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SCOTLAND WIDE CATEGORY:
NOVEMBER LIGHTS
Not quite indie and not quite pop, November Lights draws influence from across the Atlantic via American stadium acts like One Republic and Imagine Dragons, with epic choruses, dense soundscapes and hard hitting drums. This is coupled with lyrics that explore introversion, self-doubt, growing up in a quiet Scottish coastal town and coming to terms with early adulthood.
THE YOUTH & YOUNG
The Youth And Young are an 8-piece noisy folk band from the east coast of Scotland. Since the 2013 releases of their self-titled E.P. and follow up single: “Our Father’s Wars”, they’ve traversed across their native land spreading and developing their brand of “panoramic indie-folk”. They have developed a reputation for both engaging and raucous live performances that have seen them sharing stages with heavyweight compatriots We Were Promised Jetpacks and Fatherson.
BANSHEE
Banshee are an alternative rock band based in Glasgow, Scotland. The band’s sound combines pulsing modern electronics with roaring guitars, pop arrangements and a powerful female vocal fuelling high energy performances. Forming in 2011, Banshee have built strength upon strength developing their musical style, musicianship and craft whilst bringing the very best to audiences at their live shows. The band released their debut EP, “Say My Name” in 2015 to rave reviews from the UK’s music press.
LISA KOWALSKI
Aged 19, Lisa has been gigging around Glasgow and writing songs for five years, building a reputation as a gifted and hardworking songwriter and performer. In 2016, Lisa obtained funding from the Paisley 2021 UK City of Culture Bid to record her first EP, Free Spirits which in 2018 reached the finals of the Song Academy Young Song Writer Award. Lisa has performed all over from Glasgow’s King Tuts to New York Tartan Week. Her new EP will be recorded later this year.
DMS
Over the past couple of years DMS has been building a solid fanbase in Edinburgh as well as performing across the UK. They played to a full house at Edinburgh’s Liquid Rooms to celebrate the launch of their second single “Tight Jeans” in November. They enter 2019 with big plans to expand beyond their hometown and become better known around Scotland.
LOCAL CATEGORY:
THE ARGYLL CÈILIDH TRAIL
The Argyll Cèilidh Trail are an 8 piece band composed of Argyll’s finest young traditional musicians. Organised by Oban based charity Fèis Latharna, the annual Cèilidh Trail programme involves a three week summer tour of Argyll & the Isles. fRoots described their debut EP as “hugely promising” and “richly textured, exhilarating up tempo instrumentals and some gorgeous singing”.
4BELOW
4Below is the first solo alternative rock music project of Andy Bruce who has paid his dues playing all over Argyll in cover bands for many years. His unique act and music is generated from his bass guitar both live and on recordings. Whilst he does not use guitars he still delivers a big rock sound. The team behind Mojo, his debut gig last year, declared themselves “blown away” by the sound.
CRACKIN’ CRAIC
Crackin’ Craic are a local band from Oban and have been performing for over four years and love playing to their local fans and new audiences too. They released their debut album last year which received a great response from fans and supporters. They are currently working on new music along with other videos which they are really excited about.
S-MAC
Solo rapper Stewart McAllister, aka S-MAC, has a unique style of Scottish hip hop with plans to bring a different vibe to the Oban Live stage if he wins. Regularly performing at various gigs in Oban, it is not uncommon to see S-MAC appear alongside Oban Live’s 2017 Unsigned winners K9Kev & Rory O’B. He is regularly topping up his portfolio, releasing new tracks and creating music videos such as Oblivious which features his hometown of North Connel.
