Erin’s big finale after 30 years leading band
BeatThat to give last ever performance at COP26
After 30 years pioneering the women’s samba movement in Scotland, Stirling’s Beat That’s musical director, Erin Scrutton, is hanging up her whistle.
One of Scotland’s longest-running samba bands, Beat That is winding up too and going out with a bang at COP26 this Saturday November 6 by playing in the parade for Extinction Rebellion campaigners.
Beat That put out a call to women samba players, past and present, to join in the finale celebrations at COP26.
Samba sisters were sent music files to listen to and joined rehearsals at the band’s practice hall in Stirling and online on Zoom in preparation for the COP26 parade on Saturday.
Erin recalled this week: “I’ve had 30 amazing years, changing the world in my own small way. I’ve loved every minute of it – from the first workshop in Stirling to the last, rehearsing in Braehead for COP26 last weekend.
“Highlights have been the excitement of opening Stirling’s Millennium on the castle esplanade, Battle of Bannockburn 700 celebrations, Beltaine Festival, the launch of the Tolbooth.
“We’ve sparkled our way through the streets at Hogmanay parades, played at festivals across the area from Cambusbarron to Doune the Rabbit Hole. We’ve been Stirling’s ambassadors in London, Dublin, Barcelona, Amsterdam and more.
“We celebrated our 15th birthday at the Tamdhu in Bannockburn and our 21st birthday at the Rugby Club. The band’s gone from sprightly 30-somethings to just as sprightly 50, 60 and 70-somethings, with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren clapping us along.”
Erin is now turning her attention to her artistic interests, but is not ruling out a return to music for special occasions.
She added: “I’m a lifelong learner and in my 50s turned to studying Contemporary Art Practice. It feels like the right time to hand over my whistle and develop myself as an artist, this time using paint, rather than music as my medium. I’m thrilled that the Macrobert is interested in picking up where we left off and is planning to kick off drumming classes in the New Year. I’m confident Stirling will win the title City of Culture and like to think another samba band will lead the parade. I wouldn’t say no to joining them for the occasion, bringing along my samba sisters from across Scotland.”
Women’s samba ignited when Erin led 100 women across Glasgow’s suspension bridge on October 31, 1993 for the first Glasgay festival which ran until 2014.
The samba movement spread and Erin was asked to run workshops in Aberdeen, Fife, Dumfries, Wales and Ireland.
She started teaching Beat That in Stirling – set up as a one-off workshop – and has led the group ever since.
Popular with programmers and gig organisers across Scotland, Beat That regularly led the annual Glasgow Style Mile Christmas Parade and played at the Merchant City and West End festivals. They have been stalwarts at Paisley’s Sma’ Shot and Halloween festivals.
Back home in Stirling, each year Beat That took to the stage and streets in the city for events like Reclaim the Night to Hogmanay celebrations.
They’ve performed at festivals in
Dublin, Berlin, London, Liverpool, Amsterdam, Italy and Spain – and attended the Stonewall 25th anniversary celebrations in New York.
Erin has been MD with Stirling-based Beat That for 30 years, and in that role has taught scores of women who have become part of the Beat That family and performed at festivals, parades and gigs from Belladrum to Berlin, Ireland to Italy.
We’ve sparkled our way through the streets at Hogmanay parades, played at festivals across the area .... We been Stirling’s ambassadors in London, Dublin, Barcelona, Amsterdam and more. Erin Scrutton