Archive for 2012
Save BBC Introducing in Scotland campaign: The end
Thursday, May 17th, 2012
Radio 1′s unpopular proposal to lump the Introducing in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales shows together as a single, UK-wide programme was finally sanctioned by the BBC Trust on May 16, 2012 – seven months after Paul Downie and I began a campaign to stop it happening.
Even though our efforts were ultimately in vain (it’s worth reading some reaction to the verdict), a lot of people went to an awful lot of trouble to highlight the detrimental, damaging repercussions of such a step to the individual nations concerned. So I’ve written a poem by way of gratitude:
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To the 14,000 listeners and fans who signed the petition
You made us realise this was a worthy mission,
To the musicians who busked at Pacific Quay in the rain
It was for folk like you that we launched this campaign,
To Andrew Rankine of dubstep label ABAGA, what a star
You told people this didn’t just affect indie kids with guitars,
To Joan McAlpine, Fiona Hyslop, Pete Wishart and Gail Lythgoe
Your political clout helped word spread beyond Glasgow,
To Gerry Norman and Bethan Jenkins who fought for Northern Irish and Welsh stations
Your efforts ensured we had the strength of two more nations,
To bloggers, journalists and tweeters, you made people see
That passionate words and hashtags get noticed by the BBC,
To my trusty sidekick Paul Downie of Pelmet Nites fame
Future trips to Holyrood and London just won’t be the same,
To the Introducing team of Alim, Howieson and McCrae
In your music we trust even if BBC London can’t see it this way.
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Previous posts:
Save BBC Introducing in Scotland campaign: where we’re at (part 3)
Save BBC Introducing in Scotland campaign: where we’re at (part 2)
Save BBC Introducing in Scotland campaign: where we’re at
Galleries – Everything Continued
Posted in thepopcop | 7 Comments »
Music Alliance Pact – May 2012
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012
The Music Alliance Pact is a project started up and run by The Pop Cop in which a heap of blogs around the world come together on the 15th of every month to share their favourite song and then simultaneously give away the whole lot for free (with permission from the artists, bien sûr). Be sure to check out the MAP archive on the right-hand side of this site.
This month’s choice for Scotland is the delightful Julia And The Doogans from Glasgow.
Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download an mp3, or grab a zip file of the whole 34-track compilation through Ge.tt here.
SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop
Julia And The Doogans – Down The Line
Julia Doogan has everything you’d want from a pop singer – a genuinely distinguishable voice, a breakable heart, just the right amount of melancholy, and lyrics that are honest but not mushy. MAP exclusive free download Down The Line is taken from Julia And The Doogans’ achingly graceful new five-track Diamonds EP (buy on Bandcamp), and shows off the talents of Julia and her lush band to near perfection.
June 2, Dirty Weekender Festival, Kilmarnock (tickets)
June 17, Gibson Street Gala, Glasgow (free)
July 9, The Arches, Glasgow (The Love Club)
July 21, The Wickerman Festival, Dumfries & Galloway (tickets)
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T Break 2012: The chosen ones
Friday, May 11th, 2012
It’s T Break time and I made the awful, awful mistake of looking back at the comments left on last year’s post. Haters, get a grip.
Let’s just pre-empt all the usual sniping about the quality of the talent, the lack of representation from outside the Central Belt, the clear favouritism of the judges, the “whiny, nasal, Scottish accent that seems the be the preserve of boys in plaid shirts that are studying English lit at Uni”, the fact that it’s all so terribly insignificant, the “ironic glasses, beards and fringes”… and just say congratulations to all 16 acts for getting on the bill for T in the Park 2012 alongside Olly Murs, Cher Lloyd, Jessie J, Dappy, The Wanted and McFly.
ANDERSON, MCGINTY, WEBSTER, WARD AND FISHER
Base: Dundee
Did you know? AMWWF’s management company have also looked after Broken Records and The View
Facebook: facebook.com/AndersonMcGintyWebsterWardandFisher
Twitter: twitter.com/amwwfmusic
Audio: Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward And Fisher – (Might As Well) Trust In Me
BACCHANAL PARTY
Base: Glasgow
Did you know? The band are giving away their debut album as a free download
Facebook: facebook.com/bacchanalparty
Twitter: twitter.com/bacchanalparty
Audio: Bacchanal Party - We Missed Half The Night
BEERJACKET
Base: Airdrie
Did you know? Peter Kelly is a high-school English teacher by day
Facebook: facebook.com/beerjacket
Twitter: twitter.com/beerjacket
Audio: Beerjacket – Cave
BLANK CANVAS
Base: Edinburgh
Did you know? Blank Canvas are managed by Curious Joe blogger Hamish Gibson
Facebook: facebook.com/blankcanvas1
Twitter: twitter.com/blankcanvas1
Audio: Blank Canvas – By The Fire
BROWN BEAR & THE BANDITS
Base: Largs
Did you know? The band won the Best Acoustic category at this year’s Scottish Alternative Music Awards
Facebook: facebook.com/brownbearandthebandits
Twitter: twitter.com/brownbearbandit
Audio: Brown Bear & The Bandits – War Of Loves
CAPITALS
Base: Edinburgh
Did you know? Capitals will play Summerfest – the “world’s largest music festival” – in Milwaukee on June 30
Facebook: facebook.com/Capitalsmusic
Twitter: twitter.com/capitalsmusic
Audio: Capitals – Rules And Stakes
CHRIS DEVOTION AND THE EXPECTATIONS
Base: Glasgow
Did you know? Singer Chris Devotion (not his real surname) was in the same primary school class as me
Facebook: facebook.com/chrisdevotionmusic
Twitter: twitter.com/cdandtheex
Audio: Chris Devotion And The Expectations – A Modest Refusal
CRUSADES
Base: Glasgow
Did you know? Guitarist Mark Higgins sliced through his pinkie during the band’s first ever gig in March and needed four stitches
Facebook: facebook.com/crusadesglasgow
Twitter: twitter.com/crusadesband
Audio: Crusades - Pseudo Andro
DAVEY HORNE
Base: Falkirk
Did you know? Lana Del Rey is quoting as saying “What a voice! I really enjoyed that show” after seeing Davey play at King Tut’s last year
Facebook: facebook.com/daveyhorne
Twitter: twitter.com/daveyhorne
Audio: Davey Horne – Last Train Home
NEVADA BASE
Base: Glasgow
Did you know? The band covered All The Things She Said by t.A.T.u. for a charity compilation
Facebook: facebook.com/nevadabase
Twitter: twitter.com/nevadabase
Audio: Nevada Base – An Avenue
OPEN SWIMMER
Base: Glasgow
Did you know? Frontman Ben Talbot-Dunn is from Freemantle, Australia and used to play under the solo guise Ben TD
Facebook: facebook.com/openswimmer
Twitter: twitter.com/openswimmer
Audio: Open Swimmer – Nineteen
RANDOLPH’S LEAP
Base: Glasgow
Did you know? After releasing their debut EP, Battleships & Kettle Chips, the band were sent 32 complementary bags of Kettle Chips by the company who makes them
Facebook: facebook.com/RandolphsLeap
Twitter: n/a
Audio: Randolph’s Leap – Crisps
ROMAN NOSE
Base: Glasgow
Did you know? Roman Nose played on the same bill as 2manydjs last Hogmanay
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Roman-Nose/212148628857310
Twitter: twitter.com/RMNOSE
Audio: Roman Nose – Satan Pump
TEKLO
Base: Glasgow
Did you know? TeKlo’s remix of Benny Banks track Bada Bing was put out by major label 679 (Warner Music) in March
Facebook: facebook.com/TeKloMusic
Twitter: twitter.com/teklomusic
Audio: TeKlo – Join The Club
THE MACHINE ROOM
Base: Edinburgh
Did you know? The Machine Room launched the Tape Singles Club with Dead Boy Robotics in tribute to Edinburgh’s TAPE studio
Facebook: facebook.com/themachineroom
Twitter: twitter.com/the_machineroom
Audio: The Machine Room – Cherry Pie
THE MIRROR TRAP
Base: Dundee
Did you know? The band supported Placebo at Edinburgh’s Picture House last month after former Scotland footballer Lee Wilkie, who now works for a music management company which represents Placebo, read an article about The Mirror Trap in The Sun and put them forward for the gig
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mirrortrap
Twitter: twitter.com/themirrortrap
Audio: The Mirror Trap – Statues
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