YMI Tour Poster - click to enlarge

As part of a short Scottish tour, the artists will be playing a free concert at Norscot Angling Club, Lerwick, on Saturday 14^th August (doors 7pm).

At 2pm the same day, Ciaran Gribbin, who has written songs for artists including Madonna, will be hosting a free songwriting workshop and hosting a talk on his experiences in the music industry. See Ciaran’s biography below for more information.

The tour is funded by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI).

Joe Echo Biography

Sample the joys of Joe Echo as he takes you on a journey of sheer mind blowing vocal power and diversification with his blend of acoustic, rock and dance with a relentless attitude and killer tunes to match. – Mid Ulster Today

Joe Echo has one of the most extraordinary voices I’ve heard in a long time. – Gary Lightbody Snow Patrol

2009/10 has been a year of building on Northern Ireland artist JOE ECHO’s foundations through continual touring, writing and recording.

His Live work includes shows with The Script, Paolo Nutini, James Morrison, Joshua Radin, Powderfinger and Eskimo Joe amongst others. Following successful 2009 summer festivals he toured Australia for the first time playing a major festival in Perth, shows with Paolo Nutini in Sydney and Melbourne and several headline club dates.

Touring in 2010 is a priority and he’s recently secured the services of one of the worlds leading live agents, X-Ray Touring’s Steve Strange. Joe says “I’m really happy to be included on Steve’s great clients list that includes Snow Patrol, Coldplay and Eminem and he’s now become an integral part of the Joe Echo team which has gone from strength to strength in the past year.” Summer shows and festivals this year include Ireland’s Oxegen Festival and a most successful recent appearance at Hard Rock Calling in London’s Hyde Park with Paul McCartney.

Joe Echo

His writing over the past year has been as busy as it’s been diverse as he builds on his now extensive catalogue. Following writing stints with various artists from Paul Oakenfold to Groove Armada the year ended with a Grammy nomination for the Madonna worldwide hit “Celebration” which he co-wrote with Madonna and Oakenfold. His songs have appeared in various TV programmes from a US Newsweek series to Australia’s ‘Home and Away’.

Joe has written, recorded and co-produced all of the original songs for ‘KILLING BONO’, a new movie based on Neil McCormick’s memoirs of his years at school with Bono and U2 and his rather less successful rival band as they went through the 1970’s. Described as an “Irish music-based comedy”, it’s written by Ian Le Frenais and Dick Clement the screenwriters of “The Commitments” and “Almost Famous”, is directed by Nick Hamm and stars Ben Barnes and Robert Sheehan. Filming began in January in Belfast in and the movie, through Paramount, will initially open in 300 cinemas across UK and Ireland in early 2011 along with a SONY MUSIC Entertainment soundtrack album.

His other movie work includes recording, co-producing and performing the songs for Philip Ridley’s award winning dark fantasy movie ‘HEARTLESS’ starring Jim Sturgess and was released last month in the UK to five star reviews along with a UNIVERSAL Records soundtrack album and in the US in October.

Another song ‘Waves’ appears in the just released ‘Wild Target’ starring Bill Nighy and Emily Blunt with the soundtrack on SONY/EPIC Records. Two other Joe Echo songs feature in ‘Love and Suicide’, the first American movie shot entirely on location in Cuba.

He recently re-mixed tracks for Thailand’s multi-million selling female artist Tata Young.

He’s just completed the recording of his first JOE ECHO album prior to Summer shows after which there are plans to spend time in LA, Nashville and New York co-writing and showcasing followed by more touring including a return trip to Australia.

www.myspace.com/joeecho

www.joeecho.com

The Shetland Youth Music Forum Conference and Gig will take place on Saturday 16 May at the Sandveien Neighbourhood Centre. The event will begin with seminars held by local music industry professionals followed by an open floor conference. The day will culminate in an alcohol free gig featuring Oscar Charlie, the young Shetland band now based in Glasgow, and The Fire And I.

Everyone with an interest in youth music including young people, events organisers, musicians, educators, technicians, business people, industry professionals and community workers is welcome to attend.

The seminars will start at 1pm. Speakers will include Marvin Smith, band manager, studio operator and co-owner of Bleatbeat records, together with members of Oscar Charlie, who will focus on artist management and promotion.

Davie Gardner of Atlantic Edge Music Services and Richard Wemyss, Events and Venues Manager at Shetland Arts, will host seminars on Event Management, covering topics including health and safety, crowd management and promotion.

Fraser Mouat and Stevie Hook, music teachers and sound and lighting engineers, will host seminars on audio technology and recording software, and provide demonstrations of equipment and techniques. Fraser Mouat said “The seminars offer a great chance for people involved in youth music to speak to folk involved with some very interesting projects, and pick up some skills and knowledge along the way.”

The conference will begin at 4.30pm and cover a range subjects relevant to local youth music issues. Bryan Peterson, Shetland Arts Music Development Officer said “It’s an excellent opportunity for everyone involved in youth music provision to get together, share knowledge and discuss plans for the future. Shetland is at an important stage of youth music development, particularly with how new licensing legislation will affect youth gigs, Mareel on the horizon and the college about to start offering further education courses in music. We hope that everyone takes the opportunity to come along and make their voices heard”

Visitors will also be able to find information on subjects including the jazz development initiative, electronic music production, noise awareness week, upcoming youth concerts, further education courses, Mareel and music development initiatives.

The evening concert, co-organised by the Shetland Young Promoters Group, starts at 7.30 and will be headlined by Oscar Charlie and The Fire And I.

Oscar Charlie were formed in Shetland before moving to Glasgow amid a flurry of record company interest in September 2007. Since then the band have released several E.P.s, become a regular fixture on the Glasgow music scene and played prestigious events around the UK, including the “In The City” international music conference in Manchester last year.

The Fire And I are a two-piece electro rock band whose members come from Bathgate and Mexico City. The band tour regularly around Britain, having supported acts including Amy Macdonald, Biffy Clyro and The Young Knives.

Oscar Charlie’s lead singer Reuben Quinn said “Its great to be coming back to Shetland for gigs. I’m looking forward to playing to familiar faces again. The Fire & I are coming with us. They are superb. It’s really good to be asked to do the Youth Music Forum Conference. Anything that helps Shetland’s young bands has to be supported…. that’s the law”

Support will come from local groups Happy Hour and Calibre who have recently been taking part in the Youth Music Workshops held throughout Shetland. The concert is an alcohol free event open to over 14s.

The seminars and conference are free but booking is advised, as numbers are limited. The evening concert is £5. Tickets are available from the Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh Community Centre, Lerwick – 01595 745 555

Oscar Charlie and The Fire And I will also be playing an over 18s gig at the Norscot Angling Club on Friday 15th May.

For more information contact:
Bryan Peterson, Music Development Officer, Shetland Arts
T – 01595 743 843
E – bryan.peterson@shetlandarts.org