STOP PRESS – JUST ANNOUNCED (15:30 23/2/12)

T IN THE PARK – NICKI MINAJ JUST CONFIRMED - Superstar Nicki Minaj has just confirmed that she will be bringing her own blend of sassy “Super Bass” to Balado for T in the Park 2012. Festival organisers DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager are thrilled to announce that the feisty rapper has just been added to the stellar bill of names announced this morning (23 February).

DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager are thrilled to announce that Snow Patrol and Kasabian will join The Stone Roses as headliners for this year’s T in the Park festival, in front of the greatest audience in the world. They will be joined by an ultra-impressive bill made up of the world’s ‘must see’ acts across the weekend of 6-8th July 2012.

Firm favourites with festival crowds across the globe, Snow Patrol bring their epic anthems back to Balado to headline the mighty Main Stage. Festival frontman Gary Lightbody hailed T in the Park as “the best weekend ever” when the band gave one of the most memorable T in the Park headline performances to date, in 2009. Since T in the Park first booked an unknown Snow Patrol in 1999, the band have soared to international stardom and gone on to sell in excess of 11 million albums worldwide. Having just completed their sold out ‘Fallen Empires’ tour of the UK and Ireland, the band are off to tour Europe and the U.S.A before heading home, fired up and ready to go at Balado.

Having announced their ‘live resurrection’ to the delight of dedicated fans across the globe, The Stone Roses will undoubtedly provide THE seminal music moment of the summer with their hugely anticipated headline performance at T in the Park 2012. All eyes will be on Balado when the Manchester legends take to the stage for a very rare UK festival appearance and their only live show in Scotland, not to mention a truly historic moment for T in the Park.

Kasabian are certainly on fire right now, with their fourth studio album Velociraptor taking the group to stratospheric new levels. The follow-up to the acclaimed West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, the current album was recorded in Leicester, mixed in San Francisco and written and produced by the group’s guitarist Sergio Pizzorno. Kasabian are an incendiary live act who consistently top the polls of the bands festival fans want to see. Currently up for three NME Awards (Best Live Band, Best British Band, Greatest Music Moment of the Year), Kasabian first played T in the Park in 2004 and have been consistently championed by T in the Parkers ever since. The Leicester lads make a very welcome return to the top of the bill to bring T in the Park 2012 to a raucous close.

Kasabian said: “It’s an honour that we’ve been invited back to play T in the Park. It’s always been one of our favourite UK festivals and after having such a blast in 2010, we can’t wait to do it all over again.”

The headliners join an already stellar group of top top acts confirmed for T in the Park 2012, including Florence + the Machine, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Vaccines, Two Door Cinema Club, The Maccabees, Frank Turner, Miles Kane, The Horrors and Maverick Sabre.

Newly announced Tinie Tempah is undoubtedly one of the freshest and biggest stars to come out of Britain in the past two years. Since his debut album Disc-Overy debuted at No. 1, preceded by two smash hit No.1 singles Pass Out and Written in the Stars, the sensational solo star has fast become one of the most award-winning, best-selling performers of recent times.

Bernard Sumner, Gillian Gilbert, Stephen Morris, Phil Cunningham and Tom Chapman – the newly reformed New Order – are back together and will return to Balado, having last performed at T in the Park in 2005. One of the most highly influential and critically acclaimed bands of the 1980’s, New Order were the pioneering force behind electronic music, responsible for 1983 hit Blue Monday, the best-selling 12 inch single of all time. Tracks such as True Faith and Regret have influenced generations of hit making musicians ever since. This unmissable set at T in the Park is guaranteed to be worth the wait!

Bernard Sumner, New Order frontman, said: “It’s been 7 years since we played in Scotland, up at ‘T’, and we had a brilliant time. It was as much of a surprise to us as it was to our fans when Brandon from The Killers joined us onstage for Crystal, so it’s gonna be hard to top that one, but we’ll do our best to make sure it’s another memorable night for everyone. See you all soon!”

David Guetta is arguably one of the world’s most popular DJ’s and one of the most sought after music producers. Hailing from France, he has sold over 3 million albums and 15 million singles across the globe. For fifth studio album Nothing But the Beat, Guetta introduced rock influences to his dance beats and upped the ante yet again with smash hit tracks Where Them Girls At and Without You. David Guetta boasts some of the biggest tunes in the business right now and will be blasting them loud at Balado this summer.

Calvin Harris has gone from producing tracks in his bedroom in Dumfries to internationally renowned DJ, producer, singer, songwriter phenomenon. Calvin’s second album Ready For the Weekend went straight to the No.1 spot and spawned massive hit after hit single, gaining him further attention from fans as well artists in demand of his record producing skills. Credited for being the most successful songwriter in the UK singles chart in 2011 and following a stint on tour with Rhianna, the pair collaborated on smash hit single We Found Love, which catapulted them to the to the top of the charts the world over. Calvin Harris is close to T in the Park’s heart and fans will surely agree that it feels so good to have him back at Balado.

Elbow are a band renowned for their stunning songwriting ability as well as their amazing live performances. Since forming in 1990, the band have been recognised for both, achieving an accolade of awards including two Ivor Novello Awards for best contemporary song and best song musically and lyrically for the singles Grounds for Divorce and One Day Like This respectively. The Bury five-piece also won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize for their album The Seldom Seen Kid. 2012 will be another big year for Elbow as they have been chosen to provide the soundtrack to BBC’s coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games, as well as delivering a standout set at T in the Park.

Having been raised in Aberdeen and studied at the University of Glasgow, Emeli Sandé is a Scots talent to be truly proud of. Emeli’s debut album Our Version of Events sold more than 100,000 copies in the last week alone, putting her in the lead in terms of sales of any other British artist this year. With her debut album currently at No.1 and as the winner of this year’s Brits Critics’ Choice Award, Emeli Sandé has proved herself to be one of the most talented and respected singer/songwriters of our time and her debut performance at T in the Park is not to be missed.

Fans can expect more T in the Park 2012 highlights from an array of festival favourites including newly announced artists in bold: (FRIDAY) Snow Patrol, Tinie Tempah, New Order, Florence + the Machine, Example, Professor Green, Kaiser Chiefs, The Temper Trap, The Darkness, Miike Snow, Labrinth, Mastodon, Pulled Apart By Horses, Tribes (SATURDAY) The Stone Roses, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Jessie J, The Vaccines, Two Door Cinema Club, Emeli Sandé, Ben Howard, Amy Macdonald, The Courteeners, The Maccabees, Enter Shikari, Rizzle Kicks, Peter Doherty, The Wailers, Dappy, Alabama Shakes (SUNDAY) Kasabian, Elbow, Chase and Status, Skrillex, Happy Mondays, James Morrison, Frank Turner, The Enemy, Miles Kane, The Wanted, Maverick Sabre, Twin Atlantic, The Horrors, Christina Perri, Devlin, Bellowhead, Little Roy, Spector, Band of Skulls.

The Slam Tent is also back to celebrate 16 successful years at T in the Park and for the very first time, will be open on the Friday with Sven Väth at the helm, joining Slam for extra-long sets from 5pm until midnight to bring the big club atmosphere to the Slam Tent. Other confirmed Slam acts on Saturday include Major Lazer, Skream featuring Sgt Pokes, Benga, Erol Alkan, Fake Blood, Jack Beats, Crookers with Dubfire, Joris Voom, Maya Jane Coles, Len Faki, Pan-Pot all taking to the stage on Sunday 8th and with many more still to be announced.

Geoff Ellis (Festival Director)

“It’s really important to us that we listen to the fans and make every effort to book the bands they tell us they want to see. With some of the biggest bands and the greatest audience in the world, we hope the weekend of 6 – 8 July will be unforgettable for fans. Opening the campsite gates for the first time is still my favourite moment of the festival weekend and I can’t wait to see you all in July!”

George Kyle (Head of Sponsorship – Tennent’s Lager)

“As founding partner of T in the Park, Tennent’s Lager is proud to be part of this amazing event that is loved by both the fans and the bands. It’s another fantastic line-up of internationally renowned acts and from launching in 1994, it’s amazing to see where T in the Park is now – in its rightful place on the global stage. Tennent’s are so incredibly proud to have been the T in T in the Park for 19 years and counting.”

T in the Park, today, also launches a series of new digital innovations. It is the first music festival to work with Aurasma, the world’s leading augmented reality platform. Fans can download the free app, then point their smartphones at a series of posters and press ads across the UK to reveal a video announcing this year’s acts in a whole new dimension.

Plus Geoff Ellis and George Kyle will kick off their Twinterviews from 1.30pm today on @Tinthepark using the hashtag #asktitp

At the heart of T in the Park is the music and atmosphere that continually unites the crowd and creates a weekend of memorable moments that will last a lifetime. Bring it on Balado.

Ticket Type Price

Friday £70.00

Sat and Sun Day ticket £77.50

Weekend (No Camping) £179.00

Weekend & Camping £189.00

Thursday Weekend & Camping £199.00

The final batch of tickets go on general sale at 9am on Wednesday 29th February from www.ticketmaster.co.uk and by calling 08444 999 990.

Boutique camping options are available in The Residence at T in the Park. The Residence offers festival goers a bespoke, luxury experience where all their accommodation needs are taken care of – www.tinthepark.com/residence

Vodafone VIP customers can buy tickets 48 hours before they go on general sale from 9.00am on Monday 27th February, simply go to www.vodafone.co.uk/vip

More information on all ticket prices/packages at www.tinthepark.com. Ticket buyers should only purchase from the official outlets published on this website.

For regular T in the Park news, check out www.facebook.com/tinthepark and follow on Twitter @tinthepark

We are delighted to have the Musicians' Union as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

We are delighted to have the Scottish Music Centre as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

This year’s Hebridean Celtic Festival, which will be headlined by The Waterboys, The Proclaimers and Kassidy, is offering a performance slot for a new band or singer during the four-day flagship event.

Friday the 13th will be a lucky July day for an up and coming artist or group when they’re given this opportunity to showcase their talents at one of the summer’s hottest music festivals. The winner will be able to perform live on 13 July in front of an international festival audience on the second stage within the main HebCelt arena.

The 17th HebCelt, which runs from 11-14 July, attracts visitors from around the world and already fans from across Europe, the USA and Canada have snapped up early bird tickets.

The ‘One Step Further’ competition is open to any young band or performer, aged between 18 and 25 at the time of the festival, playing a genre of music that reflects the general programming of the event.

Boy Who Trapped The Sun: Although still young in years, Lewis born singer-songwriter Colin Macleod champions old fashioned musical virtues – well-crafted melodies, evocative lyrics, warmly heartfelt vocals – to timeless effect on his debut Fireplace which was released in 2010. He appeared at the festival for the first time in 2011.

Festival Director, Caroline MacLennan, said:

“This is an incredible opportunity for an individual or group to present their talent to a large audience who are always keen to hear new music.

“The festival supports emerging talent from throughout the Celtic nations. However we recognise that it can be challenging for those starting out to break through, especially at a major event like the festival, so we want to encourage applicants to think creatively about how best to present their work to get that start.”

The competition is supported by internationally renowned musician Phil Cunningham, who is well known as a champion of young talent.

Phil said:

“This is a fantastic idea from the festivals organisers which could give an individual or group the chance of a breakthrough at a major event.

“Playing to a live audience is the ultimate for a performer and where better than HebCelt for young artists or bands in the Celtic genre to make a name for themselves.”

Entrants need to prepare a promotional pack in electronic format to ‘sell’ their music to the judges. This should include high-resolution imagery, a biography and links to three good quality recordings of their music. To enhance their pack they can also include links to their live video performances.

Submissions should be sent, marked HebCelt New Talent Submissions, by email to office@hebceltfest.com by midnight on Friday, 6 April. Judging will take place throughout the month with the winning artist or artists being chosen by 27 April.

The HebCelt organisers will also offer the winner £200 towards expenses to attend the festival as well as passes to enjoy the rest of the event.

The 17th HebCelt

The 17th HebCelt takes place between 11th and 14th July 2012 and will, for the second year running, have two main stages on the Castle Green in front of the Lews Castle in Stornoway, as well as performances in An Lanntair and throughout the rural community. The festival last year emerged victorious as Best Large Festival at the industry-sponsored Scottish Event Awards 2011, in a three-way final with Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and Glasgow’s Celtic Connections. HebCelt has also twice won the Best Event of the Year award at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, which is voted for by the public.

www.hebceltfest.com

We are delighted to have the Scottish Music Centre as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

We are delighted to have the Musicians Union as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

Scottish Music Centre News

10 composers

5 ensembles

10 world premières

Scottish Music Centre announces successful applicants for Composition Marathon

After an extensive and exciting application process which included the recent recruitment of five of Scotland’s top chamber ensembles, the Scottish Music Centre are delighted to announce the ten composers chosen to participate in their Composition Marathon as selected by Oliver Searle, Anna Meredith and Josh Armstrong. They are: Chris Hutchings, Claire McCue, Derek Ball, Eve Harrison, Graeme Ronald, Julien Lonchamp, Kevan O’Reilly, Peter MacCalman, Kim Moore and Lauren Sarah Hayes.

The ten composers and five ensembles will be formally introduced to each other at the Scottish Music Centre Members’ Reception on Friday 24th February, however, the instrumental groupings they will be composing for will not be revealed until the start of the Marathon at 9:00 on Saturday 24th March. Following an intense twelve hour creative period and five hours of rehearsals, the project will culminate in a final performance, featuring no less than ten world premières at 15:00 on Sunday 25th in Glasgow’s spectacular Old Fruitmarket.

This project marks a world-first for composition, offering audiences the unique opportunity to experience the latest, cutting-edge contemporary classical music of Scotland as performed by Daniel’s Beard, Ensemble Thing, Peter Gregson with Keith Beattie and Live Music Now’s Flercussion and Pure Brass.

Tickets are now on sale for the final performance via the Glasgow Concert Halls’ Box Office. If you book on or before Tuesday 28th February, these are available at a discounted rate of £8 per person and thereafter, they will be priced at £12 (£10 concessions).

TO BOOK TICKETS GO TO: http://bit.ly/yHkHRS

We are delighted to have the Musicians Union as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

We are delighted to have the Scottish Music Centre as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

Reblogged from MUSIC NEWS Scotland:

VOTING IS NOW OPEN @ http://officialsama.co.uk The Scottish Alternative Music Awards are to return for a third year, drawing necessary attention to the Scottish bands and artists that mainstream music tends to ignore. After the success of last year, with artists such as The LaFontaines and Three Blind Wolves performing, as well as appearances from winners IndianRedLopez, and nominees Bwani Junction, this year sets to provide a platform as well as well deserved recognition for the hard working and talented …

Voting now open for 2012 SAMA Awards

Knockengorroch World Ceilidh organisers have confirmed the acts in its 14th year will be headed by Jamaican legends The Skatalites. Having worked with reggae greats such as Bob Marley and Lee Scratch Perry the revolutionary group are considered to be the original ska band, laying the foundations for reggae, dub, dancehall and ragga. The band will complement a festival line-up featuring music both ancient and new, originating from around the world and reverberating in a natural amphitheatre in the Galloway uplands.

Further acts on the festival bill include pygmy Celtic crossover outfit Baka Beyond and rising Scottish traditional star Rua Macmillan, melding with genre defying dance tunes of the 90s from Utah Saints, Red Snapper and DJ Hype. The Peatbog Faeries, The Shee, Stanley Odd, The Destroyers and many further acts will join from different genres and countries, incorporating the most contemporary tunes alongside traditional melodies, resulting in a melting pot of sound and song.

Festival director Liz Holmes said ‘We’re a big festival in a small pot, and the diversity and range in our line-up certainly reflects that. Our line-up includes some of the most established roots acts in the world alongside some of the newest, creating a fresh programme with someone for everyone!’

The World Ceilidh is primarily a music festival but the programme will also include arts, crafts and dance workshops, spoken word, comedy, performance art, installations, walkabout theatre, fire shows and kids activities.

Liz Holmes continued ‘the festival is open to all ages and persuasions. There is something for everyone! We’ve got so much going on, including dedicated children’s workshops, early morning yoga sessions, a cinema and sauna, good food, real ales, fire sculptures and even dog Awards!.’

As one of the longest running music festivals on the Scottish circuit, Knockengorroch has built up a reputation as one of the friendliest and warmest events. The event takes place in a river valley plain and has been created in appreciation with the history and landscape, with a custom timber built turf roofed main stage and an authentic Celtic Longhouse venue.

The site is far from urban civilisation and organisers believe this adds to the experience for festival goers. Katch Holmes, who grew up at Knockengorroch and now helps programme the festival said ‘the wildly beautiful location of the festival offers a real feeling of ‘getting away from it all’. People find it especially easy to let their hair down and there is a really strong sense of community. I think the fact that in the valley was once a densely populated settlement helps create the atmosphere that always makes Knockengorroch so special’

The full line-up confirmed so far: Skatalites, DJ Hype and Daddy Earl, Peatbog Faeries, Red Snapper, Baka Beyond, The Destroyers, The Shee, Rua Macmillan, Utah Saints, Moulettes, Monster Ceilidh Band, Diwan, Whisky River Boat Band, Auntie Flo, Sketch, The Banana Sessions, Stanley Odd, Mike Kearney Katet, Mungos Hi-Fi Sound System, Morphhamish, Club Samedia, Papa Zeb and the Mezzanine Allstars, Colonel Mustard and Dijon Five, Bobok, Sabai, Will Hanson, Pumajaw, Grandma Staflasch, Monks from Tibetan Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Sir Vinyl of the Fattest, Junkman’s Choir, Roseroom, Astroboy, Tetchi, Banda 71, Bristol Branch, Anonymi

The festival kicks off the summer, taking place on the bank holiday weekend 31 May to 3 June. Advance tickets are now on sale online and from a variety of local outlets. Concession and family tickets are also available. 

www.knockengorroch.org.uk

We are delighted to have the Scottish Music Centre as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

We are delighted to have the Musicians' Union as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

VOTING IS NOW OPEN

@ http://officialsama.co.uk

The Scottish Alternative Music Awards are to return for a third year, drawing necessary attention to the Scottish bands and artists that mainstream music tends to ignore.

After the success of last year, with artists such as The LaFontaines and Three Blind Wolves performing, as well as appearances from winners IndianRedLopez, and nominees Bwani Junction, this year sets to provide a platform as well as well deserved recognition for the hard working and talented members of the Scottish music industry.

IndianRedLopez

Our nominees are chosen by leading figure heads in the Scottish music industry, from across Scotland, ensuring a fair and justified list of relevant and deserved nominees. It is a hard job for our judges to choose from the vast list of talented artists we have across our nation, and we very much appreciate their informed decisions. Nominations are then put to a public vote

SAMAs 2012 will run in association with retro clothing store Vintage Guru, located on 195 Byres Road in the West End of Glasgow. Roberto Cocozza (VG) states: “Vintage Guru are pleased to be the Main Sponsor of SAMA 2012 following our tradition of supporting up and coming music in Scotland“

Founder and Creative Director of the SAMAs, Richy Muirhead says: “The diversity of the nominees this year are incredible. Its really warming to see artists from all over areas of Scotland involved, for example Skye, Aberdeen, Ayrshire and further afield. This really gives a sense of Scotland to the awards, which is what SAMAs is all about.”

For full list of nominees:

Best Rock/Alternative

sponsored by Ignite Records

Aerials Up

Fatherson

Little Eye

Lady North

Iain McLaughlin & Outsiders

Johnny & The Giros

Best Newcomer

sponsored by Cathouse Glasgow

Athos

Vukovi

Forest Fires

Bwani Junction

Oskar Empire

Davey Horne

Best Live Act

sponsored by Messer Schmitt

Admiral Fallow Brown

Song Of Return

We Were Promised Jetpacks

The Little Kicks Colin James Murphy

PAWS

Miniature Dinosaurs

Best Acoustic

sponsored by JamHut Studios

Bear & The Bandits

Beerjacket

Amber Wilson

Mike Nisbet

I Build Collapsible Mountains

Best Metal

sponsored by Departed Apparel

Constellations

The Recovery

Autumn In Disguise

A Fight You Can’t Win

Ten Tonne Dozer

Lost In Echoes

Best Hip Hop

sponsored by Young Scot

Madhat McGore

Hector Bizerk

Bigg Taj

Stanley Odd

Team Kapowski

Profisee

Best Electronic

sponsored by Bar Bloc

Rustie

Miaoux Miaoux

Fridge Magnets

Discopolis

Niteworks

Teklo

The awards will take place at the Glasgow Garage, and is hosted by comedian Billy Kirkwood. Tickets are on sale now – £10 via Tickets Scotland (In-store & Online) http://tickets-scotland.co.uk/ or 0141 204 5151

www.vintageguru.co.uk

http://officialsama.co.uk

We are delighted to have the Musicians Union as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

We are delighted to have the Scottish Music Centre as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

Taking place at Electric Circus in Edinburgh on Thursday 2 February, it will detail the selection procedure, fees, what artists are offered in terms of promotion and how they can make the best use of the opportunity.

Guests are DF Concerts’ Dave Corbet [T In The Park/The Edge Festival], Katch Holmes [Knockengorroch], Gordon Reilly [Insider] and Go Events’ Shaun Arnold. The latter organises Scotland’s leading showcase event Go North, and his organisation boasts newcomer stages at Wickerman, Belladrum, Loopallu and Wizard. Also just announced as the final panelist is Veteran promoter Jim Mawdsley. Mawdsley is the organiser of Newcastle’s 30,000 capacity Evolution event, and CEO of the Generator music development agency. “Jim’s vast experience in many areas of the business will be a valuable addition to the panel, and will provide an opportunity for musicians to find out how to get a festival slot outside Scotland,” says Born To Be Wide co-organiser, Olaf Furniss.

“Festivals offer a great platform for emerging acts to reach new audiences,” says Born To Be Wide co-organiser, Olaf Furniss. “This event will provide a unique insight into what festivals offer, and will also give musicians the opportunity to meet the bookers. We recommend people bring their CDs!“

After the panel, the seminar guests will stay at the venue to DJ with records they have selected from Edinburgh’s Oxfam music shop. Everything played will be for sale with all proceeds going to the charity.

www.gonorth.biz

www.dfconcertsandevents.com

www.knockengorroch.org.uk

www.insiderfestival.com

www.evolutionfestival.co.uk

To buy tickets in advance and save money visit: www.borntobewide.bigcartel.com

ABOUT BORN TO BE WIDE

Born To Be Wide was launched in February 2004 to provide a meeting place for those involved or interested in the Scottish music scene. A diverse range of musicians, journalists, promoters, label owners and friends of music, invited to play their all-time favourite records unless they were by Morrissey or Joy Division. Since April 2008 the night has hosted seminars covering subjects such as How To Get A Gig, A&R, Music Management, and Music Photography.

Born To Be Wide’s organisers also host the Wide Days conference and showcase event, which takes place in Edinburgh every April. Both events enjoy the support of the Musicians’ Union.

To find out more contact Olaf Furniss email: borntobe_wide@yahoo.com

gig notes:

BORN TO BE WIDE presents Festivals Seminar:

Thursday 2 February

Venue: The Electric Circus, 36 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1DF

Phone: 0131 226 4224

Time: 1930-2130

£6.00 / £4.50 [MU] / £3.00 [under 18s] + booking fee.

Group discounts available on request.

Afterwards:

2130-0000 DJ sets by seminar guests

FREE

www.facebook.com/borntobewide

www.twitter.com/borntobewide

We are delighted to have the Scottish Music Centre as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

We are delighted to have the Musicians Union as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

We are delighted to announce that the submission window to showcase at goNORTH will open on Friday 27 January 2012. The goNORTH live showcases will take over Inverness city centre across the 6th and 7th of June this year, with over 70 bands showcasing to a broad range of music industry delegates and a large public audience.

“The response to last year’s submission window was fantastic and the live programme was one of the strongest we have seen at goNORTH ”, said Director for Music, Shaun Arnold. “The event has proved a great platform for a number of acts to go on to further success, and the live showcases always bring enormous energy to the city”.

Last year we introduced the goNORTH Festival Tour, an exciting development which saw us take goNORTH back to its roots and support emerging talent across a range of top independent festivals. Our inaugural tour proved a massive success and we are delighted to confirm that our 2012 schedule will include Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, The Wickerman Festival, Summer In The City 2012, B-Fest and Loopallu. We are also working hard to make further additions to this year’s tour and will release full details over the coming weeks.

The introduction of the Festival Tour means a significant volume of artist invited to showcase at goNORTH will also secure additional slots across the touring schedule.

One act selected to showcase at goNORTH will also secure the opportunity to play three top European festivals in association with our partners on the Excite Exchange Project:

Play Festival (Belgium), Freeze Festival (Netherlands) and SPOT Festival (Denmark).

“The Festival Tour proved an excellent addition to our 2011 campaign and generated over 50 additional slots, adding enormous value for our showcasing artists”, added Arnold. “We have worked hard to achieve geographic diversity across the tour and are really excited to have developed the schedule to include B-Fest in Wick. Also, we are delighted to be in the position to offer one band the opportunity to develop their audience and enhance their profile across three European festivals as part of our Excite Project”.

Applications will open on Friday 27January 2012 at: www.gonorth.biz and the submission window will close on Friday 30 March 2012.

www.gonorth.biz

We are delighted to have the Musicians' Union as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

We are delighted to have the Scottish Music Centre as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

MUMFORD & SONS

DEADMAU5

BIFFY CLYRO

ED SHEERAN

JUSTIC

PLUS ALSO CONFIRMED IN FIRST LINE UP ANNOUNCEMENT

METRONOMY

NOAH AND THE WHALE

WRETCH 32

FRESH / LIVE

AZEALIA BANKS

BEARDYMAN

DEATH IN VEGAS

CHIC featuring NILE RODGERS

ETIENNE DE CRECY

TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS

BUSY P

GESAFFELSTEIN

RITON

THE CUBAN BROTHERS

FILTH djs

POLYMATH

COUNT CLOCKWORK

Rockness 2012 (8-10 June) launches with a gargantuan roar as the first acts of the multi award winning Scottish festival are announced.

Topping off an incredible twelve months for the NME Awards 2011 ‘Best Small Festival’ Winner, the three day knees up beside world famous Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands brings together the hottest names in rock, electro and indie, and 2012 is set to be the most awesome yet.

The achievements of MUMFORD & SONS since the release of debut album ‘Sigh No More’ has been a success story rarely matched in recent times. A story, written and mapped out on the road. From a live adventure across India, to sold-out arenas in America and Australia, and from the festival fields of Europe, to impromptu parks on the Railroad Revival Tour in America, each and every town and city that has welcomed the band has been treated to a jubilant performance, regardless of the size of venue. With countless acknowledgements across the Grammy’s, Brits and Mercury Prize, the music of these multi instrumentalist marvels is real, authentic and simply stunning .

Now this band of brothers is preparing to unveil album number two and hit their spiritual homes on the road once again. A little wiser, a lot more experienced, but ready to take their electrifying live show to the masses. Rockness is thoroughly delighted to announce MUMFORD & SONS as the first of this year’s headliners.

Intense and inspiring, to witness a DEADMAU5 live show is to experience shock and awe. A dazzling spectacular of technical wizardry and kaleidoscopic visuals that has seen the Toronto-born behemoth (aka Joel Thomas Zimmerman) garner acclaim from both critics and fans alike, and continue his ascent as one of the very biggest names in electronic music. Famed for his brand of progressive dance that has been shaking enormodomes across the planet, the Grammy-nominated, Billboard-topping superstar DJ and producer is seriously hot property and his rockness headline assault will be a major festival highlight of 2012.

As one of the very best live bands around, BIFFY CLYRO are at the top of their game. A decade long assault on the globe’s live music circuit and a five album-strong catalogue heavy on blistering, fist pumping anthems has seen to that. The trio’s unique sound, brought to glorious fruition on platinum selling albums ‘Puzzle’ and ‘Only Revolutions’ is well honed – a mix of off-kilter tempos, thumping guitar riffage and soaring vocals – and has steered the Ayrshire trio’s well earned rise to rock glory.

Now with studio album six well under way, BIFFY CLYRO are heading to Dores to unleash their seriously big sound in the band’s first ever Scottish festival headline slot. Unmissable!

Speaking about the announcement, Simon Neil, Ben Johnston and James Johnston of BIFFY CLYRO said ”We are thrilled to be returning to rockness in June, and this time we’ll be headlining. The location is amazing and the enthusiastic crowd made for a memorable experience in 2009, so we’re counting down the days until our return in 2012.”

As one of the UK’s most critically lauded new artists not to mention biggest domestic successes, ED SHEERAN’s rise to the top has been stratospheric. A triple platinum album, three sold out tours and a clutch of award wins and nominations – including four that sees him leading the way at this year’s Brit Awards, SHEERAN is hot. This one man, DIY phenomenon blurs timeless song writing with bang current hip hop, and he counts various collaborations including those with grime rapsters Wiley and Wretch 32 to his credit. ED SHEERAN’s rockness appearance follows hot on the heels of a much anticipated and soon-to-begin three month US tour.

Annually topping the wish list of fans as their must-see live act at rockness, it is with huge excitement that Gaspard Auge and Xavier de Rosnay, aka JUSTICE, will be bringing pummelling levels of intensity to the festival. The prospect of the French house duo – whose electrifying live shows have all who witness reaching for the superlatives – hitting up Dores is sure to generate elation.

The now seminal debut album ‘Cross’ saw JUSTICE widely revered as chief dance floor crusaders. Now with the release of long awaited second album ‘Audio, Video, Disco’ – an inspired push-pull friction of lush prog rock decadence underpinned with brutally executed beats – the dance floor is theirs for the taking once again.

In what will surely be the most fun journey of the summer, THE ROCKNESS EXPRESS makes its exciting debut this June and marks the Year of Creative Scotland. This specially chartered train will depart from London Euston, picking up festival goers at Birmingham, Derby, York and Newcastle, before delivering the up-for-it party people to their final destination of Inverness.

Expect a full scale shindig on board THE ROCKNESS EXPRESS with top music, surprise guests, the best of Scottish food, cocktails, games and goody bags. What’s more, rockness Expressers will get priority access on site before anyone else arrives AND a private party! If that isn’t enough, the unbeatable price of £225 is sure to impress. For this, revellers will get a VIP weekend ticket with camping PLUS travel from any of these UK destinations (only £16 more than a VIP ticket on its own), and be boosting their green credentials while having heaps of fun at the same time. All aboard!

Packing a punch of originality, METRONOMY have creative vision and style in spades. Originally championed by Erol Alkan, this Devonshire electro pop four piece founded by Joseph Mount deliver a proper live electro proposition that’s as authentic and compelling as any rock band. Latest album ‘The English Riviera’ was one of 2011’s defining albums and Mount is also the prestigious remixer-of-choice for acts including Gorillaz and Franz Ferdinand, while collaborations with Florence & The Machine and Roots Manuva reinforce his musical crossover credentials

With their shiny, radio ready melodies, NOAH & THE WHALE have moved into mass appeal territory with very good reason. Riding on a wave of euphoria generated by three consecutively impressive albums, including most recently ‘Last Night on Earth’, expect a brilliantly breezy set from these nu-folk popsters led by charismatic frontman Charlie Fink.

WRETCH 32 is one of the UK’s most talked about new hip hop artists. Smash debut album ‘Black and White’ incorporates diverse aspects of the hip hop genre from old school American funk through to contemporary grime and dub step, and guests include Example, Ed Sheeran and Chipmunk. WRETCH 32’s phenomenal success of 2011, which spawned consecutive top five hits including ‘Don’t Go’, ‘Traktor’ and ‘Unorthodox’ looks set to propel further with album number two due for a 2012 release. And he can cut it live too, vocally, instrumentally and visually…as the rockness audience will bear witness to this June!

FRESH / LIVE aka DJ FRESH is one of the most influential figures of the UK’s drum ‘n’ bass movement. Having cut his teeth on the illegal rave and pirate radio station scenes of the 90’s, he went on to found the label BC Recordings and the genre’s most popular website Dogs on Acid as part of the drum ‘n’ bass collective Bad Company. Fast forward to a prolific solo career punctuated along the way with remixes for Pet Shop Boys, DJ Shadow, Pendulum, Grooverider and Apollo 440, plus the co-founding of the seminal Breakbeat Kaos label, and the output of FRESH / LIVE is as impressive as it has ever been.

Topping the NME Cool List for 2011, accorded third place in the BBC Sound of 2012 and championed by the industry’s mightiest star makers, twenty year old Harlem rapper AZEALIA BANKS, is without question, the hottest new name in music. Thrust into the spotlight with ‘212’ – her brilliant, bouncing, dripping-with-attitude debut, BANKS exudes wit and energy while her music walks a tightrope between fruity humour and outright controversy. Early stage position advised!

Following his barnstorming beat boxing onslaught last year, rockness is over the moon to welcome back the stupendously talented BEARDYMAN! As one of the planet’s foremost exponents of all things outrageously insane yet brilliant, Dores will need the next five months to prepare.

DEATH IN VEGAS are back. Richard Fearless is back. And sounding like a man with purpose. New album ‘Trans Love Energies’, recorded in Andrew Weatherall’s Shoreditch studio is a house inspired electronic rhythmical treat. Weird and wonderful lyrical medleys, supremely well crafted psychedelia and sometimes plain spooky vibes, expect bodies to move en masse come June.

Next up…cue disco-tastic fanfare…it is with monumentally huge excitement for rockness to proudly announce that CHIC featuring NILE RODGERS, the funkiest band on the planet, are heading to Dores!

Founded by the legendary NILE RODGERS, these peerless purveyors of booty shaking beats, whose roll call of all time dance classics include ‘Good Times’, ‘I Want Your Love’, ‘Le Freak’, ‘Dance, Dance’ Dance’ and ‘My Forbidden Lover’…to name just a few…promise to deliver what will surely be one of the summer’s defining feel good sing-along, disco dancing moments.

Staying on a disco vibe, albeit the underground deep house version, ETIENNE DE CRECY (aka Motorbass, Super Discount and La Chatte Rougee) is the epitomy of the original ‘French sound’ and one of the best house music makers ever. A key figure behind the French capital’s rise as a leading dance music hub during the 1990s, the quality of DE CRECY’s output remains fierce and well deserving of the respect he continues to generate.

Having recently put out only his third EP, albeit one on Joe Goddard from Hot Chip’s Greco-Roman label, and continuing to rack up countless fans including rockness favourite Annie Mac, Orlando Higginbottom aka TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS’s star is rising. Bouncing in true one-man-band style between laptop, keyboards, drum machine and live vocals, don’t be surprised if the speakers literally and metaphorically get so hot they catch fire (again) by the boundary breaking brilliance of this new talent.

Last time he descended on Dores the party-o-meter went off the scale, so rockness is extremely pleased to announce the return of the brilliant BUSY P for more outrageously good music and vibes. As owner of the sublime Ed Banger Records, home to Justice, Feadz, Uffie, Sebastian and Mr Oizo to name a few, BUSY P’s parties are legendary as rockness will once again witness!

A string of releases played out by the likes of 2 Many djs, Boys Noize and Erol Alkan has brought the work of French maestro GESAFFELSTEIN recognition and acclaim as one of electronica’s undisputed hottest forces. Now aligned to Brodinski’s Bromance label, GESAFFELSTEIN makes perfect art soundscapes for purveyors who like their beats on the deeper, darker side but still with enough danceable allure. Also joining the bill is Newcastle born DJ, musician and Ed Banger friend RITON. With a new album due for release in 2012 with Surkin and alunageorge, following hot on the heels of his recent output at the end of 2011 on his label Riton Time, expect an artist on suitably impressive fine form.

And rockness just wouldn’t be complete without the irrepressibly entertaining and absolutely magnificent THE CUBAN BROTHERS, heading back to Dores for a weekend long mix of madness and mayhem.

Last but certainly by no means least, rockness is thrilled to reveal the homegrown electronic heroes from The Scottish Highlands who complete this first announcement for 2012. Operators of the biggest club night in Inverness and winners of ‘Club Night of the Year’ at Scotland’s ICA Awards, FILTH djs Ross Lyle and Andrew mcgibbon are on fire . They are joined by POLYMATH aka Martin Gowans. This talented rising star whose own tech house productions have featured on the playlists of Radio 1’s Kissy Sell Out, Tiga and Wolfgang Gartner will be right at home at rockness. Completing the trio of talent is COUNT CLOCKWORK, Khalid Hussain & Louis Buick. This duo are the freshest, young talent to come out of Inverness in recent times with support slots to Dem Slackers and Dillon Francis under their belts plus a forthcoming Fake Blood gig. Having reached the shortlist stage of MTV’s Brand New for 2012 and with a track featured on NME.com, the future is bright.

Speaking about rockness 2012, Festival Director JIM KING commented,

“I’m really happy with the list of acts we’re announcing today that I now just can’t wait for the first tent peg in the ground and for the party to start.

It was only a matter of time before we got lucky and were able to welcome Biffy Clyro back to Loch Ness. Since their debut they’ve gone on to become one of the biggest rock bands in the UK and on home turf you know they’re going to produce something extra-spectacular.

Mumford & Sons. Wow. I am over the moon they agreed to play our show. They could have played anywhere but they chose The Highlands. It’s going to be special.

The Mau5 needs no intro. He was close to appearing last year but the good news for us is that the live show has just got bigger and better and he follows in some hallowed steps at rockness as a true electronic headliner, something you can’t experience anywhere else in Scotland. His show is just so good and he’s already got plans to make this one of the best shows we’ve ever seen. I promise you will not have seen a main stage production like this. It’s massive!

Justice is the act everyone has been asking us to book since we started the festival. French house music holds a special place at rockness and these guys are simply the best.

There’s so much quality across the rest of the bill from Ed Sheeran who’s arguably the biggest rising star of the last twelve months with Wretch 32 on to absolute legend Nile Rodgers who brings his seminal band Chic to the main stage in what will be for me a highlight of the festival. The only question remains is can he out funk and out dance the Cuban Brothers.

This announcement is just the start. We have heaps of great bands and djs still to be revealed and the comedy headliner this year is an absolute corker!

So, i’ll call it first then…. Mon the Biffy! Mon the ‘Ness!.”

www.rockness.co.uk

We are delighted to have the Scottish Music Centre as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

We are delighted to have the Musicians Union as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

Scottish Music Centre News

PRS for Music Foundation’s New Music 20×12 – Celebrating Scotland’s compositional talent

January marks the beginning of an eventful and inspirational year for Britain with the arrival of the London 2012 Olympics, however, this sporting event signals even greater excitement and triumph for Scotland thanks to the outstanding achievements of three Scottish Music Centre composer members, Sally Beamish, Anna Meredith and Oliver Searle, who were selected for PRS for Music Foundation’s New Music 20×12, a UK-wide commissioning programme consisting of twenty new pieces of music, each of 12 minutes in length, celebrating the talent and imagination of the UK’s musical community as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

PRS For Music Foundation Composers

Sally Beamish’s new work, Spinal Chords, for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, sets a text by Melanie Reid who broke her neck and back in a horse-riding accident in April 2010, ultimately leaving her paralysed. Melanie’s weekly Spinal Column in The Times is an inspirational account of how she deals with raised and dashed hopes of recovery and how she in turn has been inspired by the many young people on her ward, many of them injured in sporting activities. Sally’s piece therefore, reflects the positive spirit of Melanie and the many other people, including Paralympians, who display such a life-affirming attitude in the face of adversity.

“This is a commission that has made me think quite differently. Melanie Reid’s title idea – Spinal Chords – brings to mind the function of chords within a structure – the importance of harmony as the backbone of a piece. The link to sport, and the Olympics, has opened up all sorts of possibilities and exposed me to a world I know little of.” Sally Beamish

Anna Meredith’s HandsFree enables the National Youth Orchestra, in groups of 16 to 160, to share their thrilling musicianship and creative inventiveness without their instruments, through clapping and beatboxing. Set for flashmob style performances in cities nationwide and as a surprise opener/encore to NYO concerts, Anna shaped HandsFree through workshops with members of the orchestra.

“I’m getting more and more into the immersive and curated side of the music I’m writing. This is a brilliant chance to try something out on a big scale and also a challenge in terms of what’s possible for the players to memorise that still sounds exciting and unexpected.

I’ve been lucky enough to tutor the amazing composers of NYO during their 3 annual courses for a couple of years now so I know first hand how jaw-droppingly good the performers are. I’ve been itching to get my compositional hands on the orchestra!” Anna Meredith

Oliver Searle’s Microscopic Dances, part of the Technophonia project, was written for a new kind of ensemble bringing together cutting edge music interfaces used by Drake Music Scotland – Soundbeam, Brainfingers with Notion software and the newly developed Skoog – played by young disabled musicians and a group of their peers on more conventional orchestral and electronic instruments. His music challenges and inspires the young musicians to combine their individual talents to achieve a unique team performance, a 12-minute musical event that will stir their audience and stimulate them to think again about what is possible, as well as how we define musical instruments and performing musicians.

“I am extremely excited to be involved in such an unusual, but far-reaching project such as Technophonia. I was unsure as to what the final outcome of the project might sound like, but part of the fascination of being a composer, for me, is working in a way I have not considered before, being out of my comfort zone and being uncertain as to what the result of the process may be.

Music psychologists tell us regularly about the fantastically complex series of procedures that your brain goes through on its way to performing music. We must interpret pitches, rhythms, dynamics and articulations from a page of music, itself a type of complex language, then begin to realise these through a number of miniscule muscle movements, making decisions about the attack and sustain of each individual note, before moving to the next one. With or without sheet music, we are looking at others around us, perhaps focusing on a conductor/director, using our ears to decide when to join in with other musicians, altering our pitch by the smallest of microtonal increments and balancing our sound to produce a musical performance. These tiny movements and processes (many of which are only barely noticeable, or often completely invisible to the human eye), seem to me to be a number of microscopic dances between our neural processes and motor skills.” Oliver Searle

Fiddler and composer Aidan O’Rourke is also flying the flag for Scotland with his work TAT-1, commissioned by An Tobar – The Tobermory Arts Centre. Renowned both as a founder member of Blazin’ Fiddles and Lau (3 times winners of the Best Live Act at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards), and for his superb solo releases Sirius and An Tobar, he has also featured on more than 80 albums by other artists, most recently guesting on the latest solo album by Idelwild’s Roddy Woomble.

Starting from the loose theme of bringing the world closer together, as the Olympics does, his new piece is inspired by the first transatlantic telephone cable which ran from Oban (Aidan’s home town) on the west coast of Scotland to Newfoundland. For many years this cable carried the “hotline” between Washington and Moscow!

“This opportunity opens my composition work to a much wider audience. Until now this work has been heard mainly within Scotland. I will be creating most of the new material on the remote west coast of Scotland and am excited by the juxtaposition of it then being performed in London during such a major international event.” Aidan O’Rourke

For more information about New Music 20×12, performance listings and details of all 20 composers involved, please visit: http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com

http://www.scottishmusiccentre.com/

We are delighted to have the Musicians Union as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

We are delighted to have the Scottish Music Centre as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians