MUSIC NEWS Scotland

23: 7 : 20

During the Covid-19 crisis we are combining our three titles into one MNS MUSIC NEWS Scotland :: MNS FESTIVALS! :: MNS GIGguide Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival Goes Virtual - page 16 'Music is the Answer' around Scotland - p5 :: CPD Youth Funding Extension - p8

Scotland's Music Convention 'Wide Days 2020' Beats Covid Scotland's annual music convention Wide Days is now underway, running from 23-25 July - from a virtual Edinburgh.

The 2020 virtual edition of Wide Days sees a packed schedule of panels, interviews, live performances, sector meetings, social activities and a huge range of networking opportunities.

Supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland the Thursday and Friday feature the conference and music showcases, with the Saturday beginning with a virtual music tour, followed by the Wide Whisky Club and a Festival Takeover, with Focus Wales and the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, each programming a selection of acts on the final evening - check website for line-ups.

Festival) / Andrew Mikkelsen (Atlantic Records) / Arusa Qureshi (The List) / Chris Cooke (CMU) / Ellen De Faux (LS Productions) / Gee Davy (Association of Independent Music) / Hannah Rankin(bassoonist & boxer) / Jess Partridge (In Stereo Group) / Joe Hendry (musician & wrestler) / Jumi Akinfenwa (Pitch & Sync) / Keith Harris (Manager & Martial Artist) / Lauren Bauld (PPL) / Lisa Whytock (Active Events) / Nabihah Iqbal (Musician & Martial Artist) / Nancy Mills (PPL) / Olaf Furniss (Wide Events) / Paul Brindley (Music Ally) / Rachel Grace Almeida (Crack Magazine) / Renell Shaw (composer & martial artist) / Sam Taylor (CMU) / Sammy Andrews (Deviate Digital) / Shain Shapiro (Sound Diplomacy) / Tina Hart (Tina Hart Media) / Tom Ketley (FLY Events) ..... plus more to be added!

Full speaker line up @ www.widedays.com/speakers

www.widedays.com

www.twitter.com/widedays www.facebook.com/widedays

Swim School play a virtual Wide Days Showcase on Thursday 23 July :: www.facebook.com/weareswimschool

Wide Days founder, Olaf Furniss said: “At Wide Days we also want our guests to be entertained and have fun, so we will aim to translate everything we do in the physical space to the virtual environment - including the tour and whisky tasting.�

The Wide Days Conference .....

Over 50 speakers will be joined by representatives from industry trade organisations. Sessions exploring how different sectors of the music industry are responding have been added, highlighting novel approaches and looking at innovative key steps being taken to survive.

Wide Days have also teamed up with their friends at IQ Magazine and Music Ally to present special editions of their weekly broadcasts, and Wide Days favourites CMU will host two extended sessions covering data and music videos. Full details of the programme can be found on the link below.

Full programme details @ www.widedays.com/2020-programme

The Wide Days Speakers .....

Agnese Daverio (Edinburgh Jazz & Blues

http://bit.ly/issuu-googleplay

Covid-19 advice @ www.smc-covid19.com web @ www.scottishmusiccentre.com fb @ www.facebook.com/scottishmusiccentre

tweet @ www.twitter.com/scottishmusic

www.musicnewsscotland.wordpress.com

your listen 'n' watch guide during lock-down :: a selection of music on scotland's tv + radio this week

Music on Scottish

updating old classics and celebrating its roots, which are, in many ways, foundational to our country itself.” www.bbcalba.co.uk

composing feat involving 323 of the BBCs musicians. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland

Iain Anderson :: 11pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

Ashley Storrie :: 10pm on BBC Radio Scotland. End the day in the company of the songwriting New and classic Scottish music, soul rockabilly, masters of country, folk, blues and soul. pop and indie from around the world. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland MONDAY 27 JULY ALT :: 11pm on BBC ALBA. Featuring performances from KATHRYN JOSEPH and The Afternoon Show :: 1.30pm on BBC Radio MULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Scotland. What is happening in music, arts and www.bbcalba.co.uk culture from across Scotland. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland SATURDAY 25 JULY Get It On... With Bryan Burnett :: 6pm on Take The Floor :: 7pm on BBC Radio Scotland. BBC Radio Scotland. With essential music chosen For the very best in traditional music and song, by listeners.

--------------------------------------join Gary Innes for Take The Floor. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Na Trads :: 7.55pm on BBC ALBA. TOM ORR Music all day every day from Glasgow BREABACH :: 7pm on BBC ALBA. BREABACH BAND perform at the 2015 Trad Awards. www.bbcalba.co.uk promoting Celtic and roots music of all perform at Celtic Connections 2017. www.bbcalba.co.uk genres - at 95FM or online @ Vic Galloway :: 8pm on BBC Radio Scotland. www.celticmusicradio.net Pipeline :: 9pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Gary This week Vic's playing only Scottish artists; West presents a remote session from piper Contemporary and Classic.

--------------------------------------ANDY MAY from his home in Newcastle . www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Iain Anderson :: 11pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

Independent Alternative digital radio, Tide Lines 2020 :: 9-10.50pm on BBC ALBA. End the day in the company of the songwriting broadcasting live from the upstairs of LP Music and festival themed entertainment show masters of country, folk, blues and soul.

Records in Glasgow, listen online @ featuring Glasgow folk-rock-pop quartet Tide www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.lpradio.co.uk/listen Lines. The band has been enjoying success recently with their second album storming into Rewind :: 11pm on BBC Scotland. The music --------------------------------------the UK album charts and reaching Number 1 in and news from 2000. the Official Scottish Album Chart.

Featuring www.bbc.co.uk/Scotland FRIDAY 24 JULY specially recorded versions of Tide Lines best loved songs and two exclusive new tracks.

TUESDAY 28 JULY The Friday Afternoon Show :: 2pm on BBC Presented by BBC ALBA’s regular festival Radio Scotland. Weekend tunes and what is The Afternoon Show :: 1.30pm on BBC Radio happening in music, arts and culture from across presenters, Niall Iain Macdonald and Fiona Mackenzie.

Scotland. What is happening in music, arts and Scotland with Nicola Meighan. www.bbcalba.co.uk culture from across Scotland. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Grant Stott's Vinyl Collective :: 6pm on BBC Billy Sloan :: 10pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Hot Get It On... With Bryan Burnett :: 6pm on Radio Scotland. Celebrating the vinyl revival with new releases plus rock and pop music from Scotland and around the world.

BBC Radio Scotland. With essential music chosen classic records and new releases. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland by listeners. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Celtic Connections Shorts :: 10.50pm on BBC Na Trads :: 7.25pm on BBC ALBA. THE SHEE ALBA. YORKSTON / THORNE / KHAN perform Na Trads :: 7.55pm on BBC ALBA. MALINKY performs at the 2017 Trad Awards. at Celtic Connections. perform at the 2015 Trad Awards. www.bbcalba.co.uk www.bbcalba.co.uk www.bbcalba.co.uk Ceol Aig A Chaisteal :: 8pm on BBC ALBA. TUNE :: 11.40pm on BBC Scotland. The Story of Another Country with Ricky Ross :: 8pm on Music and song from Tulloch Castle.

Bits and Pieces, an unofficial Scottish anthem.

BBC Radio Scotland. MARTY STUART picks his www.bbcalba.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk/Scotland favourite country songs plus live highlights from his Glasgow home.

The Friday Afternoon Show :: 8pm on BBC SUNDAY 26 JULY www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Radio Scotland. Weekend tunes and what is happening in music, arts and culture from across Mike Ritchie On Sunday: 4-6pm on Celtic Tide Lines 2020 :: 10pm on BBC ALBA. Music Scotland with Nicola Meighan.

Music Radio 95FM + DAB. Handpicked tunes and festival themed entertainment show www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland from established acts, new voices and anything featuring Glasgow folk-rock-pop quartet Tide that takes my fancy from the wonderful worlds Lines. The band has been enjoying success Ceòl Duthchasach/Ken Burn's Country of americana, roots, folk, singer/songwriters recently with their second album storming into Music :: 9-10.50pm on BBC ALBA. 'Country without worrying about labels.

Voted Best Radio the UK album charts and reaching Number 1 in Music' directed by Ken Burns explores crucial Show in americana-uk 2017 Readers' Poll. the Official Scottish Album Chart. Featuring questions - “What is country music?” and www.celticmusicradio.net specially recorded versions of Tide Lines best “Where did it come from?” while focusing on the loved songs and two exclusive new tracks. biographies of the fascinating trailblazers who Take The Floor :: 5pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

Presented by BBC ALBA’s regular festival created and shaped it. These include the Carter For the very best in traditional music and song, presenters, Niall Iain Macdonald and Fiona Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Bill Monroe and Bob join Gary Innes for Take The Floor.

Mackenzie.

Wills to Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.bbcalba.co.uk Cash, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Celtic Connections Shorts :: 11.50pm on BBC Harris, Garth Brooks and many more. Much like Na Trads :: 6.30pm on BBC ALBA. MALINKY perform at the 2015 Trad Awards.

ALBA. YORKSTON / THORNE / KHAN perform the music itself, the film tells unforgettable at Celtic Connections. stories of hardships and joys shared by everyday www.bbcalba.co.uk www.bbcalba.co.uk people. “At the heart of every great country music song is a story,” says Ken Burns. “As the Jazz Nights :: 7pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

Roddy Hart :: 11pm on BBC Radio Scotland. songwriter Harlan Howard said, ‘It’s three chords Seonaid Aitken joins in the celebrations for the 2020 virtual Edinburgh International Jazz & Featuring the Me-in-3 choices of singer and and the truth.’ The common experiences and Blues Festival. songwriting JESS MORGAN. human emotions speak to each of us about love www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland and loss, about hard times and the chance of redemption. As an art form, country music is Classics Unwrapped :: 9pm on BBC Radio WEDNESDAY 29 JULY also forever revisiting its history, sharing and Scotland. Jamie hears about a mammoth

TV & RADIO over the next week ...

Celtic Music Radio

LP Radio

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 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

classic records and new releases. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Na Trads :: 7.25pm on BBC ALBA. MALINKY perform at the 2015 Trad Awards. www.bbcalba.co.uk

Get It On... With Bryan Burnett :: 6pm on BBC Radio Scotland. With essential music chosen by listeners.

Ceol Aig A Chaisteal :: 8pm on BBC ALBA. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Music and song from Tulloch Castle. www.bbcalba.co.uk Na Trads :: 7.55pm on BBC ALBA. TOM ORR BAND perform at the 2015 Trad Awards.

The Friday Afternoon Show :: 8pm on BBC www.bbcalba.co.uk Radio Scotland. Weekend tunes and what is happening in music, arts and culture from across The Quay Sessions :: 8pm on BBC Radio Scotland with Nicola Meighan.

Scotland. Enjoy live performances from the foyer www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland at BBC Radio Scotland's Pacific Quay. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Ceòl Duthchasach/Ken Burn's Country Music :: 9-10.50pm on BBC ALBA. 'Country Vic Galloway :: 10pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Music' directed by Ken Burns explores crucial This week Vic's playing only Scottish artists; questions - “What is country music?” and Contemporary and Classic.

“Where did it come from?” while focusing on the www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland biographies of the fascinating trailblazers who created and shaped it, from the Carter Family, Port :: 10.30pm on BBC ALBA. Julie Fowlis and Jimmie Rodgers, Bill Monroe and Bob Wills to Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh explore their musical Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Merle roots in Ireland and Scotland.

Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, Willie www.bbcalba.co.uk Nelson, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Garth Brooks and many more — as well as the times in THURSDAY 30 JULY which they lived. Much like the music itself, the film tells unforgettable stories of hardships and The Afternoon Show :: 1.30pm on BBC Radio joys shared by everyday people. “At the heart of Scotland. What is happening in music, arts and every great country music song is a story,” says culture from across Scotland.

Ken Burns. “As the songwriter Harlan Howard www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland said, ‘It’s three chords and the truth.’ The common experiences and human emotions Get It On... With Bryan Burnett :: 6pm on speak to each of us about love and loss, about BBC Radio Scotland. With essential music chosen hard times and the chance of redemption. As an by listeners. art form, country music is also forever revisiting www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland its history, sharing and updating old classics and celebrating its roots, which are, in many ways, Na Trads :: 7.55pm on BBC ALBA. MALINKY foundational to our country itself.” perform at the 2015 Trad Awards. www.bbcalba.co.uk www.bbcalba.co.uk Ashley Storrie :: 10pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

Travelling Folk :: 8pm on BBC Radio Scotland. New and classic Scottish music, soul rockabilly, Bruce MacGregor with the best folk and roots pop and indie from around the world. music from around the world. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Skipinnish at Barrowland :: 11pm on BBC Natasha Raskin Sharp :: 10pm on BBC Radio ALBA. Skipinnish play at Barrowland in Glasgow.

Scotland. From 50s rockabilly to country to jazz www.bbcalba.co.uk to the latest indie sounds, Natasha has it all. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland SATURDAY 1 AUGUST Solas – Margaret Fay Shaw of Canna :: 1010.30pm on BBC ALBA. Margaret Fay Shaw was born in 1903 near Pittsburgh. A talented piano player, she loved music from a young age.

Arriving in South Uist in 1929 to collect Gaelic songs, she fell in love with the island, and spent the remainder of her days collecting songs and stories, whilst taking photographs and filming a way of living which was ceasing to exist. She married John Lorne Campbell in 1935, and two years later, they purchased Canna. Margaret stayed in Canna House until her death at the age of 101 in 2004. In this programme, Canna House archivist Fiona J Mackenzie gives a fascinating insight into the life of Margaret Fay Shaw. Told through her own photographs, films and audio recordings, we’ll understand why she became known as one of Scotland’s most important photographers and folklorists during the twentieth century. www.bbcalba.co.uk

Belladrum 2020: 6-7pm on BBC ALBA. Music and festival themed entertainment show. A mix of classic archive and new performances from previous headliners and emerging talent.

Presented by Niall Iain Macdonald and Fiona Mackenzie. www.bbcalba.co.uk Belladrum 2020: 9-11pm on BBC ALBA. Music and festival themed entertainment show. A mix of classic archive and new performances from previous headliners and emerging talent.

Presented by Niall Iain Macdonald and Fiona Mackenzie. www.bbcalba.co.uk FRIDAY 7 AUGUST

Ceòl Duthchasach/Ken Burn's Country Music :: 9-10.50pm on BBC ALBA. Ken Burn’s Country Music explores crucial questions - “What is country music?” and “Where did it come FRIDAY 31 JULY from?” while focusing on the biographies of the fascinating trailblazers who created and shaped The Friday Afternoon Show :: 2pm on BBC it, from the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Bill Radio Scotland. Weekend tunes and what is Monroe and Bob Wills to Hank Williams, Patsy happening in music, arts and culture from across Cline, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Loretta Scotland with Nicola Meighan.

Lynn, Charley Pride, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Emmylou Harris, Garth Brooks and many more — as well as the times in which they lived.

Grant Stott's Vinyl Collective :: 6pm on BBC Much like the music itself, the film tells Radio Scotland. Celebrating the vinyl revival with unforgettable stories of hardships and joys

shared by everyday people. “At the heart of every great country music song is a story,” says director Ken Burns. “As the songwriter Harlan Howard said, ‘It’s three chords and the truth.’

The common experiences and human emotions speak to each of us about love and loss, about hard times and the chance of redemption. As an art form, country music is also forever revisiting its history, sharing and updating old classics and celebrating its roots, which are, in many ways, foundational to our country itself.” www.bbcalba.co.uk

Edinburgh Festival :: Edinburgh’s streets won’t be awash with tourists, artists and people handing out flyers this August, but BBC Scotland will still have 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.

Radio Scotland’s The Afternoon Show will present three Festival Specials across August, with Janice Forsyth, Grant Stott and Nicola Meighan each curating their pick of the best digital offerings. They will be catching up with artists taking part in this unique festival year and hearing how each of the Festivals have adapted their programmes to take their content far beyond the reaches of the Festival city. Janice presents her Festival Special on 3 August, Grant on 12 August and Nicola on 21 August.

BBC Radio nan Gàidheal’s Feasgar, presented by Cathy MacDonald will also have festival items. And towards the end of the month, the BBC Scotland channel will have a 90 minute special of past highlights from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on 14 August with a further hour-long package on 21 August.

Gareth Hydes, Commissioning Editor at BBC Scotland, said; “Life is different this year in so many ways and the Edinburgh festivals have been impacted like many other events. However thanks to the creativity of the performers and organisers there is still much to enjoy in August. Through our programming we are aiming to give the audience a flavour of the festivals and help them soak up the experience wherever they are in Scotland.”

BBC Scotland’s arts strand Loop will be heading through to Edinburgh for a special programme featuring artists at work in the city. The 30 minute episode, which will go out on BBC Scotland on August 19 at 11pm, will feature – amongst others - poet Alycia Pirmohamed, co-founder of the Scottish BAME Writers network, who lives and studies in the city, and Loop will go behind the scenes on the EIF’s artistic intervention – an amazing flash of light - taking place across the city in August.

Online BBC The Social will be digging into its Edinburgh archives to pull out some of the highlights from our previous Edinburgh Festival events like Rappers V Poets, Drag Cabaret and the Comedy showcase. The Social is also going to create bespoke Edinburgh playlists at www.bbc.co.uk/thesocial creating virtual stages to celebrate the best new talent from Scotland in music, arts and comedy. Cassi and Roisin from the new podcast The Love / Hate Club will be continuing their hilarious chat with guests as part of an Edinburgh Festival Special. And L.A.B. Scotland will be getting involved in the Children’s Book Festival with schoolchildren from around Scotland putting their questions to some special author guests.

Festival news will also be featured on Reporting Scotland, with special reports from arts correspondent Pauline McLean, as well as coverage on BBC Scotland’s The Nine, plus news coverage on Radio Scotland and online.

Some key Edinburgh programming in other parts of the BBC will include BBC Two programme Edinburgh Nights (title tbc) I x 60 mins, commissioned by BBC Arts, which will capture the spirit of the 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.

Get every edition - join MUSIC NEWS Scotland mailing list @ http://eepurl.com/dKZQY

Email your virtual gig dates to robert.musicnewsscotland@gmail.com

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page 5

MUSIC IS THE ANSWER :: Scottish artists line up to take part in a new stream series from iconic locations around the country HYYTS : Luke La Volpe : Sam Gellaitry : Vistas : Ransom FA : Oakzy B : Aaron Smith : Callum Beattie : Christy : Be Charlotte

FLY has partnered with Ground Level Up, an award-winning film production company, and FELive (world touring audio suppliers who recently did Lewis Capaldi’s world tour) to deliver a series of recorded online streams with world renowned artists from breath-taking locations around the UK on its new YouTube channel: Music Is The Answer.

FLY operates one of Scotland’s largest music festivals, held in Princes Street Gardens under the iconic Edinburgh Castle and at Scotland’s finest stately home, Hopetoun House, which along with its club nights attracts audiences of over 70,000.

FLY trialled the idea as part of moving its FLY Open Air Festival online in May. It streamed Jackmaster [b2b] and Jasper James from Hopetoun House resulting in over 50,000 views from people all over the world and raising thousands of pounds for charity.

Music Is The Answer (MITA) will also allow a global audience who are currently less able to travel to Scotland to virtually visit some of the most stunning venues and locations across the country.

alternative, indie rock band Vistas, Aberdeen Grime MC Ransom FA, Glasgow based MC Oakzy B, stunning singer songwriter Aaron Smith, Edinburgh-born anthemic singer songwriter Callum Beattie, Glasgow native and heart-wrenching singer songwriter Christy and Dundee pop star Be Charlotte. More artists will be announced soon.

Iconic locations already on board include the Glenfinnan Viaduct, Forth Bridges, Inveraray Castle, Kinross House, Dunottar Castle and McCaig’s Tower.

HYYTS at the Forth bridges on Thursday 23 July. One of the most recognised sites in Scotland the stunning bridges form the backdrop at sunset to a set by HYYTS with their unique take on pop. Since their hit debut Butterflies In My Head, the Glasgow duo’s disco and alt-pop influences have seen them support acts like Culture Club and appear as the only unsigned artist to perform at the Scottish Music Awards.

They are now signed to Warner Label and have just released their new single, Dreamkiller, Fergus Myer, Music Is The Answer, said: which is also part of the MITA stream.

“With Covid-19 causing such a huge blow to all Ransom FA vs Oakzy B is on Thursday 30 July in the Music industry, it's been an incredibly difficult time, not just for venues and promoters from McCaig’s Tower. The crowning glory of Oban on Scotland’s West Coast, McCaig’s Tower but artists as well. There are so many artists out there who will lose momentum with their live is a striking landmark dominating the town. shows, release streaming numbers or perhaps Ransom FA had a blazing year in 2019 having starred in BBC Three’s The Rap Game UK and is won't manage to get going at all. at the forefront of the vibrant Scottish Grime scene which is now making waves across the UK. Glasgow-based MC, Oakzy B also made his own appearances on BBC Scotland Tune & 1xtra Scottish team takeover. He is known also in dance and happy hardcore’s Makina genre accumulating over 23 million plays on his SoundCloud “AlmightYOakz”. Oakzy B prides himself on being a MC that can rap on any beat and just dropped a 100% grime album "Abercromby Tales" available here.

Be Charlotte’s Lights Off is currently track of the week on R1, she was to have been one of the headliners on the BBC Introducing Stage at Having opened with an electrifying gig from the BB Radio 1’s Big Weekend this year as well Glasgow’s La La last Thursday, the series as being set to appear at Glastonbury and 20 continues with a special performance from other festivals this summer. Be Charlotte has a HYYTS this week on the 23 July, in front of the fierce sense of identity, a quiet assertiveness Forth bridges. and a rare talent which makes heads turn and Since their hit debut 'Butterflies In My Head', the draws you in with her storytelling. Her set at the Glasgow duo’s disco and alt-pop influences have stunning Dunottar Castle on a rocky headland on Scotland’s northeastern coastline will stream on seen them support acts like Culture Club and appear as the only unsigned artist to perform at Thursday 6 August. the Scottish Music Awards. They are now signed The long-term project will then continue on the to Warner Label and have just released their YouTube channel where people can subscribe or new single, Dreamkiller, which is also part of the follow FLY’s social channels for alerts about the MITA stream. regular streams.

Other artists so far signed up include the Bathgate singer taking the music business by storm Luke La Volpe, the producing phenomenon Sam Gellaitry, Edinburgh’s

The streams are free but there will be the opportunity to contribute to charities nominated by the artists and venues of each event.

Music Is The Answer will help us to push the boundaries beyond discovering, supporting and championing talent - something we (FLY) always strive towards. The visual element will create an experience and allow a global audience, with a range of interests, to really connect with the artists and breathtaking locations, at a time travel & live shows are not permitted as well as when we return to normality.

Music has the ability to change your mood and with everyone’s mental health suffering throughout lockdown, we believe that lifting people’s spirits through music can help."

La La said: “I’m very proud to be celebrating my 7th year with Fly. Being involved in this new concept and at the heart of everything, residents are being supported - like a family, it’s really encouraging to see and be a part of!”

Adam and Sam of HYYTS said: "This was of the most magical gigs we’ve ever played for such lovely people in an amazing location - a real 'pinch yourself' moment. It turns out fishermen hate us but we love them they’re just misunderstood so it’s ok :) xx"

Channels for Music Is The Answer .....

YouTube @ https://tinyurl.com/yd3v9bbz

www.twitch.tv/musicistheanswr www.twitter.com/MusicAnswr www.facebook.com/musicdotanswer

email news to :: musicnewsscotland@gmail.com

page 6

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

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

www.tomandthebrassholes.com

AMY PAPIRANSKY

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

Hundreds join online Gaelic language and music sessions for Covid lockdown Since putting all its usual classroom based lessons and activities online, Gaelic arts organisation, Fèisean nan Gàidheal (FnG) has provided free lessons to 1,718 people across Scotland and further afield.

one-to-one support for GLPS teachers. CLPL (career-long professional learning) sessions have been running for the past 8 weeks with teachers who have been involved with the Blasad Gàidhlig sessions in their schools, in order to continue their learning of the language.

The Hùb Hàb early years theatre-in-education project is one of those delivered through Fèisgoil. Aimed at the 3-5 year age group but also suitable for young primary school children, during lockdown, the theatre production focuses on lending a helping hand at home, including Gaelic action songs all sung by Ellen Macdonald (singer with Sian and Dàimh), all written by Fèisgoil staff. These were offered to Gaelic Medium Education classes and have been extremely well received, with all slots booked out within a few hours.

Around 150 children and their parents are benefitting from one of the 10 online session every week for 8 weeks.

no indication of when musicians will be able to get back to work, or when visiting specialist tutors will be able to get back into classrooms, the online work provided by organisations such as FnG, has been very welcome.

Fluent secondary pupils and young adults have been able to engage with Gaelic speakers on an international platform through Café Bheairteis. Held every Friday afternoon online, each week there is a new guest to start the conversation and share their stories. Past guests, all fluent Gaelic speakers, have included professional footballers Roddy Macgregor and Calum Ferguson, BBC weather presenter Kirsteen Macdonald and husband, James Graham, CEO of An Comunn Gàidhealach, wild swimmer, adventurer and filmmaker, Calum Maclean, Commonwealth cyclist Kerry Macphee, female singing trio, Sian and fiddler and presenter of BBC Alba upcylcing show, Dreachd Ùr, Shona Masson.

Activities on offer have included Gaelic song and game Upcoming guests will be announced with Niteworks closing sessions, drama tips and games, Gaelic conversation this first term of the online Café and organisers are classes, CLPL training for teachers, and fiddle and accordion delighted to have been joined in the Café sessions by young lessons, with participants from all over Scotland and even a folk living on both sides of the Atlantic. There is also a more few from Canada. formal strand of the project, Beairteas, which sees presentations and Q&As on different topics, offering Fèisgoil, the formal education strand of FnG, reorganised youngsters the rare opportunity to hear in-depth talks from several aspects of the service to ensure youngsters across Scotland were still benefitting from the Gaelic tuition usually all walks of life. To date this has included sessions as provided in the classroom. Through the service it organises varied as the role of Gaelic speaking Highlanders in the First music tuition through the Youth Music Initiative and teaches World War, led by Skye man Murdo Beaton and couturier Sandra Murray talking through the processes involved in Gaelic language to support GLE and 1+2 languages. high-end fashion.

Organisers have been overwhelmed at the response to some of the Fèisgoil activities, with demand exceeding These sessions have not only provided valuable learning expectation and have fully embraced the Bòrd na Gàidhlig experiences for a wide range of age groups across Scotland hashtag #cleachdiaigantaigh with most of the focus on the but have also provided much needed income for many GME sector and supporting families with direct access to live freelance tutors and musicians across Scotland, one of the interactive sessions. hardest hit groups of individuals during this pandemic. With

One of the main projects delivered by Fèisgoil, is Blasad Gàidhlig. Blasad Gàidhlig, meaning a taste of Gaelic, was developed to support the 1+2 language part of the Curriculum for Excellence and supports local councils in delivering their Gaelic language plan in nurseries and primary schools. During lockdown, in a bid to encourage speaking the language at home, particularly in those homes where Gaelic is not normally spoken on a daily basis, children in GME have been enjoying song and game sessions with Fèisgoil tutors. Children from Glasgow to Barra and Inverness to Lewis have taken part. Demand was so high for the sessions, additional tutors had to be brought in to meet demand.

Similarly, a waiting list was opened almost immediately following the launch of a brand-new initiative, Caraidean Còmhraidh (Blether Buddies). In response to comments made by several parents, Fèisgoil has undertaken to lead a conversation-based project for groups of friends of primaryage children. These friendship groups are paired with a young adult Gaelic speaker for informal conversation.

“We fully appreciate the difficult circumstances in which many families and individual young people now find themselves and we are determined to help engagement in the Gaelic Arts continue and even flourish through these unusual times. We are very grateful to the continued support we receive from some Local Authorities as well as our tutor group and individual schools.”

Steven Kellow, Projects and Funding Officer, Bòrd na Gàidhlig added: “We are delighted to see the overwhelming response to Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s online sessions as part of the #cleachdiaigantaigh initiative and to see so many young people engaging in the Gaelic language and culture during this time. These types of sessions are crucial to young people with Gaelic and who may not have the opportunity to use the language at home out with school hours.”

Other activities offered by Fèisean nan Gàidheal have included song sessions with Calum Alex Macmillan, workshops on the history of songs with Margaret Stewart and learning Gaelic expressions with Alec ‘Bhaltos’ Macdonald. For further information about the schedule of online events please visit www.feisean.org and check out Fèisgoil is also collaborating with the National Youth Choir of the Facebook page where you will find information about Scotland (NYCoS) on Wee Summer Sing, a series of song how to book onto upcoming events. If you would like to find sessions every weekday morning for the next five weeks, out more about Fèisgoil and its offering for schools, please culminating in the Gaelic Wee Summer Sing from 29th get in touch with Eilidh Mackenzie, eilidh@feisean.scot.

June – 3rd July, led by Eilidh Mackenzie.

And it hasn’t just been children who have benefitted from the new online offering from the organisation. Glasgow City Council is also engaging with experienced Fèisgoil tutors in

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

Eilidh Mackenzie, Fèisgoil manager, commented: “Every change in circumstance brings new opportunity and at Fèisgoil we have been keen to embrace the potential partnership between not just schools and Fèisean nan Gàidheal but also families themselves.”

www.feisean.org

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music news scotland

SCOTTISH MUSIC CENTRE

......... NEWS .....

"The Scottish Music Centre's task is to champion the wealth of talent that abounds in Scotland's musical community"

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES : APPLY NOW! Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative Training and Continuing Professional Development [CPD] Fund administered by Scottish Music Centre: DEADLINE now extended to 28 August (subject to funds)

For an Application form visit: www.scottishmusiccentre.com/ymitraining The Scottish Music Centre administers a Training and Continuing Professional Development [CPD] Fund which is funded by the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative through Creative Scotland. There is £45,000 available in the budget for 2020.

Individuals will generally be within the range of £100 to £750, while the range for Organisations will normally fall between £500 and £5,000.

What are the criteria for the Fund? :: Your application must demonstrate how it meets the following minimum criteria: How the proposed training will develop professional practice and deliver any or all of the following outcomes: (a) the development of skills and confidence; (b) the development, strengthening and increased sustainability of the youth music sector; (c) the provision of increasingly high quality, efficient, innovative youth music services.

Details of the staff you propose to train What is the Purpose of the Fund? :: and also how you have considered all in music tuition with larger groups of your appropriate staff’s training To support individuals, organisations requirements (Organisations / networks children and young people in addition and networks who work outwith school only). to private practice). settings to undertake training and A student in full-time education (16 Details of the methods, employees or continuing professional development hours or more per week) at the time of third-party professionals to be that will strengthen youth music in applying. employed in order to ensure quality if Scotland for the benefit of young you are applying to design and deliver Exclusions :: people. We understand that many training (Organisations / networks music freelancers and organisations If you were awarded a grant from the only). may be working with young people 2018-19 round of YMI CPD funding. both in and out of school settings and How Will Decisions Be Made? :: Applications for prolonged full- and so will be eligible to apply.

On receipt of your application, Scottish part-time study at centres of further or Intended Outcomes :: Music Centre officers will check for higher education.

People delivering youth music develop eligibility before passing to an Repeated training programmes that independent adviser for assessment. their skills and confidence. you have previously accessed through Advisers will be drawn from a pool of The youth music sector develops, suitably qualified professionals working this fund – unless there is clear evidence of further significant strengthens and becomes more in Scotland’s youth music sector. development in the individual or the sustainable.

You can expect to be notified of your programme.

Supporting services to be high quality, application’s outcome in writing two Any project which has already started, continually improving, efficient, and to weeks from the date we receive the provide innovative responses to application. Please bear this timeframe or which will have started before we give you a decision on your application. people’s needs. in mind when planning the start dates How Do I Apply? :: We welcome applications proposing any of your project. training and CPD that will deliver the Who can apply? :: You can submit your application at any above outcomes - now including time during the year until the fund Individuals who are online training and online courses closes on 28 August. *Please note due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Already involved in the delivery of however the fund may be fully expended earlier than this date and Types of activities you might want youth music projects OR seeking to take part in training to widen their therefore early submission of to consider are: career opportunities to include delivery applications is recommended.

Professional development, such as of music projects OR aiming to further Apply by e-mail to the following attending short-term or one-off training extend the range and scope of their courses, conferences, master-classes, skills-base within the delivery of youth address; ymitraining@scottishmusiccentre.com mentoring and any other relevant music projects. experiences which develop skills and Please put your name in the subject Organisations who wish to provide confidence and lead to improved heading.

Attach your completed training and professional development professional delivery of music to application form in Word document that will increase their capacity to children and young people. format. Attach the additional required develop and deliver improved musicReceiving private tuition that will lead making opportunities to young people. materials. No allowance can be made for electronic delays so it is the to improved skills in a particular genre All applicants must be resident in responsibility of the applicant to ensure or instrument which will result in improved professional delivery of music Scotland and working for the benefit of that their application is received on young people in Scotland. time. Notification of receipt of the to children and young people. application will be made by email within Who is Ineligible? :: Development, design and delivery of one week. specialist training courses.

You are not eligible to apply for this Your Budget :: fund if you are: New and innovative approaches that All costs must relate to the activity and improve engagement in high-quality A Local Authority employee who your budget should be complete, music-making activities. Examples of delivers instrumental and vocal music accurate and balanced. The following this might be undertaking study visits services within formal education (eg. are examples of Eligible Costs; to research delivery methodology school-teachers, instrumental service currently not widespread in Scotland, instructors).

Course or Conference Fees or using new technology in creative Travel An academic attending or developing ways.

Accommodation papers for conferences.

Subsistence (out-of-pocket expenses There is £45,000 available in the A private music tutor (unless involved for meals) budget for 2020, and awards to

Childcare costs – (individuals only, and only when necessary due to undertaking the proposed activity) Loss of earnings (freelance music tutors) NB Costs involved with buying or hiring equipment are ineligible You will need at least 10% partnership funding, which can be cash or in-kind. ***Partnership funding cannot be drawn from Local Authorities’ Youth Music Initiative formula-funding budget or the Youth Music Initiative Access to Music Making and/or Strengthening Youth Music Funds, as this is considered double funding.

Organisations should note when planning activities that any award will be payable in two instalments: 90% in advance and the remaining 10% on satisfactory submission of an End of Project report and certified financial statement to Scottish Music Centre.

Additional required materials :: As relevant to your application: A PDF or web link to the proposed training/conference/event.

CVs of those undertaking the training.

CVs of those delivering the training, if the application is to design/deliver training programmes (Organisations Only) A copy of your Child Protection Policy (Organisations only.)

Equalities Monitoring Form.

Scottish Music Centre recommends Creating Safety to all practitioners working with young people.

For organisations, if the application has been successful (due to Covid-19 the decision period has been reduced from 8 to 2 weeks), in order to release the last 10% of awarded funds, we require an End-of-Project Monitoring Form to be completed and returned within 2 months of the funded activity taking place. Please return this form to us and not Creative Scotland.

Should you require help and advice in completing your application, email

ymitraining@scottishmusiccentre.com

www.scottishmusiccentre.com : www.twitter.com/scottishmusic : www.facebook.com/scottishmusiccentre

For further information visit www.scottishmusiccentre.com or email info@scottishmusiccentre.com

music news scotland

page 9

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music news

the mns collection ….

MNS artist profile .....

From Greece to Scotland :: Katherine Aly releases new single God Breed Originally from Greece, and having studied Art & Design at the University of Amsterdam, Katherine Aly is now based in Edinburgh.

She’s been described as a “unique talent with a genre-defying style” by Scotland on Sunday, hailed as “simply divine” by BBC Introducing (at a pre-lockdown live gig) and Tenement TV said her confident alt-pop ”has a great deal of promise” Her solo releases so far include the singles The Skin I’m Made Of, Sunny Days, Misty Me and God Breed (10 July 2020) and she’s a prolific collaborator including with: Chuchoter, Midi Paul, Glassmasterer, False Bliss and more.

Katherine Aly has performed at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Hidden Door, Tenement Trail, Kelburn Garden Party, legendary venues including London’s The Dublin Castle and Glasgow’s King Tuts Wah Wah Hut and in addition to BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio in the UK, her music has been played on radio stations in the USA, Canada, France, Spain and as far afield as Australia.

I'm very happy I ended up in Scotland, where people are so welcoming and music culture is going strong! I like having Edinburgh as my base because it's quiet, safe and also absolutely stunning but I also spend a lot of time in Glasgow when it comes to music.

Q :: Where did you film the video?

A :: We wanted to create a retro atmosphere but also quite majestic, that's why Stuart Breadner created the infrared filter we used in the video.

Infrared works great in nature so we went to Duddingston Loch and Craigmillar Castle Park in the outskirts of Edinburgh to shoot it.

want to collaborate - it was amazing! On the other hand I was introduced to Phil (Midi Paul) by other creative people who highly recommended we did something together musically. Other times, friends of mine ask me to do something for them, like what happened with False Bliss, or I suggest we worked on something, like with Emily from Chuchoter, with whom I covered No Time to Die

by Billie Eilish. Thing is - as much as I love the freedom of working as a solo artist, I do truly miss writing music collaboratively, hence all these collabs!

Q :: Are you also an artist in the more traditional sense i.e. painting / drawing - your website seems to mix cool art AND of course music projects?

A :: I'm not an artist in that sense, however I A relative newcomer on the music scene, she’s studied Comparative Cultural Analysis at the already been featured by scores of Spotify University of Amsterdam, where - simply put - I playlists and blogs and championed by BBC examined various cultural phenomena through Introducing, The Scotsman, The Skinny, different types of art, hence my website also Tenement TV, The Unsigned Guide, as well as including a 'Your Art' section, where I write my Vogue (Italia). personal views on paintings, sculptures, theatre MNS had a chat with Katherine Aly about her shows, art events etc. I really enjoy reflecting on new single ..... other people's creativity, which I find very inspiring.

Q :: What is your new single God Breed about?

A :: God Breed is a song about the hardship of Q :: You have an impressive track record of artistry. It's inspired by stories of many different successful collaborations, how do you usually challenges artists face while following their calling approach that and what inspired your solo and I wrote it as a manifesto for solidarity releases between artists and getting back on track after A :: It really depends; I met Lewis setbacks.

(Glassmasterer) via an app for musicians that

Q :: How are you finding lockdown, anything positive or all negative?

A :: I'm not going to lie, I've struggled a lot with my mental health and still am, just like many people. What we're going through is soul crushing and it's basically all because we don't care enough about each other and that's heartbreaking and can cause a lot of anxiety. Somehow during all this I found the energy to write new songs thankfully; being creative has helped me a lot while in lockdown and I can say proudly that I feel like my songwriting has never been better. Live streamings is another thing I've enjoyed recently; reconnecting with people through my music brought tears in my eyes - honestly!

Q :: Career highlights / whats next?

A :: I could mention artists I've opened for, international airplay, press and stuff but to me seeing my fanbase growing, especially during a pandemic, is the most rewarding thing and a recurring highlight (thankfully!). Nothing makes me happier than people responding to my music and wanting more; I do what I do to share things that hopefully people can identify with and dance/ sleep/think/get angry/cry/sing/breakup/makeup/ live a full life to; and what's coming up is A LOT Q :: What are your plans for 2020, we're guessing more of that!

Covid-19 has forced you to make changes or rethink things? www.katherinealy.com A :: Indeed. I've already re-scheduled some shows for next year so what I'm currently doing is www.twitter.com/itskatherinealy www.facebook.com/itskatherinealy writing more songs in the studio for future releases later this year and also next year. I'll be doing wee acoustic shows with my band too based on what lockdown phase we're at, which is something that I'm really looking forward to! My manager and I have been working relentlessly during all this to keep taking steps forward so hopefully by the time the pandemic is over we'll be in a good place to continue like this never happened. Best way to keep being updated is following my socials... there's a lot going on there!

View all the MNS digital publications from links at www.musicnewsscotland.wordpress.com

Q :: Tell us a bit about yourself, how did you get into music, how do you find Edinburgh?

A :: I've been writing music since I can remember. I'm originally from Greece, which is where I started doing music more seriously before band drama kicked off and I decided to move abroad (what a cliche!). I've always wanted to move to the UK because of the music scene and

email news to :: musicnewsscotland@gmail.com

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Commissioned Work For Hebcelt Festival Released As Charity Single Features Colin Macleod, Rory Macdonald of Runrig, Julie Fowlis, and Hebridean Allstars Proceeds from ‘Only the Brave’ single will go to Bethesda Hospice in Stornoway

A music single created as part of a series of new commissioned works by the Hebridean Celtic Festival (HebCelt), has been released with all proceeds going to a Stornoway charity.

Featuring talented Outer Hebrides singer songwriter Colin Macleod, the track is a version of Runrig’s anthemic ‘Only the Brave’, and features Rory Macdonald of Runrig, Julie Fowlis, and a variety of talented artists collectively dubbed the Hebridean Allstars for the commission.

The commission series, Seisean HebCelt / HebCelt Sessions, has seen a variety of works aired on its social media channels during the dates on which the festival was due to take place (15-18 July). The festival itself has been postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic impact of Covid-19. The commissions are part of the festival’s 25th anniversary celebrations and a reminder of its attributes.

alongside your heroes. Just a fantastic project and so proud to have it all come together. I’d like to say a huge thanks to all who put in the time to be a part of this project, and to HebCelt for thinking of me to be a part of it. It’s gone way better than I ever imagined and I just can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”

Rory Macdonald said: “I’ve been blown away by the results. Such beautiful contributions by everyone. Moving and uplifting performances.

Massive thanks to Colin for bringing his idea to fruition and creating something truly special. I’m proud to have been a part of it.”

The video, which accompanies the single release, features Colin with Rory and Julie Fowlis on vocals with musicians including Jason Laing, Sorren Maclean, Scott Macleod, Keith Morrison, Festival Director, Caroline Maclennan said: Jane Hepburn Macmillan, members of Niteworks, “I want to say a huge thank you on behalf of the and a ‘choir’ of local voices; Willie Campbell, team here at HebCelt to all of the commissioned Rosie Sullivan, Josie Duncan and Sean Harrison. artists and those who pulled it all together. They have reminded us this week of the music, One of the key aspects was to raise funds for culture and sheer enjoyment that we regularly Bethesda Hospice, a local charity close to the experience at the festival. It has been a taste of heart of many Hebrideans. A just giving page HebCelt which whets our appetite for returning has been set up to allow festival fans who enjoy stronger in 2021 when we hope to return to the sessions to contribute direct to this charity, more normal service.” please donate here.

Colin Macleod said: “I’m really beyond chuffed General Manager at Bethesda Hospice, to be singing my favourite Runrig song with Carol Somerville, said: “HebCelt is a very Rory, it’s not often in life you get to sing important part of the culture and local economy

Colin Macleod :: www.facebook.com/colinmacleodofficial

so we are extremely pleased to have this support. These Sessions will provide some welcome relief and enjoyment. At Bethesda we are required to raise over £370,000 per year to keep the hospice open so any donations will be gratefully received.” #HebCeltSessions

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Edinburgh Summer Sessions Announce New Dates For Lionel Richie, Michael Kiwanuka, Simple Minds,Tom Jones And Travis In 2021 Edinburgh Summer Sessions today announce that huge stars including Lionel Richie, Michael Kiwanuka, Simple Minds, Tom Jones and Travis will return for rescheduled shows for 2021’s festival, ensuring fans don’t miss out on the iconic Princes Street Gardens dates.

Taking place in the heart of Scotland’s capital city, the third edition of Edinburgh Summer Sessions pops up against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle during the world-renowned Edinburgh International Festival, creating an atmosphere like no other in one of the most intimate outdoor gig settings in the world.

Set to return to Edinburgh Summer Sessions after opening the festival’s inaugural year in 2018, Tom Jones returns for two show-stopping dates on the 8 and 10 August 2021. One of the most influential showmen in music, the singers’ appearance at the 2018 festival went down a storm as Tom Jones opened proceedings fully clad in a tartan jacket. Expect timeless classics like ‘It’s Not Unusual’ and ‘Sex Bomb’ plus nonstop entertainment from one of the UK’s biggest superstars for two unforgettable nights in front of Edinburgh Castle.

Travis - www.facebook.com/travistheband :: photo by Ryan Johnson

festival debut on 11th August 2021 as another international superstar brings his talents, and a discography like no other, to Princes Street Gardens. Selling more than 100 million albums around the world, the singer can also add an Oscar, a Golden Globe and four Grammy Awards to his collection. With timeless pop hits such as ‘Hello’, ‘Endless Love’ and ‘All Night Long’, Lionel Richie is a true musical icon who will make a long-awaited return to Edinburgh after over five years away from the city.

Making a much-anticipated return to Edinburgh, Travis also make their Summer Sessions festival Mercury Prize and BRIT Award nominee Michael debut on 13 August 2021. In 2019, the nine time Kiwanuka will make his Summer Sessions platinum and multi-BRIT Award winning band debut on 9th August 2021, bringing triumphant celebrated the 20th anniversary of their sounds from his 2019 album ‘Kiwanuka’ which breakthrough album ‘The Man Who’, with songs was hailed as “one of the greatest of the decade” like ‘Why Does It Always Rain On Me?’ and

by The Guardian. The London singer-songwriter ‘Driftwood’ becoming some of Scotland’s biggest has established himself as one of the UK’s most musical exports. With their ninth studio album gifted and unpredictable of artists with the ‘10 Songs’ due for release in October 2020, release of his compelling and broadly acclaimed Travis have given fans a taste of what to expect self-titled third album last year. Releasing his with two new singles ‘A Ghost’ and ‘Valentine’ powerful latest single ‘Light’ alongside an marking the next exciting stage in their epic 25 animated video reflecting the Black Lives Matter years of making music. For a band so protests taking place around the globe, Michael synonymous with Scotland, it is fitting that Kiwanuka makes a poignant and timely Travis will now add one of the most breathtaking statement about self-acceptance and strength. outdoor settings in the country to their catalogue.

Lionel Richie will make his Summer Sessions

Scotland’s most successful rock band ever, Simple Minds headline Edinburgh Summer Sessions for the first time ever on 15 August 2021. With one of the most iconic back catalogues in the world and recently celebrating 40 years of hits, the legendary Glasgow band are responsible for huge international anthems that will go down a storm with the Summer Sessions crowd, like the classic ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’, plus ‘Alive and Kicking’ and ‘Belfast Child’.

Situated within Princes Street Gardens in the heart of Scotland’s bustling capital city, the festival is the perfect destination for music fans next summer with the location offering plenty of food, drink and activity options to create the ultimate Edinburgh Summer Sessions experience.

An outstanding mix of stars including Paloma Faith, Florence & the Machine, CHVRCHES, Primal Scream, Madness and Lewis Capaldi are all part of the star-studded Edinburgh Summer Sessions alumni, with the festival famed for its exciting line-ups with a showstopping atmosphere, in one of the most intimate outdoor settings in the world.

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Edinburgh Jazz & Blue Festival mark the dates of the 43rd Festival by presenting a four-day online festival Starting on Thursday 23 July, Edinburgh Jazz & Blue Festival includes a mix of new sets made under lockdown conditions, solo home videos, a selection of great content from our video archive, a host of talks, and late-night DJ sets.

The programme features a host of Scottish luminaries including Martin Kershaw’s five star Octet, paying homage to the writer David Foster Wallace, and Graham Costello’s STRATA Expanded. Rising star, pianist Fergus McCreadie plays two concerts - one with winner of the Young Scottish Traditional musician of the year fiddler Charlie Stewart and one with recent winner of the Parliamentary Jazz Awards for Best Newcomer: singer Luca Manning.

There are newly recorded live sets from Tom Bancroft’s Playtime team, Seonaid Aitken’s, popular quartet Rose Room celebrate their 10th anniversary, Harry Weir’s explosive Trio AKU! play a mix of hard hitting heavy rhythmical originals and covers of music by Shabaka Hutchings, Fela Kuti and Young Fathers among others.

The festival reaches out to children with Jessie Bates and Haftor Medbøe presenting a duo set covering a day in the life of a toddler through songs about getting ready and dressed, going out and about, bath time and, finally, bed time.

The ever-popular Blues Afternoons feature with Sandy Tweeddale, Jed Potts, Liz Jones, Main Street Blues, and a new birthday set from Nicole Smit.

The festival will also broadcast videos from a host of singers including Lorna Reid, Georgia Cecile and Katie Whittaker reprising her smashhit show, celebrating Etta James.

Collaborations have been key to the festival’s success and this year is no exception as BBC Radio Scotland’s Jazz Nights joins the festival on Sunday. Host Seonaid Aitken celebrates with a special mixtape featuring artists who have played the Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival, including EJF archive concert performances by Dave Milligan, Haftor Medboe & Jakob Karlzon. Plus special home DJ sets from Ali Affleck and Rebecca Vasmant for the festival after party on Jazz Nights. Norrie Thomson from Edinburgh’s Jazz Archive charts the development of jazz in Edinburgh in the early years. The

Georgia Cecile :: www.facebook.com/GeorgiaCecile

festival also investigates jazz, electronics and new technologies at a conference presented with Wide Days, bringing together a panel from Scotland, Italy as well as TEFOS (The Edinburgh Festival of Sound).

be able to deliver such an exciting online programme in 2020 which covers the range of great music that the Festival is famous for. We were sorry that we could not stage the live Festival as usual this year, but hope this celebration of the music that we love will fill the Keeping its international connections, the festival gap in some small way. We look forward to will feature musicians from USA - Joplin Parnell welcoming you to our various online homes” from New Orleans, plays with Alison Affleck and Nashville bluesman Stacy Mitchhart records a Councillor Donald Wilson, Convener of special solo set just for the festival. Haftor Culture and Communities, City of Edinburgh Medbøe is joined by Norwegian trumpeter Council says: “We are proud to support Gunnar Halle and Danish bassist Eva Malling. T. Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival and that the U.N. (Torino Unlimited Noise) presents a double 43rd Festival can be celebrated, especially under header the Scotland’s Stu Brown. From Belgium, the current extraordinary circumstances. The ESINAM’s Jazz Bar performance from last endurance of the Festivals are important to a February is reprised, whilst from Holland, Tin successful future for the city and the country Men and the Telephone make their Festival and I am delighted that this imaginative online debut with their award winning interactive live Festival offer will encompass the best of concert.

Edinburgh-based, Scottish and international talent in a stylistic mix from the early years of To celebrate this summer’s event, the festival the music right up until today’s, and our future has launched a new supporters scheme talent.” welcoming donations and patrons from customers who want to support our work.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture for The full programme is on the festival website Scotland says: “Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival and live on social media Twitter | Facebook| is an event that focuses on and champions Instagram Scottish talent, and I am pleased they are able Chair of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, to continue that focus in 2020. Thanks to the Councillor Jason Rust says: “We are excited to Scottish Government’s EXPO funding, the Festival has been able to delve into its digital archives to present music made by musicians from all over Scotland.”

Alan Morrison, Head of Music, Creative Scotland said: "With new material and archive favourites from Scotland’s best musicians, its emerging stars and virtual visitors from abroad, this year’s Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival sets the standard for all online festivals to follow.

This is no mere digital substitute but an exciting, inventive platform for music that pushes the creative envelope and encourages jazz fans to drop in on gigs by artists they haven’t experienced before. Rising to the challenge of these troubled times, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival continues to be a vital part of Scotland’s music scene."

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Kara Conway :: single - 'These Roads' Released? :: Out Now @ across all major streaming platforms

Singer/songwriter, Kara Conway dipped into her student past and her university dissertation to come up with the idea for her next single release.

impression as well.”

Kara has been playing the piano since she was a young girl and says she spent her childhood singing along to her dad playing music by The Beatles, Eric Clapton and The Eagles on guitar and participating in her local choir.

While studying at university, Kara taught herself guitar so she could perform her own material at open mic nights in and around the city, covering Nick Drake and Crosby Stills and Nash songs, while honing her skills as a singer-songwriter.

Kara wrote “These Roads” when she completed her English literature degree course at the University of Glasgow where one topic looked at the role of cars in fiction.

She has emerged on to the Scottish music scene winning slots at the prestigious Danny Kyle Open Stage as part of Celtic Connections, Killin Music Festival and Scottish singer/songwriter Dougie Maclean’s annual Perthshire Amber Festival.

“I had cars and roads on the brain so that’s definitely where this song came from,” said the 24-year-old from Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow.

“I started writing These Roads around the time I finished university, where my dissertation was on cars in fiction.

“I was looking at the car as a symbol of freedom for counterculture protagonists, focussing on has enjoyed airplay on several radio stations.

Jack Kerouac’s ‘On The Road’ and Hunter S. “I thought the chords sounded really cool Thompson’s ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.’ together on These Roads. I wrote it on acoustic “In my final year I read lots and lots of literature guitar but it wasn’t until I got into the studio on cars, from J.G. ‘Ballard’s Crash’ to Stephen that we started building it up by adding more King’s ‘Christine’ so this song stemmed from instruments. that period.”

“Despite the addition of electric keyboard and The song is on Kara’s forthcoming, four-track guitar, organ and shakers, the song still has a debut EP and is her second single release from it more stripped/laid back feel to it compared to in two months. the first single, I feel.

In June, she released her song “Two Hearts,” “I have been pleased with the reaction to Two which was inspired by a Doctor Who storyline. It Hearts so I hope These Roads makes a good

She hosts an hour-long, Sunday morning show on Celtic Music Radio, featuring a mixture of music from up and coming to established artists.

The EP, “This Life” was recorded at Chem19 Studios in Glasgow where Derek O’Neill (King Creosote) was produced and engineered it with mastering by Paul Savage.

“These Roads” by Kara Conway was selfreleased on 17 July.

It will be available via major platforms including Amazon music, Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer, YouTube, Google Play, and Tidal.

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Zoe Graham :: single - 'Know by Now' Released? :: Out Now @ across all major streaming platforms

Zoe Graham prepares to release her emotional new single "Know By Now", the latest track to be taken from the Glasgow artist’s new EP Gradual Move, due 18 September.

"Know By Now" finds Graham grappling with the truth between herself and her lover, and trying to do right by both without repeating the mistakes of the past.

are both honest and open - almost an oxymoron,” Graham adds.

“I'm old enough to know better, I've been through so many experiences within my musical life where I have to be honest and brave,” the singer explains. “But when it comes to my personal life, it's much less easy for me.”

Following recent singles "Gradual Move" and "Sleep Talking’"– also included on the forthcoming Gradual Move EP – Graham has already received huge support from the likes of Built around swirling synths and crashing drums, BBC Scotland, The Herald, The National, and "Know By Now" captures the drama of a classic Amazing Radio. power ballad through modern pop songwriting.

“Although I'm dealing with my issues with Zoe Graham will release her EP Gradual Move on honesty within this song, the style and sound 18 September, with the new single "Know by Now" available on 17 July.

Zoe Graham tells the story of her new video .....

"Before the word Coronavirus had entered our vocabulary, myself and Kieran Howe (Odd Socks Films) had grand plans of driving up to 'The Rest and Be Thankful', hiring a beautiful vintage car and driving around the dramatic landscape.

Sadly, we were stopped in our tracks, so I decided to kick about on my bike instead.

Myself and my partner Deni filmed the video on Shelley Road in Glasgow, not far from my house.

After about 6 rolls down the hill (runs for Deni!) we managed to get the perfect take.

Definitely the most exercise I've had for months!"

www.zoegrahammusic.com :: photo by Julian Bailey

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TMSA :: album - 'Young Trad Tour 2019' Released? :: Out Now @ www.tmsa.scot/tmsa-shop

Some of Scotland’s finest young folk musicians have come together to release a one-off studio album in 2020.

winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Competition, joined by finalists: Cameron Ross – fiddle (Stonehaven) Catherine Tinney – voice (Isle of Skye) Luc McNally – guitar / voice (Dipton) Ross Miller – bagpipes (Linlithgow) Sarah Markey – flute (Coatbridge) Hannah Rarity – Song (Dechmont) (2018 winner)

rising stars of Scotland’s traditional music scene.

The release of their musical collaboration is really exciting for the young musicians. Whilst plans for the Tour may be on hold for the moment, I have no doubt the album and the group will act as fantastic ambassadors for both the future of traditional music and the TMSA.”

Listeners are treated to a mix of new material written and composed by these outstanding After a sell-out performance at Celtic Connections in January, the group recorded the young musicians as well as innovative arrangements of traditional tunes – supported by TMSA Young Trad Tour 2019 album in March, Musical Directors, Findlay Napier & Anna Massie, The tour is supported by Creative Scotland. supported by the TMSA (Traditional Music & Kirsty MacDonald, Traditional Arts Officer at Song Association of Scotland). The album will be a former winner of the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award back in 2003 herself.

Creative Scotland, said: “We are delighted to released on the TMSA record label, catalogue be supporting once again the TMSA Young Trad number TMSA19 TMSA convener, Fiona Campbell, said: “The Tour and associated album. TMSA continues to annual TMSA Young Trad Tour and album is The current TMSA Young Trad Tour group provide young musicians from across Scotland always a great opportunity to showcase the comprises of Benedict Morris, fiddle (Glasgow), with the opportunity to tour in their local areas, and the creation of another fantastic album will undoubtedly help raise their profile at this critical early stage of their music career.”

The album was recorded and mixed by Angus Lyon and Chris Waite at Gran’s House studio in South Lanarkshire before being mastered at the renowned Castlesound Studios, Pencaitland, East Lothian.

The group were scheduled to deliver a tour in May but have had to postpone due to Covid-19.

Details on rescheduled performances will be made available through the TMSA website and social media channels in due course.

To view a live-streamed performance of the groups’ 2020 Celtic Connections gig (from 56mins) go to videos on the TMSA facebook page.

The new album, along with previous years TMSA Young Trad Tour project CD releases, are available from the TMSA website @ www.tmsa.scot/tmsa-shop

www.tmsa.scot

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:: photos by photo by Martin Forry

Angelica Mode :: Debut Single - 'Your Love Is All The Rage' Released? :: 31 July @ across all major streaming platforms

Angelica Mode are excited to announce the release of their debut single “Your Love Is All The Rage”, on 31 July.

Angelica Mode is the new project of songwriter Brian Hughes, formed from the ashes of previous band, Screamin’ Whisper in early 2020. Hughes takes this opportunity to take his writing in a new direction and produce work unlike that of his previous ventures.

Having spent 6 years honing his craft both in the studio and live, including opening for The Amazons along the way. Brian has already found support from Amazing Radio’s Jim Gellatly for Angelica Mode and has been featured on BBC Radio Scotland for his songwriting.

Of the song Angelica Mode note; “This song marks a change in style for me; I used a drum machine and layered real instruments over the top. I wanted it to have a really solid low end and driving rhythm, while keeping the character and unpredictability of real instruments being played Loud!

I’ve recently found a love for analogue synthesizers, because they supply the deep low end and rhythmic elements I want, but need to be tuned like a traditional instrument, so maintain the imperfect human feel.“ The product of a new direction come into play as the world has come to a standstill, the single is a fusion of the cynicism and tension which have come from putting our lives on hold, into a tight 2 minute pop song.

Angelica Mode: The searching lyrics of a prime Morrissey, with some of the swagger of a Berlin era Bowie.

www.angelicamode.bandcamp.com www.twitter.com/angelica_x_mode www.facebook.com/angelicaxmode

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