Gigs + Events



Face the Music Festival 2023

Wow - what an awesome afternoon of music at our second festival!
From Bagpipes to Bach, from Songwriters to Soul, plus audience participation along with the Drummers + talented musicians in the intervals too.
You can read audience feedback below, and share your own feedback here.
You can also find out more about the performers below - and watch this space for news of our next event soon!!











Lochee Linties

Lochee Linties is a community singing group based at Mulligan Court in Lochee. The group have been active for around ten years and enjoy singing at various events in the local community. We recently sang on BBC Radio Scotland live from the V&A to celebrate the opening of Tartan exhibition and were the subject of an episode of "It's a small world" with Anna Massie, also on Radio Scotland.

The main aims of the group are to promote physical activity and mental wellbeing and to have fun!

Lochee Linties on FB



Got Soul Choir

The Dundee Got Soul Choir was formed in 2016 to help get people out of isolation and loneliness. More than just a choir, we are like family, a safe space with camaraderie and friendship.

We are fully inclusive and accept everyone and anyone, whether they feel they can sing or not! We also socialise more than at choir time, with nights out and social events too.



RockSolid Drummers

Since August 2022, the RockSolid project has hosted drumming every Monday morning for their Young at Heart group. We have learned a variety of rhythms on bongo and djembe drums, and played these while singing familiar songs. We enjoy playing together, and our confidence (and volume) has grown greatly.

We look forward to playing our first gig in June - and will invite you to join in with us during the show!

RockSolid on FB



Dundee Community Youth Orchestra

The Dundee Community Youth Orchestra is a project for school leavers up to age 26. The Orchestra’s aims are to provide an environment that allows young adult musicians to continue to enjoy all that comes from playing music together after leaving school.

The Orchestra is new and is still growing with around 10 members to date, our aim is play a variety of music, have fun and continue to improve with the direction of our Musical Director Meirion Jordan.

Dundee CYO website
Dundee CYO on FB



Be Charlotte

Be Charlotte has a fierce sense of identity, a quiet assertiveness , and a rare talent which makes heads turn and draws you in to her songs. Since starting to find her voice as a teenager with an acoustic guitar in Dundee, she has taken on the pop world touring Europe, North America and Asia as well as sharing the stage with Lewis Capaldi, Tom Walker, Laura Mvula, Major Lazer and Frightened Rabbit.

In 2022 Be Charlotte founded Enough Records, a label focussed on spotlighting talented women and gender minorities. There are currently two artists signed to the label and Charlotte is dedicated to helping them navigate their first steps in the industry. She’s passionate about artist development as well as overseeing art direction and music production.

Be Charlotte website
Be Charlotte on FB



Jodie Rae

Jodie Rae is a singer-songwriter, musician, and actor from the West Coast of Scotland. Jodie uses an upbeat, intricate, and often percussive finger-picking style, contrasting with her insightful and personal lyrics. Jodie uses her music as a raw, unfiltered outlet that reflects her own experiences with love, self, and loss.

Jodie has performed as a solo artist across various venues in Scotland, such as Room 2 Glasgow, The Hug and Pint, The Bungalow Paisley, and the DMC PLAZA. She has gigged at numerous events including Celtic Connections, Vibration Festival, and the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival.

Jodie Rae on FB



Rebecca Kidd

Rebecca is a singer-songwriter from Dundee, she says "I have been getting the feeling back for writing music after it fell by the wayside a bit last year, so I'm looking forward to this and the chance to share some old and new tunes :)"

Rebecca appeared at our Songwriters Night #3 in October '21 where she sang her original heartfelt songs and had the audience in the palm of her hand.



Ross Inglis

Ross will play traditional tunes on bagpipes, in full highland dress. He opened our first festival in 2022, and we're delighted to have him back this year.

Ross is an award-winning bagpiper who has played for a variety of events - and several celebrities too!

Ross Inglis on FB



Julia Colgan

Julia is a 14 year old singer/songwriter making her debut performance at Face the Music festival. Inspired by an array of artists such as Taylor Swift, Queen and Harry Styles, she picked up the guitar during lockdown and has yet to put it down!

With memorable lyrics, catchy hooks and songs fuelled by teenage experience, she’s one to watch.





Songwriters Night #8

This was a great night of live original music, and our busiest night yet!!

Demi McMahon, Daniel Richardson and Jack Jones each performed a set of their songs and the capacity audience loved it.



Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: Life experiences have always inspired me to write songs, I love to write songs all based on real life situations which have happened.

Q: Got any good stories about a song you've written?
A: To Be Free - I wrote about leaving a toxic relationship / person, and setting myself free from someone who wasn't as they seemed. Loved and lost a song I wrote based on my day job and dedicated it to patients who sadly lost their lives and also to the ones who continue to battle through their illnesses.

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy, and why?
A: Ahh so many, but top 2 I would say: 1) Eva Cassidy she was a beautiful soul with authentic songwriting skills and again based on real life which I love. 2) Amy Winehouse- wrote songs through her love and trauma and love how pure and raw her songs are.

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand on this?!
A: I love songs with meaning, we all like to relate to songs and resonate when you hear a song and the lyrics the hit home , I love when songs can do that.

Q: And anything else you'd like to add!
A: I am looking forward to performing my own songs that are from my latest album "Rainbow Remedy" - a colourful album with sad and happy tunes that are good ear candy for many. Also available to stream on all music platforms.


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Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: From an early age music has always been a big part of my life. I was always fascinated with bands and performers and so taking that step into writing and performing my own music with bands and as a solo artist was very natural. As a keys player by trade I was influenced a lot by musicians such as Freddie Mercury, Billy Joel and other piano players/vocalists and consistently felt playing was a way to express myself.

Q: Got any good stories about a song you've written?
A: I wouldn't say there is a particular moment or story I can remember specifically. However, for me personally I find that being able to have played many gigs across Scotland and the UK and share my lyrics to many audiences in many different songs is rewarding enough for me as I get to share my stories and emotions with the world and hopefully connect on topics which others can mutually empathise and relate to.

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy, and why?
A: One of my biggest inspirations as a band is Madness. I found great fascination with the 70's ska movement and the two tone bands and artists. The incorporation of jazz, ska, blues and other genres into one band was something I really admired and still do to this day. Other artists and groups I have taken inspiration from in terms of band aesthetic, writing style and performance value are The Fratellis, Led Zepplin, Queen, Paolo Nutini and many others.

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand on this?!
A: From my personal perspective I think both factors are equally important, however what I would say is that the best songs written are the ones where the songwriter is emotionally invested in their art. Whether the song portrays a special relationship, moment or view of the world that the artist has experienced in their personal life, I think the songs with emotional investment/meaning are the songs the audience can feel more attached to.

Q: And anything else you'd like to add!
A: Maths isn't my strong point.


Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: I suppose for me, it's less a question of inspiration and more a question of necessity. And I don't mean that in a self-important way – 'I was born to write songs.' It's more that songwriting is a means of processing and expressing things that I probably otherwise wouldn't in the course of everyday life. Its therapeutic and therefore sort of essential for my mental health. Generally, the longer I go without sitting down to write a song, the worse my mental health gets. Nowadays I try to regulate for that by making time to sit down and write, but it isn't always that easy.
There was an old twitter joke going around talking about the things men do to avoid having to actually talk about their feelings: 'Men will literally write a 500,000 word novel instead of going to therapy' 'Men will literally start a blog about the history of Ancient Rome instead of going to therapy' 'Men literally invented online gaming because they needed an excuse to stay up late and chat with their mates about their feelings.' I remember reading all of those and thinking about how my version was 'Men will literally write a 12-song album etc. . .' To be honest, I probably should just go to therapy.

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy, and why?
A: I was never a big Dylan fan. I liked Cohen more, but even then, there's something too robotic about him. It's like he isn't quite human – he's a machine that does equations and pumps out mathematically perfect music and lyrics. I always move between awestruck appreciation of his work and feeling that it ultimately lacks humanity.
If I had to pick someone from that 'golden age' it would be Joni Mitchell. Her music was commonly criticised for its naivety compared to Dylan and Cohen, but I think that's what makes it so devastatingly beautiful and human. That said, I rarely ever listen to Mitchell because her music makes me cry hysterically. About once a year, I put on 'Case of You' and sob.
Jason Isbell is the best active songwriter I know of. His exclusive use of conversational language combined with his work ethic in terms of achieving the perfect phrasing make for something special. The final effect is a meticulously constructed song that appears completely natural or spontaneous. The process itself is completely hidden. There's something undoubtedly paradoxical about working incredibly hard on something to achieve the appearance of simplicity, but it's just what the best do. A good song should be extremely well written while, at the same time, not really sounding 'written' at all. Isbell is a master of this.

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand on this?!
A: The best songs have both. Lyrics are very important to me. I write with the ideal that someone should be able to read the lyrics by themselves, as a sort of poem, and still find meaning or be moved by them. In terms of what makes a song meaningful, I remember Jason Isbell saying something along the lines of 'a good song makes us realise how similar we are to everybody else.' For him, a lot of popular songs (songs about having loads of money and driving fast cars etc) are bad because they alienate the listener. They make the listener envious of the writer/artist, elevating them above the listener in terms of status etc. I think he's basically right about that. It's not the kind of music I like listening to and it's not the kind of music I write – partly because I'm not sure I'm capable of looking cool and partly because, as I said, writing is a form of therapy for me. That means the result is usually me singing about being an absolute mess which, if not inspiring, is at least authentic. As a vocalist, feeling is all about soul, or better still what Lorca called 'duende'. Elsewhere it has been referred to quite appropriately as 'black notes.' Goethe called it 'A mysterious power which everyone senses and no philosopher explains'. Everybody knows when it's there, but it's sort of impossible to say exactly what it is or how it is produced. A sense of pain, struggle, and even death that comes through the voice. It's what makes Joni Mitchell so devastating – this earthy agony that comes not from the throat, or from a particular technique, but 'climbs up inside of you from the soles of your feet.' I tend to find duende or feeling absent from classically/ institutionally trained singers who have been taught that singing is a technical endeavour – that singing from a particular place or shaping one's mouth in a particular way is the key to singing well. Lots of commercially successful artists like Jacob Collier or Charlie Puth trade on their technical prowess and Tik Tok is full of singers doing the most technically complex vocal runs they can find. I don't find any of this compelling. When it comes to feeling, as Lorca put it, “Here we care nothing about skill, technique or ability. Here we are after something else.'


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Face the Music Festival 2022

Our first festival was an awesome event and celebrated music in the community - bringing together musicians, choirs and bands from across Dundee.

Thank you to everyone who came along! Donations on the day have funded 28 more community music sessions throughout Dundee.

See a round-up of some highlights in the video - and our performers are shown below, click to visit their social media.






Songwriters Night #7

A great night of music - with plenty humour and fun!
The Doolichters + Ian Black + Haystack Monolith



The Doolichters

Q: What inspires you to write songs?

Q: Any good stories about a song?

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand?!


Ian Black

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
The songs I create all come from the heart, they are always driven by a sincereness that I somehow can't express through any other means. This means it can, at times be frustrating, but more often than not it's more of a saving. I've been creating songs since I was 16 and have rarely put pen to paper or sat down to write in what people may think of as the traditional way of songwriting. I've been writing through free association since I was a kid; I pick up the guitar or more recently sit at the piano, play for a bit, get a chord progression I like the sound of and record whatever comes out. I will then expand on what's been recorded. It's like the songs are always born but never conceived, if that makes sense?. They are fashioned out of the cloth of experience and feeling, plucked from the subconsciousness and woven somehow into a wee 4 min tapestry of whatever it is I'm feeling. So I'd say my inspiration to create songs comes from my desire to be a reflective, open and creative human. I've always been drawn to words, the impact they can have from the messages they convey and using them in song to capture a moment in time has alway been something I'm drawn to.

Q: Any good stories about a song?
A song I created With Rajan Vaid and Angela Branney (Kashmir Crows): The song was called Happiness, an ironically named song that is a slow burner of sorts. The first time I met Rajan (they were looking for a singer and invited me down for a craic) he just started playing a couple of chords and then I did my thing and started free associating over it and Happiness was born. That song then became a massive 6 min anthem thanks to Angels's brilliance, ultimately propelling us on a journey of 4 years that took us around Scotland playing our songs. The song also resulted in us being asked to be part of the opening of the V and A; The song was on the songs of Dundee album, the organisers of the V and A event heard it and reached out and booked us. Being part of such a positive cultural event in Dundee was such a humbling experience.

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
My partner introduced me to Future Islands last year. I've been listening to them and marvelling at the unapologetic honesty that exudes from their lyrics and the vocal delivery of their front man, Sam Herrings and live, they are the best band I've ever seen. Fontaines DC are a constant in my head right now too. The poetic rhythmic delivery of the lyrics delivered from that raw vocal,backed by that amazing sound just does something to me. I also love listening to local Artists. My dearest friend Lexy Campbells was such a beautiful talented songwriter. A true champion of just being yourself and in doing so they inspired so many to do the same. I once saw them playing in four bands on a five band bill. They just loved music. They are sadly no longer with us, but man, could they write a lyric and fashion a song. I saw them play with their band Plaintif, who they headed and was blown away by the talent that was on stage. From drums, bass, guitar to vocal, everything just sat so perfectly right. I also love the Ruvellas they can write a tune and am a pure fanboy of anything Pete watters does... yir dah sells avon . . . if ya ken yih ken.

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand?!
Ain't no meaning without feeling and aint no feeling without meaning in my book, cant have one without the other . . . . is that me sitting on the fence?


Haystack Monolith

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
Mmmmm! Many things - Satisfying word combinations, splendid sounds, over heard conversations, new instruments, dogs waiting outside corner shops, cars that look surprised etc. There are so many elements and interesting things that life chucks at you. I also love the creative process of writing combined with sound. It's a bit like a puzzle.

Q: Any good stories about a song?
I make music with toddlers, which is an absolute joy. Last week we decided to have a monkey disco. I started to play a jaunty chord progression on my guitar and sing about monkeys dancing, whilst 25 under 5s danced like monkeys. Being toddlers they were bored being monkeys very quickly and started to shout out other animals to dance like. I had to come up with various on the spot songs about the different animals at the disco. So you could say that I wrote and performed around 10 songs in 5 minutes!. I think all my stars had aligned that day. I can remember thinking about 2 lines ahead and being very relaxed. That's what good freestyle rappers must be tapping in to. It was my first proper/comfortable freestyle. I don't know if I could do it again, I think it was the power of 25 toddlers!

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
Tom Waits, Ergo Phizmiz, Meridian Brothers, Jeffery Lewis, Dasa Fon Flasa, Ray Davis...

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand?!
Both, it depends where the song hits me. Sometimes I will hear a song and straight away I'm into the lyrics, but other times it's the groove. Groove is extremely important for me! But I'm also a sucker for poetry. That's why I'm a huge fan of Rap.

THANKS
The Future Is Glorious


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Songwriters Night #6

Three busy songwriters all together on one bill - a spine-tingling night!
Nick Shane + Katie Nicoll + Callum Gibson



Nick Shane

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
Usually hearing other new songs from artists I quite enjoy. More than likely after a long break of not writing and playing songs, after a few weeks of complete musical detox. If we come back from a string of live shows, or a tour, it's nice to sit with the guitars in another room for a few weeks, out of sight and mind. After then I might decide to pick up a guitar and see what happens.

Q: Any good stories about a song?
Hold My Sunshine (from the album NS - 2016) was written about my daughter Olivia (11) before she was actually born, and was written under the pretence of her being a boy. The lyrics were originally all referenced to a boy, and the only the title remained the same.


Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
I listen to a lot of different artists. The ones I enjoy the most would Paul Weller, Johnny Marr, Steve Marriot and Richard Ashcroft. I also quite enjoy Sam Fender, and a lot of other new artists. Scotland has a large amount of new wonderful music daily. Dundee particularly has Midnight Alleys, The Medinas and many more, and Glasgow has Luke La Volpe, who's got some amazing tunes. Megan Wyn, Olivia Smith are also fantastic, with loads of great songs. I listen to whoever I follow, or follows me on insta a lot of the time.

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand?!
I think for me, a song has to have a nice melody, or beat, or rhythm, before I start to focus in on lyrics. It also depends on how it's being played or sung. I first 'felt the meaning' of Tangled Up In Blue, only when I heard Indigo Girls sing it, despite 20+ years of listening to the original Bob Dylan version.


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Katie Nicoll

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: I'd say that I've always loved creating. I love art and music- I study art in Dundee right now actually. However, I started playing guitar when I was 11 because I was a huge (and still am) Taylor Swift fan. I loved hearing her story and the fact that she started learning when she was only 12 and began writing songs shortly after. I found it inspirational and wanted to be like her! Besides from that, I'd always enjoyed music and singing, and knew that someday I wanted to learn an instrument of some sort.
In terms of my songs, I'd say that I was very much inspired by people around me, and my own personal experiences. Writing is a good way to put your emotions to paper and I've always found that to be helpful when I'm going through something.

Q: Any good stories about a song?
I have a couple of stories . . . yeah! I always tell this one at my gigs, for incase there are folks that don't understand the meaning of the chorus. I have a song called Regina George, that I wrote when I was 16. There's a line in the chorus that says "you can't be Regina George and expect to survive." This song was inspired by events around me, as well as the 2004 teen-comedy, 'Mean Girls'. Regina George is one of the protagonists, and is known to be not the kindest of people. At the end of the film, she gets hit by a bus- so yeah- don't be a dick or you'll end up like Regina!


Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
Of course I already mentioned Taylor Swift. I think lots of songwriters are inspired by her. She has such a huge discography and something for everyone and I think that's important. Other writers I'm enjoying listening to at the moment are Maisie Peters, Holly Humberstone, Brandi Carlile, Lorde, Joni Mitchell, Phoebe Bridgers, Maggie Rogers, Nina Nesbitt . . . and many more! There are too many to name.

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand?!
I'd say that my music taste is very broad. Personally, I love listening to songs that I feel have lyrics that I can relate to - or that just sound smart! However, I can say that I do love more upbeat music too, that I can dance to! I listen to music depending on how I'm feeling in the moment, I suppose.

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Callum Gibson

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: I write music based on those little things in life. Each song I write is a story about a fictional character/s that has a little piece of me and others around me. Sometimes these lyrics can be spontaneous and a lot of them particularly in my first 3 singles are improvised. I then use those improvs as the base of my lyrics. Nothing inspires me more than seeing a set of lyrics build up into a track.

Q: Any good stories about a song?
A: I have loads but I will focus on my latest release See Your Understanding for the meantime! Song written and originally demoed in 2019, forgotten about for a year, demo re-recorded in December 2020, forgotten about for almost another year before being played at an open mic night a few months ago to a good response. Song was released back in February 2022 at long last!


Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
A: All time - Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith inspire me the most. They just had this presence amongst their songs - particularly Elliot Smith with his lyrics and Jeff with his voice. Both were phenomenal songwriters in their day as well.
Presently - I am a huge Sam Fender fan and he's probably my biggest influence - maybe not so much in comparison to Jeff Buckley but definitely up there.
I also love the typical bands such as the Beatles, Oasis, the Verve etc.but if I could choose any 3 inspiring artists it'd have to be them without a doubt.

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand?!
A: In my opinion the music I make has to have meaning for me, first and foremost. I also have to connect with what I write. If it doesn't stick with me then it's not worth my time.
It's all well writing songs for people but the most important thing is that they are your songs - write for you.
If people can connect to your song then that's always a feeling that cannot be described. It's a special one I can assure you.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: I would like to say how excited I am to play for you all and how excited I am to be sharing the bill with two exceptionally talented artists!

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Songwriters Night #5

Thanks to everyone for coming to our first gig of 2022! Piano, viola, acoustic guitars and electric guitar too . . .
Katie in the Attic + Patchworks + Ed Muirhead



Katie in the Attic

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: Inspiration definitely comes from how my emotions and experiences lead me to want to express myself in the best way I know how. Ideas come to me in different ways.
Sometimes an idea will just come to me and I have to write it straight away or I'll forget it. Other times I like to just sit at the piano, or put pen to paper, and let it flow. See what happens in the moment!

Q: Any good stories about a song?
A: I have... and I'll share some of these with you on the night!

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
A: John Martyn was a huge influence on me growing up. I was listening to him the first time I really picked up my viola and just jammed along. Songs written by Eva Cassidy, Damien Rice, Joni Mitchelland Florence (from the machine), I find are just purely beautiful. They tell a story, and I can't get enough of listening to them!


Q: Some people look for meaning in a song, others just like the feeling of it, what do you think?
A: Sometimes I hear a song and feel something, and it has an everlasting link in my memory. I will always hear that song and feel the connections I made with it. Either the meaning I found, or the feeling/memory. When I'm writing, the meaning I hold close, could be completely different to what somebody else takes from it. That's the magic of music!

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: My debut EP Buzz on By is available on all of the usual platforms. I'm really looking forward to sharing this songwriters night with you. Be sure to get hold of your tickets and share the event! See you there 🧚🏻‍♂️

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Patchworks

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: I'm inspired to write by everyday life, nature and things that I find funny, curious or moving in some way.

Q: Any good stories about a song?
A: A lot of the time I make stories when I'm travelling or waiting for things.Borrowed Blue is based on a haiku I wrote a few years ago while waiting for a train to work. It didn't show up and I felt like Ferris Bueller for an hour.

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
A: A few of my favourite songwriters and performers are Bjork, Otis Redding and Bob Dylan. I think that Bjork makes incredibly unique and expressive songs. Otis Redding has a great, emotive voice and an infectious energy that really appeals to me. I never tire of listening to Bob Dylan, he's known for his storytelling and way with words but I also find him very funny (even when he's grumbling) and like the tone of his voice.

Q: Some people look for meaning in a song, others just like the feeling of it, what do you think?
A: Personally I wouldn't separate the meaning of a song from the feeling that it makes. I think that the best songs are meaningful because they can make you feel a particular way or understand a feeling that someone else is experiencing. I tend not to like it when songwriters are explicit about what songs 'mean' and prefer a bit of mystery!

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Ed Muirhead

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: All kinds of things - usually starting with something that happens to me or someone I know. Often it's pure imagination that can weave a story apparently out of thin air, like "Bones of You and Me" - which I wrote in a few minutes after seeing a tree in a cemetery.
This was the first in a series of songs I wrote while walking the dogs - one a day in July - I'm currently recording these for my next album. Or my old song "Ode to the Kingsway" was written in the car after sitting at the traffic lights which replaced the famous double circle!

Q: Any good stories about a song?
A: I wrote "Ballad of Lorraine and Frank" based on a fragment of truth about my great-grandparents emmigrating to Canada. In the song they stayed and made a life for themselves there... in real life they came back to Scotland instead! When I recorded the track at TPot there was a Lorraine in the studio, and though the song had no actual connection to her except the name she inspired me during that session - particularly when she was moved to tears hearing the songs performed!

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
A: Paul Simon would be on the short list - since I was a teenager his songs have appealed to me . . . and Adam Duritz of Counting Crows, the feeling in the lyrics hits me, even though I've no idea what they're about most of the time.

Q: Some people look for meaning in a song, others just like the feeling of it, what do you think?
A: I go for feeling in songs and music - by now I've learned to trust my instincts and love things that move me . . . emotionally, physically, intellectually, etc :)

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: As a late stand-in for Haystack since he's injured his hand, I'm really looking forward to this show . . . also it makes me the first person to play Songwriters Nights twice!

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Songwriters Night #4

Wow, another great night!
Awesome sets from a band, a duo and a solo.
Red Vanilla + Nathan Bellshaw + Stewart James

Red Vanilla

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: I write songs purely based on an emotion I'm feeling or something I'm going through - good or bad, I process all my thoughts through writing. Most songs I write have to start with music first - I find my best lyrics come to me when I already have a melody in my head to put them to.
Moments of inspiration are totally unpredictable for me - a lot of the time I'll think about a certain feeling during a moment where it's completely unrelated to my surroundings, and quickly write down a sentence to encapsulate that feeling in the notes on my phone - then later I'll take time to myself to sit with a guitar riff and build on that thought until I have a song out of it.

Q: Any good stories about a song?
A: We have a song called Electric Blue which we now refer to as a cursed song. We started writing it two years ago and only just finished it a few rehearsals ago. When we first tried writing it, our guitarist came up with a riff and had it looping through a pedal - we left the room and for a while and when we came back the looper had switched off so we lost the riff. We had nothing written down/no videos of it being played, it was so frustrating. We didn't go back to that song for ages afterwards, but he did eventually figure out the same part again. It's been through more changes than any other song and was definitely the most difficult song for me to write lyrically. It covers quite a profound subject, so I wanted to write something thought provoking that lots of people might relate to.

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
A: I hugely admire Ellie Rowsell from Wolf Alice. She doesn't shy away from voicing frustration or discontent, but does so in a really poetic and compelling way. She's so honest with her own self-reflection and it makes her lyrics really relatable. I find myself becoming the character of her storytelling when I listen to her lyrics, which inspires me to channel my own emotions and aids with creativity when it comes to writing for Red Vanilla.

Q: Some people look for meaning in a song, others just like the feeling of it, what do you think?
A: Both! I'm very honest when I write - I'll never sing something I don't truly feel or believe. I've always been drawn to music with meaningful lyrics, so I make a point of showing real emotion and staying true to myself in my own writing. There's actually quite a recurring theme in the music I've written over the past couple of years since we formed the band - which simply comes down to the place I'm in right now. It's a very happy place, but you can hear a lot of desperation and apprehension in my lyrics - it's all about growing up and finding yourself and making the most out of the time you have in life.
On the other hand I'm very much a 'wait til you're home alone then dance around to blaring music' kind of person. I love Hayley Williams from Paramore - she's such an influential front woman, and my favourite performer to watch live. Before I was in a band, I used to go to a rehearsal space myself every week, plug in my phone and sing along to Paramore songs for 2 hours straight. I didn't care what they were about, I just loved dancing and letting go - it was the highlight of my week. I always longed for that carefree feeling of pure joy when I'd one day perform my own music. I'm so grateful to now experience that in my own band - it's so special!

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: I'm really looking forward to the show - playing acoustic isn't something we do often so this will be a nice change for us. We've worked really hard on these songs and can't wait to share them with everyone.

- Anna from Red Vanilla

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Nathan Bellshaw

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: I've always enjoyed using songwriting as a way of journalling an emotion that I'm feeling, or an event that's happening in my life at any given time. It's a great outlet. Most other times I'm just randomly inspired with a tune out of the blue.

Q: Got any good stories about a song you've written?
A: The most recent song I've written is called "The Cog". It's a song about........ Actually, I'll leave it till the night to talk about it. So come along to find out!




Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
A: I grew up mainly inspired by the songwriter Jon Foreman from the rock band Switchfoot. He's an exceptional songwriter able to make catchy songs with deeply moving lyrics and themes. Other songwriters I really enjoy would be Jason Mraz, who is a great wordsmith, along with John Mayer.

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand on this?!
A: I definitely do enjoy a song a lot more if I can connect to the meaning of it, so I suppose I'm the former type of person but I love how music can make you feel a range of emotions whether you know the lyrics or not.

Anything else you'd like to add?
All's to say is that I'm looking forward to sharing my songs with everyone and I'm looking forward to the event!

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Stewart James

Q: Hi, who are you?
A: I am a singer songwriter from Dundee. And father of 2 kids.

Q: Got any good stories about a song you've written?
A: My song lost and found is written about the lack of mental health help in Scotland and my first hand experience in these matters !




Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
A: My musical inspirations vary from the mid 60s Bob Dylan to the modern day rock / indie / country bands such as Ben Howard / Paolo Nutini and Dundee's very own Kyle Falconer!

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand on this?!
A: I think every song has its very own meaning to everyone and their experience in life.

Anything else you'd like to add?
I also think music brings people closer together. One of the reasons for writing songs myself.

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Songwriters Night #3

Back with a bang after pandemic postponement!
Three top-quality songwriters appeared at our third night:
James Liandu + Rebecca Kidd + Gordon Hennessy (Lonely Lost Boy)


James Liandu

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: Everyday life.

Q: Got any good stories about a song you've written?
A: Just the other day I wrote a song in ten minutes, and it's probably one of my best songs I've written.

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
A: My favourite singer songwriter is Lewis Watson. He has been a big inspiration for me musically since I first discovered him on YouTube.

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand on this?!
A: I write music for both the lyrical content and the feeling of the tune. Every song I write has a different meaning or general idea in the song; whether it be happy, sad, about one topic or several.

Anything else you'd like to add?
I look forward to performing at this Songwriters evening at Blend. Will be great to perform some new songs and create a vibe.

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Rebecca Kidd

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: A bunch of different stuff but usually just good and bad things that happen in life, writing it down helps to make sense of stuff.

Q: Got any good stories about a song you've written?
A: One day I was in Glasgow and a random American guy came and sat next to me at Starbucks, he was just on a flight layover but we ended up chatting in depth for like an hour about life. He was like some wise old guru who gave me some good advice, so I wrote a song about him, it's called David (his name was David...)

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
A: I love classic songwriters like Dylan and Cash. Not forgetting the females, I think Amy Winehouse was a great writer and currentartists like Dodie, Orla Gartland.

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand on this?!
A: When listening to songs I don't really look for meaning but with my own writing I suppose it's more about that. I actually started off more writing poetry so it's kind of stuck that I write about stuff that means something to me.

Anything else you would like to add?
Nope just look forward to seeing everyone there:)

Lonely Lost Boy

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: Pretty much everything! I'm not always great with speaking so music has always helped me tell a story. To tell people stories about experiences they may have had.

Q: Got any good stories about a song you've written?
A: 'Don't Be A Fool' was my first single and it was about a friend who kept falling for a girl who he wanted to be with while she was wanting to go out party and have him at the side. So that's where I got the influence of the track.

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
A: Legends for me would be Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Paul Simon. Newer songwriters I'd say Jake Bugg, Lewis Capaldi, Ed Sheeran, Gerry Cinnamon and Dylan Thomas all very unique in their own way.

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand on this?!
A: Me personally doesn't really bother me either way! I listened to alot of punk Rock at early stages of getting into music and I just loved the rawness of it all some songs were funny and others were anarchy! For me it's nice to be clever but it's all about how it makes you feel.

Q: And anything else you'd like to add?
A: I play the ukulele when I play acoustic as it adds a unique sound to my music.

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Songwriters Night #2

What a great night celebrating original songwriting, with 3 exciting young Dundee songwriters:
Pete Smith + Taylor-Ray + Sean Findlay

Pete Smith

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: Day to day life, my own experiences, living life. I've had a lot of stuff happen in my life, and instead of sitting greeting about it, I'd rather write a song!

Q: Got any good stories about a song you've written?
A: When my daughter was wee, there was a time she wasn't able to sleep, and I took some time to settle her back down. Some words came to me so I sat with my guitar, played some chords and began putting them together. This became a song that got airplay all over the country. Pete also has loads of other stories about songs, including prison and more: come along to the gig to hear more...

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
A: Storytellers, eg Mark Knopfler, he tells stories with his words and the way he plays guitar. Michael Marra. Robbie Ward! (Robbie appeared at our first songwriters night in December, and since Pete heard him there, he bought Robbie's CD).

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand on this?!
A: Depends how you're feeling when you hear it. A song could bring you down, or lift you up.
Usually when I hear songs I like, I'm thinking how I can steal something from it!!

Anything else you'd like to add?
Music is medicine - Pete started a music group in the community to help people learn to play guitar and sing songs, and in the past 7 months he's set up more groups across Dundee.

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Taylor-Ray

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: I'm inspired to write songs by everyday experiences, I've written songs about nights out I've been on, relationships, "not-quite" relationships, the physical affects/emotions felt when dealing with anxiety, I even have a song about my star sign.. I find inspiration everywhere and I feel like people relate to them too!

Q: Got any good stories about a song you've written?
A: I had an experience where I had to go to a&e because I had a panic attack before I knew I was dealing with anxiety, and afterwards I wrote a song called "feels like lightning" about how it made me feel, I always look back at it and feel proud at how far I've come.

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
A: I'm a Miley Cyrus super fan! I think she's great shes so positive and her vocals are so underrated! Maggie Rogers is an amazing songwriter and I like to take some inspiration from her, I also love Mallrat I love the way she writes her songs.

Q: Some people look for meanings in songs, while others just like the feeling they make - where do you stand on this?!
A: Songwriting is another form of art, if you can take something away from the a song you've heard or relate to it that's great! And if you just enjoy listening that's great too! Music is so universal and varied there's something for everyone!

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Sean Findlay

Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: I always start with the music. Usually my inspiration kicks in when I stumble upon a melody and chords I like. I then usually sing whatever words come to mind fitting with the melody.

Often the lyrics I get with this technique are actually more meaningful than I think at the time and come out as reactions to life events. I often write a song and I can't figure out what it's entirely about until a year later when I realise I was talking about something which happened just before I wrote the song was written. It's a way I express things often before I've made sense of them. Other times I write songs because I have a line which I think sounds cool so I add a riff and a groove to it. Inspiration usually doesn't happen often though and I find that patience pays off. I have written thousands of songs which I have chucked away because I didn't think they were that original enough. For every hundred songs I write I tend to get one I like.

Q: Got any good stories about a song you've written?
A: I have a song which I wrote years ago when I was 15 in one of my old bands about a fellow band member. We had fallen out over something (I can't remember) so I wrote a song making fun of him without statingit was about him. We played the song at loads of gigs and some of our fans even figured out it was him. Perhaps a bit immature of me at the time but got a good song out of it at least because I'm still playing it today!

Q: Who are songwriters you enjoy?
A: The Beatles songs are pretty hard to beat when it comes to songwriters in my opinion. I'm constantly blown away by their ability to write so many diverse yet great memorable songs. The best songs sound like they have always existed. Absolutely timeless and I think The Beatles were great at writing songs like that. I like loads of music though. I think if someone is able to hit me with a good chorus I appreciate that because it's hard to do.

Anything else you'd like to add?
Thanks for getting me involved in this event. Dundee has some great musical talent and something like this is well worth coming to see!

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Songwriters Night #1

We had an awesome launch at Blend - with a cosy atmosphere, appreciative audience and magical story-telling songs from Robbie Ward + Ed Muirhead



We will keep on showcasing songwriters every couple of months, and providing a place where you can hear exciting original music in an intimate setting. If you would like to get involved, please drop us a line: gigs@facemusic.co.uk.