MUSIC NEWS Scotland

ROYAL CONSERVATOIRE OF SCOTLAND CELEBRATIONS

Posted on September 1, 2011 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Celebrates New Name with 30 days of Events

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland begins celebrating its new name on 1 September 2011 with 30 days of events taking place all over Scotland.

The RSAMD has officially changed its name to reflect the range of disciplines it teaches better.

The newly named Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is unique in the UK in its offering of specialist training in the five disciplines of the performance arts. Dance, Screen, Production Arts, as well as Music and Drama, are all part of the Royal Conservatoire’s portfolio.

And to mark this historic milestone, the Royal Conservatoire will present 35 events over 30 days throughout the country.

From as far afield as Uist and Skye to Dumfries and Galloway and with many railway stations and ferry ports in between, musicians, singers and other artists from the Royal Conservatoire will perform at a diversity of locations during September including the Scottish Parliament and the Pitlochry Highland Games. Musicians will even take to the water on board the Govan Ferry and the Falkirk Wheel and there will be a whistle stop tour of ScotRail stations as well.

Commenting on the name change, Principal John Wallace CBE said: “The name change is a once in a generation event. This has been Scotland’s national conservatoire for many years, all but in name. Now it’s official and I am delighted to be part of this momentous event.”

After a lengthy consultation involving staff, students, alumni and industry professionals, the new name was approved by the Royal Conservatoire’s Patron, The Prince Charles, the Duke of Rothesay , the Conservatoire’s President, Sir Cameron Mackintosh and finally, the Scottish Parliament.

“The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland was chosen as the new name because it reflects who we are and positions us internationally as Scotland’s national conservatoire with a reputation that is second to none,” said Professor Wallace.

“We have always attracted the finest staff and best students from around the UK, Europe and beyond. Our alumni reach the very top of their chosen professions. The introduction of modern ballet, musical theatre, jazz and digital film and television over the past few years has opened up a new set of opportunities and we continue to set the bar and build upon our success.”

The Royal Conservatoire’s many orchestras, ensembles and productions are also renamed in this process. From 1 September 2011 they will be known as the Royal Conservatoire Brass, the Royal Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra and Royal Conservatoire Productions.

The celebrations culminate with an academic procession through the streets of Glasgow from the Old Athenaeum on Buchanan Street to the main campus on Renfrew Street on Monday, 3 October 2011.

The cost of the name change has been met through private donation.

Names that have been used since 1847

· 1847 – Glasgow Athenaeum (launched in Glasgow by Charles Dickens)

· 1929 – Scottish National Academy of Music

· 1944 – Royal Scottish Academy of Music

· 1955 – College of Dramatic Art

· 1968 – Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

· 2011 – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Programme of Name Change Events

Thursday September 1 – Name change event at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Pipers & Jazz Quartet. Pipers at St Enoch Centre and Subway Stations

Friday September 2 – Choral Workshop, Uist (Evening)

Saturday 3 September – New Works (8pm,Tron, Glasgow):MA CCT students

Sunday 4 September- Scotland’s Countryside Festival (Glamis Castle, Angus): Cherry Grove, Scottish Music Ensemble

Monday 5 September – Western Islands tour:Crianlarch,Fort William, Mallaig & Sabhal Mor Ostaig with Barluath, Scottish Music Ensemble

Tuesday 6 September – Western Islands tour: Broadford Primary School and AROS Heritage Centre with Barluath, Scottish Music Ensemble

Wednesday 7 September – Western Islands tour: Uig – Tarbet ferry and Stornoway – Ullapool ferry with Barluath, Scottish Music Ensemble

Thursday 8 September – Drinks & Canapé Reception Scottish Parliament. Screening of RCS film, acoustic Musical Theatre, Modern Ballet & Jazz Quartet

Friday 9 September – Lighthouse, Glasgow: Piper playing from tower

Saturday 10 September – Pitlochry Festival Theatre(11.30am) & Pitlochry Highland Games(5pm): Barluath, Scottish Music Ensemble

Sunday 11September – Linlithgow Folk Festival (2.30pm, Linlithgow):Barluath, Scottish Music Ensemble

Monday 12 September – NEOS at Banff Castle(7.30pm):Duet, Vocal Ensemble

Tuesday 13 September – Musical Theatre Showcase (7.30pm, Chandler Theatre, RCS)

Wednesday 14 September – Percussion and flute open space performance (CCA, Glasgow)

Thursday 15 September – Westbourne Music recital (12.45pm, Merchant Hall, Glasgow)

Friday 16 September – Govan Ferry (Scots song). Plus Victorian Evening, Caithness with a graduate pianist.

Saturday 17 September – MA CCT New Works (8pm,Traverse, Edinburgh). Plus Percusson and Flute Ensemble in the Borders

Sunday 18 September – Cathedral of the Isles Sunday recital series,(3pm, Millport):Tenor recital

Monday 19 September – Performance across major Scottish Railway Stations. CCT students and bagpiper. Plus Traquair Castle: Guitarist playing for visitors

Tuesday 20 September – Performance across major Scottish Railway Stations Involving CCT students and bagpiper. Plus Mid morning reception for Glasgow cab drivers at RCS

Wednesday 21 September – Lammermuir Festival(7.30pm Dunbar Parish Church): RCS Stevenson Winds. Plus Announcement of finalist for Big Guitar Weekend International Competition

Thursday 22 September – Scottish Ensemble (7.30pm Perth Concert Hall): Arion Quartet playing in foyer as audience arrive.

Friday 23 September – Para Handy, (Eden Court Theatre, Inverness): Barluath playing in foyer as audience arrive Plus Forth and Clyde Canal celebrations (press launch):Cherry Grove, Scottish Music Ensemble

Saturday 24 September – Forth & Clyde Canal celebrations (launch at Speirs Wharf):Cherry Grove, Scottish Music Ensemble. Plus Norman Beedie Concert (7.30pm, Aberfeldy):Barluath, Scottish Music

Sunday 25 September – Forth & Clyde Canal celebrations (Falkirk Wheel):BrassTrio

Monday 26 September – RSNO collaboration with Brass trio. Concert from back of the RSNO lorry

Tuesday 27 September – Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Organ recital (1pm): Involving student and staff organists

Wednesday 28 September – University of St.Andrews lunchtime concert (1.15pm, Younger Hall): Soprano recital

Thursday 29 September – The Briggait (1pm, Glasgow): Shakespeare scenes

Friday 30 September – St.Mary’s Cathedral (7.30pm, Glasgow): Choral quartet with organ

Saturday 1 October – Junior Conservatoire concert(4pm, RCS)

Sunday 2 October – Students’ Union party night for new and returning students: 9 piece funk band

Monday 3 October – Academic Procession (RCS, Renfrew Street): All RCS specialisms represented and students performing in the building.

www.rcs.ac.uk

We are delighted to have the Musicians Union as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

goNORTH Festival Tour – Loopallu Acts Announced

Posted on August 24, 2011 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

We are delighted to confirm that the three acts selected to appear at the now ‘Sold Out’ Loopallu to close this year’s goNORTH Festival Tour are PAWS, The Imagineers and Finding Albert.

‘We are thrilled to be closing this year’s schedule at Loopallu ‘, said goNORTH Festival Director Shaun Arnold. ‘The Festival Tour has proved a massive success so far, and we are really excited to be taking three of the best emerging bands in the country up to Ullapool next month’.

Loopallu takes place in Ullapool across September 16 and 17.

LOOPALLU 2011 SOLD OUT

With just over 3 weeks to go to the ‘Little Fest in the West’, Loopallu now in its seventh outing is sold out.

As a little treat ahead of the Saturday night headliner announcement we are delighted to confirm Glasgow’s finest Admiral Fallow as the latest addition to this years line-up. Their stunning debut album ‘Boots Met My Face’ was released earlier this year to critical acclaim and with festival appearances up and down the country all summer they are ready to show the Loopallu crowd what all the fuss is about.

The GoNorth Festival Tour rolls up to Loopallu this year bringing three of Scotland’s finest emerging acts to the festival in the shape of, lo-fi garage pop trio Paws, beautiful melodies and big choruses from The Imagineers, and recent Biffy Clyro & Newton Faulkner support act Finding Albert.

‘We are delighted to be closing this year’s schedule at Loopallu ‘, said goNORTH Festival Director Shaun Arnold. ‘The Festival Tour has proved a massive success so far, and we are really excited to be taking three of the most exciting emerging bands in the country up to Ullapool next month’.

Final addition for the moment is Scotland’s premier Ska outfit the incredible jugernaut that is Bombskare.

The latest additions join Friday night headliners The Feeling who have a back catalogue of hits to choose from including, ‘Never Be Lonely’, ‘Fill My Little World’, ‘Sewn’ and ‘Set My World On Fire’.

Regarded as one of the most influencial punk bands of the 70’s, Buzzcocks will also be joining the party with hits including ‘What do I get’ and the timeless anthem ‘Ever Fallen in Love? (with someone you shouldn’t’ve)

Fratellis frontman Jon Fratelli will be making an appearance. As well as playing songs from his new solo album, he is set to play some of the classic hits that made the Fratellis one of the biggest bands in the UK.

Next up is Kassidy who are leading the pack in the current crop of Scottish bands ready to break through to the masses.

Also, making her return to Loopallu, Rachel Sermanni who has been making a name for herself recently and is set to treat us with her last full band show of the year

The recently reformed Bluebells make their Loopallu debut, their huge hit ‘Young at Heart’ could prove the biggest singalong Loopallu has ever heard!

Rising stars of the celtic rock world, Tiree’s Skerryvore will also be making a welcome return to the festival and one band Loopallu wouldn’t be Loopallu without………the one and only Ullapool Pipe Band.

http://www.loopallu.co.uk/

www.gonorth.biz

Posted in Festivals, Latest News | Tagged Finding Albert, gonorth, loopallu, music, music news scotland, musician, PAWS, scottish music, The Imagineers, Ullapool | Leave a comment

Global Battle of the Bands Competition Comes To Glasgow

Posted on August 19, 2011 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

Carlsbro, the great British music brand, has announced that it has signed up as a major international sponsor of The Global Battle of the Bands (GBOB) competition. 14 music stores throughout the UK have already signed up to participate in the promotion of the competition in their local areas – including CC Music in Glasgow (http://www.ccmusicshop.com/ )

Glasgow will also be hosting the Scottish National Final in Soundhaus on September 15, with one band being flown to the World Finals of GBOB and competing for the $100,000 prize! http://gbob.com/events/scottish-national-finals

The ‘classic’ guitar amp company is set to promote the competition internationally via its distributor and MI store retail network. Carlsbro will also supply backline amplification for all regional and national finals, and the GBOB World Final in Bucharest, Romania. Additionally, Carlsbro’s Soundking Group parent company is backing the sponsorship with the supply of FOH sound reinforcement and mixing systems from its wholly owned Cadac and Studiomaster audio companies.

Carlsbro will promote the competition in participating music stores, driving participation and signing up entrants in each of the 25 countries where the competition is being held. UK regional finals, in London, Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool and Birmingham, have already been announced throughout September (http://gbob.com/profile/GBOBEngland), and the Scottish National Final (Glasgow, Soundhaus on September 15), with dates for the other participating countries being announced on the GBOB global website (www.gbobbattle.com).

All UK regional finals will feature guest performances by GBOB 2009 World Final winners Rustic, from China and last year’s GBOB England finals winner Scarlletta. Winners of the regional finals will go through to the UK national final – date and venue to be announced – the winning band from which will be flown out to play in the world final in Bucharest, early next year. The Bucharest final will be televised internationally and the winners will receive a band development package worth $100,000 and a special gold Best New Band in the World statuette.

Carlsbro will be looking to offer endorsement packages to several of the best participating young bands. In addition, winners of UK regional finals will receive a £200 voucher for Carlsbro equipment.

Speaking for Carlsbro, International Sales Director Andrew Bishop said, “There are many band competitions out there, but what really made us want to be involved with GBOB is that it is a truly international event, taking place in countries as diverse as Thailand, Brazil, Jamaica, Nepal, Morocco, Russia, the Philippines, South Africa, Pakistan and many many more. And it’s about bands playing their own material and playing live. That is a perfect fit with Carlsbro’s ethos as one of the world’s great guitar amp companies going back more than 50 years.”

GBOB, International Director Tore Lande added, “We are proud to be working with Carlsbro, they share our passion about giving the new bands of today the opportunity to become the headliners of tomorrow. The strategic alliance between Soundking Group and GBOB is already delivering global media interest from TV companies, which in turn is fuelling interest in new countries, expanding the competition still further.“

14 dealers across the UK have announced their participation with Carlsbro sponsorship: all 11 Dawsons stores – Altrincham, Bangor, Basingstoke, Chester, Huddersfield, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Reading, Stockport and Warrington – CC Music in Glasgow; Sounds Live in Newcastle; The London PA Centre.

Participating dealers will be listed on Carlsbro’s website (www.carlsbro.com/news_list.php) as they sign up. Other dealers wishing to join with Carlsbro in sponsoring the GBOB competition to their customers and local bands should contact Wei Li at Carlsbro – wei@carlsbro.com

Carlsbro will announce more participating distributors and dealers throughout the world in the coming weeks.

http://gbob.com/profile/GBOBEngland

We are delighted to have the Scottish Music Centre as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musiciansWe are delighted to have the Musicians Union as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

Posted in Competition, Latest News | Tagged Carlsbro, CC Music, GBOB, Global Battle of the Bands, music, music news scotland, musician, scots music, scottish music | Leave a comment

THE BIG AUDITION – WIN £5000 + PLAY PIZZAEXPRESS

Posted on August 19, 2011 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

The Big Audition is a music competition open to everyone, with a deadline of September 2. Whether you’re a singer or a musician, a solo artist or in a band, this could be your big break. Whatever you’re into, from rock to pop, folk to rap, The Big Audition wants you to share your talent with them.

The competition is organised by PizzaExpress, a company whose love of live music goes back 40 years to when its founder Peter Boizot opened the PizzaExpress Jazz Club in London. Jamie Cullum got his big break playing there and now he’s back to help them find the next big name in live music.

The winner will get the chance to perform at the PizzaExpress Jazz Club in London and £5,000 to help kick-start their career. To be in with a chance, record your best performance, then send them your audition, or if you already have a great performance uploaded on the web, share the link with them. The judges will review all the entries and you will receive an email letting you know if you have made it into the top 50, for the live regional heats.

For more information visit www.pizzaexpress.com/the-big-audition

Posted in Competition, Latest News | Tagged Audition, concert, festivals, Folk, gig, gigguide, gigs, Jamie Cullum, music, music festivals, music news scotland, music Scotland, musician, musicians union, muso, PizzaExpress, PizzaExpress Jazz Club, pop, rap, Rock, scotland, Scotland music, scots, scots music, scottish, scottish music, scottish music centre, The Big Audition | 1 Comment

PRS for Music Statement: SONY DADC/PIAS Distribution Centre Fire

Posted on August 11, 2011 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

As with our partners across the music industry, and especially in the independent record label sector, PRS for Music is dismayed to hear of the loss of huge amounts of music stock at the recent fire at Sony’s distribution centre in Enfield.

The problems facing the recorded music sector are well documented; the costs associated with re-producing much of the catalogues lost would be considerable for any business.

While PRS for Music is already speaking with a number of affected labels and the Association of Independent Music (AIM), we would actively encourage Scottish record labels with stock destroyed to contact their usual account manager or alternatively call Duncan McCrone, Senior Manager at MCPS Scotland on 0141 333 1158, to discuss options for the re-manufacture of any previously licensed stock.

www.prsformusic.com