MUSIC NEWS Scotland

KASSIDY and RACHEL SERMANNI added to LOOPALLU 2011

Posted on August 10, 2011 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

Two of Scotland’s hottest upcoming acts have been added to the Line-Up for Loopallu 2011.

After a summer of playing festivals up and down the country and the release of their debut album ‘Hope Street’ earlier this year to critical acclaim, Kassidy are leading the pack in the current crop of Scottish bands ready to break through to the masses.

Also announced to be making her return to Loopallu is Carrbridge singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni who has been making a name for herself recently with high profile fans including previous Loopallu performers Mumford and Sons.

These acts join the recent announcement of 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’.

Also, Buzzcocks, regarded as one of the most influencial punk bands of the 70’s have been added to the bill, they had a string of hits including ‘What do I get’ and the timeless anthem ‘Ever Fallen in Love? (withsomeone you shouldn’t’ve)’.

Fratellis frontman Jon Fratelli will also be appearing. 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.

Homegrown Heroes and recently reformed, The Bluebells make their Loopallu debut, with a string of hits to their name including ‘Young at Heart’ they could prove the biggest singalong to see Loopallu yet.

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

Tickets for this years festival are selling very quickly and people are being urged to buy soon to avoid dissapointment.

Tickets for this year are priced at £60 for weekend tickets and £75 for weekend and camping. Weekend and Camping ticket holders wishing to bring campervans and caravans will be charged £25 per vehicle. As, since the beginning, tickets for children 12 & under will be free (though need to be accompanied by an adult)

Tickets, available in person from Northwest Outdoors (Ullapool), Mania & Ironworks (Inverness); Online from http://www.thebooth.co.uk http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk http://www.skiddle.com ; 24 hr Tel 08444 999 990

www.loopallu.co.uk

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Posted in Festivals, Gigs, Latest News | Tagged Buzzcocks, concert, festivals, Fratellis, gig, gigguide, gigs, Ironworks, Jon Fratelli, Kassidy, loopallu, music, music festivals, music news scotland, music Scotland, musician, musicians union, muso, Rachel Sermanni, scotland, Scotland music, scots, scots music, scottish, scottish music, scottish music centre, Sermanni, Skerryvore, The Feeling | Leave a comment

PRS for Music Foundation funding deadline – August 15

Posted on August 10, 2011 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

Monday 15th August will be this year’s final deadline for applications for PRS for Music Foundation funding opportunities: Festivals, New Works, Organisations, Performance Groups and Promoters.

To enable the PRS for Music Foundation to fully review their applications process there will be no October deadline for 2011. New funding opportunities will be launched in January 2012.

PRS for Music Foundation have said that they are not reducing the funds available to you for this year. All grant funds reserved for the October deadline will be transferred to August, so they can support a larger number of your applications at this earlier date.

All applications must be submitted online, to apply for your chosen funding opportunity, visit the Funding section of the PRS for Music Foundation website – http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com. If you were planning to apply for the October deadline, but will now be applying in August, include details of all the new British music you intend to perform, programme or support – even if it is not yet confirmed. Mark unconfirmed activity as ‘tbc’ and the PRS for Music Foundation will take this into consideration when assessing your application.

PRS for Music Foundation

29-33 Berners Street

London W1T 3AB

T: 020 7306 4044

Email: info@prsformusicfoundation.com

www.prsformusicfoundation.com

Posted in Latest News | Tagged concert, festivals, gig, gigguide, gigs, music, music festivals, music news scotland, music Scotland, musician, musicians union, muso, PRS, PRS for Music, PRS for Music Foundation, scotland, Scotland music, scots, scots music, scottish, scottish music, scottish music centre | Leave a comment

INDIE MUSIC WAREHOUSE DESTROYED IN RIOTS

Posted on August 9, 2011 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

You may have heard that the London riots have caused the destruction of a warehouse in North London housing many of the UK’s independent labels and artists. All the stock has been destroyed by fire.

This will lead to much hardship for the artists and labels affected.

What music fans can do to show their support for the indie label community, and help them survive this disaster is to buy a digital download of an album from any one of the digital retailers in the UK, as well as going to their local record store while stocks last.

This way, the labels will be able to remanufacture their CD’s and vinyl more quickly, to resupply the record shops who are also affected by the riots.

Alison Wenham, Chairman and CEO of AIM, the UK’s Trade Association for the Independent Music Industry commented: “This is a disaster for the music community, but with the fans’ help, labels and artists will survive. Please show your support for the music community by buying a digital album from an independent label today”.

www.musicindie.com

Posted in Latest News | Tagged AIM, artists, association of independent music, concert, festivals, gig, gigguide, gigs, indie, indie label, labels, London riots, music, music festivals, music news scotland, music Scotland, musician, musicians union, muso, record store, scotland, Scotland music, scots, scots music, scottish, scottish music, scottish music centre | Leave a comment

Blas Festival gets Creative Scotland backing

Posted on July 23, 2011 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

CREATIVE SCOTLAND BACKS 2011 BLAS FESTIVAL

The seventh Blas festival in the Highlands and Islands has received a major boost with the confirmation of £50,000 investment from Creative Scotland.

The investment from the national leader for Scotland’s arts, screen and creative industries has enabled the organisers of Blas, which has established itself as the premier event celebrating all that is good about the Gaelic language and culture of the Highlands, to offer a packed programme of events which features top performers and two new commissions, one celebrating the culture of Scotland’s islands.

This year’s Blas festival will deliver nearly 100 cultural events between 9 and 17 September in venues across the Highlands ranging from community halls to Inverness Airport, The Jacobite Queen cruise boat and Eden Court Theatre.

Welcoming the news, Arthur Cormack of organisers Fèisean nan Gàidheal said: “The additional investment from Creative Scotland for Blas 2011 is a major boost. Most people will be aware of the funding pressures which we have had to face, in common with every other arts organisation and event. As part of Creative Scotland’s role is to enable creativity to shine at home and abroad, Blas will certainly be well burnished with this assistance. It will enable us to approach the starting date of the festival at the beginning of September with increased confidence and hopefully Creative Scotland will continue to invest in future Blas festivals.”

Traditional music as well as Gaelic language and song are the bedrock of the festival but, for the first time, Blas will also have a strand featuring Gaelic writers, organised in collaboration with Comhairle nan Leabhraichean – the Gaelic Books Council.

The 2011 festival is also a key part of the Year of Scotland’s Islands initiative and with tickets sales holding up well, the festival looks set to be a roaring success.

Ian Smith, Portfolio Manager for Music and IP Development, Creative Scotland, said, “The Blas Festival is a true celebration of Highland music and culture, and this year’s line up doesn’t disappoint with performances from some of Scotland’s best traditional artists. The Blas Festival is also an excellent platform for the Fèis movement, offering young performers the opportunity to learn and develop their skills in traditional dance, music and song. We are delighted to have invested in the Blas Festival at a time when we are reviewing our interaction with the Highlands and Islands region as a whole.”

Featured artists at Blas 2011 will include top musical talent such as Karen Matheson, Karine Polwart, Iain Morrison & Daibhidh Martin, Kathleen MacInnes, Maggie MacInnes & Colum Sands and chart-bidders Mànran.

The Blas Festival is a partnership between Fèisean nan Gàidheal, the Promoters Arts Network and its main funder, The Highland Council.

The full programme and information about several ways in which to buy tickets – which are still available at a reduced rate until the end of this week (July 31) – is available from the festival website http://www.blas-festival.com

Deagh Bhlas air taic Alba Chruthachail

Fhuair an seachdamh Fèis Blas togail mòr leis an naidheachd gu bheil Alba Chruthachail air taic £50,000 a thoirt dhan fhèis.

Tha seo uile a’ ciallachadh gum bi sreath de thachartasan èibheiseach agus prìomh luchd-ealain nan tarraing, a bharrachd air dà choimisean ùr ciùil, aon dhiù sin a’ comharrachadh ealain nan eilean, aig cridhe Fèis Blas 2011, a’ luaidh cultar na Gàidhealtachd. Tha Blas a-nis stèidhichte mar phrìomh fhèis a’ taisbeanadh subhachas is cultar na Gàidhlig air a’ Ghàidhealtachd.

Bidh Blas a’ cur air adhart faisg air 100 tachartas cultarail air feadh na Gàidhealtachd eadar 9 agus 17 Sultain ann an àiteachan cho eadar-dhealaichte ri tallaichean coimhearsnachd gu Port-adhar Inbhir Nis, air a’ bhàta Jacobite Queen agus ann an Eden Court fhèin.

A’ cur fàilte air an naidheachd, thuirt Art MacCarmaig às leth Fèisean nan Gàidheal, a tha a’ stiùireadh Blas, “Tha an taic a bharrachd a tha sinn a’ faighinn bho Alba Chruthachail na thogail air leth. Bidh a’ mhòr-chuid de dhaoine eòlach gu leòr air na duilgheadasan a tha mar coinneimh, cleas bhuidhnean eile a tha a’ cur thachartasan air adhart ann an saoghal nan ealan. Seach gu bheil e na phàirt dhen dleastanas aig Alba Chruthachail a bhith a’ cruthachadh cothroman do dhaoine thall sa bhos, bheir seo gleans às-ùr air Blas gun teagamh. Tha e na thogail dhuinn agus gar misneachadh agus toiseach na fèis a’ sìor thighinn oirnn san t-Sultain agus bidh sinn beò agus an dòchas gu bheil a leithid eile romhainn fhathast còmhla ri Alba Chruthachail.”

Tha an fhèis an ìre mhath stèidhichte air ceòl traidiseanta agus ceòl is òrain Ghàidhlig ach am bliadhna, airson a’ chiad turas, bidh Blas a’ cur air adhart sreath shònraichte de thachartasan le sgrìobhadairean Gàidhlig, ann an co-bhuinn ri Comhairle nan Leabhraichean.

Thuirt Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn, Manaidsear Ciùil agus leasachadh IP Alba Chruthachail, “ ‘S e fìor luaidh air ceòl is cultar na Gàidhealtachd a tha sinn a’ faighinn tro Bhlas agus tha an dreach a th’air clàr na bliadhna seo na dheagh theisteanas air sin le cuid de na luchd-ciùil traidiseanta as fheàrr ann an Alba an làthair. Chan eil àrd-ùrlar no cothrom taisbeanaidh eile aig na Fèisean fhèin coltach ri seo, is òigridh a’ faighinn cothrom an sgilean ann an dannsa traidiseanta, ceòl agus òrain a thoirt air adhart. Tha sinn air leth toilichte an cothrom a ghabhail cur ris an fhèis seo aig àm far a bheil sinn a’ toirt sùil anns an fharsaingeachd air an dòigh anns am bheil sinn a’ dèiligeadh ris a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus na h-Eileanan gu h-iomlan.”

A-measg an fheadhainn a bhios air àrd-ùrlair na Gàidhealtachd aig Blas 2011 bidh luchd-ealain ainmeil leithid Karen NicMhathain, Karine Polwart, Iain Moireasdan & Daibhidh Màrtainn, Kathleen NicAonghais, Magaidh NicAonghais agus Colum Sands agus an còmhlan Mànran a rinn oidhirp faighinn gu àireamh 1 le òran Gàidhlig aig toiseach na bliadhna agus a dh’fhoillsich clàr ùr bho chionn ghoirid.

‘Se co-bhanntachd a th’ann am fèis Blas eadar Fèisean nan Gàidheal, PAN (Promoters Arts Network) agus prìomh luchd-maoin na fèise, Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd.

Gheibhear fiosrachadh mu phrògram na fèise gu lèir agus diofar dhòighean air tiocaidean a cheannach – aig prìs nas ìsle gu deireadh Iuchar – bho làrach-lìn na fèise http://www.blas-festival.com

Posted in Festivals, Gigs, Latest News | Tagged Alba Chruthachail, Arthur Cormack, Bhlas, Blas, Colum Sands, Comhairle nan Leabhraichean, concert, creative scotland, Daibhidh Martin, Eden Court Theatre, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, festivals, Gaelic, Gaelic Books Council, gig, gigguide, gigs, Highlands, Highlands and Islands, Iain Morrison, Ian Smith, Karen Matheson, Karine Polwart, Kathleen MacInnes, Maggie MacInnes, Mànran, music, Music and IP Development, music festivals, music news scotland, music Scotland, musician, musicians union, muso, Promoters Arts Network, scotland, Scotland music, scots, scots music, scottish, scottish music, scottish music centre, The Jacobite Queen | Leave a comment

T BREAK DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE

Posted on July 22, 2011 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

Fresh from providing one of the most exciting and talked about line ups at this year’s T in the Park, the 15th year of Tennent’s Lagers T Break initiative is being hailed by many as the best yet. The T Break Stage saw some outstanding performances throughout the T in the Park weekend – music lovers came, they saw, they liked. From Monday 25th July T Break fans can listen again to the live sets from each artist and download a track for free at www.tennents.com/tbreak

From the gritty rhymes of Church of when the Shit Hits the Fan to the sweet melodies of Reverieme, there was enough talent on this year’s T Break Stage to pack the tent all weekend, so this extra chance to download music from some of the most exciting new artists in the country is sure to put a smile on the faces of lots of new music fans.

Each year 16 acts are hand picked from thousands of demo entries and provided with the opportunity to play on the biggest platform for unsigned musicians as part of the T in the Park festival. The acts who rocked the stage this year were Aerials Up, Boycotts, Cancel the Astronauts, Carnivores, Church of When the Shit Hits the Fan, Conquering Animal Sound, Crayons, Discopolis, Fatherson, Lady North, Marrik Layden Deft with Scatabrainz, Otherpeople, PAWS, Reverieme, The LaFontaines and United Fruit, each of which have chosen their favourite song to make available for download, as a thank you to the fans who made the T Break Stage the roaring success it was.

George Kyle of Tennent’s Lager says: “The calibre of the acts on stage this year was unbelievable and delivered outstanding performances on a stage renowned for hosting the best of the best in unsigned talent. The feedback from fans has been amazing so we’re sure the downloads will be a huge hit with music lovers”.

To download tracks from the 16 T Break bands head over to www.tennents.com/tbreak