The Scotsman, Under the Radar, June 2014

Published In The Scotsman Newspaper: Monday 2nd June 2014 | Words by Derick Mackinnon and Olaf Furniss


Hailing from Wick, Neon Waltz are one of the most exciting bands in Scotland; their single Sombre Fayre is our track of the month. Recently signing a deal with Noel Gallagher’s manager and scoring airplay from Zane Lowe and Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1 plus festival slots for T In The Park, Wickerman, Tramlines and Y Not Festivals, things are looking incredibly promising. We’ll be down the front for their showcase at this week’s goNORTH Festival (Hootannanys, Inverness, on Wednesday). Having been together for just one year, the Highland six-piece have been busy creating powerful psychedelic soundscapes in an isolated croft on the North Sea coast. With beautiful and haunting scenery in equal measure, the video below showcases the newcomers perfectly. Visit www.neonwaltz.com for more info.Neon Waltz warmed up for their goNORTH appearance on Saturday night, when they supported Edinburgh band The Merrylees for the launch of their single Forever More. Produced by ace crooner and Mercury Prize nominee Richard Hawley, the band’s line up includes the son of Rab King, who fronted cult capital outfit The Scars in the eighties. The single is out today on Neu! Reekie! Records, which is the label launched by the duo behind the excellent cultural events of the same name. Their next bash takes place in the Scottish National Gallery on 13 June and includes Stanley Odd, Hollie McNish as well as Tam Dean Burn and Optimo’s JD Twitch. This will be followed on 29 June with a German-themed night in partnership with the Edinburgh International Film Festival at Summerhall. Visit www.facebook.com/neureekie Also set to combine music with other art forms is a festival hosted by Edinburgh’s Electric Circus, titled Electric Nights, which takes place from 14-18 June. The varied programme includes electronic music, experimental folk and a whole array of art. Highlights include a SAY Award night on 16 June with RM Hubbard, Neil Pennycook from Meursault and the 2013 Arts Prize winner Gregor Morrison, plus a night dedicated to women in the arts with a mini art exhibition from musician Rachel Sermanni and photography from Jannica Honey on 17 June. Visit www.theelectriccircus.biz/live-music Tenement TV films live music sessions from a tenement flat in Glasgow which it then broadcasts via YouTube. To date, it has had more than two million views, with early sessions from big stars like Bastille, Passenger and Jake Bugg as well as plenty of Scottish talent including; Model Aeroplanes, Prides, Fatherson, Nina Nesbitt and Admiral Fallow. The latest development is the announcement Tenement TV will be filming an eight-part music series to be broadcast on STV Glasgow, a new channel launching today. You can watch the series on Freeview channel 23, Sky (117) and Virgin (159) and also online by visiting www.tenementtv.com This year’s T Break stage again looks set to provide a platform for some of Scotland’s most exciting new acts to perform at T In The Park and includes Model Aeroplanes, Birdhead, Tuff Love and Fat Goth, all showcased at our Wide Days event. We are also looking forward to seeing Naked and Teen Canteen, who release their single You’re Still Mine on 16 June. As in previous years, the festival organisers appear to have neglected to add the line up to the website, but anyone visiting www.tennents.com/tbreak an download a track by each act.Finally, The East End Social celebrates Scottish culture in unusual locations in Glasgow’s East End during the Commonwealth Games. Running from June until August with artists like Casual Sex, the festival culminates with a performance from Mogwai in late August. See www.eastendsocial.com/events •  Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run Scottish music industry social night, Born To Be Wide. The organisation will host a panel titled Building A Team, and a Q&A with musician turned film-maker Richard Jobson, at goNORTH in Inverness. On 28 June daytime youth music business event, Off The Record, takes place in Kilmarnock’s Palace Theatre, and at Edinburgh’s Roxy Assembly the following day. See www.borntobewide.co.uk