composers & Authors 23 April, attracted representatives from most of (BASCA) supported Wide Days for the first time the UK’s key music industry organisations, as this year. well as delegates from Germany and the US. “Wide Days is building a reputation throughout Its conference programme included an interview the UK and beyond, as a great environment to with award-winning producer, Martin “Youth” meet and network,” says Furniss. “What has Glover, a panel on the economics of streaming, a made this possible is the amazing team which focus on city-based music festivals and the delivers the convention and the great community launch of Creative Carbon Scotland’s Sustainable which has grown around it.” Music Festivals Guide. Moreover, it featured a music hustings, with candidates from six political parties, which saw
www.widedays.com
Be Charlotte performing at the Born To Be Wide Showcase at the Pleasance Theatre
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Photos by Jannica Honey: www.facebook.com/JannicaHoneyPhotography
Born To Be Wide A&R You Brave Enough? L-R: Vic Galloway (BBC Radio Scotland), Eric McLellan (Sire Records), Youth (producer/songwriter), Kirsty Marquis (artist management assistant)
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page 13
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Drake Music Scotland Launches Scotland’s First-Ever Digital Orchestra A symphony of synthesizers, laptops loaded with music software and ready to roll, iPad solos played by swiping and strumming, Brainfingers literally producing music with the player’s brainwaves – these are just some of the digital technologies being used by members of Drake Music Scotland’s latest brainchild, the Digital Orchestra. In a leap of faith into new territory, the ensemble of 12 young musicians with disabilities is creating a whole new symphony in a week with their collaborator Ian Peaston. AKA electro-violinist Elucian, Ian Peaston is an international performer renowned for his eclectic take on classical music, layering and looping a genre-bending range of sounds. Pete Sparkes, Drake Music Scotland’s Artistic Director, says of the project, “This amazing ensemble is coming together for the first time ever to create a totally new symphonic work – Imagine the Future - with movements ranging from the slow and elegiac to the driving and rhythmic. Mind-blowing and heart-stopping, this performance will bring you a new definition of musicians and musical instruments, a different vision of what an orchestra can be.” The Digital Orchestra is supported by Morrisons Foundation, the Radcliffe Trust, RS Macdonald Charitable Trust, LloydsTSB Foundation for Scotland, Schuh Trust and Stevenston Charitable Trust.
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Scottish Opera Announces New Season Highlights Including 17 Small Venue Tour In this rich and diverse 2016/17 Season, the first to be announced since Stuart Stratford formally took up post as Music Director, Scottish Opera continues to develop its strong creative relationships and partnerships, presenting seven fully staged productions and four operas in concert. Stuart Stratford, Music Director, said: ‘I am delighted as Music Director to present opera to audiences all over Scotland. I have been very involved in the casting of the programme, and there are some incredible talents - from Scotland as well as around the world - taking to the stage. The Sunday Series programme promises to introduce audiences to lesser known works by composers including Debussy and Rossini, and we believe our performance of Puccini’s Le Villi will be a Scottish premiere. I’m excited also to have the opportunity to travel Scotland conducting The Elixir of Love, taking the company’s passion for music to all corners of the country.’
Scottish Opera General Director Alex Reedijk and Music Director Stuart Stratford :
photo by James Glossop
at two recitals during the year in Glasgow.
Young opera lovers and families have plenty to look forward to with the world premiere of The Little White Town of Never Weary, an interactive musical adventure for children aged five to eight, inspired by the Jessie M. King book of the same name. It makes an extensive schools tour as well as public performances in Kirkcudbright and Glenrothes. There is also the chance to catch performances of Kurt Weill’s Down in Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love tours to 17 smaller Scottish venues in the Autumn, with Stu- the Valley and Der Jasager, and Purcell’s Dido art Stratford and Scottish Opera’s Head of Music and Aeneas by Scottish Opera Connect, Scotland’s only youth opera company. Derek Clark sharing conducting duties in a new arrangement for five players from The Orchestra There is an opportunity for young composers and of Scottish Opera, who accompany a cast of so- librettists to write for the Connect Company in loists and a small chorus. The popular Opera Opera Sparks 2018, a new competition for Highlights – featuring four singers and a pianpeople aged 26 and under to create a 15-minute ist – also travels around the country with a cast opera to be performed during the Scottish Govof fresh young talent, including two Scottish Op- ernment’s Year of Young People 2018. era Emerging Artists. Audiences can get even more involved with the The Scottish Opera Emerging Artists proCompany’s productions through the Pop-Up Opgramme once again nurtures young operatic tal- era Roadshow, Primary Schools Tour and the ent offering a period of full-time work with the Community Choir, which is open to adults of all Company to help launch their careers. This ages who wish to enjoy singing in a multitude of year’s artists include soprano Hazel McBain, musical genres. The Memory Spinners group, for mezzo-soprano Emma Kerr, tenor Elgan Llyr people with dementia and their carers, continues Thomas, director Jim Manganello and composer to meet weekly in Glasgow, and is also being inLliam Paterson. Audiences will have the opportu- troduced in Edinburgh. Pre-show talks, where nity to see the Emerging Artist singers perform audiences can find out more about the opera
they are seeing, will once again be on offer as well as Opera Unwrapped, free one-hour tasters delving further in to the shows and how they are created. Following the sell-out success of previous years’ operas in concert and the popularity of the Sunday afternoon concerts, this Season’s The Sunday Series features performances of early and lesser-known works by masters of operatic writing with The Orchestra of Scottish Opera and world-class guest singers. Curated by Music Director Stuart Stratford, these performances at Theatre Royal Glasgow complement the Season’s staged productions and include Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz, Debussy’s L’enfant prodigue, Rossini’s La scala di seta, and Puccini’s Le Villi. In another co-commission with Music Theatre Wales, following on from the success of 2016’s The Devil Inside, Scottish Opera gives the Scottish premiere of Philip Glass’s The Trial, based on Kafka’s nightmarish novel. Directed by Michael McCarthy, it was created by Glass in collaboration with Christopher Hampton, who won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1989 for Dangerous Liaisons.
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fb @ www.facebook.com/summerhalledinburgh tweet @ https://twitter.com/NEHHSH
web @ www.deanowens.com iTunes @ https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/cotton-snow-dave-coleman-single/id1094837025
to advertise email Carol @ carol.musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
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music news scotland
got a 'music news' story to tell? then email our newsdesk: musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
DEAN OWENS :: single :: 'Cotton Snow' release date - out now @ www.deanowens.com
Dean Owens is one of Scotland’s finest singer songwriters, with fans including Bob Harris, Ricky Ross, Irvine Welsh and Russell Brand. His songs including Raining in Glasgow and Man From Leith have been hailed as classics of Scottish songwriting. His new single – Cotton Snow – has been released via itunes. It was recorded in Nashville (as a side project to his highly acclaimed Into the Sea album) with singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer Dave Coleman contributing guitar, percussion and other instrumentation. A thoughtful swampy groove with shimmering guitars and Dean’s trademark searingly soulful vocal, Cotton Snow was inspired by a visit to the Carter Family House Civil War Museum in Franklin, Tennessee. The Battle of Franklin was one of the bloodiest of the American Civil War and the story in the song is loosely based on what happened to Captain Tod Carter during the battle. When the cotton gins and fields were blown up during the battles the ground was often covered in a layer of what looked like snow. Cotton Snow.
Dean Owens
place to look at his home studio set up. While there he handed me a guitar to play around on and right away I started noodling with this little song idea. Dave asked me what it was I was playing and I said ‘just something I’m making up right now’. He suggested getting a rough demo of it together there and then. I left his house a couple of hours later with a fantastic backing track all played by Dave and pretty much all the lyrics for the song. Sometime later I recorded my vocals in Edinburgh. I love the fact that Cotton Snow was all created on the spot in such a shot amount of time. Dave did an amazing job with all the instrumentation. A wonderful Nashville moment" The recording was completed in Scotland, with final vocals and finishing touches, then mixed and mastered by Dave Coleman in Nashville, in February this year. Dean will be returning to Nashville in 2016 for an exciting new project with long term collaborators Neilson Hubbard and Joshua Britt. GIGnotes ...... Fri 6 May 7.30pm The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh / Tradfest
Dean says: “The day after my wife and I’d visited the battle site we met singerwww.deanowens.com songwriter, guitarist and producer Dave https://twitter.com/deanowens1 Coleman for breakfast in a Nashville greasy spoon. After breakfast he invited us over to his www.facebook.com/deanowensmusic
DECEMBER :: album :: 'I Will Let You Have Your Say' release date - 14 May @ https://december1985.wordpress.com
Glasgow band December is delighted to announce the release of their long-awaited debut album, I Will Let You Have Your Say.
December caught the public’s attention recently with two unique fundraising singles both of which were tributes to two of the band’s idols, U2 and Kenny Dalglish The new album takes on a similar theme as each track has been written about influential figures that have had an impact on the band and their lives over the years.
“We're excited to be releasing this album. In 2014 we wrote a song called Alison Stewart as a thank you to U2 and Ali Hewson and that really led to the album as a project. For the first time as songwriters we've tried to step into other people's stories. It's a collection of 13 songs named after people who have influenced or inspired us. It's also a reflection on our own lives and our journey through the music business. It feels like the right time to say thanks to these people and the album is our way of doing that. So from Barack Hussein Obama and Kenny Dalglish to U2, Maria McKee and Mike Scott this is our way of saying we appreciate you and all you've done or stand for” I Will Let You Have Your Say is out on 14 May 2016 and available on iTunes, Amazon and main digital outlets. GIGnotes ..... December will celebrate the album release with a live performance on Saturday 14 May at Oran Mor, Byres Road, Glasgow G12 8QX. Tickets at http://oran-mor.co.uk/whats-on/december/
December
https://december1985.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/december1985 https://twitter.com/tilldecember
www.musicnewsscotland.wordpress.com // email us @ musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
music news scotland
page 19
info@birnamcd.com
www.birnamcd.com
shop @ www.birnamcdshop.com web @ www.alastairsavage.co.uk
gig info @ www.brookfield-knights.com/up-coming-tours.html artist @ www.russelldecarle.com
www.veloninos.com
gig info @ www.brookfield-knights.com/up-coming-tours.html festival @ www.shetlandfolkfestival.com
www.birnamcdshop.com
www.amazon.co.uk
buy album @ www.veloninos.com/shop/ fb @ www.facebook.com/veloninos
www.musicnewsscotland.wordpress.com // email us @ musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
new releases
music news scotland
page 21
scotland's new releases ..... album : single : ep / cd : vinyl : download ALLAN MACDONALD & NEIL JOHNSTONE The Bruce 700
Album - cd - Release Date: Out Now This CD is the culmination of a much earlier celebration, in music and song, of ‘The Wallace’ in 2005, by way of a commission from Alasdair Campbell who was then with The Tolbooth Music and Arts venue in Stirling. This was followed by another commission by Carolyn Paterson in 2014 to celebrate another icon of history of whom we know a good bit more than the former, Robert de Brus of Norman French stock, the 14th C warlord who became King, regaining Scotland’s place as an Independent nation. This orchestrated progression of music ranges from an arrangement of a classic traditional pibroch theme, in its most appropriate animated and rhythmic presentation, to specially composed and arranged pieces. Melodies are presented on a range of pipes in several different keys, overlaid and blended with percussion, clarsach, cello, soprano saxophone, violin, whistle and vocals. Available from: www.birnamcdshop.com www.amazon.co.uk / www.amazon.com www.birnamcdshop.com
EUAN DRYSDALE
MARS PATROL
Songs from the Boarwood
Human Condition
Album cd / download Release Date: Out Now
Album / cd / download Release Date: 29 April
The Mars Patrol have been honing their stirring alternative rock sound over a series of rapturouslySongs From The Boarwood is Euan Drysdale’s received EPs and singles. Now it’s time for their first second CD release. It is a collection of heartfelt album "Human Condition". The album is crammed full and uplifting songs inspired by reminiscences on of songs more melodic than a spaceship full of growing up in a Scottish town.The 10 songs on Nightingales that stick in your head like a recurring Songs From The Boarwood are all original Drysdale dream you won't ever want to wake up from. Recorded between the Capitals of both Scotland and England compositions. They are a seamless mix of folk, respectively and mixed by Tim Palmer (U2, Goo Goo blues and ballads. The three musicians work Dolls) and Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro, Twin sensitively together to create a tasteful acoustic Atlantic), the Album is entirely crowd funded by The sound that is the perfect sound-world for such Mars Patrol's mega-loyal legion of international fans evocative, lyrical and beautiful songs. the reward of relentless touring and maintaining enthusiastic online relationships. Listen/Watch: www.euandrysdale.co.uk Listen/Watch: www.youtube.com/themarspatrol Available from: www.soundcloud.com/themarspatrol www.euandrysdale.co.uk Available from: iTunes, Amazon MP3, Google Play www.themarspatrol.com + iTunes + Amazon www.euandrysdale.co.uk
www.facebook.com/Euan-Drysdale-254923697865597
ALASTAIR SAVAGE
www.themarspatrol.com www.twitter.com/themarspatrol www.facebook.com/themarspatrol
HUGH KELLY CHAMBERLAIN & HAYWOOD
Give Me All Your Love
Alone With History Album - cd / download Release Date: 23 May
'Alone With History is Alastair Savage's 4th album release and his first completely unaccompanied fiddle recording. Recorded in the historic surroundings of Crathie Kirk in Royal Deeside, the album features 18th Century melodies by Niel and Nathaniel Gow alongside music by 19th Century master James Scott Skinner. The recording also includes a tribute to Rabbie Burns alongside Savage's own unique compositions dedicated to the great Scots fiddle composers of the past.' Listen/Watch: www.alastairsavage.co.uk/music.htm www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0GUT5uL4BQ www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVXSChKEeUI Available from: www.birnamcdshop.com / www.amazon.co.uk www.amazon.com / www.alastairsavage.co.uk iTunes, Google Play, Amazon MP3, Scottish Music Information Centre, shops via Highlander Distribution www.alastairsavage.co.uk
First Impression Album - cd / download Release Date: Out Now
First Impression is the much anticipated debut album from Paul Chamberlain &Michael Haywood. With a fresh take on world music Paul (accordion) and Michael (saxophone/violin/ whistle/clarinet) take their instruments on an international tour - enjoy the sultry sounds of the Tango, the rhythmic drive of the Balkans, along with riproaring tunes from Russia and Scotland. Virtuoso playing and fresh musical ideas, Paul and Michael explore the potential of their instruments in a way that is exciting and engaging. They take the strength of each instrument’s traditions and blend them into their own unique brand of fusion music. The result is a vibrant, intriguing and occasionally explosive mix of music that crosses cultural boundaries.
EP download Release Date: Out Now
Alt.Blues/Soul musician, Hugh Kelly found his ‘big’ voice busking on the streets of Edinburgh in his teens. Now 21, his debut EP combines intricate songwriting, catchy melodies and a sense of raw emotion. “an extraordinary voice that ranges from the crunch of steps on a pebbly British beach, to a soaring heavenly and slightly whiskeysoaked angel’s falsetto” Arun Kendall, www.BackseatMafia.com Listen/Watch: www.HughKellyMusic.com/music www.soundcloud.com/HughKellyMusic
Listen/Watch:
Available from: iTunes + Spotify
Available from: www.amazon.co.uk iTunes, Amazon MP3, www.chamberlain-haywood.com Google Play, in stores through Highlander Distribution
www.HughKellyMusic.com www.Twitter.com/HughKellyMusic www.Facebook.com/HughKellyMusic
https://soundcloud.com/paul-chamberlain-2/sets/chamberlain-haywood
www.chamberlain-haywood.com https://twitter.com/_Accordionist_ www.facebook.com/chamberlainhaywood
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music news scotland
scotland's new releases ..... album : single : ep / cd : vinyl : download PAUL TASKER
DAVID ALTAIR
ASHTON LANE
Cold Weather Music
B-Sides
One Kiss Later
David Altair has just released his 6th album entitled ‘B-Sides’. This is some work that was previously never released and is quite rare. The album has quite a psychedelic feel to it especially ‘we can’t stop now (the Wall)’. The album flows into a journey of ambient sounds and experimentation.
Ashton Lane are part of a new wave of homegrown modern country music originating in the UK and are sure to expand their growing fan base this year. The single One Kiss Later is out on 29 February 2016 Ashton Lane consist of Esther O’Connor and Tim O’Connor. The band performs as a duo but at times as a three piece when Graeme Duffin (Wet Wet Wet) joins them as guest guitarist. The band has a romantic back story, being husband and wife and also come from fine musical stock. Esther O’Connor’s musical heritage however spans right back to her childhood. She remembers being out on tour at only five years of age with Elton John on his US tour accompanying her Dad’s band Wet Wet Wet.
Album cd + download + vinyl Release Date: Out Now
This is Doghouse Roses' guitarist Paul Tasker's first solo album. An all instrumental album peformed on fingerstyle guitar and clawhammer banjo with flute, flatpicked guitar, cello, pedal steel guitar and percussion. The 10 tracks are musical responses to both real life and imagined events and largely have a folk or old time Americana feel, but with 2 guitar duets adding a jazz tinge. Listen/Watch: https://souncloud.com www.youtube.com Available from: www.paultaskermusic.com https://paultasker.bandcamp.com www.paultaskermusic.com https://twitter.com/pntasker www.facebook.com/paultaskermusic
Album download Release Date: Out Now
Listen/Watch: https://davidaltair.bandcamp.com/album/b-sides www.youtube.com/user/TheDavidaltair/ https://davidaltair.bandcamp.com Available from: https://davidaltair.bandcamp.com/album/b-sides https://davidaltair.bandcamp.com
Single / download Release Date: Out Now
Listen/Watch: www.ashtonlaneofficial.com/#video Available from: www.ashtonlaneofficial.com www.ashtonlaneofficial.com https://twitter.com/ashtonlane www.facebook.com/esther.oconnor1
CAROLINE GILMOUR
CLAIRE HASTINGS MULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Electric Waterfalls
Between River and Railway Album cd / download Release Date: 29 April
Since winning the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year title in 2015, folk singer Claire Hastings’ debut album Between River and Railway has been hotly anticipated. The album features exciting arrangements of traditional folk songs alongside Claire’s self-penned material. The songs are brought to life with band members Jenn Butterworth (guitar & vocals), Laura Wilkie (fiddle) and Andrew Waite (accordion) as well as guests Martin O’Neill (percussion) and Duncan Lyall (bass). Throughout the album, whether Claire is singing in the tradition, about her home, sharing life experiences or interpreting the works of Robert Burns and William Douglas, there’s an enduring sense of beauty, in both vocals and music. (Folkwords)
Listen/Watch: https://youtu.be/cfESHtRcRRE https://clairehastings.bandcamp.com Available from: www.clairehastings.com bandcamp, iTunes and Amazon MP3 as well as selected stores from 29 April www.clairehastings.com www.twitter.com/ClaireHastings1 www.facebook.com/ClaireHastingsMusic
Dear Satellite Album cd / download Release Date: 8 April
Dear Satellite was produced by Grammy award-winning Dom Morley, known for his work on Amy Winehouse's Back To Black, as well as working with Adele, Grinderman and Sting. He also produced Colin's first album on Xtra Mile Recordings, City Awakenings released in 2012. The album is ten tracks of floating, positive, textually diverse pop songs. Listen/Watch: https://youtu.be/_d_BK5-1PVk Available from: Xtra Mile Recordings: http://smarturl.it/DearSatellite-XMR Amazon: http://smarturl.it/MHS-DearSatellite iTunes: http://smarturl.it/DearSatellite-iTunes http://mullhistoricalsociety.com/ https://twitter.com/MullHistorical www.facebook.com/mullhistorical
EP cd / download / 7" vinyl Release Date: 25 March
This is an exciting new 4 track EP release that is a departure from my usual sound and has been heavily influenced by my love of pop music. I worked with the incredible Jud Mahoney (Justin Timberlake, Usher, Michael Jackson) who produced this EP, and it's also the first time I have included a co-written track on a release, working with Jud and hitmaker John McLaughlin (Busted, Westlife, Bay City Rollers). 'Love this soaring piece of perfect Adult Pop. Fantastic songwriting and beautiful vocal delivery" - John McLaughlin Listen/Watch: https://soundcloud.com/carolinegilmour https://carolinegilmour.bandcamp.com https://www.youtube.com/user/caggyg Available from: https://carolinegilmour.bandcamp.com iTunes / Amazon Vinyl via Apollo Music, Paisley www.carolinegilmour.com https://twitter.com/CGilmourMusic www.facebook.com/CarolineGilmourMusic
music news scotland
page 23
scotland's new releases ..... album : single : ep / cd : vinyl : download DUNT
ROMAN NOSE
CELTIC VOYAGE
Between Punk Rock and a Hard Place
Jacked Up On Mercy
Various Artists
Glasgow’s finest purveyors of sadomasochistic, masked electronica, Roman Nose return to our radars with the release of much anticipated 4 Track E.P. ‘Jacked Up On Mercy' via their own Badly Built Records label. This is bass-heavy, dark and dirty electronic music dipped in futuristic territory, full of pounding synths and driven electro beats.
An enchanting collection of Celtic moods with haunting uilleann pipes, magical harps, fiddles, accordions, guitars… from Ireland, Scotland and Brittany. Beautiful and atmospheric songs, ballads and laments conjure an atmosphere of mystery and magic, reminiscent of the music to the film “Titanic” or to “Riverdance”. Features 2016 Grammy Nominee for Best New Age Album, Catherine Duc [Voyager, MG Music], performing the self-penned song ‘Owen’s Boat.’
EP / cd Release Date: 1 April
After near self-destruction, Edinburgh's Skate Punks are back via the Infinite Hive music label, with five fast, melodic, punk rock tunes on a variety of subjects that shape our everyday misery. Featuring DUNT's nihilistic sense of humour and cutting riffs and rhythms, this is their strongest EP yet. Listen/Watch: https://dunt.bandcamp.com/ Available from: https://dunt.bandcamp.com/ Google Play Music' Amazon mp3, iTunes, Spotify http://infinitehive.com/shop.html VoxBox Music, 21 St Stephen Street, Stockbridge Elvis Shakespeare, 347 Leith Walk, Edinburgh Vinyl Villains, 5 Elm Row, Edinburgh http://infinitehive.com/dunt/ www.facebook.com/dunttheband/ https://twitter.com/DUNTTHEBAND
EP download Release Date: Out Now
Listen/Watch: https://romannose.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/roman-nose-1 Available from: iTunes, Bandcamp, Spotify etc https://soundcloud.com/roman-nose-1 https://twitter.com/RMNOSE www.facebook.com/romannosemusic
DROPKICK
Album cd Release Date: 25 March
Listen/Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w5vCqfsjJg Available from: http://geni.us/2h50 www.arcmusic.co.uk/shop/index.php
VÉLONIÑOS THE STRANGE BLUE DREAMS
Balance The Light Album cd / download / vinyl Release Date: 25 March
'Balance the Light' is Dropkick's most varied collection of songs, showcasing their unique harmony-driven alt.country powerpop. “Their music has an originality about it that defies explanation.....blending almost equal parts alternative, indie-pop, folk and country.” Maverick Magazine. 'Balance the Light' will be launched with two special German shows in April, followed by Scottish dates: 21/4 Clark's, Dundee, 22/4 Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, 23/4 13th Note, Glasgow. Listen/Watch: https://dropkickmusic.bandcamp.com YouTube Available from: itunes, amazon, spotify, google play, apple music and other digital sites. Available from: Coda Music (Edinburgh), Love Music (Glasgow), Assai Records (Broughty Ferry, Dundee), Wall of Noise (Haddington), Vinyl Frontier (Dunbar) www.dropkickmusic.co.uk www.facebook.com/dropkickmusic www.twitter.com/dropkickmusic
Veloninos
Album / cd / download Release Date: Out Now
Reverberatin' Love EP cd / download Release Date: Out Now
The Strange Blue Dreams present their debut EP, three songs that passionately distil the various golden ages of popular song into a unique and exciting new sound. Menacing drums and surf-noir guitars, a cowboy anthem with a dash of Bollywood and Sun Records hillbilly beat, and a Scots air peppered with Balkan drama.
The Véloniños; From way out West Port Glasgow and beyond. Their musical influences firmly rooted in americana, rock ‘n’ roll, country and rockabilly, Inspired by the likes of Hank Williams, Gene Vincent, Carl Perkins and The Everlys, to name but a few. This is the debut album from the group, featuring all six tracks from their previously released digital EP and four brand new tracks. “We’d like to think there’s a little of who we are and where we come from in the songs too, Levengrove Park, Helenstown and These Quiet Lands are all relevant to where we live and we hope you’ll enjoy this album for what it is: a no nonsense rockin’ record in all its different guises.” Listen/Watch: www.veloninos.com YouTube
Listen/Watch: https://holysmokesrecordsuk.bandcamp.com YouTube
Available from: www.veloninos.com amazon / itunes
Available from: iTunes http://holysmokesrecordsuk.bandcamp.com/ Love Music, 34 Dundas St, Glasgow G1 2AQ.
www.veloninos.com www.facebook.com/veloninos https://twitter.com/veloninos
https://twitter.com/@the_SBDs
www.facebook.com/thestrangebluedreams
page 24
music news scotland
scotland's new releases ..... album : single : ep / cd : vinyl : download DEADLY INSCRIPTION
TOY TIN SOLDIER
THE RISING SOULS
A Testament To Sin
Yield
Yardbird
EP CD + Most online streaming/download services Spotify, Itunes, Amazon, Deezer, Release Date: 26 February
Album - cd / download Release Date: 26 February
Toy Tin Soldier is a Scottish indie rock singer songwriter Joe Gallacher, formerly of Mr.Kil. A solo journey supported by a revolving door of incredible support A Testament to Sin is the product of the last year musicians he has worked with over the years, whilst of work from the newly formed line-up. It's a touring with the likes of Hue & Cry, Turin Brakes and collection of fictional tales of dark characters and Martha Wainwright. scenarios, we used the titles as a basis for the Gallacher was born in the outskirts of Glasgow in the creation of the tracks, and made a conscious effort small village of Blantyre. Born into a working class family, music became an escapism from the realities of to keep the E.P out of any sub-genre/category being a teenage in the 90’s. Pretty soon he was in love with all sorts of bedrock music, particularly rock, blues, Listen/Watch: country and of course the 90’s Brit Pop era. Inspired by www.soundcloud.com/deadly-inscription melodic Kings such as Noel Gallagher, Bruce www.youtube.com/deadlyinscriptionband Springsteen and more recently Foy Vance. Available from: Listen/Watch: www.deadlyinscription.com www.youtube.com http://thegrimstore.bigcartel.com/products Available from: All Major Digital Outlets iTunes and all download mediums. www.facebook.com/deadlyinscription www.toytinsoldier.com/ https://twitter.com/DIMETALUK https://twitter.com/toytinsoldier www.deadlyinscription.com www.facebook.com/toytinsoldier
CARA
Album cd Release Date: Out Now
The Rising Souls are a thumping blue eyed soul band from central Scotland. They have been met with universal praise throughout the UK, Europe and more recently NYC. Their second album 'Yardbird' is a mesmerising blend of country, blues and soul. Frontman Dave Archibald displays a powerhouse vocal reminiscent of Frankie Miller and Otis Redding. Supporting Dave are Roy 'Kelso' Laing on bass and Tom Reed on percussion. Listen/Watch: https://youtu.be/DNSnsV6sLNA Available from: Amazon www.therisingsouls.com www.facebook.com/therisingsouls https://twitter.com/TheRisingSouls
WHISKY KISS SARAH HAYES
Yet We Sing
Album cd / download Release Date: 15 January
Born of a love affair with Celtic music, Cara features four of Germany’s finest traditional musicians, with Scottish singer-songwriter Kim Edgar, delivering an innovative blend of trad/new material, and twin lead vocals. Touring Scotland: Celtic Connections 27th, Eden Court 28th, Carnegie Hall 29th, Queens Hall 30th Jan 2015. Listen/Watch: Live trailer @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQmLTW1W6G4 Yet We Sing Promo @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhXUjwMvvuc Available from: www.cara-music.com www.cara-music.com www.facebook.com/caramusic www.twitter.com/caramusic
sexySOUNDS Woven
Album cd / download Release Date: Out Now
Sarah released her début album, Woven, to widespread acclaim in November 2015. This inventive, emotional music explores the relationship between experience and identity; setting traditional words to new tunes and new tunes to traditional forms, tying them together with recurring themes in ‘an utterly compelling tapestry’ (Folk Radio UK). Listen/Watch: www.soundcloud.com/sarah_hayes www.sarahhayes.bandcamp.com Available from: www.sarahhayes.net/shop/ www.sarahhayes.bandcamp.com Love Music (Glasgow) Coda Music (Edinburgh) www.sarahhayes.net www.facebook.com/sarahjhayesmusic www.twitter.com/sarahhayes_
Album cd / download Release Date: 18 January
Debut album from World Record Breaking band Whisky Kiss. Unusually for a Scots trad band debut album, sexySOUNDS by Whisky Kiss includes 3 tracks used by Visit Scotland, 2 tracks that are Guinness World Records & 1 iTunes no1 (debut single Jocks Revenge topped the charts in Uruguay & Luxembourg) Listen/Watch: www.whiskykiss.com Available from: https://itunes.apple.com www.amazon.co.uk www.whiskykiss.com https://twitter.com/twistedtartan www.facebook.com/Whisky-Kiss119642618071059
music news scotland
page 25
scotland's new releases ..... album : single : ep / cd : vinyl : download AMY RAYNER Two Years Long
EP cd / download Release Date: 28 February Amy Rayner is a singer songwriter from St. Andrews, Scotland, who's relatable and honest lyrics blend amicably with her memorable, soaring melodies. Her new EP 'Two Years Long' is a very personal work that centres around the three stages of a relationship, beginning, middle and end, and features a fusion of genres from folk and pop to country and blues. Listen/Watch: https://soundcloud.com/amy-rayner www.youtube.com/user/amyraynermusic https://amyrayner.bandcamp.com/ Available from: Spotify + buy on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Rhapsody, TIDAL and Deezer www.amyrayner.co.uk www.facebook.com/ AmyRaynerSingerSongwriter https://twitter.com/amyrayner
CHARLOTTE HATHAWAY BOREAS Ahoy Hoy & MIKE VASS Album (featuring Mairi Campbell) The Dead Stations
Album - cd / download - Release Date: 11 March “The whole forest has this feeling of going on forever. And if you lose track of the train line then you’re lost..." A story told through original music and audio drama featuring new songs by Mike Vass performed by haunting vocalist Mairi Campbell. Dead Stations are out of use platforms on a remote train line through the forested mountains. It’s a story designed to be listened to: a mystery about loneliness and the mind, inspired by a train ride through Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest and abstract ideas about Little Red Riding Hood.
cd / download Release Date: out now
'Like sun on the sea surface.' 'A haunting, ethereal bridge between cultures.’ (Sunday Herald) AHOY HOY, is the eagerly awaited debut album from Boreas, shaped by spanning the expanses of the North Sea. In this recording the band have created something both warm and sparse, shadowy and glistening, simple and intricate, it is indeed a glorious debut.
Listen/Watch: https://soundcloud.com/unroofedrecords https://youtu.be/Mp5vjZJ1tic
Listen/Watch: www.boreasband.bandcamp.com
Available from: www.mikevass.com + www.unroofed.com
Available from: www.boreasband.bandcamp.com www.islemusicscotland.com
www.facebook.com/vassmusic www.unroofed.com www.mikevass.com www.charlottehathaway.com
DJANA GABRIELLE
www.boreasband.com www.twitter.com/boreasband www.facebook.com/boreasband
JOSEPHINE SILLARS DUKE OF NORFOLK
That Very First Day EP download Release Date: Out Now
Debut EP from the French Cameroonian singer-songwriter. Recorded in Glasgow in the space of 2 days, the EP is an introduction to Djana Gabrielle's rich songwriting and melodies. Ethereal and soulful, « That Very First Day » is the promising debut from an artist to follow. Listen/Watch: Spotify http://open.spotify.com Youtube (Dance with me) www.youtube.com Available from: https://itunes.apple.com www.amazon.co.uk www.djanagabrielle.com www.facebook.com/DjanaGabrielle www.twitter.com/djana_gabrielle
Vincent There Is a Train (and a platform at either end) EP download Release Date: 5 January
Intended as a brief companion to The Duke of Norfolk's album Three Days From the Wolf Month, There Is a Train (and a platform at either end) takes the shape of a journey. The EP employs sounds suggestive of train travel alongside The Duke's characteristic guitar and banjo to reinforce the themes of wandering and to frame a picture of life from birth to death.
single download Release Date: Out Now
‘Vincent’ was written after Josephine discovered that Vincent Van Gogh ‘used to eat yellow paint to make his insides happy’. An upbeat song about beating hearts, serotonin highs and yellow walls, played on piano, xylophone and drums, 'Vincent' is launched at the world famous King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in December. Listen/Watch: https://josephinesillars.bandcamp.com https://itunes.apple.com
Listen/Watch: https://thedukeofnorfolk.bandcamp.com YouTube Soundcloud
Available from: https://josephinesillars.bandcamp.com https://itunes.apple.com
Available from: https://thedukeofnorfolk.bandcamp.com
www.josephinesillars.com www.facebook.com/josephinesillarsmusic https://twitter.com/josephinehere
http://thedukeofnorfolk.com/ https://twitter.com/thdukeofnorfolk www.facebook.com/thedukeofnorfolk
page 26
music news scotland
scotland's new releases ..... album : single : ep / cd : vinyl : download AMY DUNCAN
BREABACH
FINN ANDERSON
Undercurrents
Astar
Uncharted Lands
Album cd / download / vinyl Release Date: 19 February Undercurrents is somewhere to the left of folk-pop with rich string arrangements, gorgeous harp and bass, and interesting drums and percussion. You will find emotional songs exploring themes of mental health, dissociation and hallucinatory experiences; self acceptance and letting go to the flow of emotions to find real love and connection. Releasing on my own label Filly Records. The vinyl is being licensed to Diverse Vinyl. Listen/Watch: https://youtu.be/GhEBe0kS_80 https://youtu.be/IWyLVw0OmOs
Album - cd / download Release Date: 11 March After a whirlwind five years traversing the globe, Breabach are delighted to present their fifth studio album, Astar (tr. distance/journey). Inspired by the people and places they have encountered, iconic venues and festivals performed at and the exciting, at times groundbreaking, collaborations they have been involved in. These experiences have brought new shape to their sound whilst simultaneously strengthening their identity. Astar is a multicultural celebration, embracing the music of four nations in partnership with their own. The band have invited friends from Norway, Quebec, Australia and New Zealand to be part of this recording, all of which has been brought to life under the guidance and production of Greg Lawson.
Available from: Listen/Watch: Pre-order from Pledge Music: http://breabach.bandcamp.com www.pledgemusic.com/projects/amy-duncan www.soundcloud.com/breabach & receive instant download of 2 songs plus free entry to the album launch on 25 Feb at The Voodoo Rooms Available from: http://breabach.bandcamp.com iTunes + in stores http://amyduncan.co.uk/ https://twitter.com/Amy_Duncan www.breabach.com www.facebook.com/amy.duncan.music www.facebook.com/breabach https://soundcloud.com/amy-duncan www.twitter.com/breabach
IMAGINARY SILVER COAST CREATURES
Seasons
EP cd / download The Butterfly’s Dream Release Album Date: 13 November cd / download ReleaseEP Date: This forOutusNow has been
a long time coming. were lot of Imaginary CreaturesThere is a virtual band, a a studio project formed by the collaboration of lyricist different emotions present when and songwriter David Scott and producer and itmulti-instrumentalist was written and we are Iain McKinna. The Butterfly’s Dream is their debut album. Guest incredibly happy with the sound musicians include guitar ace Keith More, of it andlegend the Fraser way Speirs the songs harmonica and ex- can Lindisfarne songwriter Rod Clements. relate to a number of different situations in people's life's. We Listen/Watch: www.reverbnation.com/imaginarycreatures are so proud of this record! Available from: Listen/Watch: Birnam Shop: http://bit.ly/1bLhVDw www.soundcloud.com/silvercoastmusic-1 www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ID7BLAK www.YouTube.com/silvercoastmusic www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ID7BLAK http://amzn.to/1heO9qD Available from: also coming soonBig on Cartel itunes + spotify iTunes, Amazon, Facebook: www.facebook.com/silvercoastmusic www.facebook.com/pages/Imaginary-Creatures/392409684214473 https://twitter.com/silvercoastband
IMAGINARY FREELAND BARBOUR CREATURES
The Music and the Land Album cd Release Date: Out Now
This CD sampler is intended as an The Butterfly’stoDream accompaniment the book The Album Music and the Land, a journey of cd / download words, photography and melody Release Date: Out Now through the lands that have Imaginary Creatures is a virtual band, a studio inspired Freeland Barbour’s project formed by the collaboration of lyricist and songwriter David Scott and producer compositions. The sampler and multi-instrumentalist Iain McKinna. The contains 14 tracks taken from Butterfly’s Dream is their debut album. Guest recordings over the ears musicians include guitar acepast Keith 35 More, harmonica legend Fraser Speirs and exand illustrating some of the music Lindisfarne songwriter Rod Clements. from the book. It is available for Listen/Watch: £5, or free with each copy of the www.reverbnation.com/imaginarycreatures book. Available from: Available from: Birnam Shop: http://bit.ly/1bLhVDw www.bonskeidmusic.com www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ID7BLAK and Freeland’s live events www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ID7BLAK Book @ http://amzn.to/1heO9qD www.freelandbarbour.co.uk/shop.htm also coming soon on itunes + spotify www.bonskeidmusic.com Facebook: www.freelandbarbour.co.uk www.facebook.com/pages/Imaginary-Creatures/392409684214473 www.birlinn.co.uk/Music-and-the-Land.html
EP cd / download Release Date: 12 February
Recorded over two stormy weeks in October at his childhood home in rural Scotland, Finn Anderson’s ‘Uncharted Lands’ EP is his most ambitious solo project to date. Straddling pop, rock and jazz, ‘Uncharted Lands’ fuses intricate and poetic lyrics, dynamic vocals and dramatic piano and orchestral arrangements. Listen/Watch: single ‘Hitchcock’ @ www.soundcloud.com/finnanderson/hitchcock video coming soon Available from: www.finnanderson.bandcamp.com Single ‘Hitchcock’ available on iTunes, Spotify + all major online stores www.finnanderson.co.uk https://twitter.com/Finn_Anderson www.facebook.com/finnandersonmusic
IMAGINARY STEAL THE SUN CREATURES
Somewhere, Sometime Debut Album cd / download The Butterfly’s Dream Release Album Date: 4 December cd / download Release Date:conceived Out Now Originally as an
idea to change the face of music forever. Imaginary Creatures is a virtual band, a studio Steal Sun have forgedoftheir project the formed by the collaboration lyricist and songwriter David Scott and producer and way into the spotlight by infusing multi-instrumentalist Iain McKinna. The many genres and Butterfly’s Dream isand theirinfluences debut album. Guest musicians include ace to Keith More, a evolving theirguitar music create harmonica legend Fraser Speirs and exbeautiful and addictive sound.' Lindisfarne songwriter Rod Clements. Listen/Watch: Listen/Watch: www.youtube.com/stealthesunuk www.reverbnation.com/imaginarycreatures www.reverbnation.com/stealthesunuk Available from: Available from: Birnam Shop: http://bit.ly/1bLhVDw www.stealthesunuk.bandcamp.com www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ID7BLAK www.facebook.com/stealthesunuk for hard copy www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ID7BLAK http://amzn.to/1heO9qD https://twitter.com/StealTheSunUk also coming soon on itunes + spotify www.facebook.com/stealthesunuk www.reverbnation.com/stealthesunuk Facebook: www.instagram.com/stealthesunuk www.facebook.com/pages/Imaginary-Creatures/392409684214473 www.stealthesunuk.bandcamp.com
music news scotland
page 27
scotland's new releases ..... album : single : ep / cd : vinyl : download THE CUT THROAT RAZORS
RACHEL ALICE JOHNSON
Motown's Lost Its Soul
Open Angel
EP cd / download Release Date: 27 November
The Cut Throat Razors are an 11 piece band from Glasgow that have been filling the dancefloors across Scotland with their eclectic mix of self-penned songs with a thumping soul, ska, funk and blues vibe. The Cut Throat Razors won the prestigious Sunday Herald Best Unsigned Band Competition in 2014. Listen/Watch: https://soundcloud.com/thecutthroatrazors www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Uq_4XXJcU Available from: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/ www.amazon.co.uk www.thecutthroatrazors.com www.thecutthroatrazors.com https://twitter.com/cutthroatrazors www.facebook.com/thecutthroatrazors
single download Release Date: 3 December
The Scottish/New Zealand, Edinburgh College of Art student/singer-songwriter creates songs with an ethereal, pop, rock sound with her band. Inspired by artists such as Lana Del Rey and The Black Keys, Rachel and her band have defined their unique sound with some euphoric harmonics. Listen/Watch: https://soundcloud.com/rachyjohnson https://youtube.com/rachyjohnson
JOHNY CORRIGAN Down The Line Album cd / download Release Date: Out Now
Down The Line is the new album from Glasgow-born singer/ songwriter Johny Corrigan. It is the much-anticipated follow-up to Johny’s acclaimed debut Inchfad Drive, released in 2013. The album consists entirely of self-penned songs and Johny has recruited an impressive line-up of artists for the recording.
Available from: iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon mp3, Google Play, Available from: Deezer iTunes, Birnam CD Online Shop, Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon MP3, Google Play https://twitter.com/rachyjohnson https://facebook.com/RachelAliceJohnsonArts
www.birnamcd.com/promo-johny-corrigan/
THE DEADLY WINTERS
UP CHRISTINE BOVILL
Table In The Corner
UPrising
Album cd Release Date: Out Now UP is a trio comprising guitar, double bass, drums and harmony vocals, based in East Lothian and Edinburgh. These are fine, experienced players, and the album (superbly engineered by Wayne Bell) gives a good crosssection of their eclectic live repertoire - early rock, jive, country, jazz, blues, traditional folk and skiffle pieces all come under a very broad umbrella - if it's fun they play it! Listen/Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hudarwZ0w0w https://youtu.be/pFsYipnuZdI https://youtu.be/IQ7jGLShZ0M https://youtu.be/IFy6Tz0knAY Available from: Direct from the band - email: up.band@btinternet.com or via facebook - album £10 + UK p&p £2.65. Payment via PayPal invoice, either by PayPal a/c or credit/debit card www.facebook.com/uncertaintyprincipleup
The Sentence That I Serve EP CD only (at present) Release Date: Out Now
Second release from singer songwriter Christine Bovill. A Roots affair, recorded with the Strange Blue Dreams, strirring in the tangle of Vintage Rock n Roll, Chanson and Americana. Both band and singer have spent years immersed in old blues, jazz, soul and country music and bring a naturally confident, risk taking flair that breathes new life into vintage pop forms. Listen/Watch: https://soundcloud.com/christine-bovill https://youtu.be/QoR9snXg0aU Available from: www.christinebovill.com www.christinebovill.com www.facebook.com/bovill.christine/ https://twitter.com/christinebovill www.facebook.com/ thestrangebluedreams
EP cd / download Release Date: 6 November
Armed with swagger, a thumping singalong chorus and a fervent holler, the title track of the EP is the band at their rousing, anthemic best. The rest of the EP doesn’t disappoint with the raucous anger of Liars, Liars, Liars, the jaunty tale of a war hero that is Sam Did Run and the epic, percussive Gone to Ground. Listen/Watch: https://soundcloud.com/the-deadly-winters/ table-in-the-corner-ep-preview Available from: www.thedeadlywinters.com/shop/ www.thedeadlywinters.com www.facebook.com/deadlywinters www.twitter.com/deadlywinters www.soundcloud.com/the-deadly-winters www.thedeadlywinters.bandcamp.com www.youtube.com/deadlywinters
page 28
music news scotland
scotland's new releases ..... album : single : ep / cd : vinyl : download DAVID PATRICK OCTET KYRRE SLIND Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring Open Airs Album cd / download Release Date: Out Now
Album cd / download Release Date: Out Now
This stunning reworking for jazz octet of Igor Stravinsky's masterwork retains all of the themes and most of the exquisite orchestration of the original composition. Improvisational sections appear organically out of Stravinsky's score, allowing band members to be featured as individual soloists as the piece unfolds. With personnel drawn from Scotland, England and Germany, this international group is a world-class ensemble, completely at ease with each other and this incredibly complex music.
Open Airs is a musical log book of travels in Norway, Ireland and Scotland. In 2011, Norwegian musician and composer Kyrre Slind quite his job, bought a banjo and hit the road on a Vespa 125 scooter, heading for Ireland. Four years later - rich in new experiences - he releases his first solo album, recorded in Scotland and Norway. The melodies describe landscapes, impressions and personalities encountered when travelling the great north and its islands.
Available from: iTunes, Birnam CD Online Shop, Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon MP3, Google Play
Available from: iTunes, Bandcamp www.kyrreslind.com
www.davidpatrickmusic.com
www.kyrreslind.com
Listen/Watch: www.kyrreslind.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/Kyrre-Slind-1693164894249730
JOHN STUART SCOTTISH DANCE BAND North of the Grampians: Vol. 1 Album cd Release Date: Out Now
This is the fourth album from veteran Scots musician John Stuart and his Scottish Dance Band. The album is filled with top-notch tune sets for popular Scottish dances all over the world, including the Britannia Two Step, Canadian Barn Dance, Gay Gordons, and many others. Available from: Birnam CD Online Shop, Amazon UK, Amazon US www.birnamcd.com/promo-john-stuart/
GET YOUR NEW RELEASE LISTED! If you’d like your new release to be included in the MUSIC NEWS Scotland ‘New Release’ section and ALSO be in with a chance of being picked for the MNS Top 4 spot then send it to: New Releases, MUSIC NEWS Scotland, Romar House, Birgham, Berwickshire. TD12 4NF If only available as download then email link to musicnewsscotland@gmail.com Email (as above) information about your new release for our listings, which should be in the format below:
GET LISTED!
BAND NAME: Advertisers also get a 'boxed listing' Release Name: with artwork image album / ep / single: email Carol for details: cd / vinyl / download: - list all formats carol.musicnewsscotland@gmail.com Release Date: Description: - 50 words approx Listen: - link to listen to your music Available from: - webshop, download, retail record shop your website/facebook/twitter
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RECORD SHOP 'Record Store Day 2016' is on 16 April : www.recordstoreday.co.uk We encourage you to support independent record shops in Scotland : A selection of popular ones are below. If you run or have a favourite shop not listed please let us know and we'll happily include it.
Because this is linked to our 'new release' section we are only listing genuine high street retail shops who sell physical copies of new cds/records 'friendly face to friendly face' with their customers! Email your record shop details to be included below to: carol.musicnewsscotland@gmail.com Avalanche (Edinburgh) Grassmarket EH1 2HY : www.avalancherecords.co.uk Apollo Music (Paisley) Causeyside Street PA1 1YH : www.apollomusic.uk.com Barnstorm (Dumfries) Queensberry Street DG1 1BU : 01387 267894 Big Sparra Vinyl (Ayr) New Bridge Street : www.facebook.com/bigsparra Coda (Edinburgh) [trad/folk specialist] Bank Street EH1 2LN : www.codamusic.co.uk Concorde (Perth) Scott Street PH1 5EJ : www.concordemusic.com Europa (Stirling) Friars Street FK8 1HA : www.europamusic.co.uk Imperial (Inverness) Market Hall IV1 1PJ : www.imperial-music.com Love Music (Glasgow) Dundas Street G1 2AQ : www.lovemusicglasgow.com McAlister Matheson (Edinburgh) [classical] Grindlay St EH3 9AT : www.mmmusic.co.uk Monorail (Glasgow) King Street G1 5RB : www.monocafebar.com/index.php?pid=84 Ripping Records (Edinburgh) South Bridge EH1 1HN : www.rippingrecords.com
music news scotland
page 29
Read the latest MNS GIGguide @ http://bitly.com/mns-gigguide-apr16-25
plus read MNS FESTIVALS! @ http://wp.me/P12d6v-21 ADVERTISE IN OUR 3 WEEKLY DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS
MUSIC NEWS Scotland - GIGguide - FESTIVALS! For details email Carol: carol.musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
Make sure we have your music festival listed, big or small email your information to musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
MNS
FESTIVAL Listings Following is our 'short' listings guide to forthcoming Scottish music festivals - see our comprehensive guide in our weekly FESTIVALS! publication @ http://musicnewsscotland.wordpress.com/mns-digital-publication-links/
No matter how small or new your festival is we want to list it!! www.musicnewsscotland.wordpress.com
Scottish Music Festivals to be included in our festival listings email details to: musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
APRIL Edinburgh International Harp Festival
and Scottish music, song and dance to enthusiastic audiences in Edinburgh. Explore our concerts, workshops and artist pages for details of this year’s festival. And you can book through the link on tickets page. On Thursday 21 April there will be a concert in Inverness at Hootanannys.
Edinburgh 1-6 April
www.northernstreams.org
The Edinburgh International Harp Festival hosts its 35th annual celebration of the instrument with a magical series of concerts, courses and workshops. A star-studded line-up features top Scottish harpists, alongside acclaimed names from the USA and Europe, performing a rich variety of music that spans traditions with outstanding creativity. With special events to celebrate the 85th anniversary of its organisers, The Clarsach Society, EIHF 2016 will be a festival to remember. www.harpfestival.co.uk
Edinburgh’s Youth ‘Easter’ Gaitherin Edinburgh 4-7 April The Easter Gaitherin is EYG’s flagship event for 9 – 18 year olds. We book Scotland’s top traditional musicians as tutors and run four days of classes in Tynecastle High School. These range from instrumental, to drama, to dance, to technical skills (check below to find out what we’re offering this year). Each day participants will take a main workshop in their first choice instrument; one in their second choice (which can be something like singing, art, drama or a second instrument); and a third choice.
TradFest Edinburgh | Dùn Èideann Edinburgh 27 Apr – 8 May A vibrant twelve-day showcase of Scotland’s thriving traditional arts scene with dozens of events in the heart of Scotland’s capital, setting the city abuzz with music, song, storytelling, dance, film, crafts and more. Amongst the host of local and international talent appearing on this year’s programme are Nordic Fiddlers Bloc, Macmath: The Silent Page, Moishe’s Bagel, Dàimh, Niteworks, Gol, Nuala Kennedy Band, Talisk, Sheesham and Lotus & ‘Son and Mairi Campbell’s ‘Pulse’, along with many other songsters, storytellers and dancers to enjoy and discover. www.facebook.com/tradfestedinburgh
36th Shetland Folk Festival Shetland 28 April -1 May
The Festival as the UK's most northerly folk festival is regarded a prestigious event for performers, locals and visitors alike. Organised by a voluntary committee (and run by an even bigger pool of volunteers) the Festival prides itself in reaching out to even the most far flung www.eyg.org.uk areas of Shetland. Concerts are organised throughout the isles, consisting of some of the Counterflows best International, British and Shetland music that the world has to offer. In fact, visiting Glasgow artistes are regularly dumbfounded by the 7-10 April quantity and quality of local musicians that our Counterflows reaches its fifth year and I suppose remote isles have to offer. it is a big deal but really the music goes on and www.shetlandfolkfestival.com on with or without Counterflows. In saying this of course we are really pleased to reach this milestone. A festival that celebrates marginal, Skye Live underground or maybe even experimental Skye music, which are what our labels testify to, will always struggle to exist but we have made it this 29-30 April far and are determined to keep the flame A festival held on the magical Isle of Skye with burning world class music, world class views. And prepare to be blasted into space, the mindhttp://counterflows.com/ blowing Public Service Broadcasting are bringing their full brass section to Skye Live 2016!
Glenfarg Folk Feast Kinross 8-10 April
Ran by Glenfarg Village Folk Club the festival may be small but its stature and longevity are huge to say the least. We pride ourselves on running a friendly event with workshops and competitions to suit all tastes, and the World famous Puff-a -Box competition just has to be seen to be believed! www.glenfargfolkclub.com
Northern Streams Edinburgh 21-24 April For four days in April this truly unique festival combines one off concerts with dynamic and exciting workshops for both adults and children. In 2016 we celebrate the best talent from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Scotland. For the past 13 years the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland (Edinburgh & Lothians Branch), have been bringing the finest in Nordic
www.skyelive.scot
Thornhill Music Festival Dumfriesshire 29 April - 1 May
major cultural festivals, and takes place annually in Oban. The event has developed to include new special events and competitions, and the festival now offers over 1100 participants 125 competition classes in eleven disciplines including piping, accordion, fiddle, clarsach, piano, recorder, singing, woodwind & brass, highland dancing and choreography. www.obanfestival.org
Isle of Bute Jazz Festival Isle of Bute 29 April-2 May 2016 The Isle of Bute Jazz Festival has grown spectacularly from its small beginnings to become one of Britain's most popular jazz weekends. Top-class UK and international names feature in a programme of traditional jazz music in one of Scotland's prettiest and friendliest seaside resorts. Some very well known jazz names featured on the programme over the next few years – Acker Bilk, Monty Sunshine, Martin Taylor, Tommy Smith, Andy Sheppard, Carol Kidd, The Temperance 7, and The London Community Gospel Choir amongst others, and the Festival continues to attract top class UK and international bands in mainly the Traditional New Orleans idiom.The Festival is a great supporter of young musicians who feature prominently in the annual programme. www.butejazz.com
Girvan Folk Festival Girvan 29 April - 1 May Concerts - Sessions - Open Stage Competitions - Workshops - Children's Events Camp Site : Girvan Folk Festival started in 1975, a time when folk music in Scotland was increasingly exploring its own roots. Concert venues, competitions, ceilidh dance childrens events, sessions for tunes and songs, Open Stage, workshops,secure campsite. So please tell all of your friends and help to make this the biggest Girven Festival ever! There will be plenty of room and plenty of music for all to enjoy. www.girvanfolkfestival.co.uk
North Hop Aberdeen Aberdeen 30 April - 1 May May Day Bank Holiday Weekend celebrations, jam packed with craft beer, cider, gin, cocktails, street food, music and lots more. North Hop Aberdeen is returning to the Granite City for 2016, and this time we are going BIG! Meet the brewers, discover new and exciting products from across Scotland, and soak up the festival atmosphere with like-minded folk! http://northhop.co.uk/
MAY
Thornhill Music Festival brings a rich and diverse programme of music to the village including acclaimed Blues artist Aynsley Lister. The weekend boasts a cross section of music from Moniave Folk Festival Country Rock and Blues, Ska, Rock, Indie, Blues Moniaive, Dumfriesshire, funk, Eclectic Americana as well as singer 6-8 May songwriters. www.lewishamiltonmusic.co.uk/events
Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival Oban 29 April - 1 May The Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival has developed into one of Scotland’s
The Moniave Folk Festival has something for everyone, Great music, Piping competitions, Open stages, children’s events and concerts. Workshops. Come along for a wonderful family weekend. Main artists: Martin Simpson, the Paul McKenna Band, Northern Harmony, Margaret Bennett, Talisk www.moniaivefolkfestival.co.uk
..... lots more festival dates in our FESTIVALS! supplement read it @ http://musicnewsscotland.wordpress.com/festivals/ Shuffle Down
numbers’ : the more facets of the community and local businesses who get involved the louder our voice and the bigger the Southside’s profile will be on the festival map.
you are a Knockengorrocher! Join us beside the glittering Water of Deugh beneath the broad Larbert (nr Falkirk) shoulders of southwest Scotland's great 7 May mountain peaks to celebrate some of the finest music from the Celtic diaspora and everywhere After a hugely successful debut year the Shuffle www.southsidefringe.org.uk in-between. The World Ceilidh melds together Down Festival will return to the Dobbie Hall in the most ancient roots music with the latest Larbert on 7 May. Last year the event sold out cutting edge sounds. This first truly backwoods Perth Festival of the Arts and the organisers are aiming to bring a bigger upland music fest in Scotland hosts some of the and better event to the town this year. The Perth best musicians and performers from across the Charity Last year the event raised almost £5000 19-29 May world. All are invited to journey over hill and for MND Scotland and this year’s chosen charity dale by rock and stream to our natural is Strathcarron Hospice, a charity very close to Celebrate Perth Festival's 45th birthday in Perth greenfield auditorium and to our upland stage to all of the organisers. Concert Hall, the Festival is one of the highlights experience the biggest little festival this side of in Scotland's cultural calendar. Perth Festival of anywhere! www.shuffledown.co.uk the Arts is an annual 11 day May Festival, founded in 1972, and taking place in the City of www.knockengorroch.org.uk Perth in Scotland. It is now in its 45th Year and Psychedelic Forest Disco is one of the oldest continuously running arts Orkney Folk Festival Kelburn Festivals in Scotland. 7 May Orkney www.perthfestival.co.uk 26-29 May Kelburn’s infamous season-opener – the wild and groovy feast for all the senses that is The Once again we have some big names coming Dumfries & Galloway Psychedelic Forest Disco. Once again we will north to join in the fun in May, and from the feature a top line-up of acts across 2 ceilidh bands to the almost indie strand, we have Arts Festival soundsystems alongside innumerable hidden brought together a broad mix of artists that we Dumfries and Galloway treats and surprises, quality beer, cider and hope appeals to everyone’s interpretation of the cocktails, camping and of course your favourite 20-29 May increasingly expansive folk genre. As ever, our woodland shenanigans! local traditions and musicians – both established Our 9-day festival has taken place since 1979. and emerging – will be centre stage alongside The founding aim was to bring international www.kelburngardenparty.com/other-events/ those visiting the festival. You would be hard performers of the highest quality to a region pushed to find another festival throughout the containing many scattered rural communities country that has such a strong home Scribblers Picnic since then this region has produced some of its representation, and it is one that we are hugely Stirling own talent of international standing and we’re proud of. 8 May proud to also be able to present these artistes from time to time. We offer a wide range of www.orkneyfolkfestival.com The Scribbler’s Picnic is a charity that was set up events: music – including classical, jazz and folk, in 2001 to raise money for five cancer charities – dance, theatre, literary, children’s events, plus CHAS, Strathcarron Hospice, Maggie’s Centre, the visual arts and films. Events take place in a Marie Curie Cancer Care and Macmillan Cancer Reivers Rock range of venues throughout the region, from Care. This outdoor event is held at the Stirling large to small, formal to informal, urban to rural. and Blues Festival Rugby Club with each year getting better and better. Four stages of music and a charity fete www.dgartsfestival.org.uk Alwinton (Northumberland) make it a fun day for all the family. The unique 27-29 May music event, which is run entirely by volunteers, Doune & Dunblane Fling will feature hundreds of musicians covering a Clennell Hall will be the venue for the Reivers Dunblane broad array of music across the day in the Rock and Blues Festival with a fantastic line up 26-28 May grounds of Stirling Rugby Club. It run's under of top name bands and artists from all corners of the tagline 'Musicians Helping the Fight Against the UK. Clennell Hall is located in the Upper Like many others, the Fling was conceived with Cancer' and is run in association with Stirling Coquet Valley of Northumberland (just over the and Bridge of Allan Round Table. Thousands are the help of music and alcohol. It began as an Scottish border) near the village of Alwinton. idea at the Dunblane Folk Club, among a group Situated in it's own grounds, facilities include expected to flock to Bridgehaugh for the event of people fond of music and fun. And so in May which runs from 12noon to 8pm. camping, bunk rooms, hotel rooms, fully 1993 the first Fling happened. Since then the licensed bars, restaurant and bar meals as well Fling has gone from strength to strength. www.scribblerspicnic.co.uk as hog roasts and snacks throughout the Somewhere along the line the first 'Fling by the weekend. River' began. Held each Fling Saturday on FifeSing Dunblane's historic Drying Green, its activities www.facebook.com/reiversrock Collessie, Fife have ranged from an open stage for local young 13-15 May musicians, fire engines, space-hopper races and Riverside Festival fire-eating jugglers, to the annual Rotary Club This unique event brings together some of race for 4,000 plastic ducks down the Allan Glasgow Scotland's finest exponents of traditional singing Water. Gradually a 'Fringe Fling' has developed, 28-29 May for a weekend of old songs and bothy ballads in featuring over the years everything from ghost concerts and singarounds in the rural walks, pub quizzes, plays from the local Drama The Electric Frog & Pressure Riverside Festival surroundings of the Fife Farm Park. The Group, master classes in everything from takes place on the banks of the river Clyde on weekend also includes workshops/talks on topics fiddling or mandolins to harmony singing or the grounds of the iconic Riverside Museum for related to traditional song and culture. bodhran, and the now-annual Thursday Jazz the fourth consecutive year in 2016. Set to be Night. bigger than ever before, the festival takes place www.springthyme.co.uk/fifesing over May Bank Holiday weekend www.dunblanefling.com www.theelectricfrog.co.uk
Southside Fringe
Knockengorroch World Ceilidh
Glasgow 13-29 May It’s an incredibly exciting time in the Southside actively encouraging creativity and supporting local Southside talent. The ethos of the Southside Fringe is very much ‘strength in
Kirkcudbright 26-29 May If you prefer a bigger festival in a smaller pot
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music news scotland
page 33
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plus read MNS GIGguide @ http://wp.me/P12d6v-21 ADVERTISE IN OUR 3 WEEKLY DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS
MUSIC NEWS Scotland - GIGguide - FESTIVALS! For details email Carol: carol.musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
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MUSIC NEWS Scotland
Scotland’s weekly digital music newspaper with all the latest news from the Scottish music scene
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Our weekly gig guide giving a comprehensive snapshot of live music in every corner of the country
MNS
FESTIVALS!
Our weekly look at Scotland’s music festivals with the latest news and a full listings for the year
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