MUSIC NEWS Scotland

31: 7 : 20

During the Covid-19 crisis we are combining our three titles into one MNS MUSIC NEWS Scotland :: MNS FESTIVALS! :: MNS GIGguide Showcase Scotland "Postcards from Scotland" - page 5 SAY Award deadline + YouTube premier - p14 :: Ceilidh Trail album - p12

Funding opportunity for disabled artists announced with 'Unlimited' arts programme backed by Creative Scotland The 'Unlimited' arts programme - which supports the development of exceptional new work from disabled artists - has published their Fund guidance ahead of an application opening date in October.

The fund's applications will open on Thursday 1 October, and it has a closing deadline of Tuesday 27 October at 12 noon.

The programme supports disabled artists to develop their practice and to form new relationships and collaborations with producers, venues and promoters. It also aims to increase distribution of work (through touring, including international touring, and digital iterations) affording greater opportunities for audiences to see some of the very best work from disabled artists across the UK and internationally.

Seasonal Fluctuations by Sonia Allori :: photograph by Fleeta Siegal

platforms, connections and allies to emerge.”

Italian composer and musician Sonia Allori who is trying to find a way forwards in life using disability, music and words as tools for change.

Read more @

Since 2013, Unlimited has provided nearly £4 million to 280 disabled artists through commissions, awards and support, making it the www.weareunlimited.org.uk/commission/sonia-allori/ largest supporter of disabled artists worldwide.

Unlimited grants have previously supported Scotland based creatives including Scottish/

www.weareunlimited.org.uk www.twitter.com/weareunltd www.facebook.com/weareunltd

Backed by The National Lottery and in partnership with Creative Scotland, Arts Council England and Arts Council of Wales, a total of £500,000 will be available to individuals working across the cultural spectrum. Full details of the Unlimited programme and eligibility criteria can be found over on the Unlimited website - link below.

While many artists and companies are unable to tour and share work through conventional channels and platforms, Unlimited seeks to continue to commission artists and bring outstanding, boundary-breaking work to UK and international audiences in these unprecedented times.

Milica Milosevic, Head of EDI at Creative Scotland said: “We are delighted to offer new voices and emerging talent in the disabled artist community in Scotland, the opportunity to develop their creative practice through this hugely successful commissioning partnership.

Unlimited is the largest supporter of disabled arts worldwide whose mentorship of their selected artists is often a game changer for their careers.

Our investment of £120,000 over 2 years underpins our commitment to increase the diversity of our arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland, and promote fresh creative expression through encouraging new

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

tweet @ www.twitter.com/scottishmusic

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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 ...

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

Na Trads :: 6.40pm on BBC ALBA. SIAN perform at the Trad Awards. www.bbcalba.co.uk

Ashley Storrie :: 10pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

New and classic Scottish music, soul rockabilly, pop and indie from around the world. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland

Jazz Nights :: 7pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

Seonaid Aitken is joined by RICHARD MICHAEL for another chapter of his song book. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland

Na Trads :: 6.30pm on BBC ALBA. SUSAN MACFADYEN BAND perform at the Trad Awards. www.bbcalba.co.uk

Skipinnish at Barrowland :: 11pm on BBC Classics Unwrapped :: 9pm on BBC Radio ALBA. Skipinnish play at Barrowland in Glasgow. Scotland. Jamie MacDougall presents the best in www.bbcalba.co.uk classical music. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland SATURDAY 1 AUGUST --------------------------------------Belladrum 2020 :: 10pm on BBC ALBA. Music Ricky Ross Meets :: 6pm on BBC Radio and festival themed entertainment show. A mix Scotland. Singer songwriter EDDI READER of classic archive and new performances from previous headliners and emerging talent.

Music all day every day from Glasgow shares stories and memories from her musical career.

Presented by Niall Iain Macdonald and Fiona promoting Celtic and roots music of all www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Mackenzie. genres - at 95FM or online @ www.bbcalba.co.uk www.celticmusicradio.net Belladrum 2020 :: 6-7pm on BBC ALBA. Music and festival themed entertainment show. A mix Iain Anderson :: 11pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

--------------------------------------of classic archive and new performances from End the day in the company of the songwriting previous headliners and emerging talent. masters of country, folk, blues and soul.

Presented by Niall Iain Macdonald and Fiona www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Independent Alternative digital radio, Mackenzie. broadcasting live from the upstairs of LP www.bbcalba.co.uk MONDAY 3 AUGUST

Celtic Music Radio

LP Radio

Records in Glasgow, listen online @ www.lpradio.co.uk/listen ---------------------------------------

FRIDAY 31 JULY The Friday Afternoon Show :: 2pm 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

COLIN MACLEOD - When It Kicks In :: 7pm on BBC ALBA. Lewis singer-songwriter COLIN MACLEOD tours on both sides of the pond. www.bbcalba.co.uk

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

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

Get It On... With Bryan Burnett :: 6pm on BBC Radio Scotland. With essential music chosen by listeners. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland

Rewind :: 7.15pm on BBC Scotland. The music Grant Stott's Vinyl Collective :: 6pm on BBC and news from 2000.

Radio Scotland. Celebrating the vinyl revival with www.bbc.co.uk/Scotland classic records and new releases.

Pipeline :: 9pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Gary www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland West presents a remote session from piper ANDY MAY from his home in Newcastle .

Na Trads :: 7.25pm on BBC ALBA. MALINKY www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland perform at the 2015 Trad Awards. www.bbcalba.co.uk Belladrum 2020 :: 9-11pm on BBC ALBA. Music and festival themed entertainment show.

Ceol Aig A Chaisteal :: 8pm on BBC ALBA. A mix of classic archive and new performances Music and song from Tulloch Castle. from previous headliners and emerging talent. www.bbcalba.co.uk Presented by Niall Iain Macdonald and Fiona Mackenzie.

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 Billy Sloan :: 10pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Hot Scotland with Nicola Meighan. new releases plus rock and pop music from www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Scotland and around the world. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Ceol Aig A Chaisteal :: 8pm on BBC ALBA. Music and song from Tulloch Castle.

Port :: 00.45am on BBC ALBA. Previously www.bbcalba.co.uk unseen music from the series Port with Julie Fowlis.

Ceòl Duthchasach/Ken Burn's Country www.bbcalba.co.uk Music :: 9-10.50pm on BBC ALBA. 'Country Music' directed by Ken Burns explores crucial SUNDAY 2 AUGUST questions - “What is country music?” and “Where did it come from?” while focusing on the Mike Ritchie On Sunday: 4-6pm on Celtic biographies of the fascinating trailblazers who Music Radio 95FM + DAB. Handpicked tunes created and shaped it, from the Carter Family, from established acts, new voices and anything Jimmie Rodgers, Bill Monroe and Bob Wills to Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Merle that takes my fancy from the wonderful worlds of americana, roots, folk, singer/songwriters Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, Willie without worrying about labels. Voted Best Radio Nelson, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Garth Brooks and many more — as well as the times in Show in americana-uk 2017 Readers' Poll. which they lived. Much like the music itself, the www.celticmusicradio.net film tells unforgettable stories of hardships and joys shared by everyday people. “At the heart of Take The Floor :: 5pm on BBC Radio Scotland. every great country music song is a story,” says For the very best in traditional music and song, join Gary Innes for Take The Floor.

Ken Burns. “As the songwriter Harlan Howard www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland said, ‘It’s three chords and the truth.’ The

Na Trads :: 7.55pm on BBC ALBA. DOSCA perform at the 2015 Trad Awards. www.bbcalba.co.uk Vic Galloway :: 8pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

Vic's dug out FRANZ FERDINAND'S first ever live session for your delectation. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Iain Anderson :: 11pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

End the day in the company of the songwriting masters of country, folk, blues and soul. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Rewind :: 11pm on BBC Scotland. The music and news from 2000. www.bbc.co.uk/Scotland TUESDAY 4 AUGUST 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. With essential music chosen by listeners. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Na Trads :: 7.55pm on BBC ALBA. PHIL & ALY perform with QUENDALE BAY at the Trad Awards. www.bbcalba.co.uk Another Country with Ricky Ross :: 8pm on BBC Radio Scotland. A conversation with the Nashville singer-songwriter, BRANDY CLARK. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Roddy Hart :: 11pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

Featuring the Me-in-3 choices of singer and songwriting JESS MORGAN.

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 www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Ceol Aig A Chaisteal :: 11pm on BBC ALBA. Music and song from Tulloch Castle. www.bbcalba.co.uk WEDNESDAY 5 AUGUST 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

Grant Stott's Vinyl Collective :: 6pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Celebrating the vinyl revival with classic records and new releases. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Na Trads :: 7.25pm on BBC ALBA. DOSCA perform at the 2015 Trad Awards. www.bbcalba.co.uk

Tattoo at 7pm on Friday 14 August, with a further one-hour programme of highlights the following Friday 21 August. Arts strand Loop will also have an Edinburgh special on Thursday 20 August on the channel. www.bbc.co.uk/Scotland FRIDAY 14 AUGUST

Belladrum 2020 :: 7.30pm on BBC ALBA. Music and festival themed entertainment show.

A mix of classic archive and new performances from previous headliners and emerging talent.

Get It On... With Bryan Burnett :: 6pm on Presented by Niall Iain Macdonald and Fiona BBC Radio Scotland. With essential music chosen Mackenzie. by listeners. www.bbcalba.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland The Friday Afternoon Show :: 8pm on BBC Na Trads :: 7.55pm on BBC ALBA. DOSCA Radio Scotland. Weekend tunes and what is perform at the 2015 Trad Awards. happening in music, arts and culture from across www.bbcalba.co.uk Scotland with Nicola Meighan. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland The Quay Sessions :: 8pm on BBC Radio Scotland. Enjoy live performances from the foyer Rewind :: 8.45pm on BBC Scotland. The music at BBC Radio Scotland's Pacific Quay. and news from 2000. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.bbc.co.uk/Scotland

Ceòl Duthchasach/Ken Burn's Country Music :: 9-11.15pm on BBC ALBA. Ken Burn’s Country Music focuses on the biographies of the fascinating trailblazers who created and shaped it.

The series includes The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Bill Monroe and Bob Wills to Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Garth Brooks and many more — as well as the times in which they lived. Much like the music itself, the film tells unforgettable stories of hardships and joys shared by everyday people. www.bbcalba.co.uk

Vic Galloway :: 10pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

Vic's dug out FRANZ FERDINAND'S first ever live session for your delectation. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland

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.

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 from?” while focusing on the biographies of the TradFest :: 10.30pm on BBC ALBA. Allan fascinating trailblazers who created and shaped MacDonald presents from TradFest Music it, from the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Bill Festival.

Monroe and Bob Wills to Hank Williams, Patsy www.bbcalba.co.uk Cline, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Solas - Margaret Fay Shaw of Canna :: 11pm Emmylou Harris, Garth Brooks and many on BBC ALBA. The story of folklorist MARGARET more — as well as the times in which they lived.

FAY SHAW told through her own films and Much like the music itself, the film tells recordings. unforgettable stories of hardships and joys www.bbcalba.co.uk shared by everyday people. “At the heart of every great country music song is a story,” says THURSDAY 6 AUGUST director Ken Burns. “As the songwriter Harlan Howard said, ‘It’s three chords and the truth.’

The Afternoon Show :: 1.30pm on BBC Radio The common experiences and human emotions Scotland. What is happening in music, arts and speak to each of us about love and loss, about culture from across Scotland. hard times and the chance of redemption. As an www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland art form, country music is also forever revisiting its history, sharing and updating old classics and Get It On... With Bryan Burnett :: 6pm on celebrating its roots, which are, in many ways, BBC Radio Scotland. With essential music chosen foundational to our country itself.” by listeners. www.bbcalba.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Ashley Storrie :: 10pm on BBC Radio Scotland.

Na Trads :: 7.55pm on BBC ALBA. PHIL & ALY New and classic Scottish music, soul rockabilly, perform with QUENDALE BAY at the Trad pop and indie from around the world.

Awards. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.bbcalba.co.uk MANRAN and TRAIL WEST at Barrowland :: Travelling Folk :: 8pm on BBC Radio Scotland. 11pm on BBC ALBA. MANRAN and TRAIL Bruce MacGregor with the best folk and roots WEST perform in concert at a sold-out music from around the world.

Barrowland. www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland www.bbcalba.co.uk 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

THURSDAY 13 AUGUST

The Edinburgh Show :: 8.30-9pm on BBC Scotland, The Edinburgh Show will come from the heart of the city itself hosted by Grant Stott Port :: 10.15 on BBC ALBA. Previously unseen who will be making sure you know what’s music from the series Port with Julie Fowlis. happening at the Edinburgh Festivals – as www.bbcalba.co.uk venues, artists and performers adapt due to COVID-19 restrictions. He’ll catch up with artists Eadar Chluich :: 11.25pm on BBC ALBA. Gaelic taking part in this unique festival year – at a song in short drama form. I Kissed The Hand of safe social distance – plus he’ll be highlighting The King stars Gilly Gilchrist. the best of what’s on offer across the digital www.bbcalba.co.uk offerings from the International Festival, Fringe and Book Festivals. Said Grant: ‘I’m an FRIDAY 7 AUGUST Edinburgh lad who has over the years grown up with the festival, enjoyed it, covered events and The Friday Afternoon Show :: 2pm on BBC performed in it… So delighted to bring what Radio Scotland. Weekend tunes and what is festival activity there is, in this one off year, to happening in music, arts and culture from across the BBC Scotland audience.” As well as the twoScotland with Nicola Meighan. part Edinburgh Show, the BBC Scotland channel www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland will also be showing a 90 minute package of past highlights from The Royal Edinburgh Military

Edinburgh Festival ::

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.

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Leading Scottish Musicians Send Virtual Postcards To Festivals Around The Globe Eighteen of Scotland’s best known folk groups and musicians have teamed up to present digital performances and send greetings from across the country to audiences at leading festivals around the world.

During what would usually be the peak of the summer festival season, a host of Scottish artists - including leading names such as Blazin’ Fiddles, Kris Drever and Skerryvore, and recent award-winners Elephant Sessions, Talisk and Kinnaris Quintet have each recorded a five-minute ‘Postcard from Scotland’, which will be broadcast back-to-back as one 90-minute special via a number of festivals’ online programmes.

World-renowned festivals including the Cambridge Folk Festival, Denmark’s Tønder Festival, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Rainforest World Music Festival in Borneo, and Germany’s Rudolstadt Festival - amongst many more - will present the film, created to enable artists to connect with international audiences during the covid-19 pandemic.

The first of its kind project has been brought together

by Showcase Scotland Expo, and will showcase not only a diverse range of Scottish artists, but also a range of locations throughout Scotland to international audiences - from the Borders to Shetland.

The 18 postcards feature newly filmed greetings backed by iconic Scottish landmarks representing the artists’ home locations, each followed by a set of tunes or a song - altogether creating one hour-and-ahalf programme of stunning Scottish music, song and scenery.

Folk Festival (USA), Rainforest World Music Festival (Malaysian Borneo), Rudolstadt Festival (Germany), Schots Weekend (Belgium) and Tønder Festival (Denmark).

In total, 73 Scottish musicians will be presented to audiences of the Cambridge Folk Festival (England), Canada’s National Arts Centre, Festival Interceltique de Lorient (Brittany, France), Katowice Music Days (Poland), Nordsjøfestivalen (Norway), Philadelphia

Supported by Creative Scotland, Showcase Scotland Expo works to promote the international export of Scottish-based musicians working in the genres of folk, traditional and world music. Most often this is via targeted industry showcases and presentations at key conferences worldwide, however in 2020 has pivoted to a number of online initiatives in a bid to ensure that Scottish artists’ profiles remain high amongst international markets, with both audiences and bookers.

The ‘Postcards’ will also be presented via the Year of Scotland in Australia (YOSA) 2020’s digital channels.

Set to be the largest ever presentation of Scottish An open call for applications saw over sixty entries artists down under, with an unprecedented yearlong from artists keen to be part of the project, and the programme - also a Showcase Scotland Expo final selection of 18 artists was chosen in a joint initiative - YOSA was abruptly halted amidst the meeting of the international festival directors pandemic outbreak in March. Since then, footage of presenting the programme.

Scottish artists have been streamed to Australian The full Postcards from Scotland programme features: audiences via the project’s social media channels, with Blazin’ Fiddles, Breabach, Brìdghe Chaimbeul, an average weekly audience of 23,000 viewers.

Claire Hastings, Elephant Sessions, Fara, Hannah A Spotify playlist featuring all 18 artists has also been Rarity, Ímar, Kinnaris Quintet, Kris Drever, created, to allow audiences to discover more music Moishe’s Bagel and Fiona Hunter, Niteworks, Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton, RURA, Ryan Young, from the featured artists - listen @ bit.ly/PostcardsScotlandSpotify Siobhan Miller, Skerryvore and Talisk.

Showcase Scotland Expo was born out of the Showcase Scotland conference within Celtic Connections. Since 2000, the event has annually brought 200 invited delegates to Glasgow during the January festival to book and work with Scottish artists, with an annual return of over £2million in fees secured.

Showcase Scotland Expo Executive Producer, Lisa Whytock said: “We are immensely grateful to all of the festivals and venues for working us to present Postcards from Scotland. Now more than ever, it is vitally important that we are able to support artists in connecting with audiences, and - going by the feedback from our international community - this certainly seems to be a great way to do that.”

One of the first festivals to feature Postcards from Scotland is one of the UK’s longest standing and most prestigious - the Cambridge Folk Festival. Its Artistic Director, Eddie Barcan said: “I’ve attended every Showcase Scotland [at Celtic Connections], and made at least 130 bookings for Cambridge alone, where we even established a mini Scottish showcase. I always find the quality of music inspiring, and love the thrill of discovering new talent to delight our audience.

Cambridge Folk Festival is delighted to include Postcards from Scotland in its virtual programme, and to support Scottish artists, particularly at this difficult time.”

Showcasing artist, Jeana Leslie, of Orkney quartet Fara, said: “It’s great to be part of this, and to connect with so many festival audiences during a time when we can’t be there in person. Myself and Kristan Harvey are currently in Orkney, and so our message comes from the beautiful Brough of Birsay”.

www.showcasescotlandexpo.com www.twitter.com/showcasescot www.facebook.com/showcasescot

email news to :: musicnewsscotland@gmail.com

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WHAT'S Musicians For Musicians: Many

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

Voices On A Theme Of Isolation The Musicians For Musicians fundraising campaign for artists in the UK started in March 2020, has now culminated in an album called ‘Musicians For Musicians Many Voices On A Theme of Isolation’.

www.torridonlive.com 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

tightrope existence of being a freelance musician. Events since 23 March caused Amelia to take action and 2 days later, Amelia started the Musicians For Musicians fundraising campaign through JustGiving, all proceeds going to the charity Help Musicians. Through the generosity of music makers and music lovers, the page has grown well and now raised almost £18,000 so far, including Gift Aid. Amelia’s goal is to reach £100,000.

TOM McGUIRE + THE BRASSHOLES

Amelia has worked with the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields and Orchestra of the Swan, as well as working as a session musician at Abbey Road, Air and others. In August 2019, Amelia Conway-Jones joined the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.

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

Cover artwork by John Cook Lynch

Jen Butterworth :: www.facebook.com/jennbutterworthmusic

As Amelia says, “The coronavirus pandemic has hit musicians working in all genres, with all live events cancelled for the foreseeable future... it saddens me so much to see the thriving UK musical community brought to its knees. Musicians have the creativity and drive to adapt to whatever the future new normal may be, but they desperately need practical, financial assistance to allow them to make that journey. Since the shutdown of the industry in March, Help Musicians have provided urgent financial assistance to 16,700 UK musicians in severe financial hardship and I feel passionately that I want to help them to help even more.”

AMY PAPIRANSKY

Fundraising campaigner, Amelia Conway-Jones has brought together a wide range of genres and musicians from across the UK including classical, world music, jazz, reggae, electronic, folk, singer/ songwriter, rock and indie pop for this lockdown album to help raise money for musicians and the charity Help Musicians.

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

Musicians For Musicians is making a meaningful contribution at this time and Amelia’s work is thoroughly appreciated as Tom Rosen – Help Musicians Fundraising Manager – says, “Help Musicians is incredibly grateful to Amelia and all of the artists who feature on the album. As an independent charity, we simply couldn’t do what we do if it wasn’t for the generosity of those who fundraise for us. Help Representing Scotland on the album is Jenn Musicians offers a lifetime of support to professional Butterworth, who is one of the most notable folk musicians when it’s needed most, and as the guitarists in the UK acoustic music scene. She currently holds the title ‘Musician of the Year’ from the Coronavirus challenges continue, that support has Scots Trad Music Awards, and was nominated for the never been so needed. Thank you to everyone same title in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. As part of involved in this project.” folk supergroup “Songs of Separation” Jenn won the www.musiciansformusicians.bandcamp.com/releases title of ‘Best Album’ at the Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2017 for the album “Songs of Separation”, which was conceived, arranged and recorded in just 7 days www.jennbutterworth.co.uk As Amelia says, “I’m really excited that the next phase of the campaign is an album of tracks from musicians and composers across the musical community of the UK. Each track has been written during this time, or chosen by the artists from their back catalogue and reimagined as an expression of each artist’s lockdown experience.”

As a London violinist Amelia Conway-Jones knows the

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SCOTTISH MUSIC CENTRE .........

Member Profile :: Richard Greer www.scottishmusiccentre.com/richard-greer "The Scottish Music Centre's task is to champion the wealth of talent that abounds in Scotland's musical community"

Richard Greer is a composer and Artistic Director living and working in Scotland.

His work has explored very human themes and he has a particular interest in how we make sense of our experiences and how we construct our picture of the world.

He has worked with some of the best ensembles working locally and internationally and values ongoing creative relationships with musicians and other creators. Previous collaborations include The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, RCS Symphony Orchestra, Red Note Ensemble, Viridian Quartet, Anthanaeum Winds, The Brodick Quartet, Sean Shibe, Kevin Cahill and Ensemble Modern.

Richard studied with Dr. Gordon McPherson and Rory Boyle at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (BMus, MMus), graduating in 2012.

During his studies he won the inaugural Craig Armstrong Prize (Joint 1st) and was runner up for the Dinah Wolfe Memorial Prize in his second year.

After graduating his work has featured in concerts across Scotland including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (The Astrid Quartet, Davur Juul Magnussen, 2012), Europe and further afield.

Recent work has included a 35-minute String Quartet (to be premiered by The Brodick Quartet): ‘Forgiveness and The Fear of Forever’, a 20-minute Piano Duo (premiered by The Glasgow New Music Expedition at ‘The

Piano’), ‘The Last Waltz’, a collaboration with Artist Rhona Mühlebach and a innovative series of short works, each individually commissioned by the performer, exploring the human experience and stories within aviation called FLIGHTPLANS. In future he hopes to collaborate with a choreographer to create music for dance and to explore composing for theatre and film.

He is a founding member and Artistic Director of The Glasgow New Music Expedition who’s

activity is dedicated to supporting emerging composers, artists and musicians alongside more experienced practitioners.

In November 2017 Richard became the youngest ever Chair of the Scottish Music Centre, of which he is also a member.

He makes Glasgow his home but enjoys travelling widely with his husband, when he can.

www.composergreer.co.uk

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

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the mns collection ….

Some of Scotland’s finest Trad and Folk musicians join forces with Scotia Arts for an online

Scottish Music Academy Scotia Arts, in partnership with some of Scotland’s top trad and folk artists, has recently launched a new online platform allowing musicians of all levels to learn and improve their playing of traditional music on their favourite instruments, whilst supporting professional musicians in these challenging times.

even more content to the members. Over time we hope it becomes the go-to site for the trad player here in Scotland as well as overseas where we know there is a huge demand for Scottish music to learn and improve.”

Academy Tutor Calum MacCrimmon, and member of multi award-winning band Breabach said “With all that has been going on in 2020, it has been highly rewarding to focus on this brand-new teaching platform as part of the The new Scottish Music Academy allows players of Scottish Music Academy. I have had a great time all abilities from absolute beginner to the most researching the material and I am proud to join advanced the chance to learn from internationally their all-star cast of folk musicians, filming mixedrecognised musicians in the comfort of their own level video tutorials for a range of instruments.” home and at their own pace for a low monthly Scottish Music Academy Tutors :: Ross Ainslie subscription.

(Treacherous Orchestra, Salsa Celtica) – Whistle.

Tutors include Ross Ainslie (whistles), Jenn Jenn Butterworth (Kinnaris Quintet, RCS) – Butterworth (guitar) and Kevin Henderson Guitar. Mairearad Green (Mairearad & Anna, (fiddle), who would all normally be packing out King Creosote) – Accordion. Kevin Henderson venues or playing headlining gigs at festivals up and down the country and internationally, but due (Session A9, Nordic Fiddler’s Bloc) – Fiddle.

Alistair McCulloch (Alistair McCulloch Trio, to the Covid-19 Pandemic have seen these RCS) – Fiddle. Calum MacCrimmon (Breabach, performances and tours all but dry up for the Grit Orchestra) – Whistle. Laura-Beth Salter foreseeable future.

(Kinnaris Quintet, The Shee) – Mandolin. Owen Founder and Director of Scotia Arts, Blair Sinclair (Inyal, Tannara) – Guitar. John Parham, whose company has been hugely Somerville (Treacherous Orchestra, RCS) affected by global pandemic said “This new Accordion platform has come about as a result of the entire Scotia Arts Ltd :: Bringing the Music of the Live Music Sector being decimated by Covid-19; most musicians have had their entire touring and World to Scotland; Taking Music of Scotland to the performing schedule wiped this year and with the World! Formed in 2017 by Troon based educator and performer Blair Parham, an experienced future uncertain, the Scottish Music Academy musician in his own right. It is responsible for the gives them some level of additional support.” planning and management of several music and Currently the online portal has a very impressive education events in Scotland and overseas, roster of 9 different tutors teaching fiddle, guitar, including the Stirling Bridge International Arts whistle, mandolin and accordion with lessons Festival and the newly formed Scottish Music arranged into courses aimed at particular ability Academy. 2020 was set to be the company’s most levels. The Academy has big plans to grow the successful year so far including 1,000 overseas roster and number of instruments in the future. visitors participating in the Stirling Bridge All lessons are pre-recorded meaning subscribers International Arts Festival and the founding of can pause, practise and replay whenever they a new music festival for Scottish Artists in want.

China with a projected audience of 30,000. Alas, the global pandemic has seen these events Blair continued “At the moment, we have over postponed for the time being 125 lessons resulting in over 40 hours of high www.scotiaarts.com class tuition on the site with members able to access all lessons from all tutors regardless of the www.scottishmusicacademy.com instrument played, and we are already in the www.twitter.com/ScotMusicAcad process of adding other superb musicians to offer www.facebook.com/ScottishMusicAcademy

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Fèis Rois celebrates Cèilidh Trail’s 21st anniversary with bumper collection of Scotland’s best young musicians Release of double CD compilation album and online concert on 15 August to mark milestone of pioneering traditional music programme This year marks the 21st anniversary of a pioneering traditional music programme, set up by an arts organisation based in Dingwall, and despite not being able to mark the occasion in the usual style with a summer of musical performances, Fèis Rois is releasing a double album featuring music from former Cèilidh Trail participants and hosting an online extravaganza to celebrate the occasion.

Fèis Rois was set for a fantastic summer of concerts and cèilidhs throughout Scotland, England, France and Australia to mark the milestone, but due to Covid19, the organisation took the decision to cancel this year’s programme back in April. Undeterred by the situation and eager to continue with some sort of celebration, Fèis Rois will release a double compilation album next month, featuring tracks donated by 21 former Cèilidh Trail participants including Highland duo Charlie Grey and Joseph Peach and Dingwall guitarist, Innes White, as well as tracks from bands which include former Ceilidh Trail musicians: Treacherous Orchestra, Inyal, The Outside Track, Project Smok and Fras.

Project Smok - featuring Ali Levack, from Maryburgh, who is the current BBC Radio Scotland Traditional Musician of the Year :: www.facebook.com/projectsmok now been adopted by a number of other Fèisean across Scotland. The very first cèilidh trail was coordinated by multi award-winning Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis (who provided the theme song for Disney Pixar’s Brave), and participants on the first Trail included accordionist and member of Croft No.Five and Treacherous Orchestra, John Somerville, and west coast accordion player, piper and artist, Mairearad Green.

for a career in the creative industries, giving them a taste of what life as a professional touring musician can be like.

“It is also a hugely important cultural tourism initiative bringing high quality, authentic, traditional music to places where we know visitors will be over the busy summer months, but where they might not usually otherwise hear this music. We’re extremely disappointed to not being able to visit all the venues and festivals this year, which would have included Mairearad Green, who took part in the first major festivals such as Belladrum, Cambridge Folk ceilidh trail in 2000, said: "I got regular piping To coincide with the launch of the album, there will Festival and Festival Interceltique de Lorient, as well tuition at school but without Fèis Rois I would have also be an online concert on Saturday 15th August, struggled to get any tuition locally on the accordion. I as venues we have performed at since the beginning, which would have been the date of the final Cèilidh including The Ceilidh Place in Ullapool, Inverewe Trail performance at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness. was on the first ever cèilidh trail and what an Gardens and a number of SNH nature reserves. We introduction to life on the road!

Having that platform Taking a similar format as the organisation’s hope our audiences will tune in for this very special from such a young age to develop my craft in such a successful Virtual Fèis Rois Tutor Concert which took concert on the 15 August and celebrate the musical supportive environment was invaluable to me and it place online in May and was viewed over 50,000 talent from Scotland with us.” meant that I could move down to Glasgow and times, the concert will be hosted on the Fèis Rois support my time at University financially by doing Facebook page. It will feature 14 former participants This project is funded by Creative Scotland. The first gigs. It also meant I had a strong community and including current BBC Radio Scotland Traditional Cèilidh Trail took place after former Fèis Rois Chief Musician of the Year, Ali Levack from Maryburgh, BBC network of fellow musicians from the Highlands and Executive, Rita Hunter, visited Cape Breton as part of we are all still friends today and many of us are Radio 2 Folk Award winners Josie Duncan, Brìghde a Highland Council delegation and was inspired by working in the music industry thanks to Fèis Rois."

Chaimbeul and Rachel Newton and TV presenter and similar models of work happening there. singer Kim Carnie. Other Highland musicians involved Fiona Dalgetty, Chief Executive, Feis Rois, The album will be available from include Chloe Bryce from Tain, who has recently commented: “We were determined to mark this big www.feisrois.bandcamp.com from graduated with a 1st class honours degree from Royal milestone in the Cèilidh Trail history, despite the Conservatoire of Scotland, member of electronic folk 15 August, and the concert will be hosted pandemic and are excited to launch this new album band, Inyal, Conal McDonagh from Poolewe and Tain on the Fèis Rois Facebook page on which showcases the incredible talent that has come fiddler with Kinnaris Quintet, Laura Wilkie. from the Cèilidh Trail over the years.

Saturday 15 August from 8pm-11pm @ The Cèilidh Trail programme , which provides young musicians and singers, aged 16 to 25, with the opportunity to take part in a professional summer tour with support from a team of musicians and specialist tutors, was established by Fèis Rois in 2000 and has

“The Cèilidh Trail supports young musicians develop their performance skills and provides a widespread traditional music entertainment programme in the Highlands and far beyond. It is a unique opportunity, offering participants training in the core skills required

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The SAY Award :: Submit eligible albums up to midnight 31 July!

PLUS - YouTube Premier with 2019 winner Auntie Flo on 25 August ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’ by Cocteau Twins because I’m a huge fan of Elizabeth Fraser, she’s a huge inspiration to me. I feel like that album is one of their best performances and really captures everything that they’re about.”

Erland Cooper chose Bert Jansch’ self-titled 1965 debut. “That set me on a path from Jackson C.Frank, Sandy Denny to Pentangle and way beyond. ‘Needle of Death’ is a masterpiece, it’s such a lilting, hopeful yet deeply melancholic song about addiction and I know, to a departed friend, this album is an example of beauty in simplicity and my favourite Scottish record of all time.”

Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue chose The Blue Nile's 'Hats’, saying “I listen often and still love it from beginning to end. Ultimately it is the songs, they still move me.”

Hamish Napier said, “My favourite album of all time from Scotland, or from anywhere for that matter, is Martyn Bennett’s ‘Bothy Culture’.

It’s an incredible album, it’s world music, Scottish music, there’s Scottish poets on it, there’s electronica, there’s classical, electric, violin. It’s just jam-packed full of amazing things and everytime I listen to it, I hear something new so - thank you Martin Bennett, this is one of the most amazing albums I’ve ever heard!”

The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award has polled opinion to highlight some of the best Scottish albums of all time, courtesy of input from SAY Alumni and 2020’s eligible artists including Deacon Blue, Mogwai, Rachel Sermanni, Sacred Paws, The Snuts, Tide Lines and more.

Stina Tweeddale from Honeyblood also chose ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’ by Cocteau Twins, saying: “I remember being given a copy of this album by a friend at high school when I was in a very explorative phase when it came to music. At 15 years old I wanted to soak in everything I could find. I remember vividly putting headphones on and listening to it from start to finish; completely submerged in a dreamland. What I love about Cocteau Twins is you must be prepared to be transported to another planet; it is pure musical escapism.”

John Rush said, “My favourite Scottish album has to be Paolo Nutini’s ‘Sunny Side Up’ because it reminds me of some good summers and it's an album you can listen to all the way through without skipping a track.”

SAY Alumni Kobi Onyame chose 2018’s SAY Award winning album Young Fathers’ 'Cocoa Sugar' saying, "The lads hit the nail on the head with this album. Perfect combination of all the elements that I love musically. Melody, lo-fi, hip-hop, content and Afrobeat. ‘Cocoa Sugar’ was the first Scottish album I’ve had on constant repeat and still play today. It's only a few years old but I believe it has all the elements to age just as well as some of the greatest albums of our time. A classic by Young Fathers and arguably the greatest Scottish album of our time."

Auntie Flo performs at Skye Live as he hears The Say Award 2019 news! www.facebook.com/auntieflo

:: photo by Tim Craig for Skye Live

Mohawke, saying, “It’s a great example of how daring and innovative he is with sound design and drum programming, the track fuse continues to blow me away.”

The Vegan Leather said “My favourite Scottish album is ‘Shouting At Wildlife’ by Kid Canaveral, it was one of the first records where I’d heard a real Scottish accent and I found that really exciting and L-Space picked ‘All Creatures Will Make Merry’ by Meursault and inspiring. The songs were all really catchy and well written but with a said, “It’s a great collection of songs and performances but also, it’s particularly special to me because it reminds me of a time when I first tinge of nostalgia and really sentimental - it’s just a really brilliant moved to Scotland and was discovering the Scottish music scene, and album."

Over 25 artists have chosen their top Scottish albums, celebrating the going to lots of gigs and realising I can find such great music where I Janine from Vukovi said, “It has to be ‘Puzzle’ by Biffy Clyro. I best of Scottish music from Biffy Clyro, Camera Obscura, Eurythmics, live.” think it’s the perfect balance between pop and obscure hooks - they Frightened Rabbit, Paolo Nutini, Primal Scream, The Proclaimers, didn’t lose any of their weirdness when they did that record, it still Louise Connell chose ‘If You’re Feeling Sinister’ by Belle and Young Fathers and more. has that staple Biffy Clyro quirkiness. The opening is iconic - the Sebastian, saying “Every song on it is incredible, it was one of the stabs, everyone tries to do it, they can’t do them in time but you try first albums I fell in love with, let alone Scottish albums that I fell in This year has seen an incredible record number of album submissions and do them anyway!” love with!

I think I stole it from my brother’s CD collection, which with over 300 eligible albums already submitted, demonstrating the wasn’t vast, he was really into MiniDisc that tells you about the time incredible strength and breadth of Scotland’s music scene. period - but every song on it is incredible. It’s one of those ones that I Wrest gave ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ by Frightened Rabbit a Submissions close on 31 July, fans, artists and music professionals second vote, saying “Every song is excellent and there’s a passion can sing from start to end, but please don’t test me!” are encouraged to submit eligible albums NOW, to be in the running and a rawness to it that just never gets old, no matter how many for The SAY Award - www.sayaward.com times you listen.”

Malka chose another Belle and Sebastian album, ‘Dear Catastrophe Waitress’. “I love the lyrics, the instrumentation and the YouTube Premier with Auntie Flo - 25 August :: Listen to the playlist @ https://spoti.fi/3geQHs1 and watch acts production - it’s just perfect to me.”

The SAY Award has also announced an exclusive YouTube Premier choose their top albums @ https://youtu.be/X4MDXlU3QFw with 2019’s winner Auntie Flo. Broadcasting on 25 August from 7pm, Scottish composer Matthew Whiteside chose ‘Panopticon’ by Celebrating and Exploring Auntie Flo’s ‘Radio Highlife’ will feature an David Fennessy, saying “The whole album is an excellent introduction Returning for its ninth year in 2020, The SAY Award is widely in-depth discussion on the DJ’s incredible winning album ‘Radio recognised as one of the country’s most reputable and prestigious to David’s work but the piece on it ‘Hirta Rounds’ is just Highlife’; filmed at the YouTube Space in London in November 2019. music initiatives. Coming together to celebrate the passion, value and mesmerising.”

Subscribe to The SAY Award’s YouTube channel and stay tuned for diversity of Scottish music in 2020, fans and artists alike are more information on The SAY Award social channels Facebook, Twitter Iain from Medicine Men said, “My favourite Scottish album of all encouraged to submit eligible Scottish albums released between 1 and Instagram.

April 2019 and 31 May 2020 to The SAY Award Website. The SAY time would have to be ‘XTRMNTR’ by Primal Scream. It was my Award strives to be egalitarian throughout all stages of the campaign, introduction to the band as a 14/15 year old and I heard ‘Kill All SAY Alumni including Honeyblood, Kobi Onyame and Sacred Paws Hippies’ on the radio and that drum break and bassline just absolutely reflected in the fact there is no fee to submit an eligible album for have come together with artists who have submitted eligible albums going through me. Off the back of that I bought the album and I think consideration, and digital releases that fulfil the criteria are also for this year’s campaign like Bossy Love, Callum Beattie, Deacon deemed eligible. All submissions must be made before midnight on what they’re talking about in the lyrics still remains true today - it’s Blue, Declan Welsh and the Decadent West, Mogwai, Nova Scotia the even more relevant today than it was 20 years ago.”

Friday 31st July 2020. To submit albums, plus view eligibility criteria Truth, Rachel Sermanni, Sacred Paws, The Snuts, Tide Lines and and guidelines for the 2020 award - visit www.sayaward.com. more to pick their favourite Scottish albums which have influenced Stuart Braithwaite from Mogwai chose ‘The Week Never Starts and impacted their careers, now all merged into one immense Spotify Round Here’ by Arab Strap, saying “When we first heard this record, it Offering one of the most lucrative prize funds in the UK, The SAY playlist - available here. was the first time we really felt the Scottish experience that we knew Award winner will collect a £20,000 cash prize, whilst nine runners up are each awarded £1,000. being reflected back at us and it’s a great record – go check it out!”

Anna Secret Poet chose ‘The Three E.P.’s’ by The Beta Band and said, “It blew my tiny mind 20 years ago and it still does it Haydn from The Ninth Wave chose The Twilight Sad’s ‘No One Can Once all eligible albums have been submitted and collated, 100 today.” impartial ‘Nominators’, from sectors including journalism, music retail Ever Know’, while Rachel Sermanni picked ‘Boots Met my Face’ by and live music venues across Scotland will consider the titles from Admiral Fallow and said “It makes me feel all youthful and excited Choosing ‘Be Yourself Tonight’ by the Eurythmics, Amandah The SAY Award’s Eligible Albums list, nominating their five favourite and nostalgic.”

Wilkinson from Bossy Love said, “I know this came way before my albums and ranking them in order of preference. The SMIA assigns a time but my parents had this on in the house because they were huge Nova Scotia the Truth said, “My favourite Scottish album has got to score to each title in a Nominator’s Top 5, before announcing the 20 Eurythmics and Annie Lennox fans. It’s got incredible pop songs on it be ‘Eye to the Telescope’ by KT Tunstall, I listened to it a lot when I highest scoring albums as The SAY Award Longlist for 2020. and the melodies and the hooks are still permanently in my brain was young. During lockdown she popped up on my newsfeed and it today. I listen to this record and wish that I had written those songs.” just reminded me to go and listen to it and I reexperienced the magic The Longlist will then be cut down to a Shortlist of 10 albums, one of which will be chosen by music fans via a 72-hour online public vote. of that album – it’s really sick!”

Callum Beattie chose Travis’ ‘The Man Who’ saying “I love the The remaining nine albums will be chosen by The SAY Award judging songwriting, every single song on the album is top notch. I love the panel, with the winner announced on Thursday 29th October.

Former SAY Award 2017 winners, Sacred Paws, who also have massive choruses - I remember first listening to the album when I an Eligible Album for 2020, chose Appendix Out’s ‘The Rye Bears a was a wee boy and I just fell in love with it. It’s probably one of the Poison’ as well as Camera Obscura’s ‘My Maudlin Career’. Rachel said Developed and produced by the Scottish Music Industry Association reasons I picked up a guitar and started writing songs.”

“I first heard Camera Obscura before I'd ever been to Glasgow before, (SMIA), the 2020 campaign will be delivered in partnership with Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, YouTube Music, 54EP, I hadn't really spent that much time in Scotland so it was really Cloth said, “The record that we’ve chosen as our favourite Scottish Sweetdram, Culture & Business Fund Scotland via Arts & Business exciting to come to the place where they were from because I was record of all time is ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’ by Cocteau Twins - this is a such a huge fan. I think Traceyanne has got the most wonderful voice Scotland, PPL, Summerhall, Ticketmaster and new charity partner record that we absolutely love and has been super influential in our Music Declares Emergency. and is an amazing songwriter and lyricist.” songwriting.”

The Snuts’ Callum chose Franz Ferdinand’s 2004 self-titled debut Previous winners of The SAY Award include Auntie Flo ‘Radio Declan Welsh chose ‘This Is the Story’ by The Proclaimers. “Now, I Highlife’ (2019), Young Fathers ‘Cocoa Sugar’ (2018), Sacred Paws but also gave a special shout out to fellow eligible album The Ninth thought about a few things here - ‘High Land, Hard Rain’ by Aztec ‘Strike A Match’ (2017), Anna Meredith ‘Varmints’ (2016), Kathryn Wave’s ‘Infancy’. Callum said, “‘Franz Ferdinand’ is just big tune to Camera, some Belle and Sebastian albums, Franz Ferdinand’s album big tune! Also The Ninth Wave’s ‘Infancy’ is amazing, well worth a Joseph ‘Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled’ (2015), or The Lapelles. But I feel like I’ve talked enough about The Lapelles - listen. Special shout out to Runrig as well who are 30 years in the Young Fathers ‘Tape Two’ (2014), RM Hubbert ‘Thirteen Lost & everyone knows how much I love that album! Lyrically, ‘This Is the Found’ (2013) and the inaugural winner Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat game and still smashing it, every year. It’s wild!”

Story’ is outstanding, it’s so Scottish but not in a put-on way - it’s ‘Everything’s Getting Older’ (2012). really real. The melodies and harmonies in it are brilliant and it has Tide Lines had a hard time narrowing their choices down, what I think is maybe the greatest Scottish song of all time in it - ‘The saying, “Turns out all four of us have got different favourite Scottish To keep up with The SAY Award 2020 Joyful Kilmarnock Blues’.” albums! We spoke about ‘Opposites’ by Biffy Clyro, Twin Atlantic’s journey, make sure you follow the award at ‘Vivarium’ and Runrig’s ‘The Cutter and the Clan’ was a big one for a Elephant Sessions chose Frightened Rabbit’s ‘Midnight Organ Fight’ few of us growing up in the Highlands. But I get the casting vote so and said, “Picking our favourite Scottish album was a really difficult I’m going to go for a live album from one of our favourite venues we choice! We decided to go with Frightened Rabbit’s ‘Midnight Organ were lucky enough to play last November - it’s Deacon Blue’s ‘Live at Fight’, one of our favourite albums of all time ever, and a great great the Glasgow Barrowlands’.” album - if you’ve not heard it, check it out!”

www.sayaward.com

Elisabeth Eelektra said, “My favourite Scottish album of all time is

Nick Cronin from Vagrant Real Estate chose ‘Butter’ by Hudson

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Keeping Piping Alive! :: 2020 Piping Live!

- programme to stream online in August After a summer of cancelled events, Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival has announced they’ll be livestreaming a mini-programme of this year’s event between 8 – 14 August.

In April, festival organisers had to cancel this year’s event due to the Coronavirus pandemic. But after months of careful planning, the festival board decided that if audiences couldn’t come to Glasgow, then they’d bring Piping Live! to millions of pipers and trad music fans across the world.

Today they revealed a series of competitions, performances, and panel talks - both free and ticketed – set to take place during Piping Live!’s festival week.

The events will showcase the same world-class musical talent, with an international flavour, that audiences have come to expect from the festival - and re-affirm the National Piping Centre’s commitment to supporting and promoting piping excellence around the world.

On Friday 14 August, popular Scottish folk group, Old Blind Dogs, will play a blistering set to close the week :: www.facebook.com/oldblinddogsmusic

On Saturday 8 August, The 54th Annual Silver Chanter competition will take place - featuring Sarah Muir, Fred Morrison, Callum Beaumont, Stuart Liddell, said: “To say we’re thrilled to be streaming some of the best events from this year’s Piping Live! Glasgow Connor Sinclair, and Iain Speirs – as well as the International Piping Festival programme is an CLASP World Amateur Solo Piping Competition. understatement.

On Monday 10th, Tuesday 11th, and Wednesday 12th, “Since we made the heart-breaking announcement Pipes of The World discussions will be livethat this year’s event couldn’t take place, we’ve been streamed - engaging panel discussions with an international piping focus, chaired by Finlay McDonald working hard to find a way to celebrate the amazing piping and traditional talent across the world. and featuring Louise Mulcahy (Ireland), Hervé Le Floc'h (France) and Ivan Simeonov Georgiev (Bulgaria).

“We wanted to lift the spirits of our fans after an incredibly difficult few months, while also giving a platform to all of our brilliant trad musicians at a time when they need it most, and these events do just that.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “Digital and online events are playing an integral role during this time by allowing event organisers to stay connected and engaged with their audience, while offering an outlet for musicians and artists to perform.

“The live streaming of a mini programme of Piping Live! following the cancellation of this year’s event will provide real excitement both for competitors and performers as well as fans of piping until they can return to Scotland for next year’s festival.”

The festival, which was due to take place 8-16 August, was expected to welcome 40,000 visitors to Glasgow, with 5,000 performers set to put on over 150 events throughout the city.

The Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Recital Challenge will air on Thursday 13 August - featuring Roddy MacLeod MBE, Stuart Liddell, Angus MacColl, Callum Beaumont and Connor Sinclair - and, on Friday “To be able to bring back our beloved festival in any 14 August, popular Scottish folk group, Old Blind way is a true honour, and we can’t wait to see you all, Planning for 2021’s festival has already begun, with Dogs, will play a blistering set to close the week. virtually, in August.” dates set for Saturday 7 – Sunday 15 August 2021.

Headline concerts are priced at £10 each, or £25 to Councillor David McDonald, Chair of Glasgow Life Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival access all three events, while the panel discussions and Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council said: receives support from public bodies including Glasgow will be free to view. For more information, please visit “The decision to cancel festivals has had real Life and EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events the Piping Live! website. consequences for artists and performers around the Directorate - each playing an essential role in the People wishing to donate above and beyond the Piping world so live streaming Piping Live! is an opportunity continuing strength of traditional music in Scotland’s Live! Glasgow International Piping Centre ticket price for us all to support people whose livelihoods depend cultural scene. on playing live. can do so from the website or by texting BAGPIPES (chosen donation amount) to 70085 e.g. BAGPIPES 10 “Glasgow is always bursting with energy and music to 70085 to donate £10. Up to a maximum of £20, UK when Piping Live! and the World Pipe Band mobiles only.

Championships are held so I have no doubt audiences will be ready to enjoy the programme.”

Finlay MacDonald, Artistic Director of Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival,

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Jack Henderson :: album - 'Where’s The Revolution' Released :: 2 October, pre-order @ www.fretsorerecords.com/jackhenderson/

Jack Henderson announces his return with news of a forthcoming album, Where’s The Revolution, set for release on 2 October, via Fretsore Records.

The Revolution is largely the result of that confluence of necessity and invention. Sometimes limitations can be liberating and for this album I wanted to explore what would happen if I recorded, produced and more or less played everything myself whilst embracing those The track arrives with a video shot at a miniature limitations, both physical and financial, head on. railway station in the Scottish Southern Uplands and There was no overarching manifesto and I wanted to sees Jack keeping his composure on what was notably let the songs dictate their own course and allow the one of the hottest days on record in 2020 so far. imposed imperfections to constitute the very soul of In anticipation of the release, Henderson also reveals Directed by Hazel Henderson, it received its postthe record.” production finesse from Fretsore’s in-house a new video for its leading track: “Hey Batman”.

Respected by musos and musicians across the globe, videographer Paul "Rile" Avis.

Watch @ Henderson has performed and recorded extensively https://youtu.be/etp_nlHsNNI “Hey Batman” offers a first glimpse into Henderson’s across North America, Europe and Australia, including upcoming album: Where’s The Revolution (out 2nd Hallmarked with Henderson’s typically wry humour multiple tours with Americana band Over The Rhine October 2020 on Fretsore Records). Self-recorded and canny lyricism, “Hey Batman” finds the singerand rootsy Canadian outfit Cowboy Junkies. He has outside Henderson’s hometown of Glasgow, the ten songwriter envisaging an ageing caped crusader in shared stages with the likes of Buddy Miller, Sarah existential crisis. With the future of the Dark Knight in track release sees the UK singer-songwriter, producer McLachlan and Ron Sexsmith, and recently performed doubt, this intriguing single offers wistful epiphany as and multi-instrumentalist on inspired creative form to on stage with Patti Smith at Kelvingrove Park in deliver a solo album in its truest sense. Of making the Henderson ruminates deeply on themes of legacy, Glasgow. record, Henderson says: mortality, and the inevitability of change. Speaking During his two-decade long career, he has recorded about the track Henderson says: “If necessity is the mother of invention then Where’s and performed in New York with Patti Smith's producer and bass player, Tony Shanahan, and worked with Marc Ribot, (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello), Tony Garnier (Bob Dylan, Paul Simon), Jon Graboff (Ryan Adams, Sheryl Crow), David Mansfield (Bob Dylan, T-Bone Burnett, Bruce Hornsby) and Joan as Policewoman.

“One thing that’s certain in life is that we all get older.

With that inevitability comes the possibility that both we and our heroes are surpassed by new ideas and either disappear, become irrelevant or, worse, become anachronistic clanging bells. The only way to embrace getting older, however challenging it may be at times, is to accept that things change, remain curious and open to new ideas and resist the temptation to settle.

Nearly 20 years on from his acclaimed debut Cheap Tattoo (2001), Jack Henderson has lost none of the spirit or guts that set him apart from the songwriting pack. An artist on a creative streak once more and with plenty left to say, he’s now readying the followup to his applauded Sharkey’s Parade EP of last year (also released by Fretsore Records). On 2 October 2020, Henderson returns to the label with a full length studio effort of strident prowess and arresting character that demands to be heard: Where’s The Revolution.

Expressing his excitement for the upcoming release, Ian Sephton, owner of London-based indie label Fretsore Records says: “Seeing Jack play live in 2018, I was very impressed with not only his songwriting but Jack’s captivating solo performance. So when I learned that Jack had 10 newly recorded songs, I was delighted that he agreed to release them on Fretsore.”

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Calum Ingram :: double 'A'side Dancing in The Moonlight + Demon Eyes Released 31 July @ https://smarturl.it/dancingindamoonlight

Alternative rock and roots cellist, singer and multiinstrumentalist Calum Ingram launches his longawaited double A side 7” inch vinyl single “Dancing in The Moonlight” and “Demon Eyes” on Friday 31 July.

“What Calum does with the cello is amazing,” says record producer Tony Visconti (Thin Lizzy, David Bowie). “I thought it would be an interesting idea to release two contrasting singles on one 7” inch vinyl,” says Calum.

Prepare yourself for a journey like Rory

The double A-Side 7” vinyl single will be available to pre-order Friday 3 July from www.calum-ingram-music.myshopify.com.

I’ve tried to take the Thin Lizzy classic and turn it on its head.” “The moment Tony Visconti asked me to come up with my own unique take of the track for 50 years celebration concert in London, I knew I could take it to another place,” reflects Calum. From the moment you first hear Calum’s “Dancing in the Moonlight” you’ll be brimming with optimism at this fun-loving rock cover.

The first single “Dancing In The Moonlight” is available to pre-save from https://smarturl.it/ dancingindamoonlight.

Calum’s unique rendition of Thin Lizzy’s classic “Dancing in The Moonlight” is a fun, positive and empowering answer to the strange climate the world seems to be in at present. The songs were co-produced by Kirk Yano (2cello’s, Miles Davis, Mariah Carey) in NYC and Calum in Paisley.

Gallagher meets 70’s Brit pop and Blues.

‘Dancing In The Moonlight’ & ‘Demon Eyes’ demonstrate a genre fluid sound sifting through pop elements and blues breakers style cello riffs. “I decided to play some guitar and a bit of bass to give a bed of rock for some funky cello riffs,” says Calum. “Dancing in the Moonlight” is showcased in a way like you have never heard before.

Calum Ingram www.facebook.com/calumingrammusic/ :: photo by Christina Jansen

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Vansleep :: single - 'Chambers' Released 14 August @ www.vansleep.bigcartel.com

Aberdeen's own alternative indierockers, Vansleep bring their guitar driven and energetic songs to life with their encapsulating live performance.

The 4 young lads have been gaining increasing industry interest over the past year, with their releases to date accumulating over 180,000 streams on Spotify.

Playing shows all around Scotland and having

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival and Butefest, with press support received from The Scotsman and a plethora of online blogs.

Kicking the year off with a packed hometown headline in Aberdeen, 2020 continues to bring new releases that refine their sound and cement their standing in the Scottish music scene.

Maturing their sound and harnessing their growing fanbase, the future looks bright for the young four-piece!

"Vansleep demonstrate the maturity of a band far greater than one would expect from their youthful age" - PurCulture "They've got an addictive feel to their music that makes you want to listen to them on repeat" supported the likes of Vistas, Dancing On Tables, The Music Files The Dunts and Retro Video Club, they are no www.twitter.com/vansleepuk strangers to the local scene. Previous festival www.facebook.com/VansleepOfficial appearances include Grampian Pride Festival,

Fair Mothers :: album - 'In Monochrome' Released :: 7 Aug @ www.songbytoadrecords.bandcamp.com/track/monochrome

Of all the formative experiences Stonehaven musician Fair Mothers, AKA Kevin Allan, had while growing up, reading The Stranger stands out.

“It was Camus that did for me,” he says. “After I finished that book and experiencing insomnia and hallucinations, I reached this total clarity where I knew that I was a separate entity from my body and this immediately blew quite a few fuses in me. I disappeared…and when I came back I knew that everything was connected, was really one thing, but at the same time was nothing and didn’t really exist separate from me. I didn’t know how this could be, or what I was, and above all, how could a boy from Fife possibly have this Zen experience?”

The episode launched Allan on numerous paths – not least of which was a PhD in Psychology – but it has also heavily informed his songs, a rich, ramshackle stew of haunting piano lines, timeless melodies, and sweet acoustic strumming. They are, says Glasgowbased US artist Faith Eliott, one of Allan’s frequent collaborators, “beautifully understated… perfectly

influences also loom large; formed tokens of melancholy.” As a description of brand new record In Monochrome, that’s hard to beat. Neil Young, Wilco, Pixies, Stephen Malkmus and Like its predecessor, the critically acclaimed Separate Russian composers such Lives which was released earlier this year on as Rimsky-Korsakoff, Valentine’s Day - with tracks playlisted on BBC Radio Prokofiev, and Stravinsky Scotland (Roddy Hart) and 6 Music (Gideon Coe, all add to the record’s Radcliffe & Maconie, The Freak Zone and Tom affecting, ghostly mood.

Robinson) – In Monochrome draws its eight songs Opening with the woozy, from sessions at Edinburgh’s Happiness Hotel studio with producer and Song, By Toad label boss Matthew mesmerising "Magic Bullets For Dracula" – “the one Fair Mothers song I can hear being played in a sleazy Young. Thematically linked, both records explore isolation – from the world, from those you love, from club,” says Allan – each track is its own, selfcontained episode, different dips into the same states. yourself – how that feels, and how one might escape There’s "Birds & Beas & Tiny Fleas" weird electronica it. “In Monochrome really signals a search to regain that morphs into poetic fears about the future of the contact with feeling,” says Allan. human race, "In Black Covered", a song that, says Working with others is, Allan believes, key to Allan, “had a perfect chord structure right from the unlocking the heart of his songs, and on In start that resisted any attempt from me to make it Monochrome he has a host of collaborators, both from better,” and "Unwinding Road", an achingly beautiful the fertile Scottish DIY scene and further afield. “Pete piano track about the unconscious forces that drove Harvey’s cello, particularly the plucked string work, author William S. Burroughs to murder. has helped open my eyes to the potential in my But the heart of In Monochrome is the title track, an music,” Allan says, adding that the addition of other unflinching look back at a turning point in Allan’s voices – particularly women’s voices – give his work marriage and the commitment long-term relationships emotional depth and resonance. require. It is also Allan’s personal favourite; “The Having recorded with Katheryn Joseph in the past, In lyrics are the most honest of all on the record,” he Monochrome features vocals from Eliott and Canadian says. Recounting “the fiercest argument I had with my artist Dana Gavanski alongside Harvey, harpist Esther wife, where we had to face the potential ruin of our Swift, and even a brief cameo from Lost Map’s Johnny life together,” the tale is brutally stark. “We let cold “Pictish Trail” Lynch. As well as gaining inspiration winds into our home / They say days spent in from this stellar line-up of talent, Allan’s other separate lives”, Allan sings, his voice almost breaking.

“They disappear.”

As the track gently swells, Faith Eliott adds warm “Sha la la la’s”, an idea taken from "Baby It’s You", a Burt Bacharach song by The Shirelles. The effect is, quite simply, breathtakingly gorgeous. “Matthew put together the various elements and built them into the most beautiful ending,” says Allan. “I like songs which change and get more beautiful as they go on, surprising and rewarding you the longer you listen.

‘Monochrome’ does that more successfully than any of my other songs.”

Rewarding, enchanting, wistful; In Monochrome is all these and more. The culmination of two years’ work, it stands as Allan’s masterpiece. And fittingly, the whole project owes its very existence to a moment of serendipity. Supporting Scottish miserabilists Meursault at an Aberdeen show, road closures and bad weather caused the headline band to arrive hours late. Allan played as long as possible before having to leave, and caught the attention of Young, who liked what he saw. The rest, as they say, is history. Says Allan: “I like it very much that, if you know your Camus, it is Meursault’s failure that has led us to this point.”

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