News



22nd Dec 2009

Folk Alliance 2010

Our International partners 'Folk Alliance' have announced details of 2010's International Conference:
The 22nd Annual Folk Alliance International Conference promises four days/evenings of worthwhile industry workshops, panels, exhibits, showcases, outreach concerts, etc. for members of the international music community. The event provides a networking opportunity for those in the industry to work hard and enjoy themselves while doing so.

More details on Folk Alliance 2010 here.




6th Nov 2009

Burnsong Songwriting Workshop Date Announced

21st Nov 2009 @ Creation Studios, Glasgow

The Burnsong Songwriting Workshop is a great chance to get some feedback and input on your songs from professional songwriters and musicians, in the surroundings of Creation’s brand new studios.

The day will feature a mixture of practical writing exercises, co-writing exercises and a short forum on practical elements of songwriting and the music industry. The day will finish up with a song sharing exercise and a chance to attend the Burnsong secret gig downstairs in an intimate Merchant City venue, with two previous housemates from Burnsong Songhouse.

To apply for a free ticket to both the workshop and secret gig, please email info@burnsong.org

Tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis..



27th Oct 2009

Song Contest Winners Announced

Burnsong is delighted to announce the following winners of our International Song Contest.

The 10 finalists of The Burnsong International Song Contest will play a showcase concert in the Scottish Parliament on St Andrew’s Day November 30th as part of the finale celebrations for Scotland’s Year of Homecoming. The finalists will perform their winning songs to an audience of MSP’s and the Scottish public as part of a full day of events at the Scottish Parliament marking St Andrew’s Day. The concert will be hosted by the Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP and presented by Burnsong patron Midge Ure OBE.


The 10 Winners are:

Fiona J Mackenzie
The first Gaelic speaking winner of Burnsong, Fiona J Mackenzie is a native of Morayshire, lives in Dingwall and is well known as a Scottish Gaelic singer and teacher. In 2004 Fiona was nominated and won the BBC Scotland Traditional Music Personality of the year. Well known for pushing the boundaries of Gaelic song, she is unafraid of experimenting with styles and genres as well as being passionate about her desire to make the learning of Gaelic language & song as accessible to as many people as possible.
www.fionamackenzie.org

Andy Tucker
Andy Tucker is an Edinburgh-born singer/songwriter. Formerly of The Dead Beat Club Andy is now singing with The Scattered Family - a broad musical collective of musicians from all over Scotland. Over the last few years, Andy has shared a bill with the likes of The Beautiful South, Seasick Steve, Angus & Julia Stone, Ian McNabb, Kim Edgar, Karine Polwart and Martin Stephenson playing everywhere from Portmahomack to New York’s east village.
http://www.myspace.com/thescatteredfamily

Yvonne Lyon
Singer-songwriter Yvonne Lyon is among the best and brightest emerging talent currently from Scotland. She has recently received national radio support and is winning over many new fans with her strong, creative melodies, demonstrating a voice that can be both fragile and intense. Yvonne has consistently drawn and stirred crowds across the UK with her emotive performances.
http://www.myspace.com/yvonnelyonmusic

Roberto Cassani
Scots-Italian Roberto Cassani sings his stories with lots of humor and a curious Scottish-Italian accent. Roberto is a in parts bit poet, a bit troubadour, a bit of circus clown. A superb songwriter and a master entertainer, Roberto Cassani is cheering up audiences nationally and internationally, as well as getting radio play and featuring in some of the most prestigious festivals around.
http://www.myspace.com/robertocassanimusic

Alex Hodgeson
A previous Burnsong winner in 2005, Alex has gone on to perform as far afield as South Africa and Malaysia. He also regularly performs at cultural events around Scotland. Alex Hodgson lives in Prestonpans with his wife Isobelle and two children. By day, Alex is a technician at Preston Lodge High School.
http://www.myspace.com/songwriteralexhodgson

Nuala Kennedy and Ziggy Campbell
Nuala and Ziggy met in the Burnsong Songhouse in Nov 2007.  They immediately struck up an affinity and wrote several tunes together during their tenure. This year they have played incendiary sets at the Edinburgh Art Festival and at the Big Tent Festival in Fife. Nuala also accompanied Ziggy in a sell out performance playing alongside his latest BAFTA nominated sound installation, Cybraphon. Both have their own busy gigging schedule with their own acts but continue to write and play together.
http://www.myspace.com/nualakennedy    http://www.myspace.com/ziggycampbell

Lisa Rigby
Lisa was born in England in 1974 and moved to Scotland when she was 8 years old. With family roots that are an Afro-Caribbean-Celtic, she describes herself as “ A Scot of the world!” Lisa is currently part of Edinburgh band Townhouse, that was picked as a finalist of Radio Forth's Forth One to Watch competition this year. Lisa was also a previous Burnsong finalist in 2007.
http://www.myspace.com/lisa_rigby

Marie Claire Lee
Glasgow based songwriter Marie Claire Lee has supported among others the likes of Mercury prizewinner Julie Feeney, world-renowned Ojos de Brujo and, more recently, rising stars Mr Kil.  Marie Claire currently plays with The Lotus Project and Engine7. Recent gigs include The Edinburgh Fringe Festival Mannifest Festival (Isle of Man) and a live session on BBC Scotland Radio Vic Galloway Late Live show.
http://www.myspace.com/marieclairelee

A.J Roach
A. J. Roach was raised Scott County, Virginia. The relentless touring and recording schedule that A. J. has kept since 2003 has paid off. In 2004, he was the General Category recipient of the Chris Austin Songwriting Award at MerleFest in Wilkesboro, NC. In 2006 his sophomore full-length album reached the number 1 spot on the Euro-Americana Music Chart. In 2007 his song, 'Black Lung' was included on a compilation album that was thrice nominated for Grammy Awards by the Recording Academy, and in 2009 A. J. was selected as an Emerging Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. A. J. currently lives in Brooklyn, NY where he is working on his third full-length album.
http://www.myspace.com/ajroach

Emily Elbert
Emily Elbert joins Anthony as another of the first winners of the Burnsong International Song Contest. Raised in Texas on a musical diet of Antonio Carlos Jobim, James Taylor and oldies radio, 20 -year old Emily has a passionate, self-taught approach to her song writing. Emily has toured extensively throughout the United States, opening for artists ranging from G. Love & Special Sauce to Richie Havens. She is currently a student of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.
http://www.myspace.com/emilyelbert

More information regarding the public tickets will be announced soon.





26th Aug 2009

Burnsong at the Scottish Parliament

Burnsong is delighted to announce, the 10 finalists of The Burnsong International Song Contest will play a showcase concert in the Scottish Parliament on St Andrews Day November 30th as part of the finale celebrations for Scotland’s Year of Homecoming.

The finalists will perform their winning songs to an audience of MSPs and the Scottish public as part of a full day of events at the Scottish Parliament marking St Andrew’s Day. The concert will be hosted by the Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP and presented by Burnsong patron Midge Ure OBE.

More details to follow.

Entries for the competition must be with us by September 13th - for more information contact: gordon@burnsong.org.





10th Jun 2009

Songwriting Competition 2009

Burnsong are pleased to announce the launch of the Burnsong 2009 international Song-writing Contest.

During Scotland's Year of Homecoming, we're looking for new songs of hope and optimism. For the first time, we are opening the competition internationally and inviting songwriters from around the world to enter.

Songwriters will be invited to enter their song in the 2009 Burnsong Competition via the Sonic Bids platform. Songs can be uploaded between 18th June and 13th September 2009 at www.burnsong.org.

A panel of experienced judges including music and media industry professionals will judge all entries anonymously. The Winners will then be announced in September.

The 12 winners will be invited by Burnsong Patron Midge Ure OBE to take part in a week long residential Songhouse at a comfortable Scottish farmhouse in the countryside Burns knew and loved.

There, the songwriters will be guided and supported by mentor Joe Bennett (UK Songwriting Festival/Bath Spa University) and producer Chris Blanden (Real World Studios) through a succession of tasks and collaborations designed to develop, enhance and extend their songwriting skills.

The winners then showcase their winning songs at "The Big Gig" hosted by Midge Ure OBE, which will be held in one of Scotland's most prestigious venues at a St. Andrew's Night celebration on November 30th. The songs will be recorded and broadcast nationally, internationally and via the web by Burnsong's media partners, BBC Radio Scotland.