Latest news with #KatieNicoll
The Courier
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Who are the 6 best unsigned artists coming out of Dundee in 2025?
If you're looking for the most exciting upcoming Dundee music-makers that you haven't heard of, look no further. Here's our round up of six of the best in unsigned artists who are on the verge of great things in 2025, with all of them already standouts at the city's acclaimed grassroots venues like Beat Generator, Church and Roots. Katie Nicoll Dundee, via Kirriemuir Nina Nesbitt Jodi Said : Heartland Festival, Pitlochry, June 28 2025 Acoustic songsmith Katie Nicoll rose to prominence with a series of outdoor performances that lifted spirits during the early stages of lockdown in 2020 before going on to appear at Bonfest in her home town of Kirriemuir in 2023. Katie subsequently made her own little bit of history by becoming the first-ever host of the internationally renowned AC/DC-themed extravaganza last year. Sadly the 21-year-old was forced to pull out of Bonfest 2025, but is on the way to the Discovery Stage at Perthshire's Heartland festival in late June. Copper Lungs Dundee Twin Atlantic Louder Church, Dundee, May 30 Formed in 2012, alt rockers Copper Lungs turned a major corner last year by unveiling a bigger, fresher sound to go with a new-look line-up. Their latest album Broken Beautiful was released last week. Entirely self-funded, it features 11 tracks boasting big hooks coupled with the four-piece's trademark grit and storytelling honesty. Copper Lungs frontman Darren Lindsay has penned a collection of deeply personal songs shaped by his journey supporting his partner through the loss of her father. The band are due to play the main stage at Heartland in June, and their eclectic mix of pop-infused anthems and rock ballads boasting blazing guitars and synth-laden textures instantly recalls the likes of Biffy Clyro. Introspection has its place in the pantheon of modern-day, arena-friendly progressive rock. Eugene Kirkton Hector Bizerk Unknown Eugene is the stage name of Dundee rhymester Shaun Scott, one of the leading figures in the drill rap explosion that's erupted across the schemes in Scotland's cities in recent years. While the controversial genre has attracted plenty of negative publicity, the former gang member made headlines for all the right reasons last year when he and two friends set up a not-for-profit company designed to help aspiring musicians in their home city last year. His infectious beats and candid worldview saw Shaun land the best newcomer award at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards last year, an accolade he's credited with helping fuel his ongoing drive to keep moving forward in music and putting Dundee on the map by doing so. Vienna Dundee Fleetwood Mac Dreaming Of You Heartland Festival, Pitlochry, June 28 Influenced by American indie-folksters such as boygenius and Noan Khan, as well as some of the greats of soft rock down the decades, Vienna came to prominence on the Dundee scene and beyond last year following the release of their debut single Surviving In The Dark and its follow-up Dreaming Of You. Fronted by Steph Brand, the recently expanded four-piece stand out from the crowd thanks to the harmonious vocal interplay involving her and Darren Lindsey, with Jamie Mayes' creativity on keyboards also making a big contribution to their vibe. They're among the clutch of Dundee names playing Heartland's Discovery Stage next month. David Delinquent and The IOUs Downfield The Enemy You're So Boring Pop-punk favourite David Delinquent recently released Scared To Spend, his first solo EP in five years. But don't be fooled – he's certainly not been resting on his laurels. The socially aware noisenik and his Heartland-bound band The IOUs have proved themselves to be one of the most hard-working around since forming in 2021. The five-piece are currently piecing together their debut album, which is due for release some time next year, while Mr Hennessey himself – to use the frontman's Sunday name – is also planning a full-length solo offering showcasing his more edgy material. He's just dropped a blistering new track on Bandcamp called Trouble, with another punk-tastic EP on the way soon. Ruvellas Menzieshill The Snuts Take Me Higher Mains Castle, August 1, for the Freya's Wish charity First put together in an early form while still at school way back in 2016, Ruvellas have built up a sizeable live following in recent years. Likewise, the Oasis and Arctic Monkeys-influenced outfit have put together a formidable back catalogue of songs that has ensured plenty of interest from far beyond the confines of their home city. The five-piece have been relatively quiet in recent months but are now all set to unveil a new EP recorded with Dundee producer Guy Galactic, aka Kieran Smith, who also works with Fife songstress Nati. Look out for the lead track Skip To The Next Part, which is due out in early July.
News.com.au
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Not much longer': Professor Richard Scolyer's heartbreaking confession in touching interview with Carrie Bickmore
Australian of the Year Professor Scolyer has bravely insisted that he's 'not given up' following news that his brain cancer has tragically progressed. Prof Scolyer, 58, was diagnosed with aggressive and incurable glioblastoma in 2023 and was initially given just eight months to live. However, after undergoing experimental immunotherapy based on melanoma research, his cancer remained at bay for 18 months. Despite his perseverance, sadly, Prof Scolyer confirmed this week that a recent MRI scan had shown further progression of the tumour on the left side of his brain. 'While this may not be the best direction to be heading with my changes, amazingly (to me), I still seem keen to keep living, loving and having fun, whenever possible,' he wrote on social media. 'I feel like there are quite a few people on my team (including my family & friends) and they make me happy and proud.' Speaking to Carrie Bickmore on Wednesday on The Hit Network's Carrie & Tommy in a pre-recorded interview, Prof Scolyer insisted that he hasn't given up hope and is determined to stick around for as long as possible. 'I haven't given up,' he said. 'There're still opportunities out there. That's a reflection of many people - and me included. The fact I'm still alive and the three of us are able to have a conversation gives me some hope.' Prof Scolyer appeared on the show with his partner Katie Nicoll, and during an emotional moment, Bickmore, who has raised more than $24 million for brain cancer research in the last decade thanks to her tireless work, asked the pair to share what they mean to each other. 'Katie is a wonderful person and I'm so proud and happy that she's supporting me as we go through this difficult period,' said a clearly emotional Prof Scolyer. 'Everyone's life only has a set period with one person, make the most of it, Katie, even after I leave this world.' Ms Nicholl added that she's felt blessed to take on a new outlook on life thanks to her partner's refusal to allow his disease to bring him down. 'I feel so grateful to have shared so many adventures with Rich. We'll all take his adventurous spirit and his zest for trying new things, giving anything a go. I think we call all get something from that.' Prof Scolyer has been hard at work trying a range of different treatments and therapies in a bid to keep his disease at bay so he can enjoy life with his wife and children for as long as possible. However, life expectancies for brain cancer have tragically remained essentially the same for the last three decades. 'From our perspective as doctors, we understand the disease from the same perspective,' he said. 'But this type of treatment, giving the drugs before the treatment is removed is a big deal. We know from what we've seen in melanoma, if you give these drugs before the tumour is excised, they have a much better effect than if you take the same amount of tumour route and then give the drugs. There's no difference in the type of treatment that you get. 'We saw incredible data that this is much more effective than what you see in novel immunotherapy. From our perspective, we work in this field, it was a no-brainer to me to give it a crack and see if we could make a difference using this technique.' Nicholl went on to share that there have been some small but noticeable differences in Scolyer's behaviour since his heartbreaking second diagnosis that they recently shared with the public. 'He's a doer when he sees a challenge or something to be done,' she shared. 'All through last year … I didn't see much difference to the old Richard. Since the recurrence … it's just the little memory things that have been a bit more challenging. A bit of tiredness. It's nice to be able to see Richard still give back, get involved, advocate.' The Australian of the Year recipient went to on to admit that he's full aware and has come to the point of acceptance with knowing that he has little time left. 'I know that I'm not going to be alive longer … to get out to two years, I feel proud that's happened, and I want to make a difference,' he added. 'There are other parts of my life that I love, and I haven't been able to spend as much time in. But other things have been turned around; spending time with Katie and the kids, that's been fantastic.' To mark the 10-year anniversary of Bickmore's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer charity, the radio star is relaunching the fundraising campaign by taking on one of her biggest personal challenges yet: the Big 5 Marathon in South Africa.
