Help Musicians Scotland Reveal series of Launch Events spanning the country

With fundraising gigs, talks and advice sessions covering subjects such as mental health and how to break into the industry, the ROOTED IN SCOTLAND events take place in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Dumfries and Perth between 31 January – 2 February 2018.

The series gets underway with the launch of the Music Business School in Glasgow on 31 January offering attendees the chance to hear from industry specialists including BBC, Nude Records and Music Glue.

As part of the 25^th anniversary Celtic Connections festival, a special event for Showcase Scotland artists will cover a full day of sessions, panels and information for Scottish artists looking to maximise their international careers. The event includes participants including Woodford Festival in Australia and Philadelphia Folk Festival.

Set to highlight a hot topic in music right now, the Scottish Music Industry Association and Citizen M will run a Glasgow Music Tourism event with aims to offer valuable insights for music professionals to maximise opportunities to connect with the industry. The event will also feature an acoustic set fromTeenCanteen’s Carla Easton. 

The ROOTED IN SCOTLAND celebrations continue in Perth College as the staff and students host a panel discussion around support for musicians featuring Scottish songwriter Jamie McGeehan. Dumfries Music Conference will host a special fundraising gig in celebration of the HMScotland launch with Dumfries acts including North Atlas, The Lutras, Tiderays and Frozen Shores.

In celebration of Born To Be Wide’s 14^th birthday, Scott Hutchinson of Frightened Rabbit will feature at the Highway to Health event in Edinburgh in conversation with founder Olaf Furniss. Born To Be Wide will mark their Glasgow debut with the Preparing for Industry Events session featuring XpoNorth and Emme Woods.  

HMScotland is delighted to support DRYve with one event in Dundee and launch their new offer in Glasgow. DRYve is a pioneering, monthly live music event which offers a place for people in recovery to enjoy live music in an alcohol and drug-free environment. Hip-hop artist Loki and folk artist Sacred Heart, winner of the SAY Award 2017 will perform at events on 1 and 2 February.

HMScotland is also delighted to be working in partnership with Independent Venue Week, the UK wide celebration of Grassroots Music Venues and Sneaky Pete’s for five shows at this iconic venue in Edinburgh, including artists, King Creosote, The Van T’s, The Ninth Wave and Callum Easter.

See more information on all ROOTED IN SCOTLAND events at www.rootedinscotland.org.uk.

Everyone is invited to participate in the ROOTED IN SCOTLAND events programme from music fans, creatives, volunteers, fundraisers, donors or those who simply want to hear more about HMScotland.   The more people that get involved, the more we can do to ensure a thriving musical landscape across the nation. If you want to get involved, find out more by getting in contact with David Culbert, Development Officer at David.Culbert@helpmusicians.org.uk.

All the money raised at these events will be reinvested in Scotland. Ensuring HMScotland can provide bespoke programmes of support, advice and campaigns including health and welfare and career support grants.

Claire Gevaux, Director of Help Musicians Scotland said: “I’m delighted that we’ve made such great partnerships already in Scotland as is demonstrated by all the events taking place as part of our ROOTED IN SCOTLAND series. These events from Dundee to Perth and Edinburgh to Dumfries will raise awareness of HMScotland so that we can reach more musicians and those working in the industry. Please do go along to support your local event, help us fundraise and find out more about HMScotland.”

Michael Nicholson, Dumfries Music Conference said: “We’re very much behind what HMScotland does and stands for as an organisation, so we’re very honoured to be partnering with the charity for the ROOTED IN SCOTLAND launch. The work that they do to provide a support network for the music industry is invaluable. We hope this will be the start of many collaborations in the future, but for now we’re looking forward to an almighty line-up of local bands in Dumfries on February 1.”

Lisa Whytock, Producer of showcase Scotland Expo: “We are delighted that Help Musicians will have a permanent office in Scotland and to be partnering with them to deliver an ‘Artists Day’ during Celtic Connections which will offer key and vital information to musicians. Help Musicians Scotland is a brilliant organisation and we really feel they will be a very welcome addition to the music scene in the nation.”

Dougal Perman, Chair, Scottish Music Industry Association: “The Scottish Music Industry Association is excited about the official launch of Help Musicians Scotland. Having worked with HMUK on the SAY Award in 2017, the SMIA is looking forward to hosting a networking evening focusing on the collaborative potential for developing music tourism in Glasgow as part of HMScotland’s ROOTED IN SCOTLAND series. We think HMScotland’s work will be a valuable addition to the portfolio of organisations working to nourish and develop the music industry in Scotland.”

Olaf Furniss, Born To Be Wide Founder said: “When we set up Born To Be Wide in 2004 it was to help the Scottish music scene and those working in it. It’s great to be celebrating our fourteenth birthday with Help Musicians Scotland.”

The heart of the launch is the ROOTED IN SCOTLAND gig headlined by Scottish heroes Idlewild with initial ticket allocation selling out in less than two hours last week. Today, a very limited 50 tickets are being released, available via Ticketmaster.

The launch gig, which will see Idlewild make a return to King Tut’s in Glasgow for the first time in a decade, also features performances from Scottish musicians Be Charlotte, Indigo Velvet and SKJØR, all who have been directly supported by HMScotland in the past.

Be Charlotte said: “It’s a privilege to have been invited to help celebrate Help Musicians Scotland and all the brilliant work the charity does.  I have been fortunate enough to work with Help Musicians programming a schools tour for 2018 and I look forward to all the exciting events taking place with Rooted in Scotland.”

Indigo Velvet said: “We’re delighted to be performing at Help Musicians Scotland launch gig at King Tut’s on 1 February. We’ve already received a lot of support, financial help, and general advice via their IGNITE project and can’t wait to see what 2018 will bring. The line-up is class at one of our favourite venues too!”

SKJØR said: “We are really excited to be involved in the Rooted In Scotland launch with Help Musicians Scotland, alongside some of our favourite Scottish bands. We love how strong the music scene in Scotland is at the moment and are buzzing to be a part of it. Help Musicians Scotland provided SKJØR with the opportunity to play a great industry showcase at Saint Luke’s in Glasgow, which has given us the confidence to start building the band’s profile across the UK.”