SIXTY bands and solo artists
have been invited to perform at XpoNorth next month, when the creative industries festival returns to Inverness.
XpoNorth’s live programme features a heavy sweep of emerging and more established acts from the Highlands, Islands and the rest of Scotland, with appearances scheduled by dozens of names, from north-east musician/producer Andy Williamson to Youth Team, a solo electronic artist from Braemar.
Also performing will be LYLO and BooHooHoo from Glasgow, R&B artist Emiah, singer-songwriter Annie Booth, rising Edinburgh duo Chuchoter and Echo Machine, a new wave trio from Dundee.
Elsewhere on the bill is David MacGregor’s Broken Chanter
and Scarlett Randle, pictured, an artist from the north-east whose intimate, sweetly voiced pop has gained her influential fans in the likes of BBC Scotland DJs Roddy Hart and Vic Galloway.
As well as the musicians
from Scotland, the live showcase will also feature Ukku and Ivy Flindt, bands from Finland and Germany respectively, who were selected through XpoNorth’s international partnership.
Some of the acts will go on to
be offered slots on the XpoNorth Stage at the multi-award winning Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival
in August.
Iain Hamilton of XpoNorth funders Highlands and Islands Enterprise said the live showcase element is a key part of the festival.
“It offers a fantastic platform for talent to access a global network of industry professionals – in addition to developing their audience more broadly,” he said. “It also brings an incredible energy and highlights the diversity and vibrancy of the venue infrastructure in the city.”
Last year XpoNorth attracted more than 2000 delegates, and the festival is unique in offering seminars, workshops and networking opportunities across a wide range of creative sectors from fashion and textiles to media and music. All elements are free and open to all.
July 3 and 4, Eden Court, Inverness. Register at xponorth.co.uk
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here