26: 8 : 20
During the Covid-19 crisis we are combining our three titles into one MNS MUSIC NEWS Scotland :: MNS FESTIVALS! :: MNS GIGguide Showcase Scotland Expo + Global Music Match - page 5 Record Store Day 2020 - p6 :: Highland young creatives receive funding - p12
Support for Scottish grassroots music venues that work with new, developing, musical talent New support has been made available for grassroots music venues across Scotland through the Scottish Government’s Grassroots Music Venues Stabilisation Fund and you can now submit applications. The £2.2m fund, which was announced by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop, will be delivered through Creative Scotland. The purpose of the fund is to provide grassroots live music venues, that were financially sustainable before Covid-19, with the funds to prevent permanent closure and help with sustainability. Who can apply? Eligible venues should be permanent, indoor venues in Scotland in the grassroots sector (i.e. those working with new, developing, musical talent), which have a public audience; and have a capacity of under 600. Applications from venues with capacities of up to 1,000 will be considered if a significant grassroots focus can be demonstrated. Venues may apply for grants of between £5,000 and £50,000.
grassroots venues reopen again but further work audiences as well as supporting the talent for is needed to ensure this can be done in a safe which Scotland is so renowned. As we look to and sustainable manner. move forward through the Covid-19 crisis, grassroots venues will, when it is safe to do so, “This £2.2m funding will provide some much play a crucial role in bringing people of all needed stability for grassroots venues over the backgrounds together to experience the joy of coming months and I am determined to continue live music.” working with the sector on what further help we The Grassroots Music Venues Stabilisation Fund can provide. It’s a long road to recovery but hopefully this marks the beginning of a brighter is an important part of Creative Scotland’s and the Scottish Government’s ongoing response to future after the very recent dark times.” the country’s creative community as a result of Iain Munro, Chief Executive, Creative the immediate impacts being felt due to the Scotland said: “In these extremely challenging COVID-19 outbreak: times, this fund will provide much needed emergency support to Scotland’s grassroots www.creativescotland.com music venues which are an important part of www.twitter.com/CreativeScots Scotland’s music ecology, developing music and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland
Online application forms are now available on the Creative Scotland website. Applications must be submitted by 12 noon on Thursday 3 September 2020. Who cannot apply? A Creative Scotland Regular Funded Organisation or operated by local authorities or related Trusts or Arm’s Length External Organisations (ALEOs). What information do you need to give us in your application? Describe the volume of grassroots music activity and the impact the venue has on the local community and the development of musicians, demonstrate the venue was financially viable before Covid-19 and demonstrate funding is required to stabilise the venue and prevent closure. Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Grassroots venues are the heartbeat of Scotland’s music scene, and they have been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. We are all extremely keen to see
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your listen 'n' watch guide during lock-down :: a selection of music on scotland's tv + radio this week
Music on Scottish
TV & RADIO over the next week ... ---------------------------------------
Celtic Music Radio
Music all day every day from Glasgow promoting Celtic and roots music of all genres - at 95FM or online @ www.celticmusicradio.net ---------------------------------------
LP Radio
Independent Alternative digital radio, broadcasting live from the upstairs of LP Records in Glasgow, listen online @ www.lpradio.co.uk/listen --------------------------------------SATURDAY 29 AUGUST Take The Floor :: 7pm on BBC Radio Scotland. For the very best in traditional music and song, join Gary Innes for Take The Floor. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
trumpeter COLIN STEELE. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
'Scottish, European, Other'. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
Classics Unwrapped :: 9pm on BBC Radio TradFest :: 10.30pm on BBC ALBA. Allan Scotland. Jamie MacDougall presents the best in MacDonald presents from TradFest music classical music. festival. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.bbcalba.co.uk Iain Anderson :: 11pm on BBC Radio Scotland. THURSDAY 3 SEPTEMBER End the day in the company of the songwriting masters of country, folk, blues and soul. The Afternoon Show :: 1.30pm on BBC Radio www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Scotland. What is happening in music, arts and culture from across Scotland. MONDAY 31 AUGUST www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland The Afternoon Show :: 1.30pm on BBC Radio Scotland. What is happening in music, arts and culture from across Scotland. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
Get It On... With Bryan Burnett :: 6pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Vic Galloway sits in with essential music chosen by listeners. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
Get It On... With Bryan Burnett :: 6pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Vic Galloway sits in with essential music chosen by listeners. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
Travelling Folk :: 8pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Bruce MacGregor with the best folk and roots music from around the world. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
Vic Galloway :: 8pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Two guests join Vic for his monthly music review 'Scottish, European, Other'. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
Natasha Raskin Sharp :: 10pm on BBC Radio Scotland. From 50s rockabilly to country to jazz to the latest indie sounds, Natasha has it all. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
Iain Anderson :: 10pm on BBC Radio Scotland. FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER End the day in the company of the songwriting masters of country, folk, blues and soul. The Friday Afternoon Show :: 2pm on BBC www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Radio Scotland. Weekend tunes and what is happening in music, arts and culture from across Van Morrison - Up on Cyprus Avenue :: Scotland with Nicola Meighan. 10.30pm on BBC ALBA. VAN MORRISON's www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland unique live performance on the avenue he made famous Astral Weeks. Grant Stott's Vinyl Collective :: 6pm on BBC www.bbcalba.co.uk Radio Scotland. Celebrating the vinyl revival with classic records and new releases. TUESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
Rewind :: 7.15pm on BBC Scotland. The music and news from 2008. www.bbc.co.uk/Scotland
The Afternoon Show :: 1.30pm on BBC Radio Scotland. What is happening in music, arts and culture from across Scotland. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
Pipeline :: 9pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Gary West presents more highlights from the Piping Live! Festival. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
Get It On... With Bryan Burnett :: 6pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Vic Galloway sits in with essential music chosen by listeners. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland
The Friday Afternoon Show :: 8pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Weekend tunes and what is happening in music, arts and culture from across Scotland with Nicola Meighan. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Piping Live :: 8pm on BBC ALBA. With FIN MOORE, SARAH HOY and STEVE BYRNE, combining their talents in a storming session. www.bbcalba.co.uk
Another Country with Ricky Ross :: 8pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Ricky introduces you to new Ashley Storrie :: 10pm on BBC Radio Scotland. and classic Americana and Alternative Country. New and classic Scottish music, soul rockabilly, www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland pop and indie from around the world. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Roddy Hart :: 11pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Celtic Connections Shorts :: 10.50pm on BBC Billy Sloan :: 10pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Hot Roddy shines a spotlight on great songwriting, both contemporary and classic. ALBA. DALLAHAN sing a traditional song called new releases plus rock and pop music from www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland 'Jail Song' with additional contemporary lyrics. Scotland and around the world. www.bbcalba.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Piping Live :: 11pm on BBC ALBA. With FIN Lorient is Alba: Scotland's Year :: 11pm on Belladrum :: 00.45am on BBC ALBA. YOU ME MOORE, SARAH HOY and STEVE BYRNE, BBC ALBA. Performances from the 2017 AT SIX perform at the Belladrum 2018 festival. combining their talents in a storming session. www.bbcalba.co.uk Interceltique Festival of Lorient. www.bbcalba.co.uk www.bbcalba.co.uk WEDNESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER SUNDAY 30 AUGUST SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER The Afternoon Show :: 1.30pm on BBC Radio Mike Ritchie On Sunday: 4-6pm on Celtic Scotland. What is happening in music, arts and Ricky Ross Meeets - JUSTIN CURRIE :: 7pm Music Radio 95FM + DAB. Handpicked tunes on BBC Radio Scotland. For the very best in from established acts, new voices and anything culture from across Scotland. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland traditional music and song, join Gary Innes for that takes my fancy from the wonderful worlds Take The Floor. of americana, roots, folk, singer/songwriters www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland without worrying about labels. Voted Best Radio Get It On... With Bryan Burnett :: 6pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Vic Galloway sits in with Show in americana-uk 2017 Readers' Poll. essential music chosen by listeners. Take The Floor :: 7pm on BBC Radio Scotland. www.celticmusicradio.net www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland For the very best in traditional music and song, join Gary Innes for Take The Floor. Take The Floor :: 5pm on BBC Radio Scotland. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland For the very best in traditional music and song, The Quay Sessions :: 8pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Enjoy live performances from the foyer join Gary Innes for Take The Floor. at BBC Radio Scotland's Pacific Quay. Rewind :: 7.15pm on BBC Scotland. The music www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland and news from 2009. www.bbc.co.uk/Scotland Jazz Nights :: 7pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Vic Galloway :: 8pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Seonaid Aitken with a home studio session from Two guests join Vic for his monthly music review Pipeline :: 9pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Gary
Van Morrison - Up on Cyprus Avenue :: 9pm on BBC ALBA. VAN MORRISON's unique live performance on the avenue he made famous Astral Weeks. www.bbcalba.co.uk
Email your virtual gig dates to robert.musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
your listen 'n' watch guide during lock-down :: a selection of music on scotland's tv + radio this week West From Piping Live! 2020 . www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Folk Prom :: 9pm on BBC ALBA. A prom celebrating traditional folk festival. www.bbcalba.co.uk
programming to provide a flavour of the festivals. The Edinburgh Show returns to the BBC Scotland channel with presenter Grant Stott. The magazine programme will go out on Thursday nights at 8.30pm on 13+20 August, showcasing all the best that is happening with the International, Book Festival and Fringe, in their Covid-19 reincarnations, as they adapt to this year’s restrictions and largely go online to connect with their audience.
Billy Sloan :: 10pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Hot Radio Scotland’s The Afternoon Show will present three Festival new releases plus rock and pop music from Specials across August, with Janice Forsyth, Grant Stott and Nicola Scotland and around the world. Meighan each curating their pick of the best digital offerings. They www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland will be catching up with artists taking part in this unique festival year and hearing how each of the Festivals have adapted their Lorient is Alba: Scotland's Year - HebCelt:: programmes to take their content far beyond the reaches of the 11pm on BBC ALBA. Performances from the Festival city. Janice presents her Festival Special on 3 August, 2017 Interceltique Festival of Lorient. Grant on 12 August and Nicola on 21 August. www.bbcalba.co.uk BBC Radio nan Gàidheal’s Feasgar, presented by Cathy MacDonald will also have festival items. And towards the end of the The Quay Sessions - LEWIS CAPALDI :: 11.30pm on BBC Scotland. Presented by Roddy month, the BBC Scotland channel will have a 90 minute special of Hart, LEWIS CAPALDI performs and chats with past highlights from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on 14 August with a further hour-long package on 21 August. a live audience. www.bbc.co.uk/Scotland Gareth Hydes, Commissioning Editor at BBC Scotland, said; “Life is different this year in so many ways and the Edinburgh SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER festivals have been impacted like many other events. However thanks to the creativity of the performers and organisers there is Mike Ritchie On Sunday: 4-6pm on Celtic still much to enjoy in August. Through our programming we are Music Radio 95FM + DAB. Handpicked tunes aiming to give the audience a flavour of the festivals and help them from established acts, new voices and anything soak up the experience wherever they are in Scotland.” that takes my fancy from the wonderful worlds of americana, roots, folk, singer/songwriters BBC Scotland’s arts strand Loop will be heading through to without worrying about labels. Voted Best Radio Edinburgh for a special programme featuring artists at work in the Show in americana-uk 2017 Readers' Poll. city. The 30 minute episode, which will go out on BBC Scotland on August 19 at 11pm, will feature – amongst others - poet Alycia www.celticmusicradio.net Pirmohamed, co-founder of the Scottish BAME Writers network, Take The Floor :: 5pm on BBC Radio Scotland. who lives and studies in the city, and Loop will go behind the scenes For the very best in traditional music and song, on the EIF’s artistic intervention – an amazing flash of light - taking place across the city in August. join Gary Innes for Take The Floor. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Online BBC The Social will be digging into its Edinburgh archives to pull out some of the highlights from our previous Edinburgh Festival Jazz Nights :: 7pm on BBC Radio Scotland. events like Rappers V Poets, Drag Cabaret and the Comedy Seonaid Aitken with the best in jazz music from showcase. The Social is also going to create bespoke Edinburgh contemporary to classic. playlists at www.bbc.co.uk/thesocial creating virtual stages to www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland celebrate the best new talent from Scotland in music, arts and comedy. Cassi and Roisin from the new podcast The Love / Hate Classics Unwrapped :: 9pm on BBC Radio Club will be continuing their hilarious chat with guests as part of an Scotland. Jamie MacDougall presents the best in Edinburgh Festival Special. And L.A.B. Scotland will be getting classical music. involved in the Children’s Book Festival with schoolchildren from www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland around Scotland putting their questions to some special author guests. Iain Anderson :: 11pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Festival news will also be featured on Reporting Scotland, with End the day in the company of the songwriting special reports from arts correspondent Pauline McLean, as well as masters of country, folk, blues and soul. coverage on BBC Scotland’s The Nine, plus news coverage on www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Radio Scotland and online.
Edinburgh Festival ::
Some key Edinburgh programming in other parts of the BBC will include
Edinburgh Festivals. The programme will tell stories of the many people working in stand -up comedy, theatre and dance who have managed to create shows in spite of the lockdown. There are highlights from the Book Festival and a big opening event and virtual shows from the International Festival. It will also capture the spirit of the Festivals, celebrating past shows and hearing from some well -known faces about why they love Edinburgh. On Radio 2 throughout August, Jo Whiley and Anita Rani (who sits in for Jo for the weeks of 10th & 17th August) will be talking to comedians and artists performing in 2020’s virtual Fringe activities, and to writers involved with the Edinburgh International Book Festival. BBC Radio 3, in association with the EIF, will have a series of Queen’s Hall concerts from the archives broadcast as part of BBC Arts' Culture in Quarantine. Fifteen recitals from the last two decades will be available to hear on BBC Radio 3 over three weeks starting on August 10. The series will include past performances from Nicola Benedetti, Ronald Brautigam, Trio Zimmermann and many other International Festival highlights. Radio 3 will also have a special New Music Show episode on Saturday 8 August, as part of Culture in Quarantine, which will be dedicated to Edinburgh, on the weekend that the city’s annual festivals were due to begin. Featuring exclusive home recordings by performers based there or connected to the place – giving an insight into the eclectic musical scene of the city, featuring: violinist Daniel Pioro; double bassist Una MacGlone with pianist Jim McEwan (piano); guitarist Firas Khnaisser (guitar) collaborating with noise artist Ali Robertson; and electronic artist Owen Green. Also part of the episode, Kate Molleson is in conversation with celebrated Scottish crime author Val McDermid, discussing life in Edinburgh at the time of the pandemic: the atmosphere during lockdown; the cancelled festival; the future of culture post-Covid 19. On BBC Radio 4 Miles Jupp offers up his dream line-up as the first of six curators for Radio 4’s first Summer Comedy Festival starting 24 July. Expect a summer festival with a difference as some of the nation's favourite comics turn curators and host a virtual festival featuring their favourite performers from the worlds of comedy, literature and spoken word. The other comedy curators are: Jo Brand, Darren Harriott, Sara Pascoe, Daliso Chaponda and Jayde Adams. BBC One will also have a programme of past Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo highlights going out towards the end of August.
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Edinburgh’s streets won’t be awash with tourists, artists and people BBC Two programme Edinburgh Nights (title tbc) I x 60 mins, handing out flyers this August, but BBC Scotland will still have commissioned by BBC Arts, which will capture the spirit of the
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Scottish Folk Artists In World First, Global Music Initiative Twelve Scottish artists are participating in what is thought to be the world’s largest online musical matchmaking featuring 96 artists from 14 countries around the globe! For six weeks across September and October, Scottish music will be on the world’s stage alongside artists from as far afield as Canada, Australia, Taiwan, the USA and throughout Europe. The world-first collaboration was created by founding partners Showcase Scotland Expo, with Sounds Australia and Canada’s East Coast Music Association (ECMA), to continue developing profiles for folk-based artists in international music markets within the challenging and unprecedented parameters of COVID-19. Artists from around the world have been grouped into international teams of six acts from different countries, who will take it week about to ‘introduce’ each act to their respective social media followings - thereby expanding all participating artists’ global fanbases, whilst not able to tour in 2020. With just shy of 100 artists in all, 16 teams will work simultaneously across multiple markets and timezones. Global Music Match begins next Monday, August 31, running to October 11. Representing a diverse cross-section of the country’s folk, roots and acoustic music, the Scottish artists selected to take part in Global Music Match (after an open application) are: 'Aberdeenshire folksinger, Iona Fyfe, has become one of Scotland ’ s finest young ballad singers, rooted deeply in the singing traditions of the North East of Scotland'
Iona Fyfe :: www.facebook.com/ionafyfe
RURA celebrate their tenth anniversary in 2020 with the release of their hotly anticipated live album, Live at the Old Fruitmarket – recorded in front of a capacity crowd in February 2020 at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival :: www.facebook.com/ruramusic
Breabach, Claire Hastings, Elephant Sessions, Fara, Iona Fyfe, Kim Edgar, The Langan Band, RURA, Ryan Young, Siobhan Miller, Skerryvore and Twelfth Day.
Australia several months ago, and we have since seen it grow to include so many export organisations - all of whom have been meeting regularly to develop the initiative.
Each Scottish act has been placed into a working “It's great that we can all still connect through group with five other artists from different social media and we are really looking forward to countries. seeing how all the artists work together. With so many from around the world, most of the As well as the founding partners in Scotland, musicians won’t have met - let alone toured in Australia and Canada, a further eleven their respective countries - so it really is going to international music export offices have come on establish new and lasting international board with the pilot initiative - bringing with connections” them artists from Catalonia, Iceland, Estonia, Finland, Wales, the USA, Norway, Brittany, David Foley, of Scottish group RURA, said: Puglia (Italy), England and Taiwan. “This year was set to be one of our busiest yet, internationally - so it’s great to be taking part in Global Music Match was created as a unique and Global Music Match to bridge that gap, and keep direct response to the sudden limitations on developing new audiences for when we can imposed on the worldwide music industry, hit the road again. making use of the few available platforms social media, and peer-to-peer collaboration - to “We were relatively lucky in that we managed to increase networks, audiences and meaningful visit festivals in Australia and New Zealand with exposure for internationally touring or exportthe Year of Scotland in Australia before the ready artists, providing a groundwork for future pandemic hit in March, and had a wee tour in development. Denmark in February too - but that was just the start of our tenth anniversary year. We were due The programme will also support participating to be touring our new album across Europe and artists to improve and broaden their social media to Canada this summer, and then throughout the activity, as well as encourage cross border artist UK in the autumn. It’s great that opportunities collaboration by connecting musicians globally. like this exist through Showcase Scotland Expo, Showcase Scotland Expo Executive to keep the word out there! Producer, Lisa Whytock said: “We’re really www.globalmusicmatch.com excited to see Global Music Match kick off next www.twitter.com/gblmusicmatch week. The idea came about on a Zoom call www.facebook.com/globalmusicmatch between myself and Millie Millgate of Sounds
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WHAT'S
HOT! DOGHOUSE ROSES
from the latest releases to reach us ....
www.doghouseroses.net
TORRIDON
Some albums are like fleeting thoughts, written and recorded in a blink of the eye. Others are nurtured over time, allowed to develop and blossom and this is the case for the fourth album from Glasgow's Doghouse Roses
www.torridonlive.com
Click on www.recordstoreday.co.uk/stores/ to find your nearest RSD shop
A newly adapted version of Record Store Day will return on Saturday 29 August in what will be the first of three “Drops” that celebrates independent record stores. Glasgow's Monorail Music Superstar artists from the likes of Pink Floyd, The :: www.facebook.com/MonorailMusicGlasgow Cure and The Kinks to Christine and the Queens, J Hus and The Big Moon are scheduled to take part with limited-edition releases. The Weeknd and Working Men’s Club have also come on board in a bid to Record Store Day is widely credited as the catalyst support the UK’s record retailers. behind the vinyl revival and is recognised as the The annual celebration known for its in-store parties, biggest trading day of the year for many independent live performances and very limited vinyl releases was record stores. originally scheduled to take place on 18 April. It is often quoted as being bigger than Christmas for However, like many music events, organisers were the participating small businesses; selling more than forced to call off the party in light of the COVID-19 100k LPs and 30k singles on one weekend alone. pandemic. More than 230 independent shops faced huge However, Record Store Day has since gone back to uncertainty with the postponement of this year’s the drawing board and created a series of “RSD event alongside the nationwide closure of all retail Drops” to accommodate the new social distancing outlets. Many are hoping that the first instalment of guidelines. the RSD Drops will provide a much-needed sales boost in order to get them back on the road to recovery. Warren Alsop, owner of Slide Record Shop since 2017 said: “When lockdown happened we had to shut both our physical and online shop while we figured out how to operate safely. After a lot of talking, researching and seeking advice we’ve now reopened and we’ll be operating a queue with bookable slots on RSD so we can serve our amazing customers safely. It’s a wonderful day to celebrate music and artists as well as a great boost to a small business like ours”
TOM McGUIRE + THE BRASSHOLES
Their new album signals a significant progression in the band’s style, sound, vision and drive to showcase a passion for serious and original songwriting. With tracks inspired by men’s mental health and suicide in Scotland
'Record Store Day' returns for but things are a bit different!
www.tomandthebrassholes.com An eclectic, modern-soul-funk, 8 piece band from Glasgow, headed by Tom McGuire. The funky collective of “killer animals from hell”, consists of a colourful, hilarious bunch of wonderfully talented, animated young men
Whilst the live music and in-store parties will remain off the cards, the list of limited-edition releases will be made available from participating shops on one of the 3 Drop Dates: 29 August, 26 September and 24 October.
AMY PAPIRANSKY
Music fans are encouraged to use the Record Store Day store locator to find out how their shop plans to open. This will range from offering bookable time slots 1 week in advance on a first come first served basis and/ or operating socially distanced queues.
www.amypapiransky.com A stunning self-penned debut album, Amy has been gathering and writing songs over the last eight years. Her debut release is a lesson in flawless vocal dexterity and heartfelt song writing with a side of sass, funk and class
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
Record Store Day is also proud to continue its partnership with War Child with the release of three very special and limited edition titles. U2, Manic Street Preachers and David Bowie will each donate £1 of every sale to the charity in a bit to raise more than £10k.
www.recordstoreday.co.uk www.twitter.com/RSDUK www.facebook.com/rsdayuk
For those customers who do not wish to visit in-store, for one year only, Record Store Day will relax online sales so that product can be made available on participating shop websites or over the phone from 6pm on the evening of each Drop. Natasha Youngs, owner of Resident Music said : "We may not be partying this year but we're still determined to make sure we celebrate the artists and labels that have made special releases available for our event. Getting them into the hands of the fans safely and sensibly is our top priority this year. We will be operating a socially distanced queue and will be serving from 8am. With the releases being made available online at 6pm the same evening, customers who would rather not visit the shop in person can choose to order them online in the evening instead. They can then collect their records from the shop at a later date or have them posted to their door. We'll focus on being able to organise another exciting event next year when things can hopefully return a little more to normal."
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SCOTTISH MUSIC CENTRE ......... Member Profile :: Simon Thacker www.scottishmusiccentre.com/simon-thacker/ "The Scottish Music Centre's task is to champion the wealth of talent that abounds in Scotland's musical community"
Described as “one of the most important musicians of his generation” (Three Weeks), Simon Thacker is a composer, classical guitarist, improviser and ensemble leader. His ever expanding musical world develops new possibilities through a deep immersion in diverse cultures. As well as touring as a classical guitar soloist whose music expands the soundworld of the instrument, Simon has also developed some of today’s most prescient ensembles, all of which exclusively perform his original compositions and reimaginings. Simon Thacker’s Svara-Kanti is a world leading Indo-Western community of lineups expanding on Hindustani, Carnatic, Punjabi folk and Baul spiritual influences. This has seen him tour and collaborate at major festivals in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, including for an audience of 60 000 in Dhaka and at The Sacred Pushkar, one of the region’s biggest sacred music festivals.
:: photo by Nitesh Anand
envisions a new Romany musical journey. All of these groups have been selected for the prestigious Made in Scotland showcase. In the studio he has taken the backwards recording technique pioneered by Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles to new heights.
Their 2018 Trikala double album was acclaimed Simon’s pieces have been played on radio in over 50 countries. As an educator, he has been across the world, notably in India and classical guitar tutor at Edinburgh Napier Bangladesh in major periodicals such as The Hindu, Times of India and Rolling Stone India, University and Edinburgh College for over and won a Scottish New Music Award in 2019. fifteen years. He has performed as soloist with many orchestras, including the RSNO. Simon Thacker’s Ritmata is Simon’s musical laboratory with three of Europe’s leading improvisers (classical guitar, piano, bass, drums). Karmana with Polish cellist Justyna Jablonska seeks a new vision for chamber music. Songs of the Roma with Justyna and Roma singer/violinist Masha Natanson
presented an instrumental trio incarnation of Simon Thacker’s Svara-Kanti at Celtic Connections. In March 2020 he brought the India and Bangladesh based Bengali Baul spiritual lineup of Svara-Kanti to tour Scotland. His latest album Tàradh, with Simon Thacker’s Ritmata, was released in November 2019. The centerpiece of the album, Quadriga in 5, was nominated for the Ivors Composer Awards, the most prestigious in the UK.
In July 2020 he released a lockdown track bringing together 19 leading performers from 9 In December 2019 he toured his new Pashyanti countries as a message of solidarity in the time solo programme in India, including Goa and of Covid 19, which he produced, composed and Gurgaon International Jazz Festivals, and the edited. Delhi “Giants of Jazz” series. Pashyanti was selected to represent the country as part of the www.simonthacker.com Made in Scotland showcase at the Edinburgh www.twitter.com/thackerguitar Festival Fringe. In February 2020 Simon www.facebook.com/simonthackerguitar
www.smc-covid19.com "The Scottish Music Centre's task is to champion the wealth of talent that abounds in Scotland's musical community"
www.scottishmusiccentre.com : www.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.
Scottish Music Centre’s City Halls office is currently closed due to Covid-19 and our staff and project teams are working from home. We have made changes to some of our services: please go to the individual page(s) on our website for more info. For general enquiries please contact us on info@scottishmusiccentre.com
music news scotland
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Scots guitarist and composer brings musicians from across the world together for online concert series A Scottish musician has brought together performers from across the world to create an online concert series to help musicians during the pandemic. Guitarist and composer Ali Tod, from Edinburgh, has created the ‘Lockdown Series’, which features guitarists from the UK, Europe and the USA. The series of downloadable videos is in response to the cancellation of all live performance for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus pandemic. The online series is part of the Edinburgh Guitar Night, a series of normally live gigs that have been running every second month in the capital city since 2018. In the live setting, the concerts usually feature three guitar acts from all over the country, who are given an intimate setting to perform to an attentive, and often extremely appreciative audience. Due to the pandemic, the events have now moved online, where fans can pay to download videos from some of the best guitarists across the globe. The Edinburgh Guitar Night was created by Ali Tod, and Edinburgh-born guitarist and musician, who started the events after performing in guitar events across the UK and noticed a lack of anything similar in Scotland.
“A lot of the contacts I’ve made are with musicians that live Europe, the USA or even further away like Australia. It would normally be impossible to get these guitarists over to Scotland, as I simply can’t afford it, so I saw this Ali says, “I performed in the London Guitar Night as an opportunity to do it virtually. Hopefully one and the Belfast Guitar Festival, and at the time day it will be possible to have them over in real even though I hadn’t performed at them, I knew life.” there was also a Manchester Guitar Night, Belfast Guitar Night and Dublin Guitar Night. I didn’t see The first in the series features American Vicki Genfan, hailed as a pioneer for women on the any reason why there shouldn’t be something similar in Edinburgh, one of the biggest arts cities guitar, Irish fingerstyle sensation Shane Hennessy, and dutch-native Karlijn Langendijk. in the world.” “Scotland has the Ullapool Guitar Festival, which is fantastic, but only once a year,” she continues. “I wanted to provide more performance opportunities for instrumental musicians like myself, who don’t quite fit into the ‘singersongwriter’ category. Plus, I just love the guitar. The acts that have performed at the live events have mostly been acoustic, but all different and unique. The creativity is astonishing.” Since COVID-19 forced a lockdown of all live events, many concert promoters have taken to the internet to try and replicate a live music experience. Some have done livestreams from musician’s homes; others have shown clips from past events. For the Edinburgh Guitar Night, Ali wanted to do something a bit different. “As a performing musician myself, I know the importance of live gigs to our livelihood. Almost every musician has taken to doing livestreams with a ‘virtual tip jar’. While this is all well and good, it doesn’t provide a guaranteed fee, and relies of the kindness of strangers. It’s a bit like glorified busking. And with everyone doing it, social media gets a bit over-saturated. People have grown weary of it and can just scroll past if they like.” The ‘Lockdown Series’ consists of videos from some of the best acoustic guitarists from around the world. Each video features three performances, doing a condensed 15-minute set, exclusively for the Edinburgh Guitar Night.
“They are all incredible, and their sets are wonderful to watch. They all play acoustically but are all totally different and bring their own genius. I feel so lucky that they all agreed to be involved. I have some real legends lined up for future videos, as well. In acoustic guitar circles, I have managed to coup some of the best in the business.” The pandemic, however, is creating massive uncertainty about the future of musician’s careers and the idea of live performance, with many venues being forced to close their doors for good. “It’s a very scary time for most people, but especially those in the arts,” she said. “Music by it’s very nature is designed to bring people together, and obviously in this climate, that is the exact opposite of what we are being told to do.” Ali, who studied classical guitar at Edinburgh Napier University, says that every musician is having to think of a new approach. “It’s a unique situation, but I suppose musicians and creatives are used to thinking outside the box. If anyone can thrive in a crisis, it’s artists.” “Musicians saw their incomes vanish overnight. All future live events and festivals have been cancelled, rescheduled, or postponed indefinitely. It was almost unthinkable that the Fringe would be cancelled. Nobody would have believed it if they were told a year ago that Glastonbury wouldn’t go ahead in 2020.”
Ali has worked with artists from across the globe and reached out online to the friends and contacts “Hopefully, the Lockdown Series will provide she has made in the guitar world. people with a bit of a live music fix. It’s not the same, but it’s as close as we can get at the “I’ve been lucky enough to meet and perform moment. It also gives musicians a ‘gig’ to prepare alongside some of the best guitarists out there. for, and hopefully if lots of people download the And a lot of them that I might not have met in videos, they will get a decent wage out of it as person, I am friends with online – the acoustic well.” guitar community is pretty small, really.”
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She has met and performed with her heroes, GRAMMY award-winning Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela, sung twice on-stage with Brandi Carlile, the most nominated woman at the 2020 GRAMMY awards, and in January 2020 performed in the House of Blues in Anaheim, California as part of a ‘Women of Fingerstyle Guitar’ concert, featuring some of the biggest female names in the industry.
The videos cost £10 and can be downloaded from
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Young artists receive crucial funding from Highland arts community :: New creative fund provides financial support and mentoring to emerging artists at a time when the arts are under threat Talented young creatives have received a much needed boost from the Highland arts community in a bid to support them with their creative community projects, at a time when the arts world is currently under threat.
young people are engaging with climate change in their communities. Sara Oussaiden, the youngest recipient of a ‘Creative In Your Community’ award, is a 16year-old student from the Isle of Skye, hoping to study at Art School in 2021. Although primarily Fine Art focused, Sara loves experimenting with ways to express her creativity through a variety of mediums such as sculpture, photography, theatre, and literature. Sara, who will be mentored by visual artist Joanne B Kaar, commented: “The funding and mentoring offered through this opportunity will help me in the development and creation of my project, "From Inside". I aim to produce a mixed media interactive installation that will prompt an open discussion in my community surrounding changes, both positive and negative, in mental health over lockdown.”
With projects ranging from a theatre piece about lockdown in the Highlands to a documentary about climate change and a music video showcasing Gaelic and Scots culture, the successful artists will cover a wide spectrum of issues affecting young people throughout the Highlands at the moment. Highland Youth Arts Hub (HYAH), a consortium of arts organisations led by Fèis Rois, was acutely aware of the potential talent drain within the rich arts community in the Highlands Chloe Bryce from Tain because of the Covid pandemic and came together to launch ‘Creative in Your Community’ last month; a fund to support and inspire young artists with their creative ambitions. Today, they Tain; Mathilde Darmady, 18, Lybster; Ruairidh can announce the recipients of the fund. Gollan, 21, Edderton; Hester Grant, 25, Inverness; Rowen Henderson, 17, Nairn; Jade Each recipient will receive £1000 as well as 12 Hutchison, 20, Inverness; Iain Hyslop, 20, hours’ worth of mentoring from some of Avoch; Ilona Kennedy, 23, Kincraig; Jack Scotland’s top arts professionals including; Macgregor, 23, Inverness; Isabel McLeish, 22, renowned Gaelic singer, Julie Fowlis, filmmaker Kyle of Lochalsh; Gillie O’Flaherty, 18, Ullapool; Thomas Hogben, performance maker Robbie Sara Oussaiden, 16, Isle of Skye; Emma Ralph, Synge, award-winning visual artist Joanne B 22, Inverness; Jodie Sandiford, 19, Grantown; Kaar, theatre maker Jenna Watt and Highland Keira Smith, 21, Inverness; James Bauld, 19, writer, Anne MacLeod. Dornoch. The 17 recipients, who come from across The projects include a music research project in the Highland Council region, are: Badenoch and Strathspey, an exploration of the Taylor Black, 19, Lochaber; Chloe Bryce, 23, North Highland fiddle traditions, a small anthology of short monologues and stories about the LGBTQ+ experience in the Highlands, a theatre piece about young people coming out of lockdown, a promotional music video showcasing Gaelic and Scots culture, a project to raise awareness of mental health illness in small towns and a short documentary exploring how
“Although a little nervous to carry out such a big project I'm so excited to have been selected and to have the support and mentoring to ensure I can carry out the project to the best of my ability. On top of all this, I'm really looking forward to meeting with the other selected young creatives and seeing how the different issues they've raised are expressed.” Fiona Dalgetty, Chief Executive, Fèis Rois, one of the HYAH project partners, said: “At a time when the arts and cultural sectors are really suffering, it is a privilege to be able to support these incredibly talented emerging artists. The HYAH consortium was very impressed by the number, calibre and range of project ideas submitted, making the decision making much harder. “Not only will this fund provide the crucial financial support they need in order to stay creative and realise their ideas, but it has motivated young talent in the Highlands to engage with their communities and give something back. It has provided artists with an opportunity to explore creative ideas close to their hearts and has given them focus at a time when things in the art world are very uncertain.” Creative In Your Community’, was open to young artists, 16-25 years old, across the six art forms - dance, theatre, digital art/film, literature, music and visual art - who live in, or are originally from, the Highlands. Applicants were asked to come up with a project, involving at least one art form, which engages with their community, collaborates with a professional mentor and perhaps explores some of the challenges faced in Highland communities or around the world today. The fund to support emerging artists at this difficult time was created by the Highland Youth Arts Hub with support from Creative Scotland. The organisations who have collaborated to deliver this project include, Fèis Rois, Moniack Mhor, Eden Court, Highland Print Studio, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Lyth Arts Centre, North Lands Creative, Youth Highland and High Life Highland. More information about each of the recipients can be found @ https://hyah.co.uk/2020/06/25/creative-in-your-community-2020/ To keep up to date with the recipients’ projects, please follow Highland Youth Arts Hub on Facebook - link below.
Taylor Black from Lochaber
Sara Oussaiden, aged 16 from Isle of Skye
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Children from Golspie to Ghana enjoy a summer of Gaelic music and song Children from Golspie to Ghana have been enjoying a summer of free Gaelic music tuition, thanks to Gaelic arts organisation Fèisean nan Gàidheal.
Tutors included Skippinish singer Norrie MacIver :: www.facebook.com/Skipinnish
With ongoing support from Creative Scotland, HIE and Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Fèisean an tSamhraidh (Summer Fèisean – Fèisean being the Gaelic word for festivals), organised by Fèisean nan Gàidheal in collaboration with local Fèisean, offer live online music lessons with musicians from across Scotland, every week throughout the summer holidays. Fèisean usually take the form of a week-long series of music, dance and Gaelic language activities in their own locality and there would normally be around 20 of them during the school holiday period. Due to the current Covid-19 situation it was not possible for the usual summer Fèisean to take place, so the small team at Fèisean nan Gàidheal set up a programme of music lessons online, teaming up with local Fèisean to deliver classes via Zoom at the time they would normally have been taking place.
Eòrna), Barra (Fèis Bharraigh), Sutherland (Fèis Chataibh) Lewis (Fèis an Rubha) and Eigg (Fèis Eige). Two other Fèisean - Fèis Phàislig (Paisley) and Fèis Arainn (Arran) - have organised their own online Fèis and these are open to anyone across Scotland, or beyond.
commented: “Although the summer Fèisean couldn’t run as normal, we are delighted to have been able to work with them to offer fantastic tuition opportunities to their participants through these online lessons. The feedback from participants, and their parents, has been excellent as have numbers of participants. We Catriona Danquah, who lives in Ghana and are also pleased to offer financial support to Fèis whose children have attended Fèis Thiriodh Phàislig, Fèis Arainn and Fèis Lannraig a Tuath previously, commented: “Our two children which have independently organised online Each Summer Fèisean session offers a variety of aged 11 and 13 tuned into the summer Fèisean Fèisean for their own participants.” online from Ghana for Gaelic singing and chanter lessons from some of the top traditional lessons. They loved every minute of it, the “At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, many musicians and singers in the country, all of teachers were organised and engaging and the musicians found themselves without work and whom had been booked to teach at the local sessions couldn't be long enough! In 2018 their an income. We are pleased to have been able to Fèisean prior to lockdown. Children have been first Fèis spawned a love of the clàrsach and help in a small way by making goodwill able to choose from a selection of workshops chanter, this year Gaelic singing has been payments to those who had work cancelled but including fiddle, Gaelic Song, accordion, whistle added. It's wonderful that Tiree's musical gift is also, with the support of our funders, by and bagpipes. able to be shared so widely whilst we cannot continuing to employ artists to deliver our online Tutors, who include Skipinnish singer, Norrie travel, we are so grateful and look forward to programme.” MacIver, Eilidh Cormack, Gaelic singer with next year, hopefully on Tiree.” All Fèisean an t-Samhraidh events are being female trio, Sian, Mànran fiddler Ewen As part of a joint “#cleachdi aig an taigh” offered free to participants this year, due to Henderson and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner, initiative with Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Fèisean nan Covid-19 restrictions, but if anyone is able to Mischa Macpherson, have also been putting Gàidheal has continued to offer a huge range of make a donation, funds will be used to support together videos to form the traditional Tutors’ free music and Gaelic language activities for all Fèisean get up and running again once Cèilidh at the end of each week, all of which are regulations allow. You can donate through streamed on Facebook, along with a selection of ages throughout lockdown and has so far provided lessons and workshops to over 2,400 JustGiving @ https://bit.ly/327qDL9. Gaelic songs for everyone to learn together. people from all over the world. So far Fèisean have taken place throughout www.feisean.org Calum Alex Macmillan, Fèisean nan Scotland including Harris (Fèis Eilean na www.facebook.com/feisean Hearadh), Tiree (Fèis Thiriodh), Uist (Fèis Tìr an Gàidheal’s Development Manager,
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Ash To Play Special Gig At Edinburgh’s Sneaky Pete’s For ‘Passport: Back To Our Roots’ Campaign Prize draw for tickets @ www.crowdfunder.co.uk/passport-back-to-our-roots Closing date 10am Monday 31st August
Ash join Elbow, Everything Everything, Public Service Broadcasting and The Slow Readers Club as the first artists confirmed to play gigs for ‘Passport: Back to Our Roots’, the new campaign to raise money for grassroots music venues at risk of closure. More artists will be announcing gigs soon. Entry to these shows will be via a prize draw for a £5 minimum donation to the campaign, music fans will be entered into the draw to win entry to the show of their choice for themselves and a guest. The artists will be playing one-off, intimate shows at grassroots music venues on dates to be confirmed, when it is safe to perform with no social distancing. Ash will be performing at Edinburgh’s Sneaky Pete’s. “Grassroots music venues are the lifeblood of a healthy music scene; its where we cut our teeth as a band, learning our craft, honing our skills, networking and socialising. You can spend as long as you like in a rehearsal room but nothing sharpens you up like a live audience. For 99% of musicians this happens at your local grassroots venue” said Rick McMurray of Ash. “Sneaky Pete's is my local grassroots venue. Nick who runs the place has been a long-time supporter of Northern Irish bands at the grassroots level, bringing Edinburgh the likes of And So I Watch You From Afar and Lafaro to new audiences as well as providing a platform for local talent to step up and do their first gigs. Without venues like Sneaky Pete's new music will suffer. The music scene is nothing without them.” Nick Stewart of Sneaky Pete’s said: ‘Well I'm just totally blown away that Ash want to play Sneaky Pete's, helping us and other grassroots music venues in the process. This came as a bolt out of the blue, I got a call saying the band wanted to play and I was absolutely speechless. As it happens, I was a teenager in Northern Ireland playing in bands when Ash just started to make it big. To have role models like that was totally inspiring, and here they are being inspirational all over again. I particularly love that these ‘Passport: Back to Our Roots’ shows are only going to happen when venues can operate without social distancing. As a venue what we're so keen to give people is a return to the full live experience, with amazing artists literally within arms’ reach, as we have done for over a decade now. With all the incredible support people keep showing us, we will
absolutely get back up there!’. Elbow will be returning to Night & Day, three decades after they first performed at the Manchester venue. “This is a simple way of looking after the very roots of British music, and will result in some powerful, joyous shows when we can at last see each other again. I’m very proud to be involved” Guy Garvey, Elbow Audio-visual songsmiths Public Service Broadcasting will be performing at The Amersham Arms in New Cross, while Everything Everything will be playing at Bedford Esquires. “Like all artists worth their salt, we came up through smaller rooms and tiny stages, learning our craft as we went. So often these vital venues are run on a shoestring, but what they provide to their community socially and artistically is invaluable. The Back to Our Roots project is helping grassroots music venues back on their feet after these testing times. We wanted to come to Esquires [in Bedford] as it’s exactly the sort of gig we’d have done ten years ago, but actually never had the opportunity to. It’s our pleasure to be involved” said Jeremy, Everything Everything. “We’re delighted to be taking part in ‘Passport: Back to Our Roots’ and taking the chance to play at The Amersham Arms. We never actually managed to play there when we started out so it’ll be great to do so, finally, and in support of such a good cause. See some glory.” of you there as soon as it’s safe - we can’t wait” J. Stephen Budd, Founder and CEO of Stephen Willgoose, Esq. Public Service Broadcasting. Budd Entertainment said, “I’m delighted to help put The brainchild of Sally Cook, Director of Operations at this amazing series of shows together. There is Band on the Wall, and Stephen Budd, creator of War nothing like seeing your favourite artist in a venue Child’s Passport: Back to the Bars and Passport: to that is closest to the artist’s hearts. These shows will BRITs Week series, Passport: Back to Our Roots has be awe-inspiring for those fans who are lucky enough partnered with Music Venue Trust to raise much to win the prize draw and also a joy for the artists needed funds to safeguard the futures of grassroots who participate knowing they are helping keep live music venues struggling to survive the COVID-19 grassroots venues alive”. crisis. Mark Dayvd, Founder and CEO of Music Venue 80% of all money raised will go to the Music Venue Trust said, “Our #saveourvenues campaign has been Trust, who in turn will distribute half of the amount to very successful so far in raising funds and awareness the host venue with the remainder going into their to support grassroots music venues who have been hit Crisis Fund, benefiting all venues in need of financial very hard in recent months, but we are not support. The remaining 20% will go to Inner City complacent and are under no illusions that there still Music, the charitable organisation that operates the many challenges to overcome . There remains lots of multi-award winning not-for-profit historic music work to do to safeguard the future of our venues and venue Band on the Wall in Manchester, which is Passport: Back to Our Roots is an excellent and timely responsible for the administration of the project and initiative that will help keep a spotlight on what still will cover its overheads. needs to be done while raising desperately needed revenue. Live music will be back and when it is we are Seeing established artists live in an intimate setting that holds real significance for them is at the heart of going to make sure it comes back with experiences people will never forget' the Passport: Back to Our Roots campaign, which aims to capture the true essence of the live music www.passportbacktoourroots.org experience and the unique bond between artist and www.twitter.com/passportgigs audience. Sally Cook, co-founder of Passport: Back to Our Roots and Director of Operations at Manchester’s Band on the Wall said, “It’s incredibly exciting to see artists supporting the grassroots venues that form the foundation of the UK’s live music industry, acknowledging their importance and celebrating the unrivalled experience of watching your favourite bands up close and personal, surrounded by friends and united in appreciation for live music in all its loud and sweaty
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Louise Rutkowski :: single - 'Late Sun' Released :: 4 September @ all major digital / streaming music retailers
Long-Awaited New Music from Scots Songstress, Louise Rutkowski :: Enigmatic singersongwriter Louise Rutkowski is set to release the first single, Late Sun, from her forthcoming album, Home.
It’s been six years since music lovers had the pleasure of Louise’s distinctive vocals and the hotly anticipated new material has been worth the wait.
album.
Three years in the making, Home was made possible by a crowdLouise, who rose to prominence as part of the funding scheme, and 4AD music project, This Mortal Coil, released her Louise, 56, hopes to first solo album back in 2014. attract a new following as well as satisfying her The first single, Late Sun, is sure to whet the faithful fans. The album, which was co-written appetite for what is to follow in the complete and produced with musician, Irvin Duguid, is an exciting mix of emotive tracks – a harmonious fusion of Louise’s powerful, melodic vocals with classic synthesiser sounds, strings and live drums. The song Late Sun also conveys Louise’s philosophy and mindfulness that it’s never too late to do anything in life and that age is no barrier to anyone, especially women, in realising their ambitions. “I believe that one is always transitioning and developing and that age is not a reason for giving up on dreams or thinking you can’t do something because it’s too late. It’s never too late.” Late Sun (single) is out on 4 September with the forthcoming album, Home is due for release on 9 October and available for pre-order from 18 September. An acoustic version is also available. All available on iTunes, Apple Music and all major digital platforms.
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Nicole & Elliot :: single - 'The Storm' Released :: Out Now @ all major digital / streaming music retailers Following up from their warmly received debut EP released in January of this year, Nicol & Elliott continue down an explorative path of introspective Southern Gothic and dark, abstract subject matter. Characterised by its chanted vocals, driving fiddle and atmospheric backdrop, The Storm is a powerful folk-noir effort highlighting Nicol & Elliott's ability to flirt with the rock genre whilst maintaining their signature rootsy sound.
Sam Smith at Green Door Studio, Glasgow.
Last Night From In support of the release, The Storm Glasgow are proud will also feature on a limited edition shared to announce the double A-Side vinyl with English indie-folk quartet In The Forest who have recently joined digital release of The Storm was recorded at Anchor Lane Studio the Last Night From Glasgow roster. in Glasgow and was engineered and mixed by the brand new Luigi Pasquini. The track was produced by Rachel www.twitter.com/Nicol_n_Elliott Elliott and Andrew Nicol and was mastered by www.facebook.com/nicolandelliottmusic single from Scottish Americana/folk-noir duo Nicol & Elliott. The Storm will be released on all digital platforms on Friday 4 September on our Hive subsidiary. email news to :: musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
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The Last Giant :: ep - 'I: Terminus' Released :: Out Now @ all major digital / streaming music retailers
Fresh from receiving national airplay from Vic Galloway on BBC Radio Scotland, Britain’s most northerly instrumental metal band are back with the white-knuckle single Nova.
The track sees The Last Giant channel math-rock and tech metal as they preview their upcoming EP I: Terminus, which is being released digitally on 4 September. Not just for metal fans, the song - which is available digitally from Tuesday 25 August combines wacky adventurism with groove-laden riffs and a touch of synth.
It follows the standalone single Between Light, which Vic Galloway hailed as “fabulously epic” when he played it on BBC Radio Scotland in May. he Last Giant, from Shetland, are comprised of Jamie Hatchbar (guitar/synth/programming) and bassist Chris Cope. Their first EP Chronos//Kairos was released in 2015 under the previous name Giant. Veteran rock writer Malcolm Dome hailed that debut EP as "uplifting...manages to be both complex yet danceable" while Ally McCrae (exRadio 1) said it was "monster music- soaring, technically intimidating, riff-laden guitar fire". Taking inspiration from Between The Buried And Me, Mastodon, Every Time I Die and postrock, The Last Giant - whose members feature in many other notable Shetland acts - create a big sound; pun most definitely intended.
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ONR :: single - 'Kill TV featuring Nile Rodgers' Released :: 28 August @ all major digital / streaming music retailers
Scottish musician/ producer ONR’s new track 'Kill TV’ was released on 28 August, and features the legendary Nile Rodgers!
The two met by chance at Abbey Road Studios at the beginning of the year, and immediately hit it off - and have been collaborating on music together remotely during lockdown. It’s been an incredible experience for ONR, particularly given Nile’s famous relationship with his idol David Bowie. Also featuring Chris ‘Woody’ Wood from Bastille on drums, and mixed by the legendary producer/ mix engineer Spike Stent, 'Kill TV' is ONR’s anarchic, aggressive, high-energy response to the negative influence of new-age media and social media that has became so pointed during the COVID-19 outbreaks. 'His sense of composition is wonderfully chaotic, but also really musical. When we first started working together, I was drowning in so many ideas.. it was almost like a challenge. So you know what I did? I just picked up my axe and I said: “yo, let’s get it on brother, let’s do this!” Nile Rodgers ONR (Robert Shields) signed to Warned Records in Los Angeles last year, and has toured across Europe and the US with acts such as Bastille, Lewis Capaldi and Jake Bugg - also co-writing with Jake on his new record. 'It’s been a beautiful and surreal experience working with Nile. He is the genius behind some of my favourite ever tracks and artists - my idol David Bowie in particular. To have his support really means the world.’ - ONR
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to advertise email Carol @ carol.musicnewsscotland@gmail.com
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