Published: 18 Apr 2017
Eight top Scottish acts - Be Charlotte, Emme Woods, Saint PHNX, Shogun, Spinning Coin, TeenCanteen, The LaFontaines and The Van T’s – will perform at two Showcasing Scotland concerts supported by Creative Scotland at The Great Escape 2017.
One of the most important platforms for new music in the world, the festival and music convention (18-20 May) attracts over 3,500 attracts key industry figures on the hunt for new talent, including high-profile festivals looking to book acts, agents, label executives, promoters, and media.
Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland commented: “Creative Scotland is delighted to be working closely with The Great Escape to present this year’s showcases. Every May, the eyes and ears of the music industry turn towards Brighton, where the festival has become a fantastic springboard to launch emerging talent into European territories and beyond. The Scottish acts on the bill are at the top end of 2017’s ones-to-watch lists and cover an impressive range of styles and genres. This is a partnership that will deliver a tangible boost for music-making in Scotland.”
The 2017 line-up demonstrates a diverse mix of styles from pop, indie, rock, grime and hip-hop offering up grungy guitars, sparkling synths, sugar-pop harmonies, catchy choruses and raw lyrics.
Creative Scotland and Born to be Wide will host an international networking reception which will allow Scotland’s music industry and musicians to meet with invited international guests from all areas of the music industry. Wide Days, taking place from 20-21 April 2017 and delivered by Born to be Wide, was voted Best Networking Event at The Great Escape.
Michael Lambert, Born To Be Wide, Director commented: “We are delighted to be working with Creative Scotland to present the Scottish networking reception at the Great Escape festival in Brighton. For many acts who have performed at Wide Days, including Fatherson, Honeyblood, Elle Exxe, Be Charlotte and The Van T’s, The Great Escape is the next stop and we are pleased to be able to provide a focal point to connect Scottish musicians and music businesses, with the international industry.”
The Showcasing Scotland concerts, hosted by BBC Radio Scotland’s Vic Galloway, will take place on Thursday 18 May and Friday 19 May at Brighthelm, Brighton:
Thursday 18 May (12:00-16:00), Brighthelm:
12:30: Emme Woods
13:30: The LaFontaines
14:30: The Van T’s
15:30: Be Charlotte
Friday 19 May (12:00-16:00), Brighthelm:
12:15: TeenCanteen
13:15: Saint PHNX
14:15: Shogun
15:15: Spinning Coin
These shows will take place in addition to the artists’ official Great Escape showcases and will offer those attending additional opportunities to see the Scottish artists perform. The Great Escape 2017 will also see performances from Edinburgh’s Callum Beattie: http://callumbeattie.co.uk
ENDS
For further information about The Great Escape please visit www.greatescapefestival.com. Follow the festival on Twitter #TGEScot www.twitter.com/thegreatescape and on Facebook www.facebook.com/greatescapefestival
Creative Scotland is the national development agency for the arts, screen and creative industries. www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/creativescotland
Born To Be Wide stages music business seminars, the award-winning Wide Days convention/showcase and the Off The Record youth events. The company also organises bespoke talks and workshops for other conferences, festivals and organisations. www.borntobewide.co.uk. Follow Born to be Wide on Twitter www.twitter.com/borntobewide and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/borntobewide
Band Information:
Be Charlotte
Be Charlotte is fronted by 19-year-old singer-songwriter and digital producer Charlotte Brimner from Dundee. Multi-instrumentalist James Smith and drummer David Calder complete the band. Be Charlotte is widely regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in Scottish contemporary music. Her songwriting prowess and impeccable vocals have led to international tours of the US and South East Asia. The bands pop melodies, inventive use of instruments and digital composition combine to create a unique and captivating sound that has seen Be Charlotte pick up various awards including Tay FM's Best Newcomer 2015, BBC Introducing 'Ones to Watch' 2016, Best Electronic Act at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards 2016 and the Big Apple award at the Nordoff Robbins Scottish Music Awards 2016.
Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens has championed her and made the track Drawing Windows his Tip of the Week; Tom Robinson has played the same track on his 6Music Saturday night show. Be Charlotte has officially released four singles to date, with Machines that Breath receiving over 50,000 plays on Spotify.
W: www.iambecharlotte.com
T: www.twitter.com/iambecharlotte
FB: www.facebook.com/iambecharlotte
Emme Woods
Emme Woods is the latest project from Clackmannanshire singer-songwriter Morgan Woods. Influenced by Brian Wilson, Jeff Buckley and Stevie Nicks, Woods new bluesy style offers up grungy guitars, sultry swagger and raw, grainy vocals. Woods previously performed under the guise of Something, Someone - a folky, rootsy and acoustic style won her several plaudits and fans. Emme’s music has featured in BBC TV productions and on the soundtrack for the film ‘The Space Between’ produced by Amy Jo Johnson (Power Rangers, Felicity, Flashpoint). Woods has been named Artist Of The Week in the Scotland On Sunday.
T: www.twitter.com/emmewoodsmusic
FB: www.facebook.com/EmmeWoodsMusic
Saint PHNX
Enigmatic brothers Stevie (vocals and guitar) and Alan Jukes (drums) from Wishaw make up Saint PHNX. Soaring pop hooks, driving hip hop drums and catchy choruses combine to produce anthemic indie rock influenced by the sounds of Kasabian, Imagine Dragons and X Ambassadors. Their debut tracks 'Reload' (2016), 'King' (2016) and 'Rise' (2016) have amassed over 5,000,000 streams and seen support from Clash, BBC Introducing, Tenement TV and Q Magazine amongst many others.
W: www.saintphnx.com
T: www.twitter.com/saintphnx
FB: www.facebook.com.saintphnx
Shogun
Shogun, Scotland’s first grime artist, is making waves on the UK scene. Producing raw lyrics and a catchy flow, 19-year-old Joe Heron’s (aka Shogun) 2016 freestyle video "Vulcan" has racked up over 2m views on YouTube. Rapping about addiction, depression and, importantly, hope, Shogun’s lyrics are deeply connected to his upbringing in Ferguslie Park, one of Scotland’s most deprived areas. Shogun has had his very own BBC documentary and has been named amongst The FADER’s ‘11 MCs From Across The UK’.
W: www.soundcloud.com/shogun_official
T: www.twitter.com/shogan_sama
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Shogun.MFTM/
Spinning Coin
Vocals and guitar from Jack Mellin and Sean Armstrong combine with Cal Donnelly on bass and Chris White on drums to create an effortless cool vibe from Spinning Coin. Dreamy vocals, swaying sounds and scuzzy guitars make their ramshackle indie pop sound. The Glasgow quartet have long been on the scene, playing for and writing in various bands including The Yawns, Passion Pusher and Velma Helma. Their hit single Albany was released in 2016 via Geographic Music, Glasgow based offshoot of Domino, followed by second single Raining On Hope Street’s release in February 2017. The group’s debut album, recorded with Edwyn Collins, is set for release on Geographic/Domino later this year. They have performed in session with BBC Radio 6 Music’s Marc Riley and were selected to showcase at SXSW 2017.
T: www.twitter.com/spinning_coin
FB: www.facebook.com/Spinning-Coin
TeenCanteen
TeenCanteen are an all girl-band from Glasgow. Carla Easton (vocals/Keys), Sita Pieraccini (Bass/Vovals), Chloe Philip (Guitar/Vocals) and Debbie Smith (Drums). Sticky cherry-cola kissed three part harmonies backed by talking toms and stomping beats in a new Wall of Sound. Sparkling synth sounds, driving drums, classic three-part harmonies and pure pop songwriting, TeenCanteen released their debut album 'Say It All With A Kiss' on Last Night From Glasgow to critical acclaim in 2016. April 2017 TeenCanteen released the 'Sirens EP'. Polyphonic melodies and studio experimentation with stacked harmonies at their core, TeenCanteen's songs are melancholic epics packed into 3 minute synth driven mini dramas. Championed by Marc Riley, TeenCanteen have continued to build upon their success playing to packed out shows across many of the UK's key festivals – Kendal Calling, Festival No. 6, T in The Park, Electric Fields and more. Sonic sisterhood - powerful polished pop with a post-punk ethos at its very heart.
W: www.teencanteen.co.uk
T: https://twitter.com/TeenCanteen
FB: www.facebook.com/TeenCanteen
The LaFontaines
Throughout their relatively short career so far, The LaFontaines - Kerr Okan (lead vocals), Jamie Keenan (drums, vocals), John Gerard (bass, vocals), Iain Findlay (guitar), and Darren McCaughey (guitar, keyboard) - have already notched up a fine array of achievements - a Main Stage performance at T in the Park Festival, a Top 10 album in Scotland, Sold out headline shows at Glasgow ABC and Barrowlands, U.K, European and US headline dates and an award for Best Live Act - and that's just for starters! 2016 alone saw the band support The Summer Set, play a stand out Main Stage set at Belladrum Festival, knock it out the park at Club NME in London, plus they performed at UK mainstay festivals Secret Garden Party and 2000 Trees. Support slots and tours with the likes of All Time Low, Twin Atlantic, Anderson. Paak, Eliza and the Bear and American rapper Watsky have featured in the last couple of years and the band have even performed a show in the middle of New York's Central Park! Their debut album, 'Class', (produced by Matt O'Grady - You Me at Six, Don Broco) charted in the UK Top 100, Scottish Top 10 and reached #1 in the UK indie breakers chart. The band has had UK wide coverage across the likes of Radio 1, XFM, Radio X, Kerrang!, Clash, RockSound, The 405 and The Sun and even managed to fit in a limited edition release of a AA side single for Record Store Day 2016.
W: www.thelafontaines.co.uk
T: www.twitter.com/TheLaFontaines
FB: www.facebook.com/thelafontainesmusic
The Van T’s
Twin sisters Chloe and Hannah Van Thompson (vocals, guitar) join Joanne Forbes (bass) and Shaun Hood (drums) to make up Glaswegian surf-rock band ‘The Van Ts’. Rapturous surf-pop with rock swagger balanced by sugar-pop harmonies have won over numerous fans already. With influences ranging from First Aid Kit to Wolf Alice, this quartet are the new smell of teen spirit. The release of their EP A Coming of Age last year has won critical acclaim. With premiers on Huw Stephens’ BBC Radio Introducing show, Noisey, Consequence of Sound, Clash Magazine and a slot on Spotify’s ‘Hot New Bands’ playlist, causing the band’s name to resonate from the UK to the US and beyond. Having supported Yuck, Sunflower Bean and Rat Boy, the band went on to headline T in the Park’s BBC Introducing stage and gain slots at Electric Fields, Stag & Dagger and Twisterella where they picked up further support from the likes of The Scotsman, Beat Surrender, Backseat Mafia, Amazing Radio and BBC Introducing Scotland.
W: https://soundcloud.com/thevants
T: www.twitter.com/the_vants
FB: www.facebook.com/TheVanTs
Media Contact
Sophie Bambrough
Media Relations & PR Officer
Creative Scotland
E: sophie.bambrough@creativescotland.com
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