A Carronbridge record producer is giving the region’s young people a rare chance to break into the quagmire of the UK music industry.
Professional musician, music tutor and published songwriter, Robert Maitland, is co-owner of the Smart Indie record label. He will be holding two workshops for aspiring young songwriters during the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival and will be giving them a chance to pitch a song to his label.
Robert said: “There are so many talented kids in the region and I wanted to give them something substantial. By offering a chance to pitch a song to my label, will allow young songwriters to embark on a real commercial project and, hopefully, get a foot in the door of the UK and even the international music industries.”
The events are part of the on-going Burnsong phenomenon, a Scotland-wide songwriting body that started in Dumfries and Galloway which is dedicated to developing and promoting the art of contemporary songwriting in all its many forms.
Chaired by leading music promoter and journalist, Ronnie Gurr, the project has been supported by some of Scotland’s best known and loved songwriters from a wide range of musical backgrounds, including Midge Ure; Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake; Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble; award-winning folk singers Emily Smith and Karine Polwart; plus The Fence Collective’s King Creosote and Indo-Caledonian popster Future Pilot AKA.
“Bursong has been going for a number of years and has an excellent track record for promoting and developing music to young people,” Robert explained. “But for 2015, we wanted to do something more innovative. Something that young people can relate to.”
Robert will be holding two Music Beats workshops: the first at the Oasis Youth Centre on Saturday, May 23, and the next day at A’ the Airts community arts centre in Sanquhar, on Sunday, May 24. Each will be followed by a live gig starring the participants.
“The workshops will teach young people how to put together an electronic press kit with all its important component parts and how to stand out from the crowd,” Robert explained.
“It’s all about getting into the guts of the music industry and learning some good tips from an experienced songwriter: someone who’s been there, pitched thousands of songs and has been successfully published.”
Robert began the Smart Indie record label with co-founder Phil Shaw in order to help quality musicians break into the industry. The pair have a five-year plan to build on their good reputation and put artists in touch with the right contacts.
Artists already signed to the label include Lauren Dalgleish, whose debut album Red Brick Road was recently Celtic Music Radio’s album of the week; Dumfries band Barstow Bats; London top-selling group Narrow Plains; jazz singer Lorna Reid; Carlisle-based Hardwick Circle; Dutch artist Maaike Siegerist; Thornhill rising star Deri Ronan; and young Nithsdale musicians Ava Bowie and Eve Watson.
Places on these free workshops are available for young singers, musicians and bands aged 16-25. Anyone interested in attending is asked to contact Robert on 01848 330575 or email him at [email protected]
Tickets for the gigs in Dumfries (the Venue nightclub) and Sanquhar (A’ the Airts) are available from the venues or the Midsteeple festival box office, Dumfries, on 01387 253383.
CAPTION: Robert Maitland with some of his young protégées.
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