Ignite Records competition for unsigned band video!

Ignite Records UK are Glasgow based and have achieved a lot for a label less than a year old. They’ve helped unsigned artists achieve high profile radio airplay including being playlisted on the BBC Radio Scotland Tom Morton show, selected by A&R Craig McGee (Warner Chappel) to be played on BBC Introducing with Ally McCrae, song of the week on Amazing Radio and gaining massive exposure worldwide on other prestigious new music stations.

In their quest for fresh talent, Ignite Records UK are campaigning to find the best UK unsigned act for which they will make a music video. The video will be produced by upcoming director Joshua Porter. http://www.joshuaporter.co.uk

Previous videos directed by Joshua Porter have included Scotlands’ Fatherson recent video “Hometown” which can be found at their website.

http://www.fatherson.co.uk/

Just shout out your favourite unsigned band over at the Ignite Records UK Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/igniterecordsuk

You can also tweet them at www.twitter.com/igniterecordsuk

They’ll take into consideration the amount of noise your fans make as there is so much talent on the unsigned scene and want to make sure there is a demand for your band.

Competition closes 31st July and you/your band must be available in the UK after the closing date.

Blog Sponsor - please click to view our website

 
 

Blog Sponsor - please click to view our website

Posted in Competition, Latest News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Scotland’s first pedal-powered concert

“Blazin’ Saddles” on Skye

On the 25th June 2011, something unique will take place at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig , near Armadale, Isle of Skye.

10 of Scotland’s leading world musicians will join forces with 10 cyclists to create Scotland’s first ever peddle-powered concert. It will be an evening of fun, music and lycra.

With a band made up of incredible musicians, Blazin’ Saddles will not only be a concert of lively traditional folk, jazz, blues and country music, but will test the stamina of the human powered energy machine.

Headed by jazz musician and Peatbog Faerie, Rick Taylor, the line-up includes Tom Bancroft, one of Scotland’s finest percussionists, Al Price, “moothie’ player extraordinaire, The Angus Nicolson Trio, led by Sleat’sbrilliant small-pipes player, with Graeme Stephen, Laura Sillitoe, Michael Ouers, Eilidh Shaw and Anna MacDonald, all of whom are well-known faces on Scottish and international stages.

The setting is the stunning new cliff-top venue in Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Sleat on Skye. While the 10 musicians perform inside, 10 cyclists will be hard at work outside, sheltered from the rain but encouraged by the midges, to provide all the power needed, in team relays.

Colin Tonks from BBC’s “The Bicycle Powered House” will supply the generating technology, and Island Cycles, the bicycles. Each bicycle is sponsored by a local or national business. Teams are in training and there will be audience participation.

The idea is the brain-child of Pam Allan, Sleat resident with a background in stage management. Sleat has focused on renewable energy and cycling in recent years, through the Sleat Community Trust’s ‘Clan Sleat’ project and annual bike week. Pam’s Blazin’ Saddles concert is also supported by SEALL, Skye’s community-led arts promoting group, which arranges over 30 events each year.

Blazin’ Saddles – “ The harder they cycle the louder the music!’

The cycling starts at 8pm

Tickets cost £12 adults £9 students £3 children and are available from

www.seall.co.uk

Blog Sponsor - please click to view our website

 
 

Blog Sponsor - please click to view our website

Posted in Gigs, Latest News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BORDERS SONGWRITER OF YEAR COMPETITION

STRING JAM CLUB SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION – SATURDAY 25TH JUNE 2011 (In conjunction with Merlin Music, Melrose)

The String Jam Club in the Scottish Borders town of Galashiels has a renowned reputation for the standard of music they regularly produce and the internationally renowned acts they attract to play. Annually they run a ‘Songwriter of the Year’ competition, which is judged by their very friendly, discerning, and knowledgeable audience!

This year the competition, in conjunction with Merlin Music of Melrose, is on June 25th with special Prizes donated by Merlin Music, a full length showcase spot at the club, a £50 cash prize and a main prize by AUDIENCE VOTE so bring your friends and fans – PLUS an additional mystery prize for the Professional Panel Award Winner!

To register your interest as an entrant or to find out more, email stringjamclub@vixenrecords.com as soon as possible. Songs must be original. All styles of acoustic music welcome. One or two songs, depending on number of entrants. Competition not open to fully professional musicians. You will perform in front of our very friendly and discerning audience and it will be up to them which is their favourite song. Bring your friends and supporters. There will also be a separate professional panel that will select their own winner. It will be very interesting to see if they agree with the audience!

Admission £6 on the door, or advance tickets from Salmon (01896-752577) & Merlin Music (01896-822376),

Musicians entry fee £3 String Jam Club on the web: http://www.myspace.com/stringjamclub

COMPETITION INFORMATION: stringjamclub@vixenrecords.com

Merlin Music http://www.merlinmusicmelrose.co.uk

The String Jam Club meets on the last Saturday of every month at The Salmon Inn, Bank Street, Galashiels, Scottish Borders TD1 1EP

www.myspace.com/stringjamclub

 

Blog Sponsor - please click to view website

 
 

Blog Sponsor - please click to view website

 
 

Blog Sponsor - please click to view our website

 
 
 
 
Posted in Competition, Latest News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Radio Scotland Young Trad Musician – open for applications

Entrants (aged 16–27 inclusive) are invited to enter the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the year award 2012.

The award exists to encourage young musicians to take up a career in traditional music, the winner receives a recording session with BBC Scotland, a performance at the Scots Trad Music Awards and one year’s membership of the Musician’s Union.

Entrants must download an application form and send it along with a 10-minute recording of their playing, a short biography and paragraph explaining their commitment to a career in traditional music. An adjudication panel will choose 12 semi-finalists based on their ability.

Deadline: Friday 1 July 2011

For more information and application form visit www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland/youngtradmusician2012/

Blog Sponsor - please click to view website

 
 
 
 

Blog Sponsor - please click to view our website

 
 
 
 

Blog Sponsor - please click to view our website

 
 
Posted in Competition, Latest News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

WIZARD FESTIVAL – MAGIC NUMBERS ADDED

Numbers up as four more top acts announced for Wizard

The North-east’s biggest family music festival has announced more acts to add to its already impressive line-up.

The Magic Numbers, The Twang, Tommy Reilly and Adrian Edmondson and the Bad Shepherds have all been confirmed to perform at the festival, held on August 26 and 27 at the New Deer Showground, New Deer.

The Magic Numbers will be making one of their only UK festival appearances at Wizard this year, following the release of their third album, The Runaway, at the end of 2010 to rave reviews. The Magic Numbers take the pre-headline slot on Friday August 26, ahead of an appearance by iconic band, The Stranglers.

English indie group The Twang have also been confirmed to play. Busy working in the studio on their third album, the addition of the rock-steady five piece from Birmingham is sure to delight indie music followers coming along to the festival this year.

Scottish singer/songwriter Tommy Reilly will be heading north to New Deer from his hometown of Torrance, just outside Glasgow. Since winning the Orange unsigned title in 2009, Tommy has released two critically acclaimed albums, toured with the Proclaimers and Justin Currie of Del Amitri.

This year Tommy is headlining his own tour and will be performing on Saturday, August 27 on Wizard Festival’s huge outdoor half dome stage in the heart of a 50 acre site of prime Aberdeenshire countryside.

Well known comic and musician Adrian Edmondson and his band, the Bad Shepherds are no laughing matter when it comes to performing live music. Nominated in 2010 for the Radio 2 ‘best live folk act award’, Edmondson and his band are renowned for their electric live performances.

Adrian is best known as a comedian in The Young Ones, Bottom, and The Comic Strip Presents but in this band he performs vocals and what is described as ‘thrash mandolin’. He is joined by the Bad Shepherds Troy Donockley and award winning fiddle player, Andy Dinan.

Roy Thain, Wizard Festival organiser said: “This year the bill just gets better and better. We feel like we have some successful years behind us and we can stretch the bill to make sure it suits lots of different people. We are keener than ever that the bands we book have a great reputation for live festival performances and we know each of these acts has that. We know that Wizard fans love their live music, camping and dancing so we are making sure we tick all those boxes for them.”

Also confirmed to perform at this year’s Wizard are CAST, who headline the Saturday night bill on August 27 and The Saw Doctors who take the pre-headline slot on the same evening.

Now in its fifth year, Wizard Festival is the North-east’s biggest family friendly music festival and offers free camping and car parking to revellers attending the event. There are three stages, a full campsite, caravanning and campervan sites and onsite food and merchandise stalls.

Last year more than 5,000 people attended the event which has tripled in size since it began in 2007. There is a full programme of children’s and young people’s activities including kid’s yoga, drumming and music workshops with hip hop and samba dancing classes also available. There will also be climbing walls, funfair rides and walkabout performers.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and the website.

Visit www.wizardfestival.com

You can now join our MailChimp mailing list to get every MNS digital publication delivered straight to your inbox every week – sign up here: http://eepurl.com/dKZQY  

 

Blog Sponsor - please click to view website

 
 

Blog Sponsor - please click to view our website

 
 
 
 

Blog Sponsor - please click to view our website

 
 
Posted in Festivals, Latest News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment