Scottish Music Scene
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Scotland’s music scene has been one of the world’s most vibrant for the past fifty years.
Ground-breaking artists, unique events and venues, and passionate, enthusiastic audiences make the country in tune with every type of music.
The musicians
Franz Ferdinand, Cavin Harris, KT Tunstall, Paolo Nutini and The Fratellis are the latest Scottish headliners to rock the world.
They’re not the first and they won’t be the last. Their forerunners have included Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, Texas, Travis, Jesus and Mary Chain, Orange Juice, and Primal Scream.
Meanwhile, warming up in the wings are The Twilight Sad, King Creosote, The Dykeenies, Frightened Rabbit, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Sandi Thom, We Are The Physics, North Atlantic Oscillation – and many, many more.
The worldwide appeal of Scotland’s singers and musicians is outlined by Satsuki Okaua, a Glasgow-based music journalist who writes for the Japanese music press.
Satsui moved to Scotland from Tokyo six years ago and he says: “There’s a lot of interesting bands coming out of Scotland. Like me, people come here and end up staying longer than they intended because they love the music.”
Meanwhile, Lucy Sweet, a member of Scottish band Lucky Luke said: “One thing that is always surprising is the diversity of music produced in Scotland. There’s a whole range of stuff flourishing, such as folk, which is what we do, as well as electronica and experimental music.”
The live scene
With live music a regular part of city nightlife, Scotland is on the touring schedule of international bands, big and small.
T in the Park has been held annually since 1994 and is one of Europe’s most acclaimed music events. These days, over 120 acts play to an estimated audience of 85,000 over the three days of the festival.
Rock Ness is younger than ‘T’ but is growing in popularity every year. Among other distinctions, the Highland event must be in the running for the world’s most beautiful festival setting.
One legendary 1970s venue that helped establish Scotland’s reputation among performers was Glasgow’s Apollo. Everyone from The Who to Blondie, The Jam and The Clash experienced the ‘Apollo bounce’.
Today, the city’s top venues include Carling Academy, The Barrowlands (often cited by bands as their favourite place in the world to play) and King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut.
Crucial events
In September 2009 the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) awards took place in Glasgow – the first time it’s been held outside London. The prestigious event was hosted by La Toyah Jackson and featured Kelly Rowland, David Guetta, Tinchy Stryder and others.
Much more than modern music
There’s more to Scotland than pop. Classical, folk and jazz enjoy fantastic support and attract big audiences.
Celtic Connections, a massively successful world music festival, is held in Glasgow every January.
Edinburgh’s International Festival is a regular date in the calendar of classical musicians from around the globe.
Running alongside the Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo allows fans of military music to enjoy a unique experience set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.
A support that’s in tune
Scotland’s creative industries make a huge contribution to the country’s economy. Around 100,000 people work in the sector, generating £5 billion and contributing 4% to Scottish GDP. That’s why it’s cherished.
Organisations helping support Scotland’s music industry include The Scottish Music Centre (SMC) in Glasgow, and NEMIS (New Music in Scotland).
Stow College, Napier University and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama offer courses specifically tailored towards a career in the music industry.
It’s that kind of support – along with fantastic talent – that helps Scotland’s singers and musicians make a big noise around the world.
Further information:
www.franzferdinand.co.uk
www.kingtuts.co.uk
www.rsamd.ac.uk
www.nemis.org
www.tinthepark.com
www.rockness.co.uk
www.belleandsebastian.com
www.mullhistoricalsociety.com
www.sandithom.com
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