Stanley Odd

Stanley Odd was formed in late 2008 and they haven’t stopped to draw breath since.

They make organic hip-hop for people that get tongue-tied talking to girls and for whom fashion-sense is an oxymoron, telling stories using rhyme schemes about pipe dreams and housing schemes.
Signed to Circular Records in summer 2009, Stanley Odd’s debut single, ‘The Numbness’ (released October 2009) and accompanying video saw rave reviews across both printed and online media, and received strong support from national and regional radio. 2009 was capped off perfectly for Stanley Odd with a headline slot at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations.
Their second single ‘Think of a Number’, released in March 2010, has also received plays from national, regional and online radio shows,with Gill Mills stating she was a ‘huge fan of this outfit and their wordly approach to hip hop – managing to be jazzy and leftfield whilst also pinching your pop earlobe.’
Stanley Odd release their debut album, ‘Oddio’, on 31st May 2010 and are planning a UK-wide tour to coincide.

‘2010 could well be the year to catapult Stanley Odd to the forefront of Scotland’s music scene’ – The Scotsman

Jo Mango

Jo Mango is a unique Scottish multi-instrumentalist and singer songwriter in the new Scottish folk scene.

It’s safe to say Scottish multi-instrumentalist and singer songwriter Jo Mango has had an incredible few years. Since 2007 she has brought her unique collection of instruments and sounds to collaborations with luminaries such as Vashti Bunyan, David Byrne and Devendra Banhart in venues from the Carnegie Hall in New York to a greenhouse in Glasgow. She has co-written beautiful songs and collaborated on tours and performances with Lambchop guitarist William Tyler (aka Paper Hats), Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble, Vetiver, Adem and Richmond Fontaine to name but a few. Her recent writing collaboration with Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake resulted in the fantastically catchy song “Baby Lee” soon to be released on the Fanclub’s ninth studio album.

Her debut album “Paperclips and Sand” was released in 2006 on her own label – Lo-Five Records. That year she and her band played shows across the globe beginning with a live session on USA tastemaker Nic Harcourt’s KCRW “Morning Becomes Eclectic “radio show, continuing with concerts in LA, New York, Australia, a sell-out show in Tokyo followed by South By South West in Austin, Texas. On return, her first single ‘My Lung’ was voted single of the week by BBC Radio 2 listeners.

Since then, Jo has been playing as a mainstay of Vashti Bunyan’s band, completing her PhD in Music and working on what is to be a really stunning second album (to be finished 2010). Producing this nu-folk gem is Adem Ilhan (Fridge and Adem)

Check out her Myspace page here

The Russian Choir

The Russian Choir is an acappella choir. It sings unaccompanied music from the Russian repertoire.

Music for Russian Orthodox services and well know Russian folk songs.
This beautiful passionate music is a joy to sing, and has given huge enjoyment to those who have listened to it.
The choir is based in Glasgow, Scotland and it has performed on a national and international base.

check out the home page here:

Kitty the Lion

Kitty the Lion began life as the singer-songwriter Anna Meldrum, reared at the seaside on a diet of folk and pop.

In this cub stage, Anna toured the open mics and small venues of Glasgow with her acoustic guitar, and sensible shoes because Glasgow is a wet city and cats hate water.
In the next few months and years, Anna was lucky enough to play lots of exciting gigs, including an appearance at Hydro Connect Festival, and a string of support slots with Duke Special.

All this gigging led to her to meet many like-minded musicians, so in 2009 the cub grew up into a fully fledged LION, when Joe Rattray on upright bass, Nick Roan on drums, Callum Wiseman on Mandolin and Sorren MacLean on guitar were added to the line up. This changed Kitty the Lion’s sound from a meagre mewling to an upbeat, folk-tinged roar. 

Kitty the Lion self-released their debut single Lion in the Bed in November 2009 and played a string of shows including The Mill Glasgow, building the bands reputation as ones-to-watch in the new year. Both Vic Galloway (Radio 1) and Jim Galletly (Radio Scotland) named the band in their tips for 2010, and the band plan to release an EP in the Spring follwed by appearences at the Wickerman, and Hinterland festivals. “Boasting a strong voice, intelligent, catchy songs and surprisingly witty banter, there is something untouched and unique about Anna Meldrum” The List

Calamateur

Calamateur is the moniker used by singer / songwriter / general noise-maker Andrew Howie.

Based near Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland, Andrew has been recording and releasing his own music since 2000.

He has released 1 single, 5 EP’s, 2 mini-album’s, 2 full length albums, a collaboration album and curated a compilation. He has been likened to artists as diverse as Elliott Smith, Sparklehorse, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Damien Rice, Guided by Voices, Susuma Yokota and The Blue Nile.

His music has been played by John Peel, Radio 3’s Late Junction, the Scottish Evening Session on Radio 1, Beat 106’s The Beatscene and local radio / internet radio the length and breadth of the country. Here’s what some people have to say:

“…nothing short of brilliantly absorbing…” – Is This Music?

“…bloody good…” – The List

“…the aim is true and the heart is strong in this beautiful little record. 4/5.” – The List

“…providing one of those moments where your head says nothing really out of the ordinary happening here but your heart suggests otherwise, trembling as if touched by something altogether magical….” – Losing Today

Rory Butler

Rory butler was born in Bristol and now lives in Edinburgh and will be doing some acoustic sets at this years event.

From his MySpace page (which you can check out here:)

“I grew up in a recording studio all my life (my dad being an engineer) and so have always been surrounded by musicians. Meeting all sorts of interesting musicians at a very young age was really kl and i have no doubt that i benefited from that. one of which was Iain Archer, who i have even done a couple of gigs with at greenbelt, which was a reall treat! Recently i have been writing a lot of acoustic songs and playing fairly small gigs at festivals like greenbelt and also trying to play at some open mic gigs and stuff.”.

SuplexTheKid

Inspired by the elements as much as by modern music SuplexTheKid are an enigmatic proposition.

Apparently named after an ingenious wrestling move their music sneaks up and traps you with similar efficiency. The phrase from a ‘whisper to a roar’ goes some of the way to describing their shifts from chiming crystalline guitar motifs to face melting howls of primal feedback.

This spacious and echoing music is vocal less and none the worse for it.

check out their web pages here:

Blue Flint

Blueflint are based around the banjo duo of Deborah Arnott and Clare-Louise Neilson.

Their music subtly intertwines the clawhammer and three-finger picking styles of banjo along with beautifully stark but sweet vocal harmonies in original songs and ballads of love, loss and revenge.
Blueflint’s unique sound is enhanced by the contribution from an excellent line-up of talented and versatile musicians including Roddy Neilson on fiddle,Hugh Kelly on double bass and Will Molleson on drums.

Check ‘em out on MySpace:

FOUND

FOUND is the brainchild of art college buddies: Ziggy Campbell, Tommy Perman and Kev Sim.

The band create an unusual mix of garage rock, melodic pop and glitchy electronica, which has just lead to them signing a publishing deal with the highly respected Domino Records.

FOUND began life as an experimental arts collective putting on many weird and wonderful events in art galleries, warehouses and even storage containers.

Their most recent project, an emotional robot band called Cybraphon won a Scottish BAFTA award recently, read about it here!

The Lowly Knights

The Lowly Knights hail from Northern Ireland, and are not your average folk rock outfit.

The six-piece, championing a truly unique sound, which manages to combine the grand-voiced exuberance of the Arcade Fire, Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens with a genuine shipyard sensibility, have more than earned their place in Belfast’s strong tradition of literate, folk pop. Insightful lyrics tackling faith, hope, love and the gut-wrenching doubts which bind them all together, are coupled with gorgeous harmonies, soaring strings and the kind of melodies that keep you humming for weeks.

Last year’s “Rifles EP.” has already sold out and gone to reprint. Their recent release To the hum of distance voices…The Hollow EP is selling fast on itunes, myspace and via their website
Over the past year, they have been privileged to share stages with Snow Patrol, Mumford & Sons, Frightened Rabbit, Iain Archer and Foy Vance among others.

Yvonne Lyon

Singer-songwriter Yvonne Lyon is among the best and brightest emerging talent currently from Scotland.

Her new album, Ashes & Gold has been achieving five star reviews and combines poignant lyrics with strong, creative melodies, demonstrating a voice that can be both fragile and intense. She has consistently drawn and stirred crowds across the UK with her emotive performances.
Yvonne has shared the stage with the likes of Patti Griffin, Karine Polwart, Luka Bloom, Steve Forbert and toured the UK with Juliet Turner.
Most recently Yvonne won the Burnsong International Songwriting Competition and sung her winning song All Is Not Lost at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.

‘just stunning music’ Bob Harris, Radio 2

‘listening to Yvonne is a life affirming experience. She is the bees-knees!’ Iain Anderson, BBC Radio Scotland

‘this is an awesome level of talent that I cannot compare’ Maverick Magazine – 5 stars

‘Yvonne Lyon’s continually developing songwriting sets her right at the top of
the tree’ R2 Magazine

Mr McFall's Chamber

Solas is very excited to announce that Mr. McFall’s Chamber will play at the festival on the afternoon of Sunday 27th June – an international tango special.

Robert McFall’s string ensemble started fourteen years ago as a quartet of players from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, who headed for the smoky nightclubs of Central Belt Scotland in their mission to attract new audiences to their music. They have since expanded to include a dynamic guest list of percussionists, vocalists and other instrumentalists, have become one of the mainstays of contemporary experimental music in Scotland across all genres, and are the string section of choice for many of the country’s leading composers.
They will premiere a major new collaboration at the Queens Hall in Edinburgh on June 26th 2010, featuring long-time musical colleague, Valentina Montoya Martinez, the Scots-based exiled Chilean chanteuse. For this performance, they will be joined by two tango instrumentalists of world renown: Argentine bandoneon player Victor Villena of the Gotan Project and French violinist Cyril Garac of the Paris-based Quintetto el Despues.

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McIntosh Ross

Back after more than two decades in and out of the multi-million-selling band Deacon Blue.

Lorraine McIntosh and Ricky Ross wanted to do something they had never done before, they wanted to make an album – together – and the result was The Great Lakes, released in late 2009 and backed up with tour dates around the country.

It is an album of supreme melodic grace and spiritual purity which combines echoes of the duo’s Celtic homeland with the alt.country twang of the American south – a seamless blend of Caledonia and California.

Check out this exclusive interview as they talk about the album and more…

Follow McIntosh Ross from their homepage, with links to them on facebook and twitter

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Peatbog Faeries

Based on the Isle of Skye, the Peatbog’s have become one of Scotlands best known names in contemporary folk music.

They have taken their own individual brand of Scottish tunes to audiences around the world, from European Festivals, to Asia, Africa, America and Australia.

Descibed as a ‘celtic fusion’ band, they were formed in 1994, and their music embodies many styles and influences, including rock, jazz, electronica, and folk – but their main influence is traditional celtic music…

The band were voted ‘Live Band of the Year 2008’ at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards and have toured all around the globe, with albums such as “Croftwork” and “Welcome to Dun Vegas”. “Mellowocity” and “Faerie Stories”

Listen to them over on their MySpace page…

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Augusta Fireball

After the demise of V2 Records Crash My Model Car, the ex rhythm section of Ali Whitty & Tony Soave decided it was time for something new.

Tired of the new musical trends and sharing the same passion for loud emotive rip roaring music with no boundaries, Augusta Fireball was born.

Named after defunct soccer team Augusta Fireball United, new identities were also inherited in the way of ex players Jonny Leathers & Frederico Moojen. With Moojen’s zealous and fiery yet sometimes gentle drumming and Leathers’ twin amped guitar riffs and heartfelt vocals, the duo sound like a stripped down, psyched out sons of a long lost rock behemoth, they punch well over their weight with songs that belie the limitations that should come with only a guitar and a set of drums. Currently working on the debut album ‘Hell Hath No Fury Like A Bureaucrat Scorned’ they are merging early Americana Grunge with Deep Indie Melodies from this side of the ocean. These guys are full of gut, drive and determination and it comes across in abundance on stage. Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seat belts and welcome – Augusta Fireball.

Check out what the guys are up to on myspace and facebook for shows and current EP tracks

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Kim Edgar

A warm and engaging live performer who “positively smoulders” on stage.

Kim’s songs combine compelling narratives and strong, piano-led melodies, indicative of her degree in English Language & Literature and her classical piano training.
A winner of the Burnsong songwriting competition, Kim released her debut album, butterflies and broken glass, in 2008 to critical acclaim, receiving Album Of The Week twice on BBC Radio Scotland, a five star review in Scotland On Sunday, and a place in Radio 2’s New Songwriters Academy.
Kim has supported and performed with Karine Polwart on tour, and, with Karine, is a member of the new collective, The Burns Unit, (along with six others, including Emma Pollock and King Creosote). Their debut, Side Show, will be released in August 2010.
Described as “strangely uplifting, despite the well-phrased, sombre lyrics” and “a comfort blanket for the disillusioned soul”, Kim’s songs capture distilled emotions, which increasingly wide audiences across the UK, and beyond, are identifying with and responding to.
Edgar’s original songs are often very moving, literate, allusive and expressively sung – and destined to travel far beyond their Scottish genesis. 


(Scotland On Sunday).

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Paul Shevlin

At just 18 years of age, Northern Irish singer songwriter Paul Shevlin is refreshingly modest about his achievements to date.

A number one single on ‘nichart.com’ at the turn of the year with ‘You Won’t Last The Night’, followed by an invite into the BBC to perform a live radio session, yes, it was a good start to 2010.

As Spring arrived, and his peers were throwing everything at their A- Levels, Paul also had his head down, in a back room, crafting his trade on his piano. To come forth was the epic single ‘Goodmorning’, released on 1st April 2010. An optimistic sing-along with swooping analogue synths, sprightly piano and highly charged vocals.

The response was good. More fans, growing credibility within the industry, more radio play including regional Radio 1, and that essential ‘buzz’ developing.

Paul’s infectious piano pop is unashamedly rich in melody, hook heavy, effervescent and quirky. Born into the ‘Reality TV’ generation and swimming hard against its flow, his debut EP will be released in the Autumn of 2010, title to be confirmed.

‘Goodmorning’ is available as a free download at http://www.myspace.com/paulshevlin

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Juliet Turner

In 2005 Juliet picked up an Irish Meteor Music Award for best Irish Female Performer, signed a distribution deal with Valley in America and released ‘Juliet Turner – Live’.

This set the tone for the gigs to follow over the next couple of years as Juliet began to play all her live shows in small venues, with a move away from a band driven sound back to the acoustic guitar and narrative storytelling of her first album.

Juliet released her fifth album ‘People Have Names‘ in June 2008 whilst studying for a degree in Clinical Speech and Language Studies at Trinity College, Dublin.

She has opened shows for international artists such as Bob Dylan, Gabrielle, Sting, U2 and Brian Adams

Read some reviews of Juliet over here

Have a listen to Juliet’s music at her webpages

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Esther O'Connor

Journalists and fans alike recognize that Esther O’Connor is a trailblazer, a talented musician forging the way ahead in the new musical landscape.

Esther has released her second album ‘Right Here’ in the UK on her own record label to outstanding critical acclaim including among others an unreserved 5 stars in the Sunday Express and support on BBC Radio 2 and on regional radio nationwide.

Esther’s past festival appearances include, T in the park, V festival, Big in Falkirk and Free at the Dee – plus many more. Her latest single ‘Lost Innocence’ was again supported on BBC Radio 2, received rave reviews in the press and saw Esther performing live on STV’s ‘The Hour’

Check out her website here

and Esther’s MySpace page here

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We See Lights

A slightly shambolic proudly Scottish dream-pop-flavoured indie band – with good tunes and a lot of charm!

The band can be traced to the “quiet revolution” which happened in the summer of 2007 with Stephen, Paul and Allan recording music with Ric Rogass. We See Lights formed out of this summer with Ross, Johnny, Craig and Ciaran joining to play with the band in January 2008.

They have played with and admired: Ra Ra Riot, Eugenne McGuiness, Plants & Animals, Frightened Rabbit, Coast, Iain Archer and We Were Promised Jet Packs.

Through 2008-2009, they ‘enjoyed and played’, amongst other events; the Wychwood Festival, T in the Park, the Isle of Wight Festival, the PRS stage at the Edinburgh Festival, the Edge Festival, Canadian Music Week, GoNorth and RockNess.

They have three releases to date: We See Lights (EP 2008) Snow in the Sand (EP 2009) and Sky and Ghosts & Monsters (LP 2010).

Have a listen to them over on their MySpace Page

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Monica Queen and thrum

Monica is best known presently as the singer of Lazy Line Painter Jane, the 60s influenced footstomper by Belle and Sebastian.
You may also have caught her duetting with Snow Patrol at the SECC recently, taking Martha Wainwrights’ part on Set The Fire To The Third Bar.
She gets asked to do these shows because of her reputation as one Scotland’s all time greatest vocalists. This reputation was earned early on, through the thunderous live shows with her band “thrum” and their seminal album Rifferama. It was consolidated by 2 critically acclaimed spiritually rich solo records produced by her writing partner and guitarist Johnny Smillie. One reviewer summed them up as a “religious experience”. Future shows hope to capture the fragility of the solo albums with the power of “thrum”.

Check out Monica’s MySpace page here:

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Brian McGlynn

Brian is a songwriter and singer based in Glasgow, writing and performing songs that have a folk-rock feel with a good twist of blues and gospel in them.

From his Myspace page (which you can check out here:)

‘My song writing heroes are Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen, Lennon & McCartney, Marvin Gaye, Gordon Lightfoot, Rev. Gary Davis, Bacharach & David, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Ray Davies, Van Morrison and Howlin’ Wolf. Even as a long-standing performer, I have retained a deep love of playing live to an audience. At present I am working with a range of collaborators both in live settings and in the studio, and I am currently recording some songs which are being produced by Graeme Duffin and Sandy Jones at the Foundry Music Lab in Motherwell and which I hope will become an EP for early summer release 2010. That’s the plan at any rate’.

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Fair Witness

Fair Witness are a contemporary folk duo from Edinburgh, generating words and melodies full of light and shade.

Suzanne Butler’s remarkable voice and fiddle combine with driving, expressive guitar from husband Sandy in songs full of light and shade: their sound has drawn comparisons to Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake with a definite Scottish flavour. Their debut album Captive Audience was released in August 2009.

Have a listen over at www.fairwitness.net

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Iain Morrison

Iain is a singer songwriter and Piper from the Outer Hebrides.

His atmospheric songs were described recently by Rock and Reel Magazine to be “awash with the bleak beauty of the region“

Planet Sound says of him – “Morrison is justly gaining a cult following in folk circles. He specialises in spartan elegies, beautifully sung like Tom McRae’s finest“.

Also “Highly recommended“ – THE LIST, and Hi Arts went on to say “Iain Morrison’s music is an enigmatic and truly original mix of creative elements, that in a very large part is very much his own, and which, beyond its immediate sonorous beauty, has a depth of startlingly imaginative, even surreal, observation“.

Recent 5 Star Review in THE SCOTSMAN

Have a listen to Iain’s music at his MySpace site

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