TEN emerging bands and artists from Scotland are heading to Brighton in May to perform to thousands of people from the global music industry at the Great Escape – the UK’s primary festival for new music talent.
A diverse range of acts from snarling punks Heavy Rapids to elegant indie trio Cloth will perform at Showcasing Scotland, two concerts presented in partnership by Creative Scotland and Born To Be Wide, the people behind award-winning music convention Wide Days.
The swaggering Snuts and ALLIGATOR are also among the Showcasing Scotland line-up, as are flamboyant 1980s fans Walt Disco, Aberdeen dream-popsters OK Button, singer-songwriter Aaron Smith, Allison Power aka Tamzene and LUCIA, a strongly tipped foursome who will arrive at the Great Escape following high-profile US dates in March.
The most established name to appear at Showcasing Scotland is Glasgow-based Ghanaian artist Kobi Onyame whose meld of hip-hop, highlife, soul and Afrobeat had his third album Gold short-listed for last year’s Scottish Album Of The Year.
The taste-making festival also features a sold-out show by Bathgate superstar Lewis Capaldi and performances from fellow Scots The Ninth Wave, The Van T’s and Wuh Oh aka electronic composer Pete Ferguson.
Born To Be Wide and Creative Scotland will host a networking reception where delegates can meet the acts and others working in the music industry in Scotland.
An impressive performance at the Great Escape, the UK’s largest gathering of people in the music business, can be pivotal to young bands ready to take the next step in the careers, says Jamie Houston, Creative Scotland’s music officer.
“Working with our partners Wide Days, the showcases and networking reception provide an important opportunity for our home-grown musical talent to gain national and international exposure,” Houston says. “Importantly, these opportunities can lead to future income, either through subsequent tour bookings, festival invitations or record-release deals for international markets.”
May 9 to May 11, The Great Escape, Brighton. www.greatescapefestival.com www.creativescotland.com www.borntobewide.co.uk #TGEScot
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