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12th Jan 2011
Burnsong launches Songwriting Competition for under 25s
Burnsong, in partnership with Mattie Foulds’ Mobile With A Home (producer/drummer for the acclaimed collective, The Burns Unit) today offers a brand new opportunity for young up and coming Scottish songwriters to record their first demo, working with industry professionals in this fantastic new recording studio.
The Burns Unit's debut album, Side Show, garnered glowing reviews upon its release in August 2010, with live performances taking Cambridge Folk Festival by storm, and has subsequently been nominated as one of the albums of 2010 by a number of sources including Ian Rankin, Vic Galloway and Spiral Earth.
Produced by Mattie Foulds, the album grew out of The Burnsong Songhouse 2006, a songwriting retreat for professional songwriters. On the first date of The Burns Unit's 2011 tour, Sunday 16th January, at their Celtic Connections gig in the Old Fruitmarket, Mattie will announce the opening of this great opportunity to follow in the band's footsteps.
"I'm delighted to be supporting three young Scottish songwriters in taking their first steps into the music industry by recording a high quality demo in my new recording studio, Mobile With A Home".
The anonymous competition entries will be judged by fellow Burns Unit members, Karine Polwart, Emma Pollock (Delgados), Michael Johnston and Kim Edgar, and a panel of music industry experts including Scottish songwriter and lecturer David Scott (Pearlfishers, BMX Bandits) and music industry consultant Ronnie Gurr. With funding support from Creative Scotland, the winning songwriters will then work in collaboration with Mattie Foulds to plan, record, mix and master their first professional recordings, which will help them to progress in their music careers.
To enter the competition, which opens at 5 pm on Burns Night, 25th January 2011, young people aged 25 and below should return here to www.burnsong.org where they can follow instructions to upload up to three entry songs, of any genre, for consideration by the panel of judges.
The competition will close on 28th February 2011 and winners will be announced via the Burnsong website in March.
For more information, or to set up an interview, please contact Mattie Foulds on mattiefoulds@mac.com , or visit:
22nd Nov 2010
Burnsong Live at The Scottish Parliament, 27/11/10
BURNSONG LIVE - A SAINT ANDREW'S CELEBRATION IN THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTBurnsong returns to the Parliament on Saturday 27th November to tell its own story through the music it has helped create over the last five years.
Curated by past residents of the Burnsong Songhouse Kim Edgar and Davie Scott, the event will look at song, time, place and environment through performance and chat, exploring the art of the songwriter and the concept of the charmed circle – a space where creation becomes possible / inevitable.
Songwriters Emma Pollock, David Ferrard, Jo Mango, Riley Briggs, Fiona J Mackenzie and Alex Hodgson will join Kim and Davie to talk and sing about their own experiences in the Burnsong Songhouse and the journeys taken by the songs they created during their stay. And because they’re songwriters and because music is about community and because the Parliament is itself a charmed circle it is likely that all eight will join in, sing along and raise the roof.
Doors will open at 5.30pm for 6 pm start and there will be an early evening reception, from 7.30pm, for performers and audience members.
This event is free but places are limited so to avoid disappointment booking is advised. To book a place please contact:
Email: sp.bookings@scottish.parliament.uk
Telephone: 0131 348 5200
Textphone: 0800 092 7600
22nd Dec 2009
Folk Alliance 2010
Our International partners 'Folk Alliance' have announced details of 2010's International Conference:The 22nd Annual Folk Alliance International Conference promises four days/evenings of worthwhile industry workshops, panels, exhibits, showcases, outreach concerts, etc. for members of the international music community. The event provides a networking opportunity for those in the industry to work hard and enjoy themselves while doing so.
More details on Folk Alliance 2010 here.
6th Nov 2009
Burnsong Songwriting Workshop Date Announced
27th Oct 2009
Song Contest Winners Announced
Burnsong
is delighted to announce the following winners of our International Song
Contest.
The
10 finalists of The Burnsong International Song Contest will play a showcase
concert in the Scottish Parliament on St Andrew’s Day November 30th
as part of the finale celebrations for Scotland’s Year of
Homecoming. The
finalists will perform their winning songs to an audience of MSP’s and the
Scottish public as part of a full day of events at the Scottish Parliament
marking St Andrew’s Day. The concert will be hosted by the Presiding Officer
Alex Fergusson MSP and presented by Burnsong patron Midge Ure
OBE.
The 10 Winners are:
Fiona J Mackenzie
The first Gaelic speaking winner of Burnsong, Fiona J Mackenzie is a native of Morayshire, lives in Dingwall and is well known as a Scottish Gaelic singer and teacher. In 2004 Fiona was nominated and won the BBC Scotland Traditional Music Personality of the year. Well known for pushing the boundaries of Gaelic song, she is unafraid of experimenting with styles and genres as well as being passionate about her desire to make the learning of Gaelic language & song as accessible to as many people as possible.
Andy Tucker
Andy Tucker is an Edinburgh-born singer/songwriter. Formerly of The Dead Beat Club Andy is now singing with The Scattered Family - a broad musical collective of musicians from all over Scotland. Over the last few years, Andy has shared a bill with the likes of The Beautiful South, Seasick Steve, Angus & Julia Stone, Ian McNabb, Kim Edgar, Karine Polwart and Martin Stephenson playing everywhere from Portmahomack to New York’s east village.
http://www.myspace.com/thescatteredfamily
Yvonne Lyon
Singer-songwriter Yvonne Lyon is among the best and brightest emerging talent currently from Scotland. She has recently received national radio support and is winning over many new fans with her strong, creative melodies, demonstrating a voice that can be both fragile and intense. Yvonne has consistently drawn and stirred crowds across the UK with her emotive performances.
http://www.myspace.com/yvonnelyonmusic
Roberto Cassani
Scots-Italian Roberto Cassani sings his stories with lots of humor and a curious Scottish-Italian accent. Roberto is a in parts bit poet, a bit troubadour, a bit of circus clown. A superb songwriter and a master entertainer, Roberto Cassani is cheering up audiences nationally and internationally, as well as getting radio play and featuring in some of the most prestigious festivals around.
http://www.myspace.com/robertocassanimusic
Alex Hodgeson
A previous Burnsong winner in 2005, Alex has gone on to perform as far afield as South Africa and Malaysia. He also regularly performs at cultural events around Scotland. Alex Hodgson lives in Prestonpans with his wife Isobelle and two children. By day, Alex is a technician at Preston Lodge High School.
http://www.myspace.com/songwriteralexhodgson
Nuala Kennedy and Ziggy Campbell
Nuala and Ziggy met in the Burnsong Songhouse in Nov 2007. They immediately struck up an affinity and wrote several tunes together during their tenure. This year they have played incendiary sets at the Edinburgh Art Festival and at the Big Tent Festival in Fife. Nuala also accompanied Ziggy in a sell out performance playing alongside his latest BAFTA nominated sound installation, Cybraphon. Both have their own busy gigging schedule with their own acts but continue to write and play together.
http://www.myspace.com/nualakennedy http://www.myspace.com/ziggycampbell
Lisa Rigby
Lisa was born in England in 1974 and moved to Scotland when she was 8 years old. With family roots that are an Afro-Caribbean-Celtic, she describes herself as “ A Scot of the world!” Lisa is currently part of Edinburgh band Townhouse, that was picked as a finalist of Radio Forth's Forth One to Watch competition this year. Lisa was also a previous Burnsong finalist in 2007.
http://www.myspace.com/lisa_rigby
Marie Claire Lee
Glasgow based songwriter Marie Claire Lee has supported among others the likes of Mercury prizewinner Julie Feeney, world-renowned Ojos de Brujo and, more recently, rising stars Mr Kil. Marie Claire currently plays with The Lotus Project and Engine7. Recent gigs include The Edinburgh Fringe Festival Mannifest Festival (Isle of Man) and a live session on BBC Scotland Radio Vic Galloway Late Live show.
http://www.myspace.com/marieclairelee
A.J Roach
A. J. Roach was raised Scott County, Virginia. The relentless touring and recording schedule that A. J. has kept since 2003 has paid off. In 2004, he was the General Category recipient of the Chris Austin Songwriting Award at MerleFest in Wilkesboro, NC. In 2006 his sophomore full-length album reached the number 1 spot on the Euro-Americana Music Chart. In 2007 his song, 'Black Lung' was included on a compilation album that was thrice nominated for Grammy Awards by the Recording Academy, and in 2009 A. J. was selected as an Emerging Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. A. J. currently lives in Brooklyn, NY where he is working on his third full-length album.
http://www.myspace.com/ajroach
Emily Elbert
Emily Elbert joins Anthony as another of the first winners of the Burnsong International Song Contest. Raised in Texas on a musical diet of Antonio Carlos Jobim, James Taylor and oldies radio, 20 -year old Emily has a passionate, self-taught approach to her song writing. Emily has toured extensively throughout the United States, opening for artists ranging from G. Love & Special Sauce to Richie Havens. She is currently a student of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.
http://www.myspace.com/emilyelbert
More information regarding the public tickets will be announced soon.
26th Aug 2009
Burnsong at the Scottish Parliament
Burnsong is delighted to announce, the 10 finalists of The Burnsong International Song Contest will play a showcase concert in the Scottish Parliament on St Andrews Day November 30th as part of the finale celebrations for Scotland’s Year of Homecoming.The finalists will perform their winning songs to an audience of MSPs and the Scottish public as part of a full day of events at the Scottish Parliament marking St Andrew’s Day. The concert will be hosted by the Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP and presented by Burnsong patron Midge Ure OBE.
More details to follow.
Entries for the competition must be with us by September 13th - for more information contact: gordon@burnsong.org.
10th Jun 2009
Songwriting Competition 2009
Burnsong are pleased to announce the launch of the Burnsong 2009 international Song-writing Contest.During Scotland's Year of Homecoming, we're looking for new songs of hope and optimism. For the first time, we are opening the competition internationally and inviting songwriters from around the world to enter.
Songwriters will be invited to enter their song in the 2009 Burnsong Competition via the Sonic Bids platform. Songs can be uploaded between 18th June and 13th September 2009 at www.burnsong.org.
A panel of experienced judges including music and media industry professionals will judge all entries anonymously. The Winners will then be announced in September.
The 12 winners will be invited by Burnsong Patron Midge Ure OBE to take part in a week long residential Songhouse at a comfortable Scottish farmhouse in the countryside Burns knew and loved.
There, the songwriters will be guided and supported by mentor Joe Bennett (UK Songwriting Festival/Bath Spa University) and producer Chris Blanden (Real World Studios) through a succession of tasks and collaborations designed to develop, enhance and extend their songwriting skills.
The winners then showcase their winning songs at "The Big Gig" hosted by Midge Ure OBE, which will be held in one of Scotland's most prestigious venues at a St. Andrew's Night celebration on November 30th. The songs will be recorded and broadcast nationally, internationally and via the web by Burnsong's media partners, BBC Radio Scotland.