Hit The Road featuring Ruvellas

Church, Dundee, November 15

When up and coming Dundee indie band Ruvellas play Church on November 15, it won’t be the first time they have played the music venue.

But what will be different this time around is that they will be headlining a mini music festival that aims to give young bands a helping hand on the road to potential stardom.

The Ruvellas will be headlining the Dundee element of a national youth music touring project for young musicians called Hit the Road.

They’ll be joined by The Plastic Youth from Glasgow and Spyyn from Edinburgh before the Glasgow and Edinburgh bands headline their hometown nights on November 16 and November 17 respectively.

Run by Scottish Music Centre, the initiative provides young musicians living in Scotland, age 14-19 years old, the opportunity to learn about the live industry before embarking on a professionally managed tour.

It aims to equip young artists with the knowledge, contacts and tools required to build a career within the live industry and is funded by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI) and PRS Foundation.

The project has helped develop artists like Lewis Capaldi, Indigo Velvet and Dundee’s own Model Aeroplanes and Be Charlotte.

In an interview with The Courier, Ruvellas guitarist Matthew Short, 17, said the band applied for the project a few months ago and it “definitely made a difference”.

“It’s an initiative to get young bands a better opportunity in the music industry,” he explained.

“We get 12-hour rehearsal time for nothing at Straight Up Studios. It’s a massive help. Six hours in a rehearsal room is a lot, so it’s a good practice to get tighter as a band and write new stuff.” Matthew, who is studying for an HNC in sound engineering at Perth College, said he and lead guitarist Lewis O’Farrell, drummer Matthew Smith and bassist Ben Gowans all used to “jam” together while pupils at Menzieshill High School (latterly at Harris Academy after Menzieshill closed).

It was only after former St John’s High School pupil – singer Aidan Stuart – came on board two years ago, however, that they started getting more serious with songwriting.

“We recorded a song with YMI at Gardyne Theatre,” he said. “That was on Soundcloud and Facebook and got 20,000 views.

“We’ve been in the process of getting new songs released on a double A-side.”

Citing influences from Oasis, the Stone Roses, The Beatles and the Smiths, Matthew said they look up to other Dundee bands such as The View and Be Charlotte.

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Ruvellas are looking forward to joining The Plastic Youth and Spyyn on the touring project.