Sound Of Scotland
Scottish bands and artists have put together a charity album to help support their crews
WHEN Scotland’s music venues closed their doors to keep fans safe, musicians were forced to adapt. Livestreams and tip jars substituted for mosh pits while initiatives such as “Bandcamp Friday” – an event during which digital music platform Bandcamp waived its revenue share to allow bands to sell music and merch directly to fans – offered acts a small income stream.
But musicians are merely the face of the live entertainment industry. As any savvy gig-goer knows there are many more people involved in pulling together a show – with few jobs more vital than that of the band’s crew.
As the pause on live music continues, those who rely on live events for a living face the prospect of an entire year of cancelled work, with many falling through the cracks of employment support schemes.
Music and mental health charity Fruit Tree Foundation is hoping to change that through Whole Lotta Roadies – a very special compilation album seeking to raise awareness, and much-needed funding, for Scotland’s crew. The album features covers of fan-picked tracks by the likes of Belle & Sebastian, Idlewild, Twin Atlantic, Mogwai, Kathryn Joseph and The Proclaimers, as performed by the singers and their crew.
“Looking at our crew specifically, these guys can all run rings round us on most instruments so why not make a record with them?” says Rod Jones of Idlewild, who together with Emma Pollock set up Fruit Tree Foundation in 2010.
“This project is by no means going to fix the problem for everybody, but it’s something that can hopefully create a little pot of money that can be used for a hardship fund to help those that need it.”
Recorded in just two weeks at Rod’s Post Electric Studios in Edinburgh, Whole Lotta Roadies had raised more than £12,000 by early November – before the final track listing was even announced. Long days and careful timetabling made sure everybody was able to get in and out of the studio while maintaining social distancing, with some artists – the La-based KT Tunstall in particular – recording their vocal takes in their home studios.
An early donation from Edinburgh promoter Regular Music funded session fees for everybody who played on the album, meaning that the full proceeds from album sales – and some really cool “I’m With The Crew” t-shirts
“It’s more punk rock on occasions”
– will go to a live music hardship fund, to be administered by a panel made up of those who work in the industry.
Rod has been blown away by the industry’s support. “I’ve often said, with Fruit Tree Foundation projects, there is a real sense of people wanting to help each other out – there’s not really the sort of hierarchy that you get in other places. I think a project like this is easier in Scotland than it would be anywhere else.”
“The ethos of this project is we are in this together: crew, bands, fans, everybody. This is a demographic that has fallen through the cracks, and while we’re not going to be able to help everybody, it’s something.”
Despite social distancing constraints making rehearsals and “jam” sessions difficult, the album is sounding great.
“It’s a tiny bit less polished and more punk rock on a couple of occasions – a bit looser round the edges, but in a good way,” says Rod. “The standard of playing and performances have been great.
“The only downside of this record is that people might realise we musicians are all a bunch of charlatans!”
Discover more at wholelottaroadies.bandcamp.com