MUSIC industry professionals from far and wide will congregate in Edinburgh once again this weekend as Scotland’s leading music convention Wide Days rolls back into town. Attracting music fans, students, artists and industry musos alike, this year’s event will be staged across Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd April with two days of panel discussions, live showcase gigs and networking events.
Known to provide an invaluable platform for some of Scotland’s most exciting emerging talent, this year’s showcase artists are once again being afforded the incredible opportunity to perform their original material in front of new crowds and industry insiders at a number of venues around the city which will include Teviot Row House, La Belle Angele and Liquid Rooms. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of previous alumni Catholic Action, Be Charlotte, Fatherson and Honeyblood, TTV has taken an in-depth look at this year’s selected artists.
You can purchase tickets for Wide Days 2017 via their website.
The Vegan Leather
With a growing reputation as one of the best live acts in the country, The Vegan Leather are set to make a long-lasting impression at this year’s Wide Days. Known to whip audiences into a frenzy with their hugely infectious tunes and captivating onstage chemistry, the band are ready to spread their appeal far beyond their hometown once and for all. Fresh, innovative and utterly joyous to watch, the art-pop group are different to anything in the Scottish music scene right now and it seems inevitable that they will continue to take giant strides throughout the rest of 2017.
Declan Welsh & the Decadent West
Drawing inspiration from the political upheaval and social inequalities that currently plague our society, Declan Welsh & the Decadent West are a band who demand attention with their bold approach to songwriting and refreshingly fearless attitudes. Armed with a keen eye for detail and a poetic sensibility that is second to none, the four-piece pull no punches in their delivery of huge tracks such as ‘No Pasaran’ and have developed into a truly formidable live act thanks to a diverse run of gigs including appearances at T in the Park, London Fashion Week and Bethlehem Live. Expect a lot of hugely infectious indie rock tunes with powerful themes at their showcase at Liquid Rooms on Friday night.
The Ninth Wave
The Ninth Wave spent a significant amount of time locked up in Distillery Studios in Bath earlier this month working on new material alongside Dan Austin, a producer who has previously worked with the likes of Biffy Clyro, Pixies, Placebo and Massive Attack. Taking influence from eighties new wave and goth pop with an effortlessly cool image to match, the four-piece debuted some of the fruits of their labour at their EP launch at Berkeley Suite a couple of weeks ago to a rapturous response. With a SAMA award for ‘Best Newcomer’ and a deal with Distiller Records already under their belt, the band are making significant waves around Scotland and these massive new tunes are undoubtedly going to take them to the next level.
Emme Woods
With a flourishing reputation in the Scottish music scene, Emme Woods has captured hearts and minds with her brooding bluesy rock and distinctively smoky vocals. Ditching the folky, acoustic sound of her earlier material in favour of an electric guitar has worked wonders for the singer who has proven her songwriting abilities and unbelievable talent in abundance. Also slated to perform at this year’s Great Escape in Brighton, her Wide Days showcase at Teviot Row is sure to attract industry musos in their droves.
JR Green
Bringing their traditional folk influences together with a contemporary indie rock flare, JR Green continue to attract fans well beyond the reaches of their hometown of Strontian in the far north of Scotland. With a unique musical chemistry between them, the duo have carved out their own lane thanks to their rich use of accordion, beguiling lyricism, and tentative guitar-picked melodies. Having performed at The Great Escape and MUSEXPO in LA in the past, the two brothers are more than familiar with showcase events and will hope to make a resounding impact at this year’s Wide Days.
The Spook School
The Spook School are no strangers to showcase events having recently returned from another successful trip to SXSW. The four-piece have certainly made a distinct impression across the pond with their hugely infectious guitar-pop tunes but will be hoping to charm audiences closer to home this time around in their hometown of Edinburgh. Known to thread an innate social awareness through their fun and catchy melodies, the band are gearing up for the release of their third album in late 2017.
Vistas
In the short time they have been together, Edinburgh outfit Vistas have garnered a significant following that has seen them sell out local shows at Electric Circus and Mash House. As their online streaming numbers to continue to soar to impressive heights, the band have shown an innate skill for anthemic songwriting that is brimming with singalong choruses and punchy melodies. Tipped for great things, they will bring Friday night to a crashing finale at Liquid Rooms.
