Latest news with #Belladrum
Scotsman
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
BBC ALBA launches talent search to open Belladrum main stage
Following the success of the 2024 talent search, BBC ALBA has teamed up with The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival once again with a new quest to find the best up-and-coming musical talent from the Highlands and Islands. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Open to solo artists and bands (where at least 50% of its members have a Highland home address) across all genres, one newcomer will be given the opportunity to perform on the main stage at this year's Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival. Known for its unique and diverse showcase of music and the arts, the festival has grown in popularity over the past 20 years, now attracting thousands of visitors. As it prepares for its 21st year, with acts including Texas, Supergrass, Paul Heaton, Tom Walker and Natasha Bedingfield confirmed, the team is on the hunt to find the best new homegrown talent to open the main stage at the Hot House Arena on Thursday 31 July. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad True to its longstanding support of Scottish artists, BBC ALBA is supporting the search, providing a platform to propel newcomers onto the celebrated Scottish music scene, as well as an additional opportunity for the winner to record an acoustic session in the BBC ALBA studio at the festival. Cameron Ferguson and band open the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival 2024 Calum McConnell, commissioning editor at BBC ALBA, said: 'While there is nothing quite like the atmosphere of being in the field at a festival, shoulder to shoulder with fellow music and arts fans, BBC ALBA remain committed to bringing the magic of Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival to audiences who can't be there in person, as we have done for the past 13 years. 'Our festival highlights are always a popular fixture in BBC ALBA's summer schedule, and this year will be no exception. The addition of the talent search will shine an even brighter light on the incredible creativity emerging from the Highlands and Islands.' Musicians can apply by submitting a bio and link to their music to tartanheart@ with entries judged by a panel of experts, including representatives from the BBC and Belladrum, alongside an independent musician appearing at the festival, before the shortlist goes to a public vote. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Applications will open on Tuesday 27 May at 9am and will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 8 June. Cameron Ferguson and band open the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival 2024 It is expected that the public vote will open on Friday 13 June on the Belladrum website, closing on Friday 20 June, ahead of Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival 2025 from Thursday 31 July to Saturday 2 August. Belladrum festival producer, Dougie Brown, said: 'We're so excited to be teaming up with BBC ALBA once again to uncover and celebrate the next wave of incredible Scottish talent. This opportunity is so much more than a performance slot — it's a potential launchpad for an artist's future. Over the years, we've seen past talent go on to build amazing careers, and that journey often starts right here, on the Belladrum stage. 'Our partnership with BBC ALBA has been instrumental in showcasing not just the festival, but the creativity and energy coming out of the Highlands and Islands. Fourteen years on, it's still a huge moment when a fresh new voice gets the chance to share their music with thousands, both on site and at home. We can't wait to see who takes that spotlight this year.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Last year's BBC ALBA x Belladrum talent search winner, Cameron Ferguson, said: 'Almost a year on from winning the 2024 Belladrum talent search, I can still say that opening up that stage was the proudest moment of my musical journey to date. The feeling of playing on a stage I had once only dreamed of playing was surreal, especially one so close to home. Thank you Belladrum, you've opened a lot doors for the band and I. We will be back soon enough!' Cameron Ferguson and band open the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival 2024 Belladrum brings together top musical acts, comedy, cabaret, spoken word, dance, drag and even wrestling as part of the annual family-friendly festival. A wealth of new names and popular crowd-pleasers have been added to the festival line up in recent weeks, including The Pigeon Detectives, Example, The Hoosiers, Irish singer and songwriter CMAT, and Scottish folk rock and pop favourites Skipinnish and Tide Lines. Find out more about Belladrum and get your tickets at
Scotsman
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Innis & Gunn begins search for Scotland's top beer taster
Fancy free beer and VIP tickets? They could all be yours – all you need is a love of lager. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Innis & Gunn, the award-winning Scottish beer brand, is on the hunt for Scotland's most discerning pint lover, with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that could land you the title of official Beer Taster. To mark the launch of their on-pack promotion this month, Innis & Gunn have teamed up with video interview platform Willo to bring the job interview experience to life, quite literally, with a pop-up booth at The Social Hub in Glasgow. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The booth, which stopped busy Glaswegians in their tracks, invited passers-by to answer a few tastefully curated questions, ranging from the serious ('Describe the flavour of a pint in five words') to the slightly more frothy ('Let's see you pull an imaginary pint'). Innis & Gunn Pint Pro The result was a hilarious reel of passionate pitches from potential pint professionals. Applicants who impress the judges could be in for more than just bragging rights: successful beer tasters will be rewarded with VIP tickets to Scotland's top cultural events, including Belladrum, Edinburgh Christmas Market, Celtic Connections, and even The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Successful candidates will also have access to new beers and a training session at the Innis & Gunn Taproom. Five beer tasters will be selected for a full year, effective from July 1 2025. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dougal Sharp, founder and master brewer at Innis & Gunn said: 'Glasgow's got personality by the pint, so it made perfect sense to kick off our search for Scotland's top beer taster right here. Innis & Gunn Pint Pro 'We wanted to do something that felt less like a job interview and more like a laugh down the pub, and that's exactly what happened at The Social Hub. 'With help from our friends at Willo, we've captured some brilliant characters who know their way around a beer, and we can't wait to see who else throws their hat in the ring. This could genuinely be the best gig in the country - so get your applications in as soon as you can.'
STV News
08-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Scottish brewer launches search for year long 'beer tasters'
An award winning Scottish brewer has launched a search for year long 'beer tasters'. Innis & Gunn have teamed up with video interview platform Willo to search for five candidates to be offered the position of Beer Taster for a full year, effective from July 1, 2025. Successful applicants will gain early access to new beers and will receive VIP tickets to some of Scotland's top cultural events, including Belladrum, Edinburgh Christmas Market, Celtic Connections, and even The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Full training will also be provided at the Innis & Gunn taproom. The process started with a pop-up booth at The Social Hub in Glasgow, where passer-by's were invited in to ask questions, ranging from 'describe the flavour of a pint in five words' to 'let's see you pull an imaginary pint'. You apply for the next pop up booth on the Innis & Gunn website. Dougal Sharp, founder and master brewer at Innis & Gunn said: 'Glasgow's got personality by the pint, so it made perfect sense to kick off our search for Scotland's top beer taster right here. 'We wanted to do something that felt less like a job interview and more like a laugh down the pub, and that's exactly what happened at The Social Hub. 'With help from our friends at Willo, we've captured some brilliant characters who know their way around a beer, and we can't wait to see who else throws their hat in the ring. This could genuinely be the best gig in the country – so get your applications in as soon as you can.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
08-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Fancy a job tasting pints? Innis & Gunn are on the hunt for Scotland's top beer tasters
Innis & Gunn are on the hunt to find Scotland's biggest beer fan for the role of a lifetime. In a unique recruitment campaign, the Scottish drinks company are searching for a new official Beer Taster. Beginning the hunt with a pop-up booth at The Social Hub in Glasgow - with the help of video interview platform Willo - potential "professionals" were asked a number of questions, ranging from "describe the flavour of a pint in five words" to "can you pull an imaginary pint". And for those who missed out, but who firmly believe their palate meets the brief, Innis & Gunn are also calling on lager lovers from around the country to apply online. We hit the streets of Glasgow to conduct some *very serious* pint-erviews 😉 No CVs. No awkward handshakes. Just plenty laughs and free beers! Want to be our Beer Taster? There's still time to apply - simply pick up a promo pack of our lager and scan the QR code. — Innis & Gunn (@innisandgunn) May 8, 2025 With five open roles, successful candidates will be offered the position of Beer Taster for a full year, effective from July 1, 2025. In addition to early access to new beers, successful applicants will receive VIP tickets to some of Scotland's top cultural events, including Belladrum, Edinburgh Christmas Market, Celtic Connections, and even The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Full training will also be provided at the Innis & Gunn taproom. Dougal Sharp, founder and master brewer at Innis & Gunn said: "Glasgow's got personality by the pint, so it made perfect sense to kick off our search for Scotland's top beer taster right here. "We wanted to do something that felt less like a job interview and more like a laugh down the pub, and that's exactly what happened at The Social Hub. "With help from our friends at Willo, we've captured some brilliant characters who know their way around a beer, and we can't wait to see who else throws their hat in the ring. This could genuinely be the best gig in the country - so get your applications in as soon as you can." Fancy becoming a Beer Taster for Innis & Gunn? Here's how If you're looking to throw your hat in the ring and become a Beer Taster all you need to do is pick up a promotional pack of Innis & Gunn Lager in-store and follow the instructions to apply online.
