SAMA's Opening Party 2015

Last week I popped along to the Citizen M in Glasgow for the Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMA's) Opening Party.

It was a great night which featured live acoustic music from Toni Etherson, Finn Le Marinel and Bwani Junction. 

The artists performing were kept hush hush until the night of the Opening Party. It just goes to show the trust and respect which people have for Ritchie and the SAMA's considering that the tickets sold out within two hours without the guests even knowing who would be performing on the night!

 I would highly recommend that you check all the acts out...

Toni Etherson told an inspiring story about her travels and life events which led to her writing and creating her knew album before blowing us away with her captivating voice and lyrics...

Toni Ethersons new single 'Born In The Wrong Generation'. 

Finn Le Marinel I know well as an artist already as he is the artist that we are working with on the Student Run Label Electric Honey at Glasgow Kelvin College. He has a really unique style in the way that he performs his mesmerising music. He really enjoys a closeness with his audience and will always ask the audience to 'come up close to the stage and take a seat', making for a really chilled out and relaxed atmosphere.

Finn's Latest EP is now available following his EP Release Show at The CCA on the 29th April - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/love-is-waves-ep/id982519275

Here is his 'Noone' video from his 'Violence' Album...

Finn Le Marinel- 'Noone' 

The nights headliners were Bwani Juction. They are an awesome group of guys who have gathered a growing support throughout the UK. Their Afro-beat inspired music, particularly that of their song 'Two Bridges', is instantaneously catchy and gives to the desire to get up and dance along!

Bwani Juction- 'Two Bridges'

Ex- Simple Minds manager Bruce Findlay received a special 'Outstanding Contribution to Music' Award. Speaking from his Edinburgh home of his delight at winning The Outstanding Contribution to Music Award, Bruce Findlay said: "I am thrilled to receive the first Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at this year's Scottish Alternative Music Awards. The SAMA's pleases me because I've always felt alternative to the mainstream and I am genuinely humbled by this award being given by a relatively new and useful organisation to the music industry."

Ritchie Muirhead with Bruce Findlay - Photo from STV Glasgow

I will be keeping my eye out for the details of this years ceremony! If the Opening Party is anything to go by I will be highly recommending that you get yourself tickets for the Award Ceremony!

Much Love

Nicola x

Scottish Alternative Music Awards- https://www.facebook.com/OfficialSAMA?fref=ts


Article Subject to Copyright @ MusicSpeaksBlogger 

The Shires at the Oran Mor Glasgow

Last night I popped along to the Oran Mor In Glasgow's West End to see Country Duo, The Shires. Having never seen them perform live before I was unsure of what to expect. 

I turned up, a little later than I meant to, but thankfully, just in time for the opening act. I was surprised to find that they crowd were electric you could really sense the atmosphere straight away. 

On stage were the energetic country duo John and Jacob who were just radiating energy through their music. The crowd were singing along as they performed 'Be My Girl' a hit currently being played on BBC Radio 2.The duo are published writers in Nashville writing Billboard Hits such as 'Done' with the band Perry. Recently they have had their current single 'Be My Girl', placed in ABC's hit TV show, 'Nashville'- I am just hooked to this show! I would recommend that you check them out! 

Link to 'Be My Girl' by John and Jacob

John and Jacob 'Be My Girl'.

I was lucky enough to meet up with them after they performed, having came all the way for Alabama they were keen to get the party going in Glasgow! 

www.johnandjacob.com

As The Shires stepped out onto stage they were immediately greeted with a huge cheer from the Glasgow audience. Opening with their first single 'Nashville Grey Skies' they had the Oran Mor crowd in the palm of their hands. I was completely hooked from that first song with their captivating melodies and wholesome personalities. With Chrissie's stunning vocals and Ben's Sultry harmonies, its clear to see why the pair have broken chart records - becoming the first British country artists to reach the Top 10 in the Official UK Album Chart with their Début album 'Brave', available to buy and download now.

Début Album 'Brave' Available to buy now http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Shires/dp/B00KHEUC9S

As they worked their way through the album you could feel that they were enjoying every second, as the crowd were too especially when it came to hits like 'Friday Night', appropriate with it being a Friday Night, of Course!

 "Get a little drunk on a Friday night, night..."

They are a really talented pair. Their harmonies are just memorising. Chrissie has a voice to rival any of the country greats and Ben showed us his great skills as a musician changing between the guitar and piano during the course of the night.

For me, the highlight was when they performed their next planned single 'State Lines', it's such a gripping song which completely captivated me and allowed me just to get lost in the moment. It was utterly charming. They have recently filmed a new video for this song so I will be looking out for that.

Have a listen for yourself and let me know your thoughts!

The Shires 'State Lines'.

Chrissie and Ben were clearly taken aback by the crowd when it came to their final song 'Tonight'. Upon leaving the stage (before coming back out for the encore) the crowd began a chorus of the previous song. It was really heart-warming to see how humbled they were by the reception that they were receiving from the fans at Oran Mor. Ben announced that it 'has been the best night of the tour so far and that they don't see how it could be topped', you could tell that he was being really genuine in his words and couldn't thank the audience enough.

They took to Facebook afterwards with a video which captures that very moment...

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=936185673081547&set=vb.580897285277056&type=2&theater

"How Glasgow ask for an encore!!! What an amazing night!! Thank y'all so musch."

The encore brought the night to a close on a high with a cover of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rodgers 'Islands in the Stream'.

The Shires 'Islands In The Stream'.

With a a huge applause in appreciation, The Shires took their bows and thanked the crowd with promises of returning to Glasgow soon.

I'm so glad that I was there to witness The Shires live at the Oran Mor, it was a truly unique experience and I would definitely recommend that you take a listen for yourself, as you will not be disappointed!

www.theshiresmusic.com

Much Love 

xx

This article is subject to copyright  11/04/2015

The King Lot

As you may or may not know, I am a Classical Singer (www.nicolacassells.com- shameless plug!), but I don’t restrict myself to just listening to Classical Music, in fact I am open to exploring all genres of music. This includes listening to a bit of Rock every now and then, I‘m often found warming up my vocals to a bit of Queen, Guns & Roses or Bon Jovi so I was very excited to discover a new band, The King Lot, a Scottish band who are influenced by the very same musicians.

The King Lot are a Scottish Melodic Hard Rock Band, formed in 2013 by long-time friends and hugely talented musicians Jason Sweeney, Michael Fairbairn and Chris Gillon. Having been in several bands in previous years, they made the very wise decision to unite their shared passion for rock music and create something bigger than ever before.

Scottish Melodic Hard Rock Band, The King Lot

It is evident that in their songs that they are influenced by artists such as Gun’s and Roses, Bon Jovi, The Wildheart and Dan Reed but rather than just copycatting ideas, they have brought their own Raw energy into the mix and have brought a sound which is bang up to date that could easily compete in the current music market.

Thoughout 2014 the band built up an incredible amount of support from fans. They also gained an incomparable reputation from playing live in shows along the way with US Bands such as Beasto Blanco and Swedish bands such as H.E.A.T & Thundermother. This along with Festival shows all led to the band undertaking their first tour around Scotland which was hugely successful in cementing their place as THE new Scottish Rock Band to watch.

They also released a limited edition single in this time too "Until My Dying Day" to rave reviews nationwide and made a video to accompany it.

Link to YouTube video…

The single was launched at the ever supportive spiritual home of TKL...DreadnoughtRock in Bathgate followed by an in-store appearance and signing at HMV in Livingston Centre. At this point the band were described in reviews as "the lovechild of GNR & Bon Jovi" and "like U2 but better"!

Legendary Scottish rock/metal DJ Tom Russell is a self-confessed fan.

Armed with their best material to date they have now released their début album. I would highly recommend that you give it a listen!

The album's title track 'As They Burn', sets the tone for what's coming next. Its and upbeat rock anthem and has a great catchy vocal and a thunderous bassline that's sure to get your blood pumping. 

The guys are very talented when it comes to songwriting, which is something that shines through the tracks on the album. Whether it's the rockier track of 'One Of These Days, the ballad of 'Ghost Of You' or even the albums acoustic track 'Queen Of Hearts'. The songs lyrics are highly relatable and easy to listen to. 

'Until My Dying Day' and 'All Is Not Lost' in particular were the songs which drew me in an almost hypnotising way to the point where I could get completely lost in the music. There is a real sense of storytelling which is evident throughout the album which adds to the gripping melodies and arrangements of the music. So turn it up and sing-a-long in your best rock voice!!!

The Début Album Released 2nd March 2015

The band has a great deal of support from their sponsors who include Scottish Business Beard Oil Manufacturer 'Braw Beard Oils', Brewer 'Demonbrew' and Biker Jewellery purveyor 'Badboy Jewellery' which has all came in very handy for the famously bearded beer loving biker boys. A TKL beer is in fact being discussed for production in the near future... 'Flying Skull Beer'. Now that will quench the thirst after a marathon sing-a-along!! 

www.kenziephotography.co.uk

The album is released on Crown Jewels Records and is available in CD Digipack format from www.thekinglot.bigcartel.com or digitally from iTunes & Amazon from 02/03/15.

The King Lot Website Link- http://www.thekinglot.com/

2015 is shaping up to be a great year for TKL and it looks like it’s onwards and upwards. There has been nothing but raving reviews for the band on their début release which are sure to continue throughout their UK Tours over the coming year. I look forward to seeing what comes next for the band and I wish them all the best for the future!!

Much Love

xx

Article subject to copyright www.TheKingLot.co.uk & @MusicSpeaksBlogger2015