MUSIC NEWS Scotland

SCOTTISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SAY) AWARD SHORTLIST REVEALED

Posted on May 30, 2015 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award has unveiled the 10 albums which have snapped up spots on its coveted shortlist.

Award co-host Janice Forsyth announced the finalists at an event at The CCA in Glasgow to an audience including many of the longlisted artists. Produced by The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), and now in its fourth year, The SAY Award has grown to become the most prestigious music prize in Scotland, and competition for the shortlist slots has been fierce.

The winner of this year’s public vote is Paolo Nutini’s ‘Caustic Love’, earning an automatic place on the shortlist after a 72 hour public vote which started on Monday 25 May. The remaining nine slots were awarded by The SAY Award’s panel of independent judges.

SAY AWARD SHORTLIST …..

Belle and Sebastian (Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance) https://www.facebook.com/belleandsebastian

Errors (Lease of Life) https://www.facebook.com/errorsband

Happy Meals (Apèro) https://twitter.com/YourHappyMeals

Honeyblood (Honeyblood) https://www.facebook.com/honeybloodeatitup

Kathryn Joseph (Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled) https://www.facebook.com/kathrynjosephmusic

Paolo Nutini (Caustic Love) [Winner of the Public Vote] https://www.facebook.com/PaoloNutini

PAWS (Youth Culture Forever) https://www.facebook.com/wehavepaws

Slam (Reverse Proceed) https://www.facebook.com/SLAM.soma

The Amazing Snakeheads (Amphetamine Ballads) https://www.facebook.com/theamazingsnakeheads

Young Fathers (DEAD) https://www.facebook.com/youngfathers

This year’s shortlist serves to highlight the very best in Scottish music, spanning a range of genres and audiences. Each shortlisted album wins the artist behind it a £1,000 prize and a one of a kind quilt from Glasgow School of Art graduate Vanessa Hindshaw.

Stewart Henderson, chair of the SMIA, said: “Reducing The SAY Award longlist to a shortlist of 10 is never an easy task but by all accounts this year’s process has been particularly painful. We can only wish the remaining titles the very best of luck and congratulate them on emerging from such an extraordinary crop of albums.”

Previous winners of The SAY Award include Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat (2012), RM Hubbert (2013) and Young Fathers (2014) – who are also longlisted again this year for their album DEAD.

This year’s winner of The Scottish Album of the Year Award will be unveiled on Wednesday 17 June at a ceremony in the O2 ABC Glasgow. Hosted by Vic Galloway and Janice Forsyth, the ceremony is attended by the best of Scotland’s musical and creative talent.

http://www.sayaward.com

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Posted in Latest News | Tagged Belle and Sebastian, Errors, Happy Meals, Honeyblood, Kathryn Joseph, Paolo Nutini, PAWS, SAY Award, Slam, The Amazing Snakeheads, Young Fathers | Leave a comment

Tennent’s Unveil 20th Year Line-Up For T Break’s First Year At Strathallan

Posted on May 29, 2015 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

16 OF SCOTLAND’S FRESHEST UNSIGNED ACTS WILL PLAY THE FAMOUS T BREAK STAGE THIS SUMMER AT T IN THE PARK’S NEW HOME

Tennent’s Lager put out their legendary T Break call for demos for the 20th time this March and Scotland’s unsigned acts responded, with over a thousand acts submitting their demos in the hope of landing one of 16 highly coveted slots on the T Break Stage at T in the Park.

Today (29 May) the line-up of acts that will play the T Break Stage’s landmark 20th year is revealed:

AmatrArt – https://www.facebook.com/AmatrArt

Apache Darling – https://www.facebook.com/apachedarling

Catholic Action – https://www.facebook.com/catholicactionband

Be Charlotte – https://www.facebook.com/becharlottemusic

Crash Club – https://www.facebook.com/crashclubmusic

Dead Man Fall – https://www.facebook.com/deadmanfall

Ded Rabbit – https://www.facebook.com/DedRabbit

DIVIDES – https://www.facebook.com/DIVIDESOFFICIAL

Gerry Cinnamon – https://www.facebook.com/Gerrycinnamonmusic

Other Humans – https://www.facebook.com/otherhumansmusic

Our Future Glory – https://www.facebook.com/ourfutureglory

Schnarff Schnarff – https://www.facebook.com/SchnarffSchnarff

Spring Break – https://www.facebook.com/springbreakscotland

The Claramassa – https://www.facebook.com/theclaramassa

The Van T’s – https://www.facebook.com/TheVanTs

Tijuana Bibles – https://www.facebook.com/tijuanabiblesofficial

Glasgow’s Dead Man Fall are playing T Break

Tennent’s Lager have been proudly supporting Scotland’s grassroots music scene through T Break for 20 memorable years, providing the country’s freshest unsigned talent with the chance to showcase their material to fans, musicians and music industry insiders alike on the biggest platform for unsigned artists at T in the Park – the T Break Stage.

Throughout T Break’s 20-year rock and roll history the T Break Stage has seen a huge wealth of talent coming through the ranks, with bands such as Biffy Clyro, Snow Patrol, Twin Atlantic and The View all playing the legendary stage. Each year the T Break line-up – curated by a judging panel of 15 of Scotland’s most respected and influential music industry experts – reflects exactly what’s going on in Scotland’s grassroots music scene at that time, and this year is no exception.

Myles Bonnar, Schnarff Schnarff said:

“It was just the best feeling ever! We have always believed in ourselves so to get a reward like this, makes all our dedication worthwhile. Hearing that we got T Break just catapulted me back to T in the Park ’99 – watching Blur play Tender – you envisage yourself on stage and now we can live that dream! We are over the moon!”

Nicola Cooper, Sponsorship Executive at Tennent’s Lager said:

“We are incredibly proud to be celebrating 20 years of T Break and we can’t wait to see this years act’s perform at the T Break Stage’s new home at Strathallan Castle this summer. We have so many brilliant T Break memories from Balado and from Strathclyde Park over the past 20 years and it’s exciting to know we will be making many more at T in the Park’s new home. Every year, the calibre of artists coming through T Break excites me, Scotland truly is a gold mine of musical talent and Tennent’s are so proud to continue to support this talent through T Break”

Dave McGeachan, Senior Promoter from T Break partners DF Concerts:

“Every year the other judges and I are blown away by the talent we hear at the T Break judging sessions. Some I am familiar with from the Scottish music scene such as Crash Club and Tijuana Bibles, this year. Some, like Spring Break, just come completely out the blue and that’s the magic of T Break. Supporting Scotland’s grassroots music scene for 20 years is a massive achievement for T Break and a hugely important commitment from Tennent’s. I’m very proud of T Break and all the great acts who have come through over the years – bring on the next 20 years.”

To find out more about the acts on the T Break 2015 line-up, check out http://www.facebook.com/TennentsTBreak and http://www.tennents.com/tbreak

T in the Park 2015 takes places across the weekend from 10th – 12th July and tickets are on sale now, and available from http://www.tinthepark.com or http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk or 08444 999 990.

Thank you to the Scottish Music Centre for sponsoring our ‘Latest News’ blog …..

Posted in Latest News | Tagged T Break, T in the Park, Tennents, TITP | Leave a comment

T BREAK STAGE ENTRIES NOW OPEN FOR T IN THE PARK

Posted on March 6, 2015 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

This year Tennent’s Lager celebrate a landmark 20 years of their grassroots music initiative, T Break. T Break began in 1996, searching for Scotland’s freshest unsigned musical talent and has been giving acts the chance to play the biggest platform for unsigned music at T in the Park – the T Break Stage – ever since.

Throughout T Break’s 20 year history, the T Break Stage has seen performances from the likes of Biffy Clyro, Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini, Twin Atlantic and The View and entries are now open for the next 16 unsigned acts set to play the T Break Stage this summer, in the stage’s first year at T in the Park’s new home, Strathallan Castle.

Acts can submit their best three tracks via Soundcloud through the T Break website @ http://www.tennents.com/tbreak or Facebook page @ http://www.facebook.com/tennentstbreak

The judging panel, consisting of 15 of Scotland’s most influential music industry experts including: artists, promoters, bookers, managers and members of the media, will then listen to every demo before handpicking the 16 acts to play the T Break Stage at T in the Park on 10-12 July.

This year Tennent’s Lager are delighted to welcome two new faces to the judging panel: Louie, Hector Bizerk front man and previous T Break artist and Aimmi Dunsmuir manager of hugely successful Glasgow rockers, Twin Atlantic. Both are delighted to be involved saying,

Louie, Frontman Hector Bizerk and previous T Break artist:

“I’m quite humbled to be invited to offer my opinions on T Break’s next wave of emerging talent. I think Scotland is home to some of the most innovative and exciting music in the world and I am excited to listen to all the entries. I have first-hand experience of the buzz that artists get from playing the T Break Stage and I’m really looking forward to sharing that moment with 16 new bands.”

Aimmi Dunsmuir, Twin Atlantic Manager:

“I remember tuning in to the announcements of the T Break finalists on the radio when I was younger and I am honoured be a part of the judging panel for 2015. T Break is such an important platform for the unsigned acts of Scotland. Working with Twin Atlantic who have grown from T Break Stage to headlining the Radio 1 Stage on Saturday at this year’s T in the Park has me very excited to hear what Scotland’s unsigned acts have to offer.”

Tennent’s Lager passionately believe in supporting Scotland’s grassroots music scene and T Break offers an unrivalled opportunity for acts to showcase their material to industry experts and music fans alike on the biggest platform for emerging talent at T in the Park – the T Break Stage.

George Kyle, Head of Sponsorship at Tennent’s Lager, said:

“Tennent’s are so proud to be celebrating 20 years of T Break this year, T Break has been an exciting and inspiring journey over the past 20 years and something that Tennent’s has always strongly believed in. Seeing so many Scottish unsigned musicians come through the process, and in some cases go on to achieve massive success, has been the source of much pride for Tennent’s Lager as a brand and we look forward, once again, to all the entries coming in again this year”

Dave McGeachan, Senior Promoter at DF Concerts and T Break Judge said:

“T Break has been an incredible 20 year journey, we’ve seen an amazing amount of talent come through the process over the past twenty years with some bands going on to achieve huge success. The great thing about T Break is, it’s so different every year, music styles change and fashion changes but the freshness and authenticity of Scotland’s unsigned acts remains the same, I can’t wait to hear what this year’s acts have got to offer”

To mark this special year, T Break and partners Tenement TV caught up with bands who have played the T Break Stage over the past 20 years, to hear about their fond memories of T Break and their advice for unsinged acts planning to apply for T Break 2015. Check out what they had to say here, there are few very familiar faces ….. http://youtu.be/DtWkLOyKYx4

T Break is open to musicians of all genres. To get involved entrants must be 18 or over, live in Scotland, and must be currently unsigned – full details on how to submit demos is available on http://www.facebook.com/TennentsTBreak and http://www.tennents.com/tbreak and entries must be submitted before the deadline of midnight on Monday 6 April.

Tennent’s Lager will announce the line-up for the T Break Stage in May.

About T Break

T Break was launched by Tennent’s in 1996 and has been uncovering Scotland’s freshest unsigned talent and giving them a platform to showcase their music on the T Break Stage at T in the Park ever since.

Each year, 16 bands are hand-picked from over a thousand entries by a panel of Scotland’s industry experts and given the chance to play the T Break Stage at T in the Park, the place to catch Scotland’s best new music

T Break 2015 – key dates

March 6th – annual call for demos
April 6th – demo entry closes at midnight
Early May – judging sessions take place
Late May – 16 bands selected to play the T Break Stage announced
July 10th -12th – T Break Stage at T in the Park

http://www.tennents.com/tbreak

http://www.facebook.com/TennentsTBreak

Thank you to the Scottish Music Centre for sponsoring our ‘Latest News’ blog …..

Posted in Festivals | Tagged Dave McGeachan, George Kyle, Strathallan Castle, T Break, T Break Stage, T in the Park, Tenement TV, Tennent's Lager | Leave a comment

WIDE DAYS 2015 … Scotland’s Music Convention

Posted on March 5, 2015 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

– Wide Days moved to Friday and Saturday slot, with conference on Day 1

– Day 2 to include a guided tour, talk, barbecue and low-exertion sports contest

– Crowdfunder campaign includes photo-shoots and private concerts

Buy tickets @ http://www.widedays.com/tickets

Award-winning music convention, Wide Days, returns on 10-11 April with a new structure and an increased focus on networking opportunities for professional delegates. For the first time, the event will take place on Friday and Saturday, with the majority of panels, presentations and talks [details below] hosted on day one at Edinburgh’s Pleasance.

The first topics to be announced include the development of festivals, an analysis of what it costs to make an album and future models for the music business. Edinburgh College is the partner on the popular A&R You Brave Enough? session, where musicians are invited to submit tracks for feedback, and this year’s keynote interview features John Vick and David Miller, from pioneering electronic act Fini Tribe.

The Pleasance will also host the first half of the free showcase programme – which will be unveiled next week – with the second part of the evening taking place at The Electric Circus.

Having beaten competition from several large international conferences to win Best Networking Event at 2014’s Yearly Music Convention Awards, the second day of Wide Days will provide a relaxed and entertaining environment for Professional ticket-holders and speakers.

It begins with a coach tour of Edinburgh, guided by Wide Days founder Olaf Furniss, and will be followed by a barbecue, talk and low-exertion sports contest, which includes darts, croquet and swingball.

In addition to Edinburgh College, confirmed partners include PPL, Perth College, the Musicians’ Union and the Scottish Music Industry Association. However, organisers have launched a Crowdfunder campaign in a bid to raise additional funds after a previous backer was unable to commit.

The initiative is backed by several acts who have showcased in previous years and among the packages on offer are private gigs by Stanley Odd, Fatherson and The Jellyman’s Daughter. Other packages include a photo shoot with internationally acclaimed photographer, Jannica Honey, and original prints of her shots of previous Wide Days showcase acts.

“Wide Days has a track record of innovation and we are very excited about the new structure,” says founder Olaf Furniss, who is also co-director of Born To Be Wide, the Community Interest Company which organises the event. “By concentrating most of the talks into Friday afternoon we are able to offer an affordable day ticket, while also catering to professionals with the Saturday activities.”

“We are appealing to the many musicians, organisations and businesses who have benefited from Wide Days since its launch in 2010, to get behind the Crowdfunder campaign so we can continue.”

WIDE DAYS 2015

Friday 10 April, The Pleasance, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ

1030-1730 Conference including panels

1930-2100 Showcases Part 1

The Electric Circus, 36-39 Market Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DF

Saturday 11 April

1030 Pick up from 10 Hill Place Hotel, Edinburgh EH8 9DS, followed by tour, talk, BBQ and low exertion sports contest.

CROWDFUNDER PACKAGES – http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/wide-days

TICKETS [professional, regular + groups] http://www.widedays.com/tickets

Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/events/1552312855038370/

PRESENTATIONS

How much is the music?

What is the real cost of making an album? Three case studies look at the total amount, factoring in the time musicians spend writing, rehearsing and recording, playing gigs, promotion and every other expense.

Presentations by: Alex Knight [Fat Cat Records], Lorraine McCauley [self-releasing musician] + additional speaker TBA.

The Music Venue Trust

A look at the work of the organisation set up to safeguard venues.

PANELS

What hope for the future?

Is the music business set to reflect society, with a super rich 1% of artists and companies taking the lion’s share of the money? Can a ‘middle class’ survive and what impact will streaming really have?

Speakers: David Balfour, Record Of The Day. Additional panelists TBA

A&R You Brave Enough

A panel from music and media provides feedback on tracks submitted by acts attending the convention.

Nicola Meighan [The List/The Herald/Radio Scotland]

Alex Knight [Fat Cat Records]

Additional panelists TBA

Festival Development

A look at how the festivals are diversifying and what role they can play in developing new talent.

Cecile Communal, [2 For The Road, booking agency]. Additional panelists TBA

KEYNOTE INTERVIEW

John Vick and David Miller from pioneering electronic act Fini Tribe in conversation with Olaf Furniss. The duo look back on their ground-breaking career and forward to a new release and tour in the summer.

http://www.widedays.com

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Thank you to the Scottish Music Centre for sponsoring our ‘Latest News’ blog …..

Posted in Edinburgh College, Latest News, Musicians' Union, Olaf Furniss, PPL, Scottish Music Industry Association | Tagged wide days | Leave a comment

Mumford & Sons Announce ‘Gentlemen of the Road Stopover’… in Aviemore

Posted on March 2, 2015 by MUSIC NEWS Scotland

http://www.mumfordandsons.com

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 6 March @ http://www.gentlemenoftheroad.com/tickets

Mumford & Sons and Gentlemen of the Road are very pleased to announce details of a very special weekend of live music and entertainment in Aviemore this Summer.

The British rock band, who will release their third album ‘Wilder Mind’ on the 4 May, will bring their two-day music and arts festival to The Dell of Rothiemurchus in Aviemore over the weekend of the 31 July and 1 August. It will feature live performances from the Stopover hosts Mumford & Sons + Ben Howard, Scotland’s own Primal Scream, The Maccabees, Lianne La Havas, and Honeyblood, with plenty more still to be announced over the coming months.

Gentleman of the Road Aviemore Stopover is co-promoted with Highlands based promoter Beyond Events Presents. Robert Hicks of Beyond said:

“This is a real highlight for me and the Beyond team, having worked with Mumford & Sons since they toured the Highlands back in 2009 and numerous times since. We’re overwhelmed that Mumford & Sons have chosen the Highlands, and in particular Aviemore as the only UK and indeed, European leg of their touring Stopover Festival. The Aviemore Stopover is an unique opportunity for the Badenoch & Strathspey area and the Highlands as a whole to shout about what an incredible place we live in. Being announced alongside Stopovers being staged across the US and Australia bringing us a truly global audience.”

2015 welcomes the third year of The Stopovers that have taken place across the globe, including some hugely successful events in the USA, Canada and Australia. Mumford & Sons will curate the weekend’s entertainment with a strong emphasis on celebrating the diverse businesses and culture of Aviemore, and the greater Badenoch and Strathspey community.

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 6 March through the Gentlemen of the Road website @ http://www.gentlemenoftheroad.com/tickets . Tickets will also be available locally in person from The Old Bridge Inn in Aviemore, and the Ironworks in Inverness.

The Stopovers rely on the local people for their ideas and suggestions to ensure a weekend that can be enjoyed and experienced by the whole community and beyond.

Johnnie Grant of Rothiemurchus:

“We are very flattered that Mumford and Sons have chosen Rothiemurchus and Aviemore for the UK leg of their Stopover tour, and we’re looking forward to welcoming them and their fans to this special part of the world. It’s a pleasure to be able to provide the Dell of Rothiemurchus for this Concert. It will be a great opportunity for the people of Badenoch and Strathspey to make new friends from around the world. We’re particularly grateful to the members of the Rothiemurchus team who have managed to keep a secret in advance of the launch.”

GIGnotes …..

Gentlemen of the Road presents…The Stopovers at The Dell of Rothiemurchus, Aviemore, on 31 July + 1 August with Mumford & Sons, Ben Howard, Primal Scream, The Maccabees, Simian Mobile Disco, Lianne La Havas, King Charles, Jack Garratt, Honeyblood + more TBA

http://www.gentlemenoftheroad.com

http://www.facebook.com/beyondpresents

https://twitter.com/BeyondPrese

Thank you to the Scottish Music Centre for sponsoring our ‘Latest News’ blog …..