Latest news with #GaryInnes
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
New winter music festival announced for Scottish city
Headline concerts from Skerryvore, Mànran and Elephant Sessions plus some special guest performers like Kinnaris Quintet will help music lovers shake off the post-Christmas haze as the year comes to an end. An all ages daytime concert featuring local artists will also be part of the festival, as well as The Big Ceilidh on the evening of December 31, that has been held at the historic Albert Halls over the last number of years. Stirling Council Leader Cllr Gerry McGarvey said: 'Winterlight will pull people out of that post-festive lull and get their dancing shoes on for some of the best live folk music the country has to offer, right here in the heart of Stirling at our amazing Albert Halls. READ MORE: 'This is the first festival of its kind taking place in Stirling at this time of year – it's fresh and exciting and means the party will continue in Stirling all the way from Christmas into the New Year. This is another fantastic addition to Scotland's festival calendar and I know it will grab the imagination of music fans from across the country and beyond as we continue to showcase our thriving live music and events scene.' Gary Innes of Mànran said: 'We're thrilled to be part of the very first Winterlight Festival! Stirling holds a special place in our hearts, and the Albert Halls has always given us incredible nights to remember. We can't wait to return and hopefully help brighten up the winter season for many!' Lynsey Eckford, VisitScotland's Regional Director, said: 'It's fantastic to see Winterlight at Albert Halls Stirling join our world-class event line up. "Live music is a great way to warm up those winter nights between Christmas and New Year and to bring visitors outside of the summer season, which is really important for tourism businesses in the area. 'Scots trad music is deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of Scotland. Live events and festivals celebrate our history and tradition, offering an authentic and immersive experience that connects visitors with our people and places." 'Tourism and events are among Scotland's most important industries and the second largest growth sector in Scotland's economy. Their success creates a ripple effect which powers a vibrant visitor economy.'
The National
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Algorithms reviving traditional Scottish music for the next generation
This monumental triumph was aided by a slight cheat in the system: one physical sale of an album can count for more than 6000 streams. This does not take away from the achievement. Conversely, it highlights the dedication and loyalty of the Scottish rock band's fans. As Gary Innes, BBC Scotland radio presenter and frontman of the popular trad band Mànran, puts it: 'They used their fan base to basically support them by buying physical CDs. I can guarantee most of them that actually bought the CD don't have a CD player but what they are doing is wanting to contribute to their favourite band.' READ MORE: Skerryvore on 20 years, castle gigs, global fans and staying true to Scottish roots Innes has proven the might of the modern trad music scene through his ambitious and hugely successful festivals: Hoolie in the Hydro, Lochaber Live and Lochaber: A Celebration. What seems to be at the heart of this success is firstly the willingness to fuse the traditional with the modern, as he continues: 'When you're hearing bagpipes with synthesisers and you're going to a show and there's lasers and there's smoke machines and haze and strobe and all of a sudden you're like, 'well, this could be a dance festival.'' What also drives this success is his genuine desire to provide festivalgoers a valuable experience and honest connection to both Scottish traditions and each other. He energetically explains: 'To me, everything in life is about having a connection and just being nice to people … to create memories for folk, I think, is a privilege. 'I realise that's probably quite a cliche thing to say but, in all honesty, it's just genuinely about trying to create events and memories and moments for people, because that's what it's doing for me too!' Of course, this growth in the popularity of traditional music has not been driven by one man alone (though some may argue otherwise). Streaming, social media and other contemporary devices for music consumption have inevitably played their part in returning Scots to their roots. Later this year, the former ceilidh band Trail West host their sell-out Trail West Fest, which features two nights at the Barrowlands in Glasgow. This band performs a mix of original songs and 'repackaged' traditional music reworked to have a modern sound. Seonaidh MacIntyre, Trail West's bagpiper, guitarist and vocalist, claims that the band's reach would have been nearly impossible without their online presence. He says: 'The fact that you get that exposure – I mean, I don't think that we would be doing gigs in the Barrowlands, let alone selling out two nights, if it wasn't for that.' Despite this, he still believes that live music is the best way to engage with fans and get music out there. He expands: 'I don't think we would be the same band without the live thing. Having a live presence, that's your kind of bread and butter if you're wanting to earn money from music because unless you break BIG time online, you're not gonna make that much from it.' This growth may come at a price, however. The simple truth is that the more English and genre-infused the songs are, the greater reach they generally get. Many could argue this algorithm-driven production could make music less distinctive across all genres. READ MORE: Scottish director's film set during Highland Clearances takes Cannes by storm However, as Innes acknowledges: 'It does feel that maybe you take with one hand, giveth with the other slightly, because if you look at our streaming numbers for instance, they've exponentially raised in the last couple of years with more English material but with the more listeners they are indeed getting to listen to a more Gaelic content.' For those who still fear that social and streaming services are diluting Scotland's music traditions, I challenge you to attend Hoolie in the Hydro 2025 where more than 10,000 young people will be bouncing up and down to Trail West blasting out the 300-year-old Macpherson's Rant – and still argue that algorithms aren't helping re-shape, revive and re-energise traditional Scottish music for the next generation.
Glasgow Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow event Hoolie in the Hydro to honour Billy Connolly
This year's Hoolie in the Hydro, titled The Big Yin, will take place on Saturday, December 13. A cast of musicians will pay tribute to Sir Billy, his humour, and his love for folk music at the OVO Hydro. Read more: Glasgow charity revives veteran football project with Rangers FC The tribute to the Glasgow icon will form the finale of the night, with artists performing some of Billy's most popular songs, such as I Wish I Was in Glasgow and Glasgow Central. Sir Billy was a key figure in the Glasgow folk scene in the 1960s, regularly playing sessions in the Scotia Bar and releasing music as one half of the Humblebums. His renowned banjo and folk roots have played an important role throughout his career. (Image: Gary Innes) Gary Innes, broadcaster, and musician, and organiser of Hoolie in the Hydro, said: "Billy Connolly is a true Glasgow and Scottish hero and his big personality, love for folk music and the joy of people coming together to have a great time, really made him the perfect inspiration for this year's Hoolie in the Hydro. "It's 60 years since Billy formed the Humblebums and 2025 is Glasgow's 850th birthday – as one of the city's great success stories and most famous sons, we just had to tip our hat to the Big Yin." Aly Bain, a famous Scottish fiddler who played alongside Sir Billy for years, will take part in the tribute. He said: "Billy and I started our careers on a motorbike with a sidecar, and things only got better from there. "Since then, Billy and I have shared over 50 years of friendship and countless great memories. "He's a very special man and friend, and I'm really looking forward to celebrating the incredible life and times of my old pal at the Hydro." Read more: Ambitious plan revealed for former Glasgow banking hall Now in its fourth year, Hoolie in the Hydro has gained a reputation as the world's biggest ceilidh and is once again set to feature a line-up from across Scotland's vibrant folk and traditional music scene. The event will feature performances from the Elephant Sessions, Trail West, Mànran, and Beluga Lagoon. More information about this year's Hoolie in the Hydro can be found on the Ovo Hydro website.
