MUSIC NEWS Scotland (Oct21-7)

7 : 10 : 21 

'Breath Cycle' singing health project - p3 

Fund to support young musicians - p4 :: Live Music Now Scotland audition deadline - p14 

Young musicians wanted for live performance 

opportunity with The Gordon Duncan Experience 

Auditions will take place online on Saturday 9 October - to book a time slot email: engagement@horsecross.co.uk 

The Gordon Duncan 

Experience, the Celtic 

big band run by 

Horsecross Arts, is 

looking for talented 

young musicians to 

take to the Perth 

Concert Hall stage as 

part of an upcoming 

performance project. 

Musicians aged 

between 14 and 21 of 

intermediate level and 

above on any 

instrument from 

throughout Scotland 

are invited to audition 

for the opportunity to 

join The Gordon 

Duncan Experience 

and perform with the 

National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland on Saturday 22 

January 2022. 

The successful participants will work with The Gordon 

Duncan Experience Musical Director Patsy Reid and a host of 

top Scottish musicians on selected dates in October, 

November, December and January to rehearse and prepare 

for the performance. There is no charge for taking part and 

the project is open to anyone in Scotland. Rehearsals will 

take place both online and in person. 

Collaborative concert tickets for 22 January on sale soon @ www.horsecross.co.uk 

www.facebook.com/TheGordonDuncanExperience 

www.horsecross.co.uk/learning-and-engagement/the-gordon-duncan-experience 

www.scottishmusiccentre.com 

Launched by Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre in 2010 in 

honour of late, great Pitlochry piper Gordon Duncan, The 

Gordon Duncan Experience plays and creates music rooted in 

Scottish traditions with influences from jazz, rock, pop and 

classical. The young musicians who have come through its 

ranks have performed at high-profile events and shared the 

stage with some of Scotland’s top artists, with many of them 

going on to study and make a career in music and 

performance. 

Commenting on the success of The Gordon Duncan 

Experience’s recently completed online composition 

project and the excitement of getting back to live 

performance, Patsy Reid said: “After months of valuable 

and productive get togethers online, our unique Covidfriendly 

composition project will bear fruit in just a couple of 

weeks and I am also thrilled to confirm that we are at last 

making plans to perform again at the wonderful Perth 

Concert Hall. On 22 January we will be taking part in a 

special collaborative concert with the National Youth Pipe 

Band of Scotland, performing specially arranged new music 

as well as some Gordon Duncan classics. 

This will be my first live event as Musical Director and I 

cannot wait to meet the current members in person as well 

as welcome new players in time for rehearsals starting in late 

October. Young people have missed out on so much over the 

past 18 months and I promise that we will make up for lost 

time and never take a note for granted!” 

Covid-19 advice @ www.smc-covid19.com web @ www.scottishmusiccentre.com 

fb @ www.facebook.com/scottishmusiccentre tweet @ www.twitter.com/scottishmusic 

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page 2 

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music news scotland page 3 

Scottish Opera Launches New Online Project 

Breath Cycle For People Suffering From Long 

Covid And Those With Breathing Difficulties 

Breath Cycle, Scottish 

Opera’s new project designed 

to benefit those suffering from 

a range of conditions affecting 

lung health, in particular Long 

Covid, begins online in 

October. 

During a series of relaxed weekly sessions, a 

team of musicians from the Company will work 

with participants introducing them to fun and 

stimulating songs, vocal exercises and breathing 

techniques. The benefits of singing regularly are 

widely recognised, from improved lung function, 

posture and circulation, to a strengthened 

immune system and core, better breath control, 

as well as relief from stress and anxiety. Made 

with support from key NHS consultants, the first 

Breath Cycle sessions start on 20 October, and 

will be repeated in blocks in January and April 

2022. 

In addition to the singing sessions, those 

Gareth Williams, former Scottish Opera 

Composer in Residence 

:: photo by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan 

"Singing is the 

perfect work out 

for your heart, 

lungs, and even 

your brain" 

interested in taking part can sign up for new 

online song writing workshops led by former 

Scottish Opera composer-in-residence Gareth 

Williams, and performance poet Martin 

O’Connor. Whatever the participant’s musical or 

lyrical style, they will introduce the tools and 

methods needed to get music out of heads and 

down on paper. 

The songs that come out of these workshops, 

alongside those created by Gareth and Martin 

themselves, will be arranged and recorded by 

Scottish Opera to create a free digital resource 

for individuals, choirs and singing groups 

worldwide, called ‘The Covid Composers 

Songbook’, as a positive musical legacy of the 

past 18 months. 

Jane Davidson, Scottish Opera’s Director of 

Outreach and Education said: ‘COVID-19 has 

affected us all in different ways. But if, like 

many, it has impacted your long-term physical 

health, we want to help. Singing is the perfect 

work out for your heart, lungs, and even your 

brain. According to the British Lung Foundation, 

regular singing can have similar benefits to 

physiotherapy: teaching you to breathe more 

slowly and deeply; improving your sense of 

control over your breathing, which in turn 

reduces anxiety and potential feelings of panic; 

and improving posture to help you breathe more 

efficiently. Not only that, but joining a group like 

this can also introduce you to a network of 

likeminded people facing similar challenges – all 

in one enjoyable, sociable and rewarding 

experience!’ 

The Breath Cycle project was originally created 

in 2013 by Scottish Opera and Glasgow’s 

Gartnavel General Hospital Cystic Fibrosis 

Service to explore whether learning classical 

singing techniques, including breath control, can 

improve the wellbeing of cystic fibrosis patients. 

Due to the high risk of infection for those with 

cystic fibrosis, the project also explored how 

patients might interact safely with each other, 

using the internet as a means of meeting, 

learning and building new communities. The 

materials were created as part of a study into 

how singing techniques, including breathing 

exercises could replicate the effects of 

conventional physiotherapy to increase lung 

function. 

Those interested in signing up for the sessions 

should register by 13 October, by visiting 

www.scottishopera.org.uk/join-in/breath-cycle/ 

The singing sessions will take place on 

Wednesdays, at 12.30-1.30pm, from 20 October 

to 22 December. The song writing sessions are 

on Fridays from 12.30-1.30pm, on 29 October, 

12 November, 26 November, 10 December and 

17 December. All sessions are free and online 

via Zoom. 

Breath Cycle is supported by Cruach Trust, The 

Murdoch Forrest Charitable Trust, W M Mann 

Foundation, Souter Charitable Trust and Scottish 

Opera’s Education Angels. 

www.scottishopera.org.uk 

www.twitter.com/ScottishOpera 

www.facebook.com/ScottishOpera 

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email news to :: musicnewsscotland@gmail.com

page 4 


‘The John Preston Memorial Fund’ launches to honour 

top UK music executive and support young musicians 

A new fund to support 

young musicians and 

those interested in 

entering the music 

industry has been 

created in memory of 

pioneering music industry 

giant John Preston, who 

died suddenly in 

November 2017 after a 

short illness. 

‘The John Preston Memorial Fund’ will support a 

five-year programme managed by Highlandsbased 

charity The Liam Colgan Music Fund on 

behalf of John’s widow Roz Preston, in 

association with the University of the Highlands 

and Islands. 

Roz Preston 

Speaking about her late husband Roz 

Preston said: “As one of the top executives in 

the UK music industry, John’s career was 

dedicated to discovering and supporting young 

musical talent. Over a twenty five year career he 

worked with many well-known artists, including 

Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, 

David Bowie, Take That, Whitney Houston and 

many more too numerous to mention. He took 

particular pleasure in seeing young talent thrive 

and achieve success. Simon Cowell was among 

the many executives given early career 

opportunities by John. 

“I’m really grateful to the Liam Colgan Music 

Fund for helping me to establish a programme of 

awards in his name. To acknowledge 

outstanding talent and achievement was 

something important to him and he would be 

delighted to be supporting the University of the 

Highlands and Islands students too. “ 

Iain Clark, former drummer with Uriah 

Heep and Chairman of the Liam Colgan 

Music Fund said: “We are honoured to have 

helped to set up this memorial fund in John’s 

name. I worked with John some years ago when 

he was chairman of one of the European 

pioneers in digital music distribution companies. 

He was one of the most kind, decent and 

honourable people I’ve ever met, and we went 

on to become good friends. 

“I am certain he would be excited to see us 

helping young musicians and others with 

ambitions to get into the music industry, 

particularly those who live in the more remote 

areas. Our awards will be open to all musicians 

and songwriters, between the ages of 16 and 30, 

living in the Highlands and Islands, and will 

showcase some of the wonderful musical ability 

there is here.” 

Alison Wilson, head of development at the 

University of the Highlands and Islands 

said: “We feel privileged to be receiving this 

help through our friends at the Liam Colgan 

Music Fund allowing us to establish two awards 

that will recognise the enormous affection and 

regard in which John Preston was held and also 

develop the talents of our students. 

“In working with our donors the university is 

proud to be able to find a way to ensure 

something good comes out of difficult times and 

to help create a fitting legacy through the likes 

John Preston 

of these student 

awards and support 

opportunities.” 

John first started his 

career working in an 

Edinburgh record store 

before moving to 

London to join EMI in 

1977. In 1984 he was 

appointed managing 

director of Polydor Records U.K before moving 

on to managing director at RCA Records UK. He 

later went on to become chairman of BMG 

Entertainment and the BPI, the industry body for 

the UK music industry. 

For more information on the awards visit: 

www.liamcolganmusicfund.com and @ 

www.uhi.ac.uk/en/development/scholarshipsandprizes/the-uhi-liam-colgan-music-student-awards/ 

Former colleagues and friends of John interested 

in donating to the John Preston Memorial Fund 

can do so by contacting: Iain Clark 

chairman@liamcolganmusicfund.com; 01862 

892997 / 07828 942426 and for UHI: 

Alison Wilson at alison.wilson@uhi.ac.uk 

www.liamcolganmusicfund.com 

www.twitter.com/LCMusicFund 

www.facebook.com/liamcolganmusicfund 

www.ticketsglasgow.com 

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www.fallenangelsclub.com 

facebook @ www.facebook.com/The-Fallen-Angels-Club-149553931728736 

twitter @ www.twitter.com/KevoMorris 



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page 6 


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

SMC member business profile :: Ancuta Nite's Piano School 

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

Scottish Music Centre member 

Ancuta Nite-Doyle is a 

Romanian / Scottish pianist and 

the founder of the Nite Piano 

School in Glasgow - and as well 

as performing she absolutely 

loves teaching piano. 

Ancuta was born in Piatra Neamt in North East 

Romania and has been based in Scotland since 

2000 after winning a Silvestri Scholarship 

which allowed her to continue her studies at 

the Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools in 

Edinburgh. 

Ancuta later returned to Scotland and the 

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she was 

offered a Stevenson Scholarship and an ABRSM 

international Scholarship and graduated in 

2009 with a First Class Honours Degree in 

Piano Performance followed by a Postgraduate 

Diploma and Masters Degree. 

Now a member of staff at the Royal 

Conservatoire of Scotland Ancuta is also on the 

staff at the University of St Andrews as well as 

being the Artistic Director of the Ardtornish 

Piano Retreat Concert Series which is 

scheduled in June every year at Ardtornish 

Estate, Lochaline. She has recently performed 

in Germany and Italy as well as in the UK in 

venues such as Edinburgh's Usher Hall, 

London's Purcell Room at the Southbank 

Centre and the New Auditorium at the Glasgow 

Royal Concert Hall. 

She has recently finalised a wonderful project 

for young pianists in China which consisted of 

30 piano lessons for beginner pianists covering 

a whole year of piano lessons. As well as 

teaching and performing Ancuta very much 

enjoys adjudicating music events and recently 

she was invited to adjudicate the Yi Yue Classic 

Piano Competition in China! 

Nite Piano School :: More Than Just A Music 

Lesson but A Lesson in Life - Why do we teach 

the piano? We believe it is more than just a 

music lesson but a lesson in life. Our aim is to 

instil a love of music in our pupils which they 

will carry with them and pursue throughout 

their life, in any way they wish. Whether they 

pursue a career in music, have the piano as a 

private passion or share their music with 

others we hope that it brings joy and will be 

integral to our students’ lives. We look forward 

to sharing our passion for music with you and 

hope you and your child share our enthusiasm 

for our lessons! 

Benefits of Piano Lessons ..... There are 

several benefits of playing piano that go far 

beyond a greater appreciation for music and 

the acquisition of a new skill. Most of these 

benefits are applicable to both adults and 

children – it’s never too late, nor too early, to 

explore your musical side! At the Nite Piano 

School, we believe that an understanding of, 

and deep commitment to, shared values by 

each member of our school community is of 

fundamental importance in every aspect of our 

learning life. 

You can contact the Nite Piano School on 

07799 788249 or email 

nitepianoschool@outlook.com 

www.nitepianoschool.co.uk 

www.facebook.com/nitepianoschool 

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 http://scottishmusiccentre.com/services/membership-schemes/ 

Scottish Music Centre’s City Halls office is currently closed due to Covid-19 and our staff and project teams are working from home. 

We have made changes to some of our services, please go to the individual page(s) on our website for more info. 

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 …. 


Four Nations Arts Councils 

and Agencies to pilot new fund 

for international collaboration 

Scotland :: Wales :: England :: Northern Ireland 

View all the MNS digital 

publications from links at 

www.musicnewsscotland.wordpress.com 

New funding to support 

individuals and 

organisations towards 

international partnership 

development and cocreation 

projects, will 

open for applications on 

Thursday 21 October. 

With co-investment from Creative Scotland, 

Arts Council England, Arts Council Northern 

Ireland and Arts Council of Wales/Wales Arts 

International, the small pilot Four Nations 

International Fund is being designed to 

support those working in the arts and 

creative industries in the four nations across 

the UK and together with counterparts in 

Europe and beyond. Applications will require 

partners in least two of the 4 UK nations and 

at least one international partner. 

During this pilot phase, grants of between 

£1,000 - £5,000 will be available from a 

total budget of £100,000 for in-person, 

digital or hybrid activity including 

exchanges, residencies, partnership 

development, co-creation and networking, 

with priority given to applications 

experimenting with innovative models of 

international collaboration. 

Creative Scotland is managing the fund’s 

application process for the 4 nations arts 

councils. On the partnership’s behalf, 

Joan Parr, Interim Director of Arts and 

Engagement at Creative Scotland said: 

“The development of art and culture thrives 

on international collaboration and exchange. 

Artists and creative practitioners derive 

inspiration, opportunities to grow and 

develop practice through the sharing of 

ideas and explore new ways of working, as 

well as reaching new audiences. 

“In the wake of the impacts of COVID-19, 

the UK’s departure from the European Union 

and the ever-growing climate emergency, 

working together with our fellow arts 

councils and agencies, we can more 

effectively help address challenges for those 

based in England, Northern Ireland, 

Scotland and Wales wishing to connect with 

their international counterparts.” 

Today’s announcement represents one of a 

series of collaborations between the 4 UK 

nations arts councils and agencies including 

the pilot, Arts Infopoint UK initiative offering 

advice on practical issues relating to artist 

mobility led by Wales Arts International, as 

well as an exploration of mutual and more 

sustainable approaches to bilateral initiatives 

with several European countries, such as the 

German Fonds SozioKultur. 

4 Nations International Fund - 

Timeline ..... 

Fund opens – Thursday 21 October 2021 

Deadline – Monday 11 November 2021 

Decisions – Monday 13 December 2021 

Recipients’ announcement – Thursday 20 

January 2022 

Projects start – between 10 January 2022 

and 31 March 2022 

Projects complete – by 31 March 2023 

Guidance and FAQs will be published when 

the fund opens, and applicants are 

encouraged to contact the Creative Scotland 

enquiries team to discuss any ideas or 

questions, ahead of making an online 

application. 

Creative Scotland is the public body that 

supports the arts, screen and creative 

industries across all parts of Scotland 

distributing funding provided by the Scottish 

Government and The National Lottery. www. 

creativescotland.com. 

Wales Arts International is the in-house 

international agency of the Arts Council of 

Wales, the public body responsible for 

funding and developing the arts in Wales. 

www.wai.org.uk and arts.wales. 

Arts Council England is the national 

development agency for creativity and 

culture. 

www.artscouncil.org.uk 

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is 

the lead funding and development agency 

for the Arts providing support to arts 

projects throughout the region. 

www.artscouncil-ni.org 

www.creativescotland.com 

www.twitter.com/CreativeScots 

www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland 



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page 10 


Young Gaels delving into fascinating world of Gaelic song 

create brand new recordings as part of Gaelic resource 

to be used by singers around the world ........ ‘Fuaran’ 

A project which aims to inspire young 

Gaelic speakers to engage with the 

wealth of Gaelic culture in their local 

communities, has resulted in a free 

online resource of over 100 Gaelic 

songs, sung by young Gaelic singers 

from across Scotland, with the latest 

songs having been researched and 

recorded during the pandemic. 

‘Fuaran’ is a heritage initiative established by 

Gaelic arts organisation, Fèisean nan 

Gàidheal, to encourage a new generation of 

Gaelic speakers and singers to actively engage in 

the research and collection of Gaelic songs in 

their local area. Over the last seven years, over 

54 young people aged 16-25 have taken part in 

research, training and song workshops, led by a 

host of leading Gaelic song and research 

experts. 

Last year, another 18 young Gaels joined Fuaran 

and 12 have now recorded some of the songs 

they collected from communities across 

Scotland. The project participants first met, 

online, in May 2020, taking part in online 

workshops led by Gaelic song researcher Jo 

MacDonald, Director of Tobar an Dualchais, 

Floraidh Forrest and Gaelic singer and song 

researcher Gilbert MacMillan whilst also receiving 

one-to-one support via video call from Gaelic 

singers Christine Primrose and Margaret 

MacLeod. 

Earlier this year the singers were recorded in 

various locations across the country including 

Lews Castle in Stornoway, The Stables in 

Cromarty and The National Piping Centre and 

Pollokshields Burgh Halls in Glasgow. The latest 

songs to be added to the Fuaran resource 

include a new setting of a poem by Lewis bard, 

Murdo MacFarlane, two Gaelic psalms and a 

satire to Patrick Sellar. All recordings in the 

resource are accompanied by translations, 

background information and videos of the 

recording process. 

The songs were researched and recorded this 

year by participants from all over the country, 

from the Isle of Lewis to Glasgow, and include; 

Alice MacMillan (Point, Isle of Lewis), Calum Ross 

(Aberdeen), Donald and Peigi Barker (Black 

Isle), Eòin Cumming (Gairloch), Evie Waddell 

(Stirling), Fergus Munro (Fort William), Finlay 

MacLennan (Kirkhill), Peigi MacVicar (Isle of 

Skye), Rona Macleod (Bonar Bridge), Rory 

Cormack (Conon Bridge) and Sophie Macdonald 

(Glasgow). 

Researching songs of religion, Fergus Munro 

commented: “I really enjoyed this project. We 

have a wealth of spiritual songs in Gaelic and I 

found two really good examples which shine a 

light on the kind of faith that people held in 

Lochaber 150 years ago and the important work 

that folklorist Father Allan MacDonald undertook 

in the Highland and his creative skills. I’m really 

happy that these songs are being given new life 

through Fuaran.” 

Brother and sister duo, Donald and Peigi Barker, 

looked at the songs of siblings, Margaret and 

Donnie Macleod of Na h-Òganaich fame. They 

came across a poem, Gille Gu Geingealadh, by 

the great Gaelic Lewis bard Murdo MacFarlane, a 

close friend of the Na h-Òganaich siblings. When 

they couldn’t trace a melody for the song they 

put their musical talents to use and composed a 

brand new melody to set the poem to which 

Margaret gave her every blessing. They added: 

“Taking part in Fuaran allowed us to develop our 

Gaelic language and research skills. We got help 

with the different aspects throughout the 

process; our conversations with Mairead na h- 

Òganaich were so helpful and we learnt lots of 

new skills which we will be able to implement in 

future projects.” 

Fèisean nan Gàidheal Development Officer 

and project co-ordinator, Karen Oakley 

said: “It’s with great delight that we can 

showcase the youngsters’ songs online. When 

the Fuaran participants first sung some of them 

for a live online concert as part of Blas Festival, 

it was very heart-warming to read the comments 

of audience members watching at home. Many 

wrote of the songs reminding them fondly of 

particular times or places and people in their 

lives. It shows how powerful and uplifting 

projects like this are to, not just the participants, 

but those with a keen interest in our Gaelic 

songs and culture.” 

“The songs feature on the newly developed 

Fuaran website that allows users to search for 

songs pertaining to a particular area of Scotland. 

We hope that it will be a great resource for 

people wanting to discover more about the 

people, places and stories and songs in their 

area and across Scotland.” 

For more information about Fuaran and to use 

the resource, visit www.feisean.org/fuaran 

www.feisean.org 

www.facebook.com/feisean 

www.twitter.com/fngaidheal 

www.hebceltfest.com 

facebook: www.facebook.com/HebCelt 

twitter: www.twitter.com/HebCelt 



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page 12 


Global Music Match Wins Prestigious 

Womex Professional Excellence Award 

Global Music Match 'Team Eight' - Pretty Archie, Tori Sparks, The KutiMangoes, Megan 

O'Neill, Melanie Horsnell, Blue Rose Code, with coach Sean Paul O’Hare (Westival, Ireland) 

Global Music Match - a 

world-first collaboration 

founded in 2020 by 

Showcase Scotland Expo, 

Sounds Australia and 

Canada's East Coast 

Music Association 

(ECMA) - has been 

honoured with the 2021 

WOMEX Professional 

Excellence Award. 

Created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 

through social media and peer-to-peer 

collaboration, Global Music Match has advanced 

opportunities and networks internationally, and 

encouraged cross border artist collaboration, by 

connecting hundreds of musicians from around 

the world, creating new audiences in a range of 

international markets whilst international travel 

has been curtailed, providing a groundwork for 

future international touring development. 

In its inaugural year, 96 artists from 14 

countries participated, culminating in the live 

extravaganza Global Music Marathon at Folk 

Unlocked - the online edition of the worldleading 

Folk Alliance International conference. In 

2021, artists from even more countries joined in 

Global Music Match: 78 artists from 17 countries 

are currently collaborating across multiple timezones, 

languages and continents, coached by a 

number of leading folk/world/roots festival 

directors. 

Across the two editions of Global Music Match, 

21 Scottish artists have participated in the 

programme, collaborating with new colleagues 

worldwide. Last year’s Scottish contingent was 

comprised of Breabach, Claire Hastings, Elephant 

Sessions, Fara, Iona Fyfe, Kim Edgar, The 

Langan Band, RURA, Ryan Young, Siobhan Miller 

Skerryvore and Twelfth Day - whilst Ainsley 

Hamill, Blue Rose Code, Findlay Napier, Gnoss, 

Hannah Rarity, The Jellyman’s Daughter, Mary 

Ann Kennedy, The Paul McKenna Band and 

WHYTE are currently wrapping up the 2021 

programme. 

Musician and singers from Australia, Brittany, 

Canada, Catalonia, Chile, Denmark, England, 

Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, 

Scotland, Taiwan, USA and Wales have been 

working together over the past three months, 

expertly guided throughout the project by 

influential figureheads from Cambridge Folk 

Festival (England), Gooikorts International Folk 

Festival (Belgium), Killer Inc. (Norway), 

Knockengorroch Festival (Scotland), Manchester 

Folk Festival (England), Montelago Celtic Festival 

(Italy), New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 

(USA), Philadelphia Folk Festival (USA), Port 

Fairy Folk Festival (Australia), AmericanaFest UK 

(England), Vancouver Island Music Fest 

(Canada), Westport Music & Arts Festival 

(Ireland), Woodford Folk Festival (Australia) and 

World Music Festival (Chile) - resulting in 

countless hours of exciting collaborations. 

Search #globalmusicmatch on social media to 

see all the amazing works created over both 

years of the groundbreaking initiative. 

Reflecting upon the award, WOMEX noted: “The 

past year-and-a-half has been one of the most 

drastic and challenging periods of change in the 

history of the international music industry. 

Almost at once, and with very little warning, a 

world’s worth of live music disappeared, and 

musicians and audiences alike scrambled to find 

new ways of reaching each other without leaving 

their homes. 

“But adversity leads to innovation, and that’s 

where Global Music Match comes in. The heart of 

the premise is simple: folk- and roots-based 

musicians uplifting and promoting each other, 

mobilising each other’s audiences and creating 

new professional networks. 

“Each cycle of GMM takes place over 12 weeks. 

Teams are formed of six artists, each from a 

different country or region, and each gets their 

own two-week spotlight across the whole team’s 

social media channels, as well as a dedicated 

mentoring ‘coach’. These spotlights are a flurry 

of activity including interviews, live sets, 

unreleased material and exclusive – entirely 

digital – collaborations. After two editions, 172 

artists – and many thousands of fans – have 

participated and benefitted from this mutual 

support network and inspirational knowledge 

exchange with the help of music export offices 

from 17 countries and regions from around the 

world. 

www.musicnewsscotland.wordpress.com 

“The exciting part of GMM is that it is not just a 

temporary quick-fix. It’s a new form of music 

export and cultural exchange, and one that is 

not necessarily anchored to the current situation. 

It is a real and effective way for artists to 

expand their audience in terms of numbers, as 

well as into new territories, opening up the 

possibility for new touring avenues postpandemic, 

and showing a ‘good practice’ model 

for all. 

“For creating, at such short notice, a new and 

innovative platform that has already seen longlasting 

and tangible benefits, for celebrating 

musical diversity, and for being a source of 

optimism and comfort to musicians in a time of 

great struggle, we are delighted that Global 

Music Match will receive the WOMEX 21 

Professional Excellence.” 

Showcase Scotland Expo Executive 

Producer, Lisa Whytock said: “Global Music 

Match is delighted to receive this award on 

behalf of the 18 export organisations and 174 

artists that have been involved to date - as well 

as all of the team coaches who, this year, are 

Artistic Directors of world renowned festivals. It’s 

both humbling and an honour at the same time.” 

Supported by Creative Scotland, Showcase 

Scotland Expo works to promote the 

international export of Scottish-based musicians 

working in the genres of folk, traditional and 

world music. Most often this is via targeted 

industry showcases and presentations at key 

conferences worldwide, and in 2020 pivoted to a 

number of online initiatives in a bid to ensure 

that Scottish artists’ profiles remain high 

amongst international markets, with both 

audiences and bookers, during and whilst 

emerging from the pandemic. 

www.globalmusicmatch.com 

www.twitter.com/gblmusicmatch 

www.facebook.com/globalmusicmatch


www.deanowens.bandcamp.com 

www.deanowens.com 

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page 14 


Live Music Now Scotland announces 2021 audition 

dates and launches brand-new online application tool 

Applications open until Friday 8 October @ https://livemusicnow.scot/musicians/auditioning-for-lmns/ 

Live Music Now 

Scotland (LMNS) has 

announced its 2021 

audition dates by 

unveiling a brand-new 

online application tool 

that will allow 

musicians impacted by 

the pandemic, and at 

the beginning of their 

professional career 

journeys, to apply in 

the most accessible 

and efficient way. 

Taking place on Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 

November 2021, these auditions are an 

opportunity for musicians from across Scotland’s 

many regions and diverse music scene to 

become part of LMNS, an opportunity that grants 

unparalleled access to fairly paid, professional 

opportunities and engagements across the 

country, throughout the year. 

LMNS has sought to make the audition 

application process as simple and streamlined as 

possible, and musicians can now apply directly 

via the website, where they can also find an 

introductory video from Director Carol Main and 

handy ‘how to’ tips. This upgraded system 

reflects the needs of musicians as we emerge 

into the ‘new normal’ and looks to support those 

whose careers have effectively been put on hold 

due to the pandemic, and who have literally 

been deprived a stage as they launch their 

careers. 

With applications open until Friday 8 October, 

soloists, duos, ensembles and every other 

configuration (of up to five musicians) from 

across Scotland are being encouraged to apply 

for the chance to work with this groundbreaking 

organisation at the heart of the country’s music 

scene. 

Inspired by the philosophy of world-famous 

violinist Yehudi Menuhin, and philanthropist, Ian 

Stoutzker, LMNS aims to bring the highest 

quality of music to audiences of all backgrounds, 

not least those who, for whatever reason, might 

not otherwise have access to it and who 

arguably, may have the most to gain by hearing 

it. 

Not only that, LMNS is committed to supporting 

and facilitating musicians in the infancy of their 

professional careers, granting them access to 

new audiences and offering them a platform 

upon which to grow both their professional 

careers, and as performers. 

By bringing its audition application process 

online, LMNS is also taking the first step in 

updating its audition model, as it continues to 

reflect the diversity and development of both the 

music and musicians that make up Scotland’s 

rich music scene. 

Carol Main, Director at Live Music Now 

Scotland, said: “We are delighted to announce 

our 2021 audition dates as we come to the end 

of a very difficult year for musicians across 

Scotland, and indeed the world. With restrictions 

beginning to ease, and the ‘new normal’ on the 

horizon, we can’t wait to see what the next 

generation of musicians based in Scotland, has 

to offer. 

We are also excited to launch our brand new, 

online application tool aimed at making the 

Ainsley Hamill 

www.facebook.com/ainsleyhamillsinger 

process of applying to audition as streamlined 

and user friendly as possible. 

We love the fact that our musicians come from a 

diverse range of backgrounds, span a wide 

variety of musical genres, and represent a 

multitude of cultures, and this new online tool is 

the first step in updating our audition process to 

reflect this diversity.” 

LMNS has supported over 600 of musicians in 

launching their professional music careers and 

recent alumni include Ainsley Hamill whose 

latest album Not Just Ship Land was the 

Guardian’s album of the month, and who was 

described by RnR Magazine as “One of the best 

of her generation.” 

Calum Huggan, international percussionist 

& marimbist, has also recently released a 

debut album entitled American Music for 

Marimba, and said: “I’m always talking with 

my students, colleagues telling them how 

important LMNS was for my career in both 

education and performance settings, so I hope 

you feel a little bit of yourselves in this.” 

www.livemusicnow.scot 

www.twitter.com/LiveMusicNowSCO 

www.facebook.com/livemusicnowscotland 

Calum Huggan 

www.facebook.com/calum.huggan 

:: photo by Foxbrush 



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page 16 


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Musicians' Union welcomes announcement that 

‘splitter vans’ can be used for European tours 

The Musicians' 

Union is delighted by 

the announcement 

that 'splitter vans' can 

be used by Scottish 

and other UK musicians 

touring Europe. 

The MU has been lobbying 

to ensure musicians 

can continue to 

tour Europe post- 

Brexit using this type 

of vehicle. 

The terms of the UK-EU trade agreement (TCA) 

had stated that equipment and people could not 

be transported in one vehicle. A disaster for 

touring musicians, particularly at grassroots 

level. 

However, the Union has now received the following 

confirmation from the Department for Transport: 

"DfT (Department for Transport) has been in 

touch with our counterparts in the European 

Commission (DG Move). They have confirmed 

their view that splitter vans do not fall in the 

scope of the TCA, and their use is therefore subject 

to Member State law. 

"They have confirmed too that, even within the 

EU, the use of splitter vans from other EU member 

states is subject to Member State law. This 

was also the case while the UK was a member of 

the EU, and as the TCA does not apply to splitter 

vans, their use by UK operators will continue to 

be governed by Member State law." 

This means that bands using vans carrying 

equipment and a maximum of nine people can 

move freely around the EU and that the laws 

governing their use will be the laws pertaining to 

each member state they visit. 

Dave Webster, MU National Organiser for 

Live Performance, said: 

“This is a major step forward for musicians and 

follows months of sustained lobbying by the Union. 

A ban on splitter vans would have made 

European touring almost impossible for small to 

medium scale bands, especially given the costs 

of carnets, VISAs, work permits and Covid testing 

they are already bearing. We are delighted 

and grateful that both the UK and EU have confirmed 

that regulations governing the use of 

splitter vans in Europe are to remain as they 

were pre-Brexit. Many MU members will be 

enormously relieved today.” 

The Musicians’ Union (MU) represents over 

31,000 musicians working in all sectors and genres 

of music. As well as negotiating on behalf of 

its members with all the major employers in the 

industry, the MU offers a range of services tailored 

for the self-employed by providing assistance 

for professional and student musicians of 

all ages. 

Contact the MU in Scotland at 2 Woodside Place, 

Glasgow. G3 7QF Call 0141 341 2960 

or email: glasgow@themu.org 

www.theMU.org 

www.twitter.com/WeAreTheMU 

www.facebook.com/Musicians.Union 

:: photo by www.glasgowbury.com/sprinter-tour-van/ 

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page 16 


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

Katherine Aly :: single - 'Pariah' 

Released :: Out Now @ most major digital / streaming platforms 

Katherine Aly is 

presently 

generating a 

significant 

industry buzz, 

and 'Pariah' is the 

new single from 

her which was 

officially released 

on 17 September. 

Her last single 'Glow & 

Ignite' was Single of the 

Week on The Afternoon 

Show on BBC Radio 

Scotland got lots of love 

on BBC Introducing from 

Phoebe I-H & Shereen 

Cutkelvin who said, “..that hook is so catchy, 

we’ll be singing it for sure. Katherine is definitely 

reeling us in with those ear worms..I love it, I 

love it”. Additional airplay has been courtesy of 

BBC Rapal, Amazing Radio & feat.The Skinny 

Championed by Vogue Italia, Artist of the Week 

in The Scotsman, Tenement TV plus support on 

radio throughout the USA, Canada, France, and 

as far afield as Australia, Aly is one to watch, 

with live shows coming up on 15 October at The 

Hug & Pint in Glasgow and 6 November at 

Edinburgh's Sneaky Pete’s. 

TENEMENT TV said “..influences such as London 

Grammar, Lana Del Rey, Florence and the 

Machine and Bjork, Aly continues to explore the 

realms of alt-pop with confidence and a great 

deal of promise.” 

www.katherinealy.com 

www.twitter.com/itskatherinealy 

www.facebook.com/itskatherinealy 

CARA :: album - 'Grounded' 

Released :: Out on 15 October @ www.cara-music.com/index.php/en/shop/cara-grounded 

Forced by events of the past 

eighteen months to pause an 

otherwise extremely active 

touring life, award-winning folk 

band CARA have responded to 

the global pandemic with a 

thoughtful, philosophical and 

life-affirming emotional 

testimony to some big questions 

in their new album, “Grounded”. 

In this, their eighth studio album, to be released 

on 15 October, CARA celebrate the traditions 

that truly ground them, the solace that can be 

found in nature, and the inner strength that we 

find to cope with life’s challenges. 

“Music of the highest order” Mike Harding 

“Strong on emotion, story and poetry… 

impressive, dramatic and accomplished.” 

Folk Radio UK 

Founded 18 years ago, CARA is one of the 

busiest and most successful folk bands in 

Europe. The line-up comprises three of the most 

accomplished musicians in the Irish scene in 

Germany: leading creative force in the German 

folk scene, Gudrun Walther (fiddle, accordion, 

vocals), sought after producer, composer and 

arranger Juergen Treyz (guitar, dobro, vocals) 

and rising star in the pipe making scene, Hendrik 

Morgenbrodt (uilleann pipes, flute, whistles) 

alongside Kim Edgar (piano, vocals), the 

acclaimed Edinburgh-based singer songwriter. 

“They boldly go where others fear to tread” Irish 

Times 

“International and timeless…real passion… 

stunningly good.” Moors Magazine 

CARA stakes out its own 

unique territory, with a 

repertoire featuring 

original compositions and 

songs alongside finely 

detailed arrangements of 

traditional Scots and Irish 

ballads and tune sets. The band has established 

an excellent international reputation, with two 

Irish Music Awards, European tours taking in the 

Netherlands, France, Ireland, Great Britain and 

Denmark, and many tours further afield to the 

USA and Australia. 

“A world class band in top form” Irish Music 

Magazine 

“A musical force to be reckoned with…they can 

really fly” The Scotsman 

Much has happened since the band released 

their live album in 2018: CARA played the 

winners' concert at the International Freiburg 

Cultural Exchange in 2019 (after winning “best 

performance” the year before), and were also 

invited to perform at the Swiss Artists' Showcase 

in Thun. In spring 2019 their charity single 

"Mòran Taing” raised funds for Cancer Research 

UK. Their most recent concert highlights include 

appearances at the Sligo Live (Ireland), Priddy 

Folk Festival (England) and at Schleswig-Holstein 

Music Festival - one of the largest classical music 

festivals in Europe. 

“Grounded” was recorded, mixed and mastered 

at artes-Studio by Juergen Treyz. The album 

features Gudrun Walther (vocals, fiddle, viola, 

diatonic accordion), Kim Edgar (vocals, grand 

piano), Hendrik Morgenbrodt (uilleann pipes, 

flute, whistles) and Juergen Treyz (guitars, 

dobro, tenor resonator guitar, banjo, bass, 

vocals) with guest musicians Aimée Farrell- 

Courtney (bodhrán tracks 1, 5, 7,10), Tad 

Sargent (bodhrán tracks 2, 4, 6, 9, 11) and 

Henrik Mumm (cello track 7). 

www.cara-music.com 

www.twitter.com/Caramusic 

www.facebook.com/caramusic 



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page 18 


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Gordon Maclean, Music Director at An Tobar, steps down 

"His vision has been uniquely valuable and his legacy is tremendous" 

After 25 years, Gordon 

Maclean has decided to 

stand down as Music 

Director at An Tobar. 

Gordon would like to wish 

An Tobar & Mull Theatre 

(and all who sail in her) 

every success in the near 

and far future! 

Gordon Maclean said: “This feels like a 

good time to make way for someone new 

and to begin another exciting personal 

chapter in life, one that allows more time for 

grandchildren.” 

Gordon added: “I would like to thank everyone on 

the Board and staff over the years at An Tobar & Mull 

Theatre for their help and support and to thank all the 

many musicians and artists who have been a total 

inspiration throughout that time. Special thanks to so 

many people in the local community who made 

everything possible.” 

Those 25 years have seen many concerts, 

commissions, exhibitions, and recordings plus much 

support for emerging musicians from Tobermory's 

own Tiszy to current BBC Radio 6 Music darling 

Hamish Hawk. 

The pandemic brought 

challenges for everyone but 

saw An Tobar & Mull Theatre 

punching above its weight in 

terms of its output. The 

organisation has created 

some excellent new work 

which has been watched 

widely online across the world. Its two music/film 

series, Music For Winter Solitude and An Tobar 

Summer Sessions 

make for a representative final snapshot of the 

musicians that Gordon has worked with during his 

time with the organisation. 

Rebecca Atkinson-Lord, Chief Executive and 

Artistic Director, An Tobar & Mull Theatre said: 

"Gordon has been a phenomenal contributor to the 

musical life of Mull over the last twenty-five years. His 

unstinting support of musicians and artists from the 

west coast and across Scotland has had an indelible 

impact on the cultural ecology of the nation. His vision 

has been uniquely valuable and his legacy is 

tremendous. Everyone at An Tobar and Mull Theatre 

wishes him the very best in this new chapter of his 

life.” 

An Tobar was founded by Mary Norton Sherbatskoy in 

the mid 1990s, and then led by Gordon Maclean and 

Sheena Walker. It took ten years from opening in 

1997 to be invited by the Scottish Arts Council to 

become a five-year Foundation Funded Organisation. 

This was followed six years later by the formation of 

Comar, which is a Creative Scotland Regular Funded 

Organisation. Comar became An Tobar & Mull Theatre 

a few years ago. 

www.comar.co.uk 

www.facebook.com/MullTheatre 

www.facebook.com/AnTobarArts 

Better broadband banishes bandwidth blues for musician 

Gigabit-capable full fibre connection transforms music studio operations 

Dave Arcari has gone 

from climbing the banks 

of Loch Lomond to find a 

mobile signal to 

streaming online shows 

from his garden studio – 

after ultrafast broadband 

arrived in Balmaha. 

Openreach installed a full fibre network in the 

picturesque village as part of its work with the 

Scottish Government, giving around 120 local homes 

and businesses access to some of the fastest, most 

reliable broadband anywhere in the UK. To date, one 

in two households has ordered the new technology. 

One of the residents to benefit, local blues musician 

Dave Arcari, this week described the network as “a 

lifeline” which has helped his business to survive the 

pandemic. 

In the early days of the pandemic, Arcari had to rely 

on the goodwill of nearby commercial premises to 

keep his business running. But with gigabit-capable 

full fibre he can now comfortably operate ticketed 

streaming shows online from the studio in his garden. 

Full fibre broadband provides more reliable, resilient 

and future-proof connectivity, with fewer faults, more 

predictable, consistent speeds and enough capacity to 

easily meet growing data demands. 

Openreach is investing hundreds of millions of pounds 

in full fibre networks for around 300 cities, towns and 

villages across Scotland, as well as working with the 

Scottish Government on its 

Reaching 100% 

programme to bring 

superfast services to the 

very hardest-to-reach 

properties. 

Dave Arcari said: “When 

the pandemic hit, every 

tour I had planned was cancelled and the poor-quality 

internet service was stopping me harnessing the 

potential income that comes with live-streamed online 

gigs. The connection was so bad I was having to leave 

videos uploading for the whole night or traipsing a 

mile and a half up the banks of Loch Lomond to the 

only spot with three bars of 4G. Carrying all my 

equipment, instruments and umbrellas on bad days all 

that way was a struggle. 

“The new service Openreach has now put in place, 

working with the Scottish Government, is nothing 

short of a gamechanger for my business. It’s cheaper, 

better, faster for livestreaming and uploading videos 

and has been an absolute lifeline. This broadband 

upgrade has really turned things around for the whole 

area and is great news for the rural economy as a 

whole.” 

Robert Thorburn, Openreach Scotland 

partnership director, said: “We’re really pleased to 

be able make such a difference to the daily operations 

and activities of local people. And it’s great to hear 

that having access to better broadband has put Dave’s 

music business back on track. 

“Full fibre is truly transformative for rural communities 

and, as the new network expands, there’s huge 

potential to let more and more people start up and 

run their businesses from any part of Scotland. 

“We know that connecting everyone in Scotland to full 

fibre broadband would result in multi-billion pound 

economic boost. We want to make sure that progress 

is evenly spread and that people in all corners of the 

country can work from home efficiently and build 

opportunities on their doorstep.” 

www.davearcari.com 

www.twitter.com/davearcari 

www.facebook.com/davearcarimusic 



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