MNS (Apr24-17)

17 : 4 : 24 

RSD 24 

Scottish 

Preview 

see 

page 22 

Wide Days announces Showcase acts - p4 

SNJO and RSNO in first-ever collaboration - p10 :: BBC Introducing ’Act of the Year’ - p14 

Star-studded May concert to raise money 

for Medical Aid for Palestinians in Glasgow 

Grab tickets @ https://tickets.glasgowlife.org.uk/33110/33111 

In a powerful statement of 

solidarity and humanitarian 

support, a unique starstudded 

concert is set to 

take place at the prestigious 

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 

on Wednesday 1 May. 

With an unparalleled line-up of musical 

luminaries, this concert promises to be 

an unforgettable evening of music, 

compassion, and unity. 

The defining factor that brings these great artists is that of 

compassion and support for those innocent families who find 

themselves caught in a Gaza conflict that has left them homeless and 

starving. All profits from the concert will go to the British charity 

Medical Aid for Palestinians, a recognised organisation formed 37 

years ago to provide medical services in the West Bank, Gaza and to 

advocate for Palestinians' rights to health and dignity. 

Renowned for their soulful melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, 

Deacon Blue have been recognised as an iconic band in the Scottish 

music scene since the 1980s, captivating audiences worldwide with 

hits like ‘Dignity’ and ‘Real Gone Kid’, along with essential current 

releases. 

Scottish folk royalty Capercaillie are world-renowned for their fusion 

of traditional Scottish music with a contemporary sound and promise 

to enchant the audience with their captivating melodies, Gaelicinspired 

tunes, and infectious rhythms. 

James Grant, acclaimed singer-songwriter, former frontman of Love 

and Money and consummate storyteller, will bring his soulful voice 

and poignant storytelling to the stage while Siobhan Miller, a leading 

light in the contemporary Scottish folk scene, will showcase her 

haunting vocals and emotive song writing. 

Rura are a multi award-winning act and one of Scotland’s most 

sought-after folk bands. With three heralded albums, they affirmed 

their position as one of Scotland’s leading instrumental groups with 

their recent sold-out Barrowlands show. 

Admiral Fallow, one of Scotland’s most cherished acts, will showcase 

their eclectic blend of indie folk, chamber pop and cinematic 

soundscapes, while Duncan Chisholm, master of the Scottish fiddle, 

will showcase his virtuosity alongside revered piper Ross Ainslie 

weaving intricate melodies that echo the spirit of the Highlands. 

Kitti, winner of best vocalist in the Scottish Jazz Awards across 

multiple years is an emerging talent with a voice that defies her 

years. 

Award winning Scottish poets Jim Mackintosh and Julie MacNeill will 

read poetry from their own repertoire, along with new work from 

poets still currently in Gaza. 

All proceeds from the concert will go to Medical Aid for Palestinians, a 

humanitarian organisation dedicated to providing essential medical 

aid and support to the people of Gaza. By coming together through 

the universal language of music, attendees will not only enjoy a night 

of exceptional entertainment but also contribute to a vital cause, 

Admiral Fallow 

www.facebook.com/AdmiralFallow 

:: photo courtesy of Medical Aid for Palestinians 

offering hope and assistance to displaced families in Gaza. 

Tickets for the concert are available now, and organisers urge the 

musical community of Scotland to show their support for this 

important cause. 

Lorraine McIntosh of Deacon Blue said: “Since the awful events 

of October 7th we have looked on in growing horror at the destruction 

of Gaza and its infrastructure and the senseless death of over 30,000 

innocent people. The only thing we can do to help in any small way is 

to raise money. With the destruction of practically all medical facilities 

in Gaza, we have chosen to support the charity Medical Aid for 

Palestinians who have a long history of delivering emergency 

healthcare to the people on the ground in Gaza where help is needed 

most. Our decision in no way lessons our horror at what happened on 

October 7th, and we join millions around the world in calling for an 

immediate cease fire and the release of all hostages.” 

Donald Shaw of Capercaillie said: “Capercaillie performed in the 

West Bank, Palestine back in the late 80s as part of a Middle East 

tour. We felt honoured to be welcomed by such wonderful people full 

of pride in their culture and resilience in the face of conflict. 

Performing on this gig for Gaza alongside these great artists on May 

1st to raise even a modest offering feels like the least we can do to 

show our support in their hour of need.” 

www.scottishmusiccentre.com 

Jim Mackintosh penned this poem, entitled ‘FLY FREE’: 

nor earth, nor boundless sea 

can hold the souls of lost children 

whose names are forever 

inscribed on water 

every last drop beyond the reach 

of them - and we watch farther 

grasp at their shadows 

unshakable grief 

confusing his efforts to pull 

his everything back to solid dust 

but on they rise, moth shaped stars 

bright in the crescent moon 

cold in the midday dark 

Medical Aid for Palestinians: Medical Aid for Palestinians is a UKbased 

charity dedicated to supporting health and medical services in 

Palestine. Through the provision of essential medical supplies, 

training, and advocacy, MAP works to ensure that Palestinians living 

under occupation and as refugees have access to the healthcare they 

need. 

www.map.org.uk 

www.scottishmusiccentre.com www.facebook.com/scottishmusiccentre www.twitter.com/scottishmusic 

http://bit.ly/issuu-googleplay 

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page 2 

music news scotland 

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music news scotland page 3 

Exporting world-class Scottish Jazz 

internationally at jazzahead! 2024 

Scotland joined the world’s 

largest international jazz 

gathering which took place 

from 11-13 April in 

Bremen, as Creative 

Scotland supported 

showcasing artists and 

bursary delegates to reach 

new markets and secure 

future opportunities. 

Spiritual jazz group, Mama Terra, and folk-jazz 

fusion saxophonist, Matt Carmichael, were both 

performing at the jazzahead! showcase, 

supported by Creative Scotland through PRS 

Foundation’s International Showcase Fund. 

Speaking on the importance of showcasing 

opportunities like jazzahead!, Marco Cafolla of 

Mama Terra said: “What I feel I’ve gained from 

attending jazzahead! and other showcasing 

events is presence and a community – people 

knowing who you are. It’s raising the profile of 

myself and the Scottish music scene. This is 

global stage, so being able to showcase at 

jazzahead! is another great spotlight, a targeted 

audience who will hear a lot of great Scottish 

music.” 

Matt Carmichael added: “These showcases are 

really important for artists, especially in localised 

scenes, to bring them to an international 

forefront because there’s so many amazing 

musicians just in Glasgow, for example. If 

people in other countries heard them, they could 

go on to do really amazing things. It’s good to 

make real connections and gain a more genuine 

awareness of the people who are making things 

happen.” 

Jazzahead! 2024 showcasing artists :: 

Matt Carmichael (by Camille Lemoine), Mama Terra (by 

Ross Walker and art design by Gordon Beveridge) 

Jazzahead! 2024 Scottish delegate artists :: 

Top row L-R: kitti (by Tsvetelin “Seth” Monchev), Brian Molley (by Douglas Robertson). Bottom row L-R: Helena Kay (by 

Drake YolanDa Award and Mariola Zoladz), Marco Cafolla (by Garry Ferrier), Joe Nichols (by G3 Media) 

As well as supporting artists to showcase, 

Creative Scotland worked with Glasgow Jazz 

Festival to bring a delegation of musicians with 

bursaries to attend the 2024 edition of the 

industry event. 

Attending this year were saxophonists Brian 

Molley and Helena Kay, singer kitti, Joe Nichols 

of Nimbus Sextet and Marco Cafolla of Mama 

Terra. 

Commenting on the Scottish jazz scene, 

Helena Kay said: “Scotland for me is the place 

to be. There are so many great musicians here 

that I’ve known for a long time and there’s lots 

of really exciting music coming out of Scotland 

at the moment. 

“I’d love to see more under-represented genders 

in jazz, more queerness and more openness – 

more value placed on music in this country in 

general.” 

At the event, Creative Scotland hosted a panel 

discussion on the topic of Traditional Threads In 

A Jazz Tapestry: How the indigenous music in 

any given country brings a distinctive style to its 

jazz scene. This will explore how unique musical 

heritage can embellish our jazz soundscapes, 

reflecting this year’s focus on Africa through 

jazzahead!’s expanded engagement with more 

countries. 

The panel was be chaired by Creative Scotland’s 

Head of Music, Alan Morrison, who was joined by 

Matt Carmichael, Christine Kamau from Kenya 

and Amro Salah from Cairo Jazz Festival. 

Alan said: “Jazz is a global genre with 

standards, songbooks and similar strains that 

can be recognised wherever you are. 

Sometimes, however, the traditional music of 

any country will influence its jazz scene and 

create something truly distinctive that draws 

more deeply from individual cultural identity. 

Jazzahead! is the perfect place to explore this 

topic. This global platform brings together artists 

and industry representatives from all over the 

world. It’s where new ideas can be developed in 

person and emerging styles put directly in the 

spotlight, crafting the future of an always 

exciting, ever evolving artform.” 

www.jazzahead.de 

www.twitter.com/jazzahead 

www.facebook.com/jazzahead 

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page 4 


Wide Days announces 2024 

Showcase acts over 3 nights 

Grab Delegate Passes and Showcase tickets @ www.widedays.com/tickets 

Wide Days has 

announced its full live line 

up for May, which features 

three nights of emerging 

Scottish talent as well as a 

selection of acts 

programmed by guest 

festivals M For Montreal 

and FOCUS Wales. 

Edinburgh-based urban jazz 

duo Edy Forey play the 'New 

From Scotland' showcase 

www.widedays.com/edy-forey 

Taking place in Edinburgh from 1-3 May, this year marks the 

15th edition of the award-winning international music 

convention, which was first hosted in the basement of a 

nightclub in 2010. The event boasts a distinctive mix of 

conference sessions, unique range of networking activities 

and a multi-genre showcase designed to spotlight a diverse 

range of emerging artists from across Scotland. 

The opening night is presented in partnership with Music 

Venue Trust and showcases Grayling, Kohla, Leif Coffield and 

The Joshua Hotel, who were selected from 140 acts by 30 

international and domestic industry professionals to take part 

in a 12 month mentoring programme supported by PRS 

Foundation. A limited number of free tickets are available for 

members of the public. 

On Thursday 2 and Friday 3 May, a record 13 Scottish acts 

will showcase across three city-centre venues under the New 

From Scotland banner, presented in partnership with 

Ticketmaster New Music. Ranging from alternative rock, indie 

and singer-songwriter to spiritual jazz, hip-hop and r&b, they 

include: Edy Forey, Eyve, Indoor Foxes, Kai Reesu, Kryptik, 

Lloyd’s House, Martha May and the Mondays, Neev, Pearling, 

Samuel Nicholson, Slix, Supermann on da Beat and Zoe 

Graham. 

This will be augmented by a showcase of four Quebec-based 

acts, ALIAS, DVTR, Emilie Kahn and Soran presented by 

Canadian festival M For Montreal on Thursday evening. On 

Friday, international showcase festival FOCUS Wales will 

present sets form Adjua and CHROMA. 

Full lineup details can be found @ www.widedays.com/artists 

“Scotland is absolutely bursting with incredible new music 

being made by some of the most talented emerging artists 

around.” said Wide Days director and showcase 

programmer Michael Lambert. “Every year we’re blown 

away by the level and diversity of the applications and the 

programme only scratches the surface of the quality of music 

being made here. They are complemented by six amazing 

acts from Quebec and Wales.” 

Tickets for each night are priced £10, with a 2-night ticket 

available for £15. Priority access to all showcases is included 

with a Wide Days delegate pass, available from 

www.widedays.com/tickets 

The Wide Days showcase programme is made possible 

thanks to support of key industry partners including PPL 

Giving, a new initiative recently launched by the music 

licensing company, PRS Foundation, Music Venue Trust and 

Ticketmaster New Music. 

Camilla Waite, General Counsel at PPL, and a speaker 

at this year’s conference said, “PPL has been a longstanding 

partner of Wide Days and we’re delighted to return 

to Edinburgh to help showcase a diverse, rich and eclectic 

mix of music talent. Wide Days plays a significant role in 

developing Scottish talent and is a must attend for those 

looking to break into the industry through educational 

workshops and sessions, and for music fans looking to hear 

some of the best emerging talent from across the country.” 

Joe Frankland, CEO, PRS Foundation said, “We’re 

delighted to be supporting the talent development showcases 

again at Wide Days this year. Time and time again this 

platform has been a fantastic springboard for many Scottish 

artists in the early part of their careers who eventually go on 

to build followings, receive record deals, tour overseas or win 

awards. We’re very much looking forward to seeing the 

impact of this opportunity on the careers of the artists 

performing this year.” 

www.widedays.com 

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page 6 


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

MEMBER PROFILE :: Morag Johnston 

www.scottishmusiccentre.com/morag-johnston 

"The Scottish Music Centre's task is to champion the wealth of talent that abounds in Scotland's musical community" 

Morag Johnston is a classicallytrained 

violinist specialising in 

Historical Performance Practice. She 

studied with Walter Reiter at The 

Royal Conservatory of the Hague in 

the Netherlands and Veronika Skuplik 

at the Hochschule für Kunst in 

Bremen, Germany. She received 

distinction for her Masters in 

Musicology from The University of 

Aberdeen and will begin a PhD there 

in 2024. 

She plays regularly with Ensemble Baroque de Rennes, Ensemble 

Astrolabe and The Banquet Celeste. Notable projects in 2024 

include an opera tour of Purcell’s King Arthur; a tour of Scottish 

music composed, curated and played by female musicians in 

Brittany (funded by the British Council); a tour of Bach’s Cantatas 

with The Banquet Celeste in France and Germany and a three-week 

residency with Ensemble Baroque de Rennes in Cork, Ireland. 

Previously she has played with Schirokko Ensemble, Hamburg; 

Devon Baroque, England and Dunedin Consort (Education Projects), 

Edinburgh. 

A passionate and qualified pedagogue, she has taught at the Royal 

Birmingham Conservatoire and the Huntly Summer School which 

she co-directed for 10 years. In 2020, she set up the memorisation 

project Scottish Whispers which teaches folk music to students all 

over the world with a unique aural method. 

She won the North Nibley Scholarship and with her ensemble The 

Brewery Band, The Stroud Green Festival Ensemble Award. 

www.moragjohnston.net 

The Scottish Music Centre currently supports in excess of 100 

composer, group/small business and corporate members 

To find out more about the benefits of SMC membership, visit 

www.scottishmusiccentre.com/services/membership-schemes/ 

For general enquiries please contact us on info@scottishmusiccentre.com 

www.scottishmusiccentre.com : www.twitter.com/scottishmusic : www.facebook.com/scottishmusiccentre 

"The Scottish Music Centre's task is to champion the wealth of talent that abounds in Scotland's musical community"


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page 8 

the mns collection …. 


mns musician profile ..... 

Glasgow 6-piece ‘Diving 

Horse’ release new single 

Listen @ www.soundcloud.com/divinghorseband 

Latest Release :: Single on 5 April - I Don't Need The Lord’ 

Hailing from Glasgow and 

with influences ranging 

from LCD Soundsystem to 

Talking Heads and The 

National, Diving Horse 

are a promising prospect. 

Combining artful indie rock, poetic lyrics, 

alternating boy/girl vocals and masterful pop 

hooks, the mammoth six-piece band released 

brand new single ‘I Don't Need The Lord’ on 5 

April; the irresistible danceable vibes are 

guaranteed to get your toes tapping and your 

body moving! 

The single has secured the group the coveted 

Artist of the Week spot in Scotland On 

Sunday as well as enjoying its first airing on 

radio thanks to Jim Gellatly via Amazing 

Radio and they’ve also been championed by 

the likes of Scots Whay Hae! and Sunny 

Govan. 

“I Don't Need The Lord is a song about the 

dance-floor, clubbing and how it can be a 

source of community where you're accepted 

for who you are. It's saying you don't need 

permission to be who you are from anyone, 

and there's freedom when you let go of that 

pressure.” 

Introducing Diving Horse ….. 

Diving Horse is Gavin Marshall, Ciaran 

McGuigan, Mark Scrymgeour, Chris Kerr, 

Louise Neilson, and Chris Struzik. 

Louise is an archivist and was the 2023 

Record-Keeper of the Year, this was mostly 

thanks to her work for a project called 

Speaking Out. She was responsible for 

cataloguing and rehousing a collection from 

the Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard, 

(which was the first operational gay 

switchboard in the UK and Scotland's first gay 

charity). 

Ciaran (she/her) once went across to America 

as part of a reality show for Nickelodeon and 

carried out marine surveys in Tobago. 

Gavin is a published poet and was also a 

culture writer for a politics website. 

Q&A – “Tell us about yourselves” ….. 

“There are six of us too, so quite a lot to 

juggle to make our music. We all have fulltime 

day jobs, we have members working in 

the civil service, software people, an 

archivist, folks that work in labs, a published 

poet and a marine surveyor - the band is a 

real passion project for us.” 

You have a really interesting backstory, 

loads of cool jobs and you’ve all been in 

tons of bands, tell us more? 

“Yes that’s right we’ve all played in loads of 

bands throughout the years, Louise is an 

archivist and was the 2023 Record-keeper of 

the Year, this was mostly thanks to her work 

for a project called Speaking Out. She was 

responsible for cataloguing and rehousing a 

collection from the Lothian Gay and Lesbian 

Switchboard, (which was the first operational 

gay switchboard in the UK and Scotland's first 

gay charity). Ciaran (who is a female) once 

went across to America as part of a reality 

show for Nickelodeon and carried out marine 

surveys in Tobago. I’ve had some poems 

published and formerly wrote about culture 

for a politics website.” 

How do you go about writing songs, is it 

a team effort and what is ‘I Don't Need 

The Lord’ about? 

“When we are writing it is very much a team 

effort. Songs usually start with someone 

bringing an idea to the group, and we will all 

then have a jam around it and see if it's 

something that we're getting enthusiastic 

about. If not, it goes no further. If it's 

working the band will try out arrangements 

together or someone might take it home and 

pull it apart a bit. A song is never really 

finished until it's been in the studio and we're 

always thinking about our ideas and trying to 

make them better. I Don't Need The Lord is a 

song about the dance-floor, clubbing and how 

it can be a source of community where you're 

accepted for who you are. It's saying you 

don't need permission to be who you are 

from anyone, and there's freedom when you 

let go of that pressure.” 

Diving Horse are a band with big ideas 

expressed in ways that are always easy on 

the ear. With six members, the band have a 

full sound that navigates seamlessly between 

alternative rock and disco punk. This dynamic 

makes them a formidable live force with the 

ability to surprise as well as entertain. 

www.divinghorse.co.uk 

www.twitter.com/DivingHorseBand 

www.facebook.com/divinghorseband 

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page 10 


SNJO and RSNO unite for a musical 

spectacular in Edinburgh and Glasgow 

plus SNJO and Makoto Ozone will perform Rhapsody in Blue in Aberdeen Music Hall 

Scotland’s two national orchestras, the 

Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and 

the Royal Scottish National Orchestra 

combine for the first time in a performance 

of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for 

concerts at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh and 

Glasgow Royal Concert on 3-4 May. 

“We’re delighted to be welcoming back Makoto, 

a real master and an old friend of the SNJO, to 

play on these concerts,” says Tommy Smith 

:: photo by Leslie Kee 

Under the baton of conductor Bertie Baigent and with Japanese piano virtuoso 

Makoto Ozone as featured soloist, the combined orchestras will play a new, 

extended orchestration of the Gershwin classic by SNJO artistic director, 

saxophonist Tommy Smith. 

“This is a milestone in the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra’s near thirty-year 

career,” says Tommy Smith, who also re-orchestrated the SNJO’s successful 

2009 recording of Rhapsody in Blue. “To be invited to perform in collaboration 

with the internationally respected RSNO is an honour and a thrill. We’re very 

excited at the prospect of working with such an esteemed ensemble.” 

A former child prodigy, Kobe-born Makoto Ozone had already played a piano 

recital at Carnegie Hall, New York when he was invited to join vibes virtuoso Gary 

Burton’s world touring quintet, in which he and Smith formed a lasting 

relationship. 

“We’re delighted to be welcoming back Makoto, a real master and an old 

friend of the SNJO, to play on these concerts,” says Smith. “We’ve worked 

with him on several projects, including his jazz orchestration of Mozart’s 

Jeunehomme piano concerto and a tour of Japan when we performed Peter and 

the Wolf with Japanese screen actor Isao Hashizume in major venues. We’re sure 

Makoto’s fantastic musicianship and pianistic skills will excite everyone who comes 

to hear him.” 

The SNJO, with the outstanding Scottish pianist, Peter Johnstone, will also 

perform Duke Ellington’s Black & Tan Fantasy, Billy Strayhorn’s jazz arrangement 

of Morning Mood from Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite and German composer 

Florian Ross’s arrangement of the West Side Story Suite in Edinburgh and 

Glasgow. 

“In the second half of these concerts, the RSNO will be playing the suite from 

Alfred Hitchcock’s cinema classic Vertigo and their own version of West Side 

Story, which will feature SNJO musicians, drummer Alyn Cosker, trumpeter Ryan 

Quigley and saxophonist Helena Kay,” says Smith. “The two versions of West 

Side Story will allow the audience to contrast the different approaches and will 

make the programme all the more interesting, I’m sure.” 

and around the world and with the SNJO he has performed Carnival of the 

Animals, Peter and The Wolf, Rhapsody in Blue and his jazz orchestration of 

Mozart’s Jeunehomme piano concerto. In 2018 he was awarded the Japanese 

medal of honour, Shiju-HouShyou. 

www.makotoozone.com 

SNJO and Makoto Ozone :: 

After the Edinburgh and Glasgow concerts, the Scottish National Jazz 

Orchestra and Makoto Ozone will perform Rhapsody in Blue in Aberdeen Music 

Hall on 5 May in a programme also including big band arrangements of music by 

Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, Duke Ellington and Robert Burns. 

About Makoto Ozone :: Born in Kobe, Ozone appeared on Japanese television as 

a child organist and later studied at Berklee College of Music In Boston, 

Massachusetts. He graduated in 1983, the year he made his Carnegie Hall debut, 

and joined vibes master Gary Burton’s group, recording the Whiz Kids album for 

ECM Records. He went on to become the first Japanese musician to sign 

exclusively to CBS Records and the first Japanese jazz pianist to join the New York 

Philharmonic on tour. He has recorded and toured with jazz luminaries including 

Chick Corea, Arturo Sandoval and Branford Marsalis and leads his own trio and big 

band, the internationally acclaimed No Name Horses. He has performed concertos 

by Bernstein, Mozart, Rachmaninov, and Prokofiev with major orchestras in Japan 

Concert details :: Edinburgh: Usher Hall, Friday 3rd May 7:30pm / 

Glasgow: Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Saturday 4th May 7:30pm / 

Aberdeen: Music Hall, Sunday 5th May 7:30pm. 

PLUS! On 19 May the The Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra play the 

Laidlaw Music Centre in St Andrews, where you can hear the TSYJO showcase 

endless talent, improvisational skills, exuberance and verve in an extraordinary 

concert of outstanding music. 

www.snjo.co.uk/tommy-smith-youth-jazz-orchestra 

www.snjo.co.uk 

www.twitter.com/SNJO2 

www.facebook.com/theSNJO 

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page 12 


‘When Mountains Meet’ tells the story musician 

Anne Wood as she travels from the Highlands to 

the Himalayas to meet her father for the first time 

Featuring an international cast of storytellers and musicians, the show features a vibrant live score 

combining alap, raag, reel and strathspey, as well as English, Gaelic and Hindustani vocals 

Renowned Scottish violinist 

Anne Wood (The Raincoats, 

Katheryn Tickell, Savourna 

Stevenson, Feis Rois, Deacon 

Blue, Michael Marra) tells the 

incredible story of her journey 

from the Highlands to the 

Himalayas to meet her father 

for the first time in When 

Mountains Meet. 

“My mother is Scottish. My father was Pakistani. In my early 

twenties I found the father I’d never met … but I was taboo 

in a culture to which I longed to belong.” 

Anne grew up in Scourie, Sutherland and Edinburgh in the 

1970s, the only child of a single mother who never knew her 

Pakistani father. In her early twenties she found the father 

she had never met (and who had no idea that she existed), 

visited Karachi and experienced generous hospitality and 

cultural riches. She also discovered that being a professional 

musician and an illegitimate woman accorded her little status 

in Pakistan. 

Through story, song, original music and immersion in the 

food, textiles and geography that define cultures, When 

Mountains Meet explores contemporary Scottish/Pakistani 

identity. 

:: photo by Robin Mitchell 

Conceived by Anne as a conversation between Scottish and 

South-Asian music, the show features a vibrant live score 

combining alap, raag, reel and strathspey, as well as English, 

Gaelic and Hindustani vocals. 

More like being invited to a party or a wedding than a 

traditional theatre show, When Mountains Meet draws on the 

tradition of generous Pakistani and Scottish hospitality, 

enveloping the audience in a warm, intimate, almost villagehall 

style friendliness. 

Featuring new music composed by Anne, the show is codirected 

by Kath Burlinson (Mairi Campbell: Pulse and Auld 

Lang Syne) and Niloo-Far Khan (Play, Pie, Pint; Grid Iron/ 

EIF; NTS) with Mary MacMaster (The Poozies) on harp, Rick 

Wilson on percussion and Rakae Jamil on sitar. The cast of 

storytellers is Iman Aktar (The Great Muslim Panto, Play, Pie, 

Pint), Hassan Javed (The Great Muslim Panto, Play, Pie, Pint) 

and Jamie Zubari (In The Weeds, Mull Theatre). 

“When Mountains Meet grew out of my wish to share the 

incredible journey I had getting to know my Dad and his 

country after I traced him when I was in my 20s.” says 

Anne. “He didn’t know I had been born but replied quickly to 

my tentative letter introducing myself, completely accepting 

me into his life as we developed a fiery but loving fatherdaughter 

relationship. 

Over the past thirty years there were physical journeys 

between Scotland to Pakistan but also powerful emotional 

journeys on both sides, sometimes deeply challenging and 

uncomfortable but which resulted with connection and a 

sense of belonging, and ultimately with an ongoing 

connection with my half-brothers. 

The show’s inspiration came from my search for identity, 

belonging and connection with a land very different to my 

own, and a father I had never met but who never felt like a 

stranger. 

It draws from my own connection to two diverse wild 

mountain landscapes - where my grandparents lived (and 

where I played as an only child) in north west Sutherland 

and the mountainous regions in Northern Pakistan, where I 

yearned to visit whilst living in Karachi. 

Over thirty years later I felt ready to share this story and 

with co-director Kath Burlinson, gathered a wonderful team. 

We had my journals from my first trip to Pakistan that gave 

us a rich source material from my perspective. 

One of my father’s sons, my half-brother, generously 

provided us with the perspective from the family’s side, 

enabling us to offer different sides to the story. His input 

developed as we made the show, allowing me to gain a 

deeper and richer insight into my own story. 

I have gathered the band of my dreams to play the music I 

composed for the show – outstanding musicians from 

Pakistan and Scotland, India and the UK.” 

When Mountains Meet is produced by The Authentic Artist 

Collective and KT Producing. The When Mountains Meet 

album will be released on 25 April. 

Tour Dates - 25-26 April: The Studio, 

Edinburgh / 30 April: Mareel, Shetland – 

Tuesday 30 April / 4-5 May: Rise Up Festival, 

Lemon Tree, Aberdeen / 10-11 May: Ulluminate 

Festival, Macphail Centre, UllapoolAlbert Hall, 

Stirling / 18 May: Strathearn Arts, Crieff / 21-22 

May: Cottiers, Glasgow / 25 May: Castle Douglas 

Town Hall DG Arts Festival / 28 May: Corn 

Exchange Melrose. Tickets for all performances 

are available from venues and @ 

www.whenmountainsmeet.com 

www.whenmountainsmeet.com 

www.twitter.com/wmm_show 

John Douglas @ www.facebook.com/john.douglas.129 

Reveal @ www.facebook.com/RevealRecords 



www.hittheroad.org.uk 

info@hittheroad.org.uk 

www.facebook.com/hittheroadscotland 

www.dougiemaclean.com 

web @ www.hittheroad.org.uk 

fb @ www.facebook.com/hittheroadscotland 

web @ www.dougiemaclean.com 

tweet @ www.twitter.com/DougieMaclean 

Join the 

MUSIC NEWS Scotland 

mailing list and 

get every edition @ 

http://eepurl.com/dKZQY 

www.jamesgrantsongbook.com 




tickets @ https://tickets.glasgowlife.org.uk/33110/33111 


page 14 


Bottle Rockets announced 

as ‘BBC Introducing’ 

Scottish Act of The Year 

Radio Scotland 

has announced 

Bottle Rockets 

as the winner of 

the Scottish 

Act of The 

Year 2024 

award. 

Out of the hundreds of hopefuls from all over 

Scotland who submitted their tracks for consideration, 

only Bee Asha, Bottle Rockets, Majesty 

Palm and Quiet Houses were selected to 

perform at the grand final. The event took place 

at Platform in Glasgow hosted by BBC Introducing 

in Scotland’s Shereen Cutkelvin and Phoebe 

Inglis-Holmes. 

The finalists battled it out on stage in front of a 

live audience and a star-studded panel of judges 

which included Radio 1’s Jess Iszatt, Sam 

McTrusty from Twin Atlantic, Ross Leighton from 

Fatherson; and rapper Bemz, a former recipient 

of the BBC Introducing Scottish Act of The Year 

title in 2022. 

After a stunning live performance, Bottle 

Rockets fought off the competition and 

claimed the prestigious title of Scottish Act 

of The Year 2024, they said: “We’d just like to 

say thank you so much to everyone who voted 

for us to even get here. We were honoured just 

to be part of the process in general let alone to 

be selected out of more than 500 artists, it’s insane. 

Thanks to the judges tonight for choosing 

us and thanks to everyone who’s listening to our 

Bottle Rockets, winners of BBC Introducing Scottish Act of The Year 2024, with 

presenters, Phoebe Inglis-Holmes, third left, and Shereen Cutkelvin, second right 

music, it’s absolutely surreal. We are all in shock 

at the moment but it’s very fulfilling to get this 

recognition”. 

Speaking about their win, Heather Kane- 

Darling, Commissioning Editor BBC Scotland 

said: “Congratulations to Bottle Rockets and all 

the finalists for their outstanding performances. 

It’s superb to be able to showcase Scotland’s 

young musical talent on BBC Scotland and BBC 

Radio Scotland. We are proud to represent this 

range of genres across Scottish music and support 

musicians early in the careers” 

The crowning of the Scottish Act of The Year 

2024 comes after months of intense competition 

and a rigorous selection process. Expert judges 

reviewed entries, narrowing them down to 8 

shortlisted acts. A public vote determined the 

top four finalists who competed at the grand final 

on 27 March, where the winner was unveiled. 

The winner will receive two recording sessions 

with BBC Radio Scotland, a coveted slot at Scotland's 

largest music festival TRNSMT, and a tailor-made 

PR campaign from Electric Shores Publicity 

Audiences can catch-up the final at … 

Radio Scotland @ 

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xl4z 

BBC Scotland @ 

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001xzsr/bbc-introducing-in-scotland-scottish-act-of-the-year-2024 

www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland 

www.twitter.com/bottlerockets_ 

www.facebook.com/BottleRocketsBand 






www.thequeenshall.net 



facebook: www.facebook.com/musicplusmentoring 

twitter: www.twitter.com/musicplusmentor 





tweet @ www.twitter.com/HelpMusiciansUK 

fb @ www.facebook.com/HelpMusiciansScotland 


page 16 


www.f54.org 

www.thezombiesmusic.com 

www.thequeenshall.net 

www.dougiemaclean.com 

web @ www.dougiemaclean.com 

tweet @ www.twitter.com/DougieMaclean 







www.davearcari.com 

tweet @ www.twitter.com/davearcari 

facebook @ www.facebook.com/davearcarimusic 


music news scotland page 17 

Edinburgh Folk Club looks to future with wealth of 

musical talent and annual Songwriting Competition 

Following a successful first 

quarter with a host of folk 

talent and themed open mic 

nights, Edinburgh Folk 

Club’s weekly folk, roots 

and acoustic nights are set 

to continue into the spring 

and summer, along with the 

return of their annual 

Songwriting Competition. 

Celebrating its 50th year at the heart of the capital’s 

traditional music scene, the beloved Club lights up 

Wednesday nights at Edinburgh’s Ukrainian Community 

Centre, bringing together performers and music lovers from 

all generations and backgrounds. 

Despite facing uncertainty about its future recently, the Club 

is now springing forward, with a new committee formed to 

take Edinburgh Folk Club (EFC) forward for the new season, 

starting from September 2024. 

The coming months are jam packed with intimate gigs from 

some well-known and much-loved names on the folk scene, 

alongside performances from exciting emerging talent, all 

set within a warm, welcoming and convivial atmosphere. 

On 3rd April, Ivor Novello Award nominated singersongwriter 

Boo Hewerdine took to the Folk Club stage, 

treating audiences to his distinctive sound and impressive 

back catalogue. The following week award-winning fiddle 

player and singer Tom McConville, who first appeared at EFC 

in the mid-1970s and has performed there many times 

Malinky 

www.facebook.com/malinkyfolk 

since, will make a welcome return. 

Then Wednesday, 17 April, will see two esteemed Scots 

singers, Fiona Ross and Christine Kydd perform, before 

acclaimed singer-songwriter Findlay Napier closes the 

month out on Wednesday 24th with his famous warmth, wit 

and creativity. 

The month of May kicks off with a performance from Bob 

Fox, one of the iconic voices of British folk song on the 1st, 

before Danish-Scottish folk duo The Quiggs take to the 

stage on Wednesday 8 May. 

Celebrated folk singer Martyn Wyndham-Read, who has 

been part of the folk scene for over 60 years, is set to 

delight the Folk Club audience on 15 May, and the following 

Wednesday will see the Club host celebrated Scottish singer 

and musician Ed Miller. 

The EFC’s annual Songwriting Competition, a fixture of 

the Club that gives musicians the chance to enter and 

perform an original song for judging on the night, is 

scheduled for Wednesday 29 May. Entries are open until 

Monday 20 May, and full details are available @ 

www.efc1973.com/songwriting-competition 

The Moon the following week. Bringing the 2023-2024 

season to a close on Wednesday 3 July are renowned guitar 

and violin duo Tony McManus and Julia Toaspern. 

Edinburgh Folk Club Chair, John Barrow, said: “We’re 

so proud of the environment the Edinburgh Folk Club 

creates, offering a communal, intimate atmosphere to 

experience live music that is becoming increasingly difficult 

to come across. 

"Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Club in recent 

months, we’re looking to the future with positivity and 

optimism as we move into the spring and summer with a 

new committee poised to take over in September. Everyone 

is very welcome at the Folk Club so if this sounds like what 

you’ve been looking for, we’d love to see some new faces 

join us this season. 

“We’re incredibly excited to be hosting so many wonderful 

musicians from Scotland and beyond and to once again be 

staging our annual Songwriting Competition. I would 

encourage any budding or established songwriters to enter, 

it’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase your skills to a new 

audience and hear from other emerging local talent, as well 

as being a lot of fun for all involved!” 

Findlay Napier 

www.facebook.com/findlaynapiermusic 

The Wilson Family are the first performance at EFC in 

June, bringing their distinctive acapella folk sound to the 

Club on Wednesday 5th. They will be followed by Malinky, 

champions of traditional Scots song, on Wednesday 12 June. 

Esteemed folk singer, songwriter and guitarist Allan Taylor 

will perform at EFC on Wednesday 19 June, and audiences 

can enjoy the music of Canadian acoustic roots duo Over 

For more information on Edinburgh Folk Club, and to book 

tickets, see links below. 

www.efc1973.com 

www.twitter.com/edfolkclub 

www.facebook.com/edfolkclub 

https://witheredhand.bandcamp.com/ 

fb @ www.facebook.com/witheredhand 

tweet @ www.twitter.com/witheredhand 


page 18 


got a music news "story to tell"? then email our newsdesk: musicnewsscotland@gmail.com 

Neu Gestalt :: album - 'Dreaming Serpents’ ' 

Released 17 April on all major streaming platforms 

Alex Tronic Records 

(ATR) is proud to present 

‘Dreaming Serpents’ - the 

fifth album from Les 

Scott as Neu Gestalt. 

Each Neu Gestalt album has been an exploration of 

differing instrumental approaches, though all strive 

towards capturing a sense of yearning and of 

shadowy, autumnal moods. The evolving process has 

been one of simply following what the music seems to 

want to be. 

The background palette of Dreaming Serpents is a 

sandbox of heavily-effected guitar and fretless bass 

textures, sampled and resampled via several 

generations of Akai samplers. This forms the 

soundscape over which foreground guitars or basses 

employ a variety of techniques including eBow, 

restrained feedback or, most frequently, a pedaldriven, 

violin-like slow attack, thereafter again 

retextured. The shakuhachi textures of earlier albums 

are now completely absent. 

Dreaming Serpents draws together considerably 

diverse influences and so, whereas ‘ambient’ may be 

the closest ready-made category, it is not a terribly 

comfortable fit. 

The album, in places, and within an entirely different 

context, draws upon the mood and surfaces of 12K 

Records or the space in the quieter moments of ECM. 

This contrasts with restrained 808 beats within which 

spoken Japanese becomes the material for Kaoss Pad 

scratches. Captured passing conversations and 

environments are blended into the background 

soundscape. The mood, rather than the music, of 

Blade Runner has remained an influence across the 

years. 

Les Scott is an electro-acoustic music producer on 

Edinburgh-based Alex Tronic Records (ATR). He has 

delivered five albums for the label as Neu Gestalt. His 

releases are “Altered Carbon” (2008) “Weightless 

Hours” (2012) “Inside The Rain Chamber” (2014) 

“Controlled Substances” (2019) and “Dreaming 

Serpents” (2024). A number of individual Neu Gestalt 

tracks have appeared on Germany’s Yellow Sunshine 

Explosion compilations. 

Initially working entirely with 

electronica on ‘Altered 

Carbon’, the period of 16 

years or so since has seen 

him gradually move ever 

further away from the use of 

synthesizers. The natural timbre of his guitars and 

basses are manipulated towards a sweet point just on 

the edge of losing the organic source material. 

Washes are created from layered and processed guitar 

loops and, where there are what might be perceived 

as keyboard-like melodies, the guitar source can often 

be only just recognisable. A pedalled slow attack on 

many of the foreground guitars, together with other 

processing, gives the signature sound on his latest 

album ‘Dreaming Serpents’ a heavily textured, violinlike 

quality. 

Throughout all of his albums, environmental 

recordings have been almost imperceptibly woven into 

background washes and occasional foreground 

sounds. Each album otherwise explores gradual 

changes in the chemistry of his instrumentation. 

His music is often naturally drawn towards a feeling of 

nostalgia and solitude; a sense of trying to grasp 

something just beyond reach. Although far from jazz 

or beatless ambient, the sense of space in the quieter 

moments of ECM remains an inspiration, as does the 

attention to surface quality and detail in the last 

decade of 12K Records releases. By way of contrast, 

the use of 808 sub bass and scratches throughout his 

albums, although very much restrained and often 

abstracted, owe a debt to hip hop. Himself struggling 

to name anyone to whom he sounds close, in 

‘Dreaming Serpents’ the guitar/bass work draws 

inspiration from the same world as, say, the quieter 

moments of Terje Rypdal and the textures of David 

Torn, to Fennesz, Frippertronics, Aarset and Karn. 

Neu Gestalt’s music is created from a focus upon the 

layering of many small details and textures, which can 

be seen as perhaps fitting with the idea of gestalt as 

an organised whole that is perceived as more than the 

sum of its parts. (He first came across gestalt 

psychology when studying architecture at Edinburgh 

College of Art in respect of perception and aesthetics.) 

We hope that you enjoy his newest work. 

www.neugestalt.com 

www.facebook.com/neugestalt 

www.instagram.com/neugestalt 

Dave Arcari & Andres Roots :: Scottish May Tour 

Tour dates - 15-18 May (Stirling, Irvine, Kirkcaldy, Banchory) 

Sottish and Estonian 

artists join forces for 

a series of doubleheader 

shows. 

Dave Arcari 

:: photo by Peter Lee 

Two internationally renowned guitarists 

and songwriters team up for a run of 

double-header Scottish shows, 

Scotland’s alt.blues troubadour Dave 

Arcari and Estonia’s top slide guitar 

player Andres Roots take to the road in 

May visiting four towns. 

Dave Arcari and Andres are set to play Stirling’s 

Tolbooth (15 May), Irvine HAC (16 May), King’s 

Theatre, Kirkcaldy (17 May) and Glassel Hall, 

Banchory (18 May). 

For Arcari the dates follow the recent release of his 

latest album Devil May Care on limited edition red 

vinyl and a new single, Younger Days – a curve ball 

that sees Arcari injecting a little bit of Americana into 

his more familiar deep blues sound. 

Arcari is delighted to have Roots join him for the 

shows: “We’ve been pals for a long time and played 

shows together in the UK, Estonia, Finland and further 

afield many times over the years. 

“It all started in 2005 when Andres contacted me after 

seeing a feature in Mojo Magazine,” says Arcari. “He 

invited to play some shows and a big festival 

(Augustibluus) in Estonia and we’ve been regular 

visors to each other’s countries almost every year 

since.” 

Indeed, these international partnerships will be the 

topic of discussion when Arcari and Roots take part in 

a special interview/panel session at the Scottish Music 

Centre in Glasgow on Tuesday 14 May where they will 

also each play a short acoustic set. 

Arcari has just returned from a festival show in 

Romania and looks forward to festival and tour dates 

in Czech Republic and Finland – as well as the UK – 

later in the year. At the same time he is busy writing 

material for what will be his eighth full-length solo 

album. 

Arcari is an an official artist for Newtone Strings, 

Reunion Blues gig bags, Diamond Bottlenecks, G7th 

Capo and National Reso-Phonic Guitars who launched 

their ‘Dave 

Arcari 

signature’ 

instruments 

in 2019. 

www.davearcari.com 

www.facebook.com/davearcarimusic 

www.andresroots.com 

www.facebook.com/andres.roots.roundabout 

Andres Roots 

:: photo by Leif Laaksonen 



fb @ www.facebook.com/TireeMusicFestival 

tweet @ www.twitter.com/TireeMusicFest 

tickets (mail list early access or Sunday 4 February) @ www.tireemusicfestival.co.uk/tickets/ 


page 20 


got a music news "story to tell"? then email our newsdesk: musicnewsscotland@gmail.com 

Cheery Odin :: album - 'Gan Yir Dinger' 

Released? Out Now @ www.cheeryodin.bandcamp.com/album/gan-yer-dinger 

"If it was a musical cocktail, I reckon it would 

be .. 3 parts Ivor Cutler, 2 parts Spike Milligan, 2 

parts Saint Andrew and 1 part Michael Marra. 

Now that's a potent mix! A richt guid tribute tae 

oor mither tongue! Gallus and braw in equal 

measure." Brian Doig 

Well known and much respected music 

promoter Loudon Temple, of Brookfield 

Knights agency fame, was born in 

Selkirk in the Scottish Borders and grew 

up in nearby Hawick. 

Loudon began a career in journalism in 1968 but also as a 

teenager, he was lead vocalist with Borders bands ‘The 

Diamonds’ and ‘The Ceiling Light Machine’, and in his early 

twenties fronted Hawick-based band ‘Lordy’. 

Parallel to his journalism Loudon has awritten about and 

promoted music all his life, with the setting up of Brookfield- 

Knights in 2004, and then touring the artists he represented, 

who were mostly from the USA, Canada and Ireland. 

With his latest project, ‘Cheery Odin’, Loudon has pulled 

thegither a' manner o' muses and weel-kent Hawick 

influences tae produce a muckle big 18-track album scrieved 

in the Teri tongue: "Gan Yer Dinger". It’s a recording project 

to celebrate and recall the auld Hawick tongue, and mostly 

light-hearted in tone. 

The songs were written in a way that attempts to celebrate 

the auld Hawick tongue, albeit, delivered by a voice that 

stood no chance of mastering the earthy tone required. 

Loudon said: “The purists will more than likely scoff. Hand 

on heart, that distinctive Hawick accent is a gift that only 

comes with birth. I’m a Souter, and in Selkirk, it’s more a 

general Borders lilt that you’ll hear. There was nae attempt, 

therefore, to mimic the real thing! But, having spent twenty 

years living in the town from 1953 to the early ‘70s, I heard 

the Hawick tongue used with pride, and picked up on many 

o’ the words, sayings and phrases recalled in the material 

here.” 

Elsewhere it will be apparent that one of the main reasons 

for embarking on the project was to celebrate one of 

Hawick’s true gems, my very sadly missed old chum, Wattie 

Robson. Wattie, as those who knew him will fondly recall, 

loved words for the sound of them and made his own up if he 

felt he could do better. One of the reasons for celebrating 

some of the old words and phrases, was that I too, love how 

they sound. The language formed such a strong impression 

during the years that I lived and worked in the town, that, 

even as an interloper, they stayed with me and always make 

me smile. 

This collection hasn’t been recorded in a clinically polished 

way to present a finished product that might feel as if it had 

been sterilised by gadgetry. Just like my voice which is timeworn 

and shows it, we happily went for an alive-an-kickin’ 

feel to make it more as if some of my best musician chums 

turned up and were happy to sit in and play along, and I 

accept (and actually like) the occasional imperfection. On 

one or two of the tracks, I’m doing it all myself, and what fun 

that was, encouraged, of course, by engineer and coproducer 

Kaiser George Miller, in 

his KGM Studios in Glasgow, 

where so much great music is 

being produced on a weekly 

basis. I salute him! The entire 

project was approached on an 

looser unplanned, freestyle basis 

and that experience fairly reenergised 

my life. Some days, we 

just said let’s see what happens. 

The splendid image we've used for the front cover is the 

work of accomplished Glasgow photographer, Peter Lafferty. 

The first time I wrote a song that I thought might one day be 

recorded was in 1968 but it wasn’t until four years later that 

I actually wrote and recorded two demo tracks with the 

band, Lordy. This is my second attempt. It took a while. 

Here, then, from my dustbin is my dance. 

All I wish to achieve from this project, other than preserving 

some things that are important to me, is to hopefully sell 

enough units to be able to finance the commissioning of a 

public bench to be made in Wattie’s honour so that future 

generations will be reminded of a great character who was 

loved by so many. 

Available on Bandcamp for the bargain 

price of £10, it will soon be out on CD, 

so keep yer ee'n peeled! Link above. 

* Another of Loudon's projects was a book on the history of 

the legendary Bungalow Bar in Paisley - The must-play 

Scottish Gig at the height of the punk explosion was Paisley’s 

Bungalow Bar. It then became surrounded by myth and 

extravagant claims in later years, now main booker Loudon 

Temple puts the record straight! Buy the book @ 

www.beenandgoneanddoneit.com/books/#bungalow 

www.facebook.com/CheeryOdin 

www.facebook.com/loudon.temple 

Loudon Temple 

Ross Coupar Band :: album - 'The Homeroad' 

Released? 3 May, pre-order @ www.rosscouper.bandcamp.com/album/the-homeroad 

:: photo by Elly Lucas Photography 

Ross Couper Band are 

proud to announce their 

debut album entitled ‘The 

Homeroad’. This record 

has long been an 

ambition of Shetland 

fiddle player Ross Couper. 

Having grown up in Shetland which is renowned for its fiddle 

playing, Couper has been working his way towards a solo 

album for many years. 

His journey began at home as he was surrounded by music 

from a young age. Both his parents are musicians and his 

mother Margaret Robertson was his main fiddle teacher 

growing up. When he was 16 he moved away to study music 

on the west coast of Scotland in a beautiful little village 

called Plockton. There he began playing in a band called 

Bodega and moved on to study at Newcastle University on 

the folk degree. It was here that he began playing music 

with long time duo partner Tom Oakes. They have recorded 

an album and toured extensively together for nearly 15 

years. Around the same time he was asked to start filling in 

for the fiddle player in internationally renowned, genre 

defining band Peatbog Faeries. A couple of years later he 

joined the band full time and has been touring with them 

ever since. 

Ross Couper Band’s story began at the world revered winter 

festival, Celtic Connections. Ross was asked to compose an 

hour of new music for their much celebrated ‘New Voices’ 

series. For this each musician is invited to employ up to eight 

fellow performers to debut their new composition to an eager 

crowd on each Sunday afternoon of the festival. Couper’s 

New Voices composition went down a storm and propelled 

him to set up his own band. Honing the music to fit with a 

tight four piece band they returned to Celtic Connections the 

following year in 2023 and played their first gig to a 

rapturous response. 

The Homeroad is a culmination of all these and many more 

experiences which have made Couper feel he is ready to say 

what he has to say musically 

with a solo band. So in 

December 2023 the band met in 

Gorbals Sound studios in 

Glasgow for four days of 

recording. Appearing with Ross 

on the album are Sam Mabbett 

on melodeon, Michael Biggins on 

piano and Paul Jennings on 

drums. Making a guest 

appearance is Duncan Lyall on 

bass and moog. 

To quote Ross “The Homeroad is something my mam said 

when she was young for when grandad turned on to The 

Herra road in Yell, Shetland. Then when my sister, brother 

and I were young bairns grandad would say it to us when we 

were nearly at their’s. This album has a lot of Shetland 

places and people in it and the music we’re playing really 

makes me think of home so ’The Homeroad’ just made 

sense. Recording at Gorbals Sound was a really amazing 

experience. I’ve recorded in a lot of different studios and I 

felt as at home there if not more so than any I’ve been in 

before. There’s just a lightness and an air of creativity in the 

building and it was very conducive to us getting the most out 

of our time there. The band have been top class in getting 

the tracks sounding just how I have been imagining them for 

so long. I’m so excited to get this album out into the world 

and let as many people as possible hear what we’ve 

produced. Playing live is what we love doing and I think 

we’ve managed to capture the excitement of live 

performance with the subtleties and polish of studio 

recording in one go which is an invigorating mix. We’ve been 

very lucky to have the great Duncan Lyall join us on bass 

and moog for this recording. He has elevated the music with 

his drive and inventiveness and I’m delighted that he was 

keen to record this material.” 

The album was recorded by Kevin Burliegh and Matthew 

Boyle at Gorbals Sound. Mixed by Barry Reid at Rose Croft 

Studio and mastered by Chris Waite at Grans House. 

“Maverick fiddle player” Jon Wilks 

“Shetland fiddler Ross Couper is a real master of his art” 

Living Tradition 

www.rosscouper.bandcamp.com 

www.twitter.com/RossCouper 

www.facebook.com/rosscoupershetland 



:: a MNS business profile feature 

The Radio Rooms :: Tweedmouth, Berwick-Upon-Tweed. TD15 2AW :: www.facebook.com/theradiorooms :: www.radiorooms.co.uk :: info@radiorooms.co.uk 

:: The Radio Rooms is an independent grassroots venue 

and event space that was created in March 2019 in Berwick 

-Upon-Tweed - serving north Northumberland and the 

Scottish Borders we are the main platform 

for new and up and coming artists in the 

area, and strive to create a safe and 

inclusive space for everyone. 

Our recently renovated space is designed around a collection of vintage 

radios ranging from the 1920s onwards, and we place an emphasis on 

quality and local products throughout our bar and kitchen. 

The Radio Rooms host a variety of quality performances, gigs and events 

throughout the year and our space is also available for private events such 

as weddings, birthday parties and corporate events. We can help you plan, 

organise and host your perfect event - from weddings to lectures; birthdays 

to plays. Our knowledgeable team can help with decor, music, audio and 

lighting equipment, food and drink, entertainment; and any other detail to 

ensure a brilliant time is had by all. 

Here are some of our quality small business suppliers: Bari Tea (Alnwick), 

Fentimans (Hexham), Giacopazzi's (Eyemouth), Hepple Gin (Morpeth), Holy 

Island Gin (Holy Island), The Kelso Gin Company (Kelso), Left Field 

Kombucha (Eyemouth), Tempest (Galashiels). 

Our openings hours are 4pm to late, Friday, Saturday and Sunday - 

extended hours in the summer, please check the Event Listings on our 

website and Facebook page to see what is happening every week. For 

booked events we can open at any time you wish, just drop us an email if 

you have any questions! Email: info@radiorooms.co.uk 

www.radiorooms.co.uk 

www.facebook.com/theradiorooms 

The Radio Rooms is an 

independent grassroots venue, 

serving north Northumberland and 

the Scottish Borders

page 22 


Record Store Day on Saturday 20 

April set to deliver trading boost - 

29 Scottish shops taking part 

Find your nearest shop using search or interactive map @ www.recordstoreday.co.uk/store-locator/ 

Record Store Day, the 

annual celebration of indie 

record store culture 

taking place on Saturday 

20 April, is expected to 

deliver a £9.7m boost to 

indie record shops, helping 

secure the future of 

one of the key pillars of 

grassroots music culture. 

Scotland has 29 record shops 

taking part, so please get out 

and support them if you can. 

Make your way to one, or more, of the many 

events hosted across Scotland by visiting the 

RSD events listing page now (link below). With 

in store performances from English Teacher, 

Lewis McLaughlin and Rosie H Sullivan and many 

more! 

Music fans across Scotland are expected to flock 

to stores from the early hours on the 20 April 

with an array of events will be taking place in all 

corners of Scotland this year! With 29 shops taking 

part including Some Great Reward in Glasgow; 

Thorne Records in Edinburgh; Assai Records 

in Dundee and Chameleon in Aberdeen - 

you’ll be spoilt for choice! 

VoxBox is bringing Record Store Day back to the 

Edinburgh streets. From 11:30 to 17:30 there 

will be continuous live music from twelve artists 

alternating between the Antiquary and The Last 

Word Saloon across the road from the record 

shop. Rosie H Sullivan will be at Thorne Records 

doing a morning and afternoon acoustic set of 

original and cover songs from her debut EP collection. 

Fans will also find her behind the counter 

serving up some Record Store Day goodness! 

Want to celebrate Record Store Day all weekend? 

Visit Assai Records in Glasgow on the 20 th 

April for an instore performance from fast - rising 

folk - pop songwriter Lewis McLaughlin at 

5.30pm. Then following that up on the 21st April 

with an Instore performance from post punk 

sensations English Teacher at 5pm! 

To find out what’s happening near you 

this weekend, head to the RSD official 

events listing page (or contact your local 

independent record shop) @ 

www.recordstoreday.co.uk/events 

The £9.7m figure is an estimate of the sales value 

of the 443 exclusive releases which will be 

made available through indie stores on Record 

Store Day. This year these range from Ringo 

Starr’s “Crooked Boy” EP which includes four 

brand-new tracks, to an Olivia Rodrigo & Noah 

Kahan split 7” of “Stick Season” and “Lacy” from 

the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge to a stunning reissue 

of Young Father’s Mercury Award winning 

debut album “Dead”, limited to just 2000 copies. 

The analysis, prepared by digital entertainment 

and retail association ERA which organises Record 

Store UK on behalf of 270 indie retailers, 

does not include incremental revenue of non- 

Record Store Day music titles made on the day, 

nor money generated by food, drink and other 

items. The actual total through store tills is likely 

to be higher. 

In 2023 ERA estimates that exclusives sold on 

Record Store Day accounted for nearly 10% of 

annual sales of all physical music product 

through High Street stores. Last month ERA announced 

that indie store numbers have hit a 10 

Rosie H Sullivan is performing at Thorne Records in Edinburgh 

www.facebook.com/thornerecords 

www.facebook.com/rosiesullivanmusic 

year high in part propelled by Record Store Day. 

ERA CEO Kim Bayley said, “Record Store Day 

is a cultural phenomenon which draws in tens of 

thousands of music fans across the country, but 

it is also a financial lifeline for a vital element of 

music’s unique ecosystem. Without Record Store 

Day, many would find it difficult to stay in business. 

We are grateful to the artists and labels 

who work so hard to create exclusive Record 

Store Day product and of course to the fans who 

turn out to support their local stores in such 

numbers.” 

Record Store Day UK coordinator Megan 

Page said, “Saturday is going to be quite a day. 

Indie stores can be incredibly proud of what they 

have achieved. There will be live music, DJ sets, 

parties and performances in every corner of the 

country to celebrate. The important thing is people 

don’t forget that indie record stores are also 

great places to go to when it’s not Record Store 

Day.” 

This year’s Record Store Day UK ambassador, 

Kate Bush, said “Each year Record Store 

Day gathers more attention, more momentum, 

and attracts more people who cram into indie 

record stores all over the world to see what’s up. 

What’s new? This year, I hope you have a fantastic 

time at this very important event, and that 

you get to celebrate music that’s been specially 

released for you”. 

About Record Store Day :: Record Store Day 

is the one day of the year when over 270 independent 

record shops all across the UK come 

together to celebrate their unique culture. Special 

vinyl releases are made exclusively for the 

day and many shops and cities host artist performances 

and events to mark the occasion. Thousands 

more shops celebrate the day around the 

globe in what’s become one of the biggest annual 

events on the music calendar. 

email news to :: musicnewsscotland@gmail.com 

Participating Scottish 

Record Shops :: 

Assai, 33 Union Street, Dundee 

Assai, 1 Grindlay Street, Edinburgh 

Assai, 233 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow 

Avalanche, Waverley Mall, Edinburgh 

Blitzkriegshop, 204 London Road, Glasgow 

Chameleon @ Glasgow Audio, 88 Great Western Road, 

Glasgow 

Chameleon @ Holborn Hifi, Holburn Street, Aberdeen 

Concorde, 15 Scott Street, Perth 

Europa Music, 10 Friars Street, Stirling 

Grooves Records, 30 Albert Street, Orkney 

KCC Vinyl, 42 Unicorn Way, Glenrothes 

Le Freak Records, 159 Perth Road, Dundee 

Love Music Glasgow, 34 Dundas Street, Glasgow 

Low Port Music, 18a High Street, Linlithgow 

Maidinvinyl, 7 Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen 

Mixed Up Records, 16-22 Otago Lane, Glasgow 

Mo'Fidelity, 126 Murray Street, Montrose 

Monorail Music, 12 Kings Court, Glasgow 

Mostly Vinyl Micky, 197 Gallowgate, Glasgow 

Music From Big Blue (last night from Glasgow t/a), 

Unit 10 The Hidden Lane, Glasgow 

Red Robin Records Vinyl Cafe, 13 Correction Wynd, 

Aberdeen 

Reverence Music, Oak Mall Shopping Centre, Greenock 

Slow Progress Records, 53 Black Friars Street, Edinburgh 

Some Great Reward, Unit 2, The Cooperage, Glasgow 

Strip Joint Records, 956 Argyl Street, Glasgow 

Thirteen Records, 13 Union Street, Dundee 

Thorne Records, 125 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh 

Underground Solu'shun, 9 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh 

Voxbox, 21 St Stephen Street, Edinburgh 

#RSD24 

www.recordstoreday.co.uk 

www.twitter.com/RSDUK 

www.facebook.com/rsdayuk


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