The Scottish Music Awards and More.

The Scottish Music Awards returns for its 21st year tomorrow. This year's event will be held at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow and hosted by Scottish Radio presenter Edith Bowman. The event celebrates the best in Scottish music while raising vital funds for Nordoff Robbins Scotland, the UK’s largest music therapy charity. The organisation is dedicated to bringing high quality music therapy to as many people as possible. Beginning with the pioneering work of pianist Paul Nordoff and special education teacher Clive Robbins 50 years ago the organisation has continued to support those affected by life-limiting illness, isolation or disability. The organisation works as hard as possible to bring the benefits of music therapy to as many people as possible.

Edith Bowman

Edith Bowman will host the 21st Scottish Music Awards on Saturday 30th November.

We are very proud to have regularly supported the event and organisation and for over 10 years now have provided instruments and backline for the Awards Show. This years event is one of the biggest yet and the backline requirements are bigger than ever. Our Gretsch USA Custom Kit with sets of Zildjian and Sabian Cymbals and a Roland SPD-SX will be there for the drummers. There will be no shortage of amps either with our Ampeg SVT-VR and Ampeg SVT Classic Bass heads alongside an Ampeg 810E Cab for the bassists and a Fender Twin Reverb, Fender Hot Rod Deville 212 and 2 Marshall JCM 2000 DSLs heads paired with 2 Marshall 412 cabinets. Amongst much more both our Nord Stage 2 and Nord Stage 3 will also be on the stage.

All of this backline is required as the event will feature performances by Simple Minds alongside one of the biggest breakthrough artists of the last year, Tom Walker. The show will also feature a performance by Joesef, one of Scotland’s most exciting emerging artists. This years award nominees include Liam Gallagher, Simple Minds, Tom Walker, Joesef, Auntie Flo, Lewis Capaldi, Twin Atlantic and Be Charlotte. We are sure that the Awards will once again be a roaring success and will continue to support the event in the future.

Simple Minds will perform at the Awards on Saturday

Tomorrow night will also be the final night of GIOfest XII at the CCA. GIOfest is an annual festival in Glasgow providing a platform for improvising musicians and artists, organised by Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra. The festival began on Thursday with concerts on Thrusday, Friday and Saturday evenings. This year’s GIOfest features US-born composer Alvin Curran, co-founder of the legendary Musica Elettronica Viva, multi-instrumentalist Anne Pajunen from Sweden and members of Norway’s ground-breaking Kitchen Orchestra. Also performing will be one of GIO’s most loved and influential collaborators, Maggie Nicols. During the day the CCA will also be hosting GIOxtensions a series of events that showcase exciting new work emerging from artists and groups from within GIO. This will include workshops for both children and adults who can take part in musical sessions filled with drama and humour. When any orchestra comes to town they usually come to us to hire some of our orchestral percussion. This time is no different with our Premier Orchestral 36” Bass Drum and our recently acquired Musser M55 Vibraphone going out for the show alongside one of our Double Basses. Information about tickets and pricing for the event can be found over on the CCA's website.

Alvin Curran

Alvin Curran will perform on Friday night at the CCA as part of GIOfest XII

Sunday night sees a very different Orchestra come to town as legendary Hollywood composed Danny Elfman brings Tim Burton’s Iconic The nightmare before Christams live in concert to Glasgow for the first time as part of the movie’s 25th anniversary celebration. Elfman, performing his role of Jack Skellington, will be joined by other original cast members Catherine O'Hara as Sally, and Ken Page as the voice of Oogie Boogie with full orchestral accompaniment by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra . Conductor John Mauceri, Founding Director of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, will be leading the full orchestra and choir performing the film's classic score and songs live to picture. Two of our powerhouse Roland Keyboards will be going out to the show as part of the performance. Our Roland Jupiter 80 and Roland Fantom X7 will help bring the music of the wonderful film to life in Glasgow.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Disney's live show comes to Glasgow for the first time on Sunday 1st December.

There will be more Christmas festivities on Sunday in Glasgow as the West End’s Ashton Lane, Vinicombe Street, Cresswell Lane and Ruthven Lane will be turning on their Christmas lights. There will be a Christmas Market beginning at noon with a selection of local traders selling gifts, crafts, food and drink. There will be an entertainment stage which we are providing a full backline for. The actual switch on will be at 5.30pm on Vinicombe Street. Maybe those on the way to the Nightmare Before Christmas concert could swing by.

It's setting up to be a busy Christmas here at ESP and we will keep you updated of all our upcoming events here and on our Twitter. As always get in touch at info@esp-musicrentals.co.uk if you would like to hire any of our equipment.