Official Press Release from The Wickerman Festival

The Wickerman Festival has today, Friday 21st June, revealed a host of exciting acts who will play its popular Acoustic Village this July. Amongst the artists who are set to deliver show stopping performances are Pete Roe, Colin Macleod, Tommy Reilly, Paddy Callaghan, Simon Atkinson and the Foundryman’s Apprentice, Shelagh McDonald, Al Lewis and Zoë Bestel.

On Friday, highly respected London-based musician Pete Roe is set to entertain the acoustic faithful with his honest lyrics and compelling contemporary sound. A long-time Laura Marling collaborator who has also toured with Mumford and Sons, his 1960s guitar style has drawn comparisons to Bert Jansch and John Martyn. Making his Wickerman debut is Colin Macleod who came to widespread attention as ‘The Boy Who Trapped The Sun’ when in 2010 he received critical acclaim for his major label debut ‘Fireplace’. He has recently unveiled his first fresh material in two years.

An act set to liven up the crowds with their folk jazz vibe are Simon Atkinson and the Foundryman’s Apprentice. The super talented singer song writer and his new seven-piece band will perform a rousing set of new and classic tracks and carefully selected covers.

Other additions to Friday’s Acoustic Village main stage line-up include award winning singer-songwriter and ukulele fanatic Zoë Bestel who will return to Wickerman for the second year following rave reviews and ten-piece high energy collective Victorian Trout Conspiracy.

On Saturday, legendary folk rock songstress Shelagh McDonald will take centre stage. The singer mysteriously vanished for 33 years after making two milestone albums in the 1970s. A compelling singer, guitarist and songwriter, Shelagh will be celebrating her return to the limelight with her first Wickerman performance.

Grabbing another top billing slot will be Welsh singer-songwriter Al Lewis who will delight the audience with his signature 70s sound. Al’s debut English language album ‘In the Wake’ was nominated for the inaugural Welsh Music Prize and his songs have been championed by eminent BBC Radio 1, 2 and 6 music DJs.

2013’s BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year and multi-instrumentalist Paddy Callaghan will also take to the stage on Saturday and will push musical boundaries by blending traditional music with contemporary music samples and dance beats. 24-year old singer songwriter Tommy Reilly got his first break when he won the Orange Unsigned Act competition in 2009 on Channel 4 and he’s also making his Wickerman debut in 2013. He recently completed his third album which was recorded with producer Paul Savage and features playing from members of fellow Glasgow acts Admiral Fallow and Frightened Rabbit. Edinburgh-born, Belle & Sebastian contributor Roy Møller who has been hailed by BBC 6 Music’s Marc Riley as “Scotland’s best-kept secret” will also join the billing on Saturday night. Roy is about to release his fourth album, which promises to be his boldest and brightest yet.

Fans of the festival will be familiar with the Ingrid Pit stage, newcomers are in for a real treat as music, poetry and spoken word are blended together seamlessly. Look out for star turns from Kimmi J Mitchell, Roberto Cassani, Dr Escheton, Diddums, Sarah Cassidy, Kevin Cadwallender and Sarah’s Metric.

The Acoustic Village’s Barabajagal Yurt will be the perfect place for Wicker fans to jam and make music with other people. This year it will play host to local artist Susi Woodmass, folk act Stirrin’ The Stoor, drumming and singing extravaganza Move to the Beat and The Hang Project.

Nicola Black, Wickerman’s Acoustic Booker commented:

“Wickerman’s Acoustic Village has rapidly gained a loyal following and we are delighted to once again showcase some of the industry’s hottest new artists alongside a variety of household names. Whether fans want to chill out, jam or enjoy some rousing new folk acts, the Village really does offer something for all acoustic lovers.”

Official Press Release from Garry Gossip of Made In Dumfries

Made In Dumfries are happy to announce that girlband Keep KAM will release a free download on the night of Made In Dumfries.

The girl band, put together but show creator Garry Gossip, is made up of local singers Alana Jane McGeouch, Kirsty Cooper and Megan Callaghan. They have not yet performed together in front of an audience and so have been busy rehearsing for their showcase at Made In Dumfries on Saturday 29th June at the Easterbrook Hall.

The band will release a cover version of a mash-up that they have been working on, which coincides with the launch of their YouTube channel.

For more information on Keep KAM check out them on Facebook

Tickets are avaliable for Made In Dumfries at madeindumfries.com

Calling all Up and Coming Photographers…could you be 2013’s ‘WickerSnapper?’

One of Scotland’s best loved arts and entertainment events, The Wickerman Festival (26th& 27th July), is on the hunt once again for a talented young photographer to help document the 2013 festival. The WickerSnapper competition is offering one photographer a fantastic first foot on the festival ladder with a chance to join our team, documenting the action of one of the UK’s friendliest festival crowds.

Now in its second decade, thousands of music fans are set to swarm the Wickerman fields of Dumfries and Galloway in just over a month’s time, to witness an eclectic and exciting mix of leading artists including, Primal Scream, Amy Macdonald, Chic feat. Nile Rodgers, KT Tunstall, Dexys and The Enemy. (Wickerman Line Up)

So, whether you’re still learning your craft or just starting out on your photography career, send us three of your best photos that show just how creative, versatile and skilled you are…and a festival photographers pass could be winging its way to you. Our winner will be announced on 10th July and all photographs captured will be showcased following the festival. For full details of how to enter please visit www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk.

Terms and Conditions

Entrants should submit:

–  A minimum of three pieces of photography which show versatility, creativity and professional technique must be submitted to the festival for review

– And complete the statement “I should be the Wicker Snapper because…” (no more than 150 words)

– All entries should be submitted to [email protected] by 8th July

The winner will receive:

– Access to the festival for all three days (Thursday – Sunday) under an official Wickerman Festival pass

– Camping access

– Meal Tickets

– Their photography used on the Wickerman website and where possible in media (although this will depend on the quality of the shots)

The winner will be chosen by The Wickerman Festival and local photographer Robin Baird, whose decision is final

For further information please contact Vicki Byers at Burt Greener Communications, 0131 220 0003
[email protected]

About The Wickerman Festival

Wickerman is one of the UK’s best-loved independent music festivals and is now entering its 12th consecutive year. With ten stages featuring an eclectic and exciting mix of leading artists, alternative acts and up-and-coming talent, the two day summer party caters for all musical tastes.

It is one of the friendliest festivals in Scotland and with hundreds of music-loving families in attendance each year, there’s a host of cool kids entertainment and activities on offer. The festival site is a working farm in picturesque Dumfries and Galloway; its rolling hills, lush forests and fresh country air make for a refreshing vibe. It is also where the classic 1973 Wicker Man film was made – the inspiration for the festival’s name.

The Wickerman site is a wonderland for adults and children alike with a cinema, fun fair, circus entertainment, grass sledging, mountain biking and array of arts and craft activities scattered throughout its fields. High quality yurts, tipis, cloud houses and spacious campsites complete the magical festival experience.

Every year the festival stages an unforgettable finale, as thousands of fans flock to watch a towering 40ft Wickerman be spectacularly set alight.

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The on-line business world is constantly changing, but over the past year or so, with Google throwing update after update at businesses looking to market their site effectively, it has never been more important to keep on top of your website.

The normal route for many businesses has often been a case of paying a lot of money for a one off website. It may well be an excellent website, it may well tick all the right boxes, and it may well have some good quality content designed to appeal to both visitors and the search engines. But that’s not enough. Not any longer.

Every month Google quietly launches the best part of a hundred updates which constantly change what’s needed. The goal posts have been moved that many times the ball looks as though it’s stationary.

Google rewards regularly updated websites by moving them up the rankings.

One of the factors which Google is now looking at with more critical determination than ever (and probably always will do) is the frequency with which websites are updated with fresh new, informative, quality content, how often they are edited, tweaked and adjusted to provide a convenient and accessible interface for visitors, and how often they are updated to reflect new technologies and features, such as being optimised for viewing on smartphone devices and tablet PCs.

The problem for businesses then is that a “build it and forget it” approach to their website is only good for a short while. After a relatively brief period of time it becomes clear that no further updates or changes are being implemented. Then Google changes what it considers to be best practice, and your website, once so sharp and slick, is now guilty of failing to provide that best practice. For example, with so many people browsing the web on their mobile devices Google is now critically aware of which sites provide the means by which their sites can be accessed appropriately in this way, and which don’t.

The majority of your competition won’t regularly update their website!

But how important is having your business’s website updated regularly, added to, tweaked, adjusted and developed to take advantage of new opportunities and avoid potential new risks? According to SiteKreator.com, “Small businesses who update their website more than five times per month have +300% more website traffic than those who do not.” Could your business benefit from having three times the business it currently has?

The problem is that, as SiteKreator.com notes, “54% of small businesses update their websites less than 0.5 times a month. This includes content changes, adding applications, photos, news items, promotions, etc.” This is simply not enough, and today, in the fiercely competitive and rapidly changing world of online business marketing, 0.5 times a month is as good as doing nothing.

But it’s not just about staying on top, keeping fresh and delivering a solid web based service which keeps abreast of the latest developments and changes. Today, anything other than ensuring you ensuring you add regular fresh content is the equivalent of standing still, and in the on-line world of website marketing and development, standing still is the equivalent of heading backwards.

OK so what now?

The first thing to do is to get your website up to date. Google will be visiting your site sometime within the next few weeks and this is your chance to show it that your site is exactly the kind that should be ranked highly.

Do you have any new products or services that need to be updated or added to your site?

How easy is it for you to update your website? Google doesn’t care if you update your own website or have a web designer do it for you as long as its sees fresh content. Google neither isn’t too concerned how pretty it looks.

Remember – most of your competition will not update their website this month! Will You?

[headline htype=”h4″]Quick Tips And Facts For New Content[/headline]

• Updating and adding new content to your website will consistently improve its performance.

• Create case studies

• Start a blog.

• How-to articles.

• Create an expert Q&A section of your site.

• Try these 30 great content ideas for your website

** Youth Beatz Press Release by Official Social Networking Partner DGWGO **

Organisers of the free Youth Beatz event have announced that “AMELIA LILY” will perform alongside headliner Professor Green at The David Keswick Centre Dumfries on Saturday 10th August. Amelia has enjoyed phenomenal recent chart success following her 2011 appearance in X-Factor final – she was famously voted back into the competition by the public and went all the way to finished 3rd behind eventual winners Little Mix. In September 2012, Amelia released her debut single “You Bring Me Joy”, officially charting at no.2 in the UK. She recently supported Girls Aloud on their sell out arena tour and is confirmed to appear at many of the biggest summer festivals around the UK.

Kyle Henderson, a young person from the events team involved in organising the event said; “We are really pleased with how the line up is shaping up and the reaction to PROFESSOR GREEN has been amazing. We are delighted to have another act of Amelia Lilly’s quality joining the line up. Amelia has been someone that a lot of young people in the region have talked about and is sure to be a popular choice”.

Organisers are advising people to get their tickets early as demand is phenomenal and if you want to see some of the best UK music acts performing in Dumfries, then you have to get your ticket soon.

The event will also feature the amazing World of Wonka, an immersive and interactive learning journey that meaningfully raises awareness of issues affecting the lives of young people. This year’s World of Wonka will involve over 30 young people who are working to put on another great show.

Now in its fifth year, the award winning event is managed through a partnership led by Community Learning and Development Nithsdale and is part funded by Nithsdale & Stewarty Area Committee. Funding for the event has been secured from Young Start Lottery Fund alongside main sponsors Magnox, Unite, Elections Team Dumfries & Galloway, Domestic Abuse and Violence against Woman Partnership as well as Dumfries and Galloway College and The University of Glasgow, Dumfries Campus.

Chair of Nithsdale Area Committee, Councillor Gill Dykes, said, “Nithsdale Area Committee felt it was important to support this interactive event for young people aged 12-25 years. As well as having fun and enjoying performances from major music artists, they can take part and be better informed about relevant issues, services and opportunities. Youth Beatz has been designed to encourage civic pride and encourage young people to be fully involved in their community. I am delighted at the line up so far and congratulate the staff and young people on all their efforts.”

Organisers have promised there are more acts to be announced in the coming weeks. Youth Beatz 2013 remains free to enter, although tickets will be required and can be obtained from www.youthbeatz.co.uk Priority will be given to ticket applications from Dumfries and Galloway postcodes.

** Youth Beatz Press Release by Official Social Networking Partner DGWGO **

We at Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Community Learning and Development Service Nithsdale, have a passion for giving the young people of Dumfries and Galloway something to do through new experiences and opportunities. It is with that in mind that today, we are thrilled to announce that UK chart star PROFESSOR GREEN will headline the event this year’s Youth Beatz event. Following the successes we have had on the past four years in running the event with our partners, we expect thousands of young people to flock to new venue The David Keswick Centre, Dumfries on Saturday 10th August to attend Scotland’s largest free youth/music event.

Professor Green firmly established himself as one of the UK’s most exciting new talents around when his debut album ‘Alive Till I’m Dead’ crashed into the charts at #2. Since certified double-Gold, the album launched four hit singles with ‘I Need You Tonight’, ‘Just Be Good To Green’, ‘Monster’ and ‘Jungle’ amassing over 500,000 sales. Green’s second album “At Your Inconvenience” included the hit singles “Read All About It” featuring Emeli Sande, “Never Be a Right Time” and “Remedy”. The size of his army of Facebook friends – 1.9 million – tells it like it is: Professor Green is head and shoulders above any of his peers.

Professor Green said “I’m delighted to be headlining Youth Beatz this year; I’ve heard the atmosphere is amazing and can’t wait to experience it myself”

Now in its fifth year, the award winning event is managed through a partnership led by Community Learning and Development Nithsdale and is part funded by Nithsdale & Stewartry Area Committee. Funding for the event has been secured from Young Start Lottery Fund alongside main sponsors Magnox, Unite and Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Woman Partnership as well as Dumfries and Galloway College and The University of Glasgow, Dumfries Campus.

The event will also feature the amazing World of Wonka, an immersive and interactive learning drama production that meaningfully raises awareness of issues affecting the lives of young people. The World of Wonka will be raising awareness of topics such as Domestic Abuse, Poverty, alcohol and legal highs amongst others.

Other attractions at Youth Beatz include a high profile daytime guest appearance, family attractions such as mobile ski slope, segways, laser quest, bungee run as well as youth services information, local musicians and community groups stalls.

Chair of Nithsdale Area Committee, Councillor Gill Dykes, said, “Nithsdale Area Committee felt it was important to support this interactive event for young people aged 12-25 years. As well as having fun and enjoying performances from major music artists, they can take part and be better informed about relevant issues, services and opportunities. Youth Beatz 2012 has been designed to encourage civic pride and encourage young people to be fully involved in their community. I am delighted at the line up so far and congratulate the staff and young people on all their efforts.”

We can also promise you that there are more acts to be announced in the coming weeks, so please do keep your eyes peeled! Youth Beatz 2013 remains free to enter, although tickets will be required and can be obtained from www.youthbeatz.co.uk For the first time priority will be given to ticket applications from Dumfries and Galloway postcodes to ensure as many local residents get to attend the festival.

Thomas Nicol, young person from the youth events team involved in organising the event said; “We are delighted to have secured Professor Green as our headline act this year, we can’t believe how far the event has come in such a short space of time. Youth Beatz is a great chance for young people to come together and create something really special”

Also launched today was a new Youth Festival that will run in Dumfries for 8 days leading up to Youth Beatz. A full programme for the festival can be found at www.youthfestdumfries.co.uk – you’re sure to be surprised with what’s in store there too!

S Club 7

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