Skypark Sessions Presents New Live Music
28th September 2021
Featuring Blue Rose Code, The Wild Places, Rebekah Kirk & Mt Doubt
Streaming on Facebook 21, 28 October ; 4,11 November
#skyparksessions
Skypark, one of Scotland’s premier business locations, has announced a second music Sessions that will see Scottish Stars Blue Rose Code, The Wild Places, Rebekah Kirk and Mt. Doubt come together on 30thSeptember to record new material in live sets for the first time in 15 months. The sets will be streamed free to fans on 21 and 28 October, 4 and 11 November, giving bands and singers promotional collateral, helping to boost the recovery of live music after the pandemic.
A long-standing supporter of Scottish arts programmes – including Glasgow International, Arts and Business and Skypark Curatorial Fellowship 2019 in partnership with the GSA – Skypark Sessions is the second of two music sessions to launch in partnership with Mildred’s Dairy Promotions.
Skypark’s strategic lettings advisor Angela Higgins of Resonance Capital said: “The Sessions will give new music exposure and promotional collateral at a time when live music is trying to get back to normality after this pandemic. It’s a privilege to present new music by Blue Rose Code, The Wild Places, Rebekah Kirk and Mt. Doubt. It’s free for anyone to watch the gigs, that will stream across our social media channels in October and November. Sign up to the Skypark Facebook Page for notifications of when the Sessions go live.”
The second Sessions will feature new songs by Blue Rose Code, The Wild Places, Rebekah Kirk singer and songwriter and Mt. Doubt.
Blue Rose Code is Edinburgh-born songwriter Ross Wilson. At the edge of contemporary alt-folk, Wilson’s music evokes a meeting of Van Morrison and a young John Martyn, both shipwrecked with a bunch of Motown records. Ross Wilson said: “It’s an electrifying gift to be able to be able to sing, play and share these moments again.”
Up and coming singer and songwriter, Rebekah Kirk from Cambuslang, Glasgow is Songwriter of the Year 2021 at the University of West of Scotland. She wrote her first song age 10 when she began gigging. In 2018, Rebekah worked with Stormzy and Florence + The Machine’s backing vocalists in a London studio, recording her first few singles and in 2019, she worked with BAFTA Award winning director Tim Courtney on the stunning music video to her debut single Haunted. She said: “It’s great to get this opportunity as due to the pandemic I have been unable to play live. Thanks to the Sessions more people will hopefully get the chance to get to know me and my songs. I am excited to be a part of the Skypark sessions as it will be great to showcase some acoustic versions of some songs I hope to release as singles in the near future.”
Formed in 2014, Glasgow band The Wild Places will play new songs from their debut album ‘Wires’ released in February 2020. The trio are multi-instrumentalist Ewan Fergus, Neil Plews on bass and Tim Berridge on drums. The album was recorded entirely in their homes. Speaking about the past year singer-songwriter Ewan Fergus said: “Thanks to our very patient families, we basically did everything ourselves. Even Tim’s massive drum sound was recorded in my living room with a full drum kit, which my very kind family and cat were good enough to put up with. Chaos… but it worked. It was gutting to do all that work and not be able to play the songs live to anyone. But now things are opening up we hope to change that soon. We are also thrilled to be doing a Skypark Session and get back to what we do best: playing live.”
Founded in 2015, Edinburgh’s Mt. Doubt has released three albums and three EPs, performing alongside the likes of Idlewild, White Lie and Admiral Fallow. Leo Bargery of Mt. Doubt said: “The tracks we’ll be playing are from our most recent album ‘Doubtlands’, which came out in October 2020. We’re going to play ‘Caravans on a Hill’, ‘Dark Slopes Away’ and ‘Waiting Rooms’. Being involved in the sessions is going to benefit us as a band in an array of ways not least just being able to be back together. Our record also came out during lockdown, so no-one has seen us perform these songs. That will be exciting and a good test for us ahead of upcoming shows towards the end of the year. Hopefully, new people will see the sessions, like the songs and grab a record too!”
Bobby Motherwell, founder of Mildred’s Dairy Promotions that has partnered with Skypark in the creation of the event said: “We jumped at the chance to be involved in this great initiative to help Scottish artists get their new music heard during what has been, a very testing year for musicians and the live music scene in Scotland. We think this is a great idea and a great way to bring musicians, artists and music fans together.”
The first Skypark Sessions recorded in July and featured singer and songwriter Findlay Napier and musician and singer Daniel Meade. You can watch these back on Youtube
Sign up to Skypark Facebook Page for notifications of when the Sessions go live. Watch #skyparksessions stream live on: 21 & 28 October, 4 &11 November.
Glasgow Artist Rothnie Unleashes ‘Free Spirit’ Exhibition
News Release: 16 September 2021
Skypark, one of Scotland’s premier business locations, has announced the opening of ‘Free Spirit’ a therapeutic art exhibition of bright and colourful paintings by a Glasgow-based Artist Rothnie. The exhibition is the artist’s biggest exhibition of work in over 25 years, highlighting climate change that will run to 31 December 2021.
“Regal Bear portrait is symbolic of the battle we are fighting with climate change and pollution“
With the installation adorning Skypark’s donated gallery walls, ‘Free Spirit’ enabled Artist Rothnie to channel her energy to feel free during the pandemic. She said: “Exhibiting at Skypark is my first real opportunity to show my work to a wider audience. After 25 years raising my family, I’m exploding onto the Glasgow art scene and Skypark has the largest selection of works in one place.
“My influences range from the layers and colours of graffiti and street art to the patterns and symbols of traditional art of indigenous peoples across the world. I use my art as a vehicle to express and understand my feelings, pouring myself into them like a form of therapy.
“My painting ‘Regal Bear’, is a portrait of a polar bear that I feel is symbolic of the battle we are fighting with climate change and pollution and relevant in the lead up to COP26 in Glasgow. While climate change remains the greatest threat to the polar bear’s survival, the oil and gas industry is currently turning its eyes to the arctic and with that comes the potential risks of further habitat destruction from the oil exploration work. The black human hand print symbolises mans’ presence and the open palm gesture to stop and consider our actions”.
A long-standing supporter of Scottish arts programmes – including Glasgow International, Arts and Business and Skypark Curatorial Fellowship 2019 in partnership with the Glasgow School of Art – Skypark’s donated gallery was established in 2011 featuring work by Lesley Banks, Damien Shields and Original Comic Artwork by DC Thomson. Skypark Sessions a new music pathway will see live streamed sessions with Blue Rose Code, The Wild Places, Rebekah Kirk, Mt Doubt, Findlay Napier and Daniel Meade, giving new live music exposure and promotional collateral at a time when the industry is trying to get back to normal.
Skypark’s strategic lettings advisor Angela Higgins of Resonance Capital said: “Rothnie’s work is inspired and captures the moment as we begin to see the return of our City’s vibrant arts scene and a return to work in the office. Alongside #skyparksessions that support the Scottish music industry, our donated gallery adds a vital contribution to culture with a chance to see and celebrate Scottish talent as we open up again.”