About Place Partnership Dundee Launch

Dundee’s Place Partnership is a city wide project to celebrate the culture and creativity of Dundee delivering a series of initiatives and ambitious projects to encourage creativity in communities across Dundee.  

Projects such as Comic School, Autobiography of the City and Dundee Music Development will benefit from the support of Dundee’s Place Partnership which has at its foundation a commitment to improving access to the arts and assisting individuals and communities to flourish. Place Partnership will make Dundee an even more creative place to live, work and visit.

The project launches on Friday 18^th September with a whole host of pop up performances in the city centre and the release of the Sound Of Dundee CD!  Share your experiences of the pop ups and the Sound Of Dundee CD on social media using #DundeePlace

Schedule for performances & pop up activities

City Square – Music place

12:00 - 12:20 Be Charlotte

12:30 - 12:50 Sheena Wellington

13:00 - 13:20 Syann

13:40 - 14:00 Seven Sons

Wellgate, level 1 outside BHS & New Look

12:00 - 12.20   Flow! Poetry and Dance

12.30 - 12:50   Layla Brown. Opera singer accompanied by a keyboard

12.50 - 13.30   Scottish School of Contemporary Dance at Dundee & Angus College.

13:40 - 14:00   Stuart Small, Jazz Trio

Overgate, level 1 outside Debenhams

Try out printmaking with the DCA by making your own Dundee stamp to take home and try.

Penguins, City Churches

12: 00 – 14:00 Pop up poetry library from Literary Dundee and

13:00 – 13:30  Alan Carburry busking sessio 

Sound of Dundee CD

An early highlight of Place Partnership has been the creation of the Sound of Dundee CD for the Launch. A compilation of 15 tracks by bands and musicians closely connected with Dundee. The CD includes work by established artists such as Model Aeroplanes, Spare Snare, Michael Marra & The Hazey Janes and Sheena Wellington alongside up and coming local talent Be Charlotte, Lunan Bay and 2014 YMI participant Syann.

Sound of Dundee contributor Be Charlotte sums up making music in Dundee, \'I like to take inspiration from the people, places and situations around me. My song Discover was written earlier this year whilst I was walking through Dundee and is about the idea of looking up and seeing a different point of view. I realised how beautiful things can be from a new perspective.\'

The eclectic CD boasts a variety of genres including instrumental works and those featuring spoken word. The CD is available to pick up for free at the pop ups and in locations across the city on Friday and in the coming week.

Pick up points are:  Assai, King Street, Broughty Ferry; Dundee Science Centre; HM Frigate Unicorn, Victoria Dock; PDQ Print Services, Commercial Street; Hannah Maclure Centre; Groucho’s; Time Boutique; The McManus Art Galleries & Museum.

SOUND OF DUNDEE

Participating Artists Biographies

Model Aeroplanes

Since forming in January 2013, Model Aeroplanes have released a string of singles that have seen them work their way into the nation’s pop psyche.

The band have been on a journey that has seen them support some of their favourite bands such as The View, Twin Atlantic, Little Comets and hotly tipped newcomer Saint Raymond as well as their own sold out headline tour.

Having recently found a new home at Island Records, the rest of 2015 holds big things for Model Aeroplanes with a pile of further festival appearances as well as the release of their debut EP.

We will be recording and writing for the rest of the year. So excited to have some more tours up our sleeve but nothing we can announce just yet unfortunately! Keep an eye on our social media for announcements and hopefully we can catch some of you at a show!

What is it about Dundee that inspires you?

We are inspired by the people, so many creative musical people, often sadly overlooked by the city’s fathers. Fom Danny Wilson to The View.

Lunan Bay

Angus based duo formed at the start of the year after making good on their festive promises. The duo is made up of singer Layla 

Brown and drummer Jamie Simpson. Our music is influenced by long winter nights and summers by the sea.

Our first show will take place when the days become shorter and autumn sets in. Until then you can keep up to date with us on

Sound cloud- https://soundcloud.com/lunanbay
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lunan-Bay/471711763007082


What is it about Dundee that inspires you?

Jamie- the weather. the water. friends
Layla - the people, my family, its past and its future

Stuart Small

Born in Dundee, Stuart began learning piano with his Church organist and has since studied with some of Scotland\'s finest Classical and Jazz Pianists. Beginning as a classical pianist, upon hearing a Glenn Miller tribute band in school he made the decision to pursue learning jazz. This led him to  complete a Graduate Diploma in Jazz from the University of St Andrews and has recently begun recording some of his own jazz orchestra compositions, very much inspired by those first big band sounds.

Stuart currently writes, records and performs with two of his own groups, “The Smalls Massive Jazz Trio” and “The Smalls Massive Jazz Orchestra”. The work of these two groups can be heard at www.thekitchenrecital.wordpress.co 

What is it about Dundee that inspires you?

The blend of openness and crowdedness. it feels a bit like a metropolis at one view but a relaxed villa at another.

The Hazey Janes

2015 saw official city ambassadors The Hazey Janes celebrate ten years since the release of their self-titled debut with a sell-out retrospective gig at Dundee Rep Theatre. Over that decade, the band recorded five albums, toured Europe and the US, and collaborated on several projects with figures from the city\'s arts scene and beyond. One of those collaborations was with the late Michael Marra, one of Dundee and Scotland\'s most loved and respected songwriters. The resulting EP \"Houseroom\" is home to the track featured here, Michael\'s \"Mrs Gorrie\".

The Hazey Janes are set to record a new collaborative EP later this year before beginning work on their next album in 2016. Michael 

Marra\'s family continue to work on several projects which preserve and celebrate the great man\'s legacy.

What is it about Dundee that inspires you?

We should be proud of our city’s rich heritage and remember to look to its past for inspiration, as well as its future. The path Dundee has taken is an endlessly fascinating one, and all the forthcoming improvements to the city will only help to further its vibrancy.

Syann

Syann is a stunningly-voiced 20-year-old singer songwriter, from Dundee in Scotland, whose debut single \'Far Beyond The Sun\' was chosen by Q magazine as their Track Of The Day and which won support from Radio 2 and XFM. Her most recent single \' Elephant\' is led by the hypnotic pulsing rhythms and soaring chorus further spotlights the undeniable vocal talents of this prodigious young singer/songwriter. So far, Syann has received national radio coverage from the likes of: Dermot O’Leary, Gary Crowley, Jim Gellatly and Simon Raymond and her latest single was recently featured on Lauren Laverne\'s new recommended tracks on BBC 6 Music.

Since completing her time as part of the Gardyne YMI in 2014, Syann has signed a recording deal with Port Fire Records and is the first artist to be produced by the Scottish-born, London-and-Berlin-based team White Label, who recently produced and remixed tracks for Paul weller, to be included on his new Delux album due for release late 2015.

Syann’s startling voice is all the more impressive given the fact that until the age of six, she refused to speak.  “I love music,” she says. “I’ve loved it since before I could speak, but I was too shy to ever sing in front of anyone.  So during my childhood, I would always run around to find a hiding place – then I would sing my heart out.”

\"Being a part of the music scene in Dundee has been very important towards my development and has introduced me to some very talented artists but most importantly, is the encouragement and expertise of many Dundonians that inspires me every day\".

The Mirror Trap

The five of us have be playing together since 2013, in that time we have self released an album, Stay Young, and a five track EP, Silent Men. Before that we had all played in a selection of different bands around Dundee. These days our sound falls somewhere between loud rock and 80s pop, between Queens of The Stone Age and Tears For Fears, sort of. Last year we supported Placebo on a tour of Russia, and played at the iTunes festival in London. So far this year we have toured the UK twice and spent the whole summer on the European festival circuit.

We are currently back in Dundee writing songs for our new album, and on September 10th we fly out to Karma Studios in Thailand to start recording. Working on the album will probably take up the remainder of 2015, but we are hoping to squeeze in a few more shows before the year is out.

What is it about Dundee that inspires you?

Dundee is not cool, it has no real music scene or sound anymore, which sounds bleak, but actually allows for complete creative freedom.

Fat Goth

Originally conceived in 2007 by drummer Mark Keiller, guitarist/vocalist Fraser Stewart and bassist Allan Mitchell in Dundee.

The last few years have seen the Dundee based three piece successfully rise from local underdogs to rock fan favorites appealing to all the losers, freaks, weirdos out there looking for proper 

meaty, ball hair raising rock. Recently, they’ve found themselves the subject of Kerrang’s legendary Pandora strip twice, featured in the magazine and receiving stellar reviews. Rock Sound, Terrorizer, Q, Metal Hammer, Artrocker, The Skinny and Drowned in Sound are also amongst those who’ve highlighted the band’s humorous, brazen style. This flurry of praise led them to be nominated for a Scottish Alternative Music Award in 2013 and 2014, grace the stages of many a UK festival (T in the Park’s BBC Introducing and T Break stages, Arctangent, Belladrum, Go North, Wickerman) and act as main support to Torche and the legendary NoMeansNo.

What is it about Dundee that inspires you?

\"It’s a city constantly punching above its weight creatively despite not being an industry hub like Glasgow or even Edinburgh.\"

Be Charlotte

Be Charlotte is potentially the most innovative artist in Britain.  Her songwriting prowess is well beyond her 18 years. Her singing voice is flawless. She raps. She beatboxes. She produces her own material and even helps to invent her own instruments. 

The pitch perfect Dundee songstress has already taken massive strides in the UK and US wowing audiences with her impeccable

vocals during an absolutely captivating live show. Her performance involves live instrumentation and digital production techniques which encapsulates the spirit of an artist always willing to break the rules and pave her own way in the music industry.  She recently won the Tay FM One To Watch Award.

Spare Snare

Always had to make music. Made a record, started a band, and we still do it, 20+ years on. Spare Snare have released 10 albums and numerous singles, all on my label, Chute Records. We’ve recorded three John Peel Sessions, played festivals including Reading and T in the Park, and toured the USA. I also produce and direct a collaborative project called ‘The Grand Gestures’ who are just about to release their 4th album. Collaborations with The Grand Gestures have included Dundee names such as Gary Clark, Andrew Mitchell, Tom Doyle and Calamity Horse.

Spare Snare have just celebrated 20 years of their debut album \'Live at Home\' being released by playing a short tour including the DCA. The shows have been recorded and shall appear in some form shortly. The band are looking to record towards their 11th album over the coming months.

What is it about Dundee that inspires you?

A place to wander. A place to focus. A place to create. A place that\'s bright. A place that taught me to do it myself.

Seven Sons

Seven Sons are a five piece group heavily influenced by Bluegrass and Country duet singing. They perform a delightful mix of long forgotten songs from Appalachia, the occasional well known pop song and new, self penned numbers. Their sound is based around their beautiful, intertwining harmonies backed by fiddle, guitar, uke, double bass and dobro blending perfectly to create a haunting and memorable sound that often belies the tragedy inherent in many of their songs.

The band are Ruth Alexander (vocals, ukulele, guitar), Clayr Borthwick (vocals, ukulele), Barry Nisbet (fiddle, Guitar), Bill Rennie (dobro, banjo) and Amitai Ladin (double bass).

The band hail from Dundee, North Fife and Edinburgh and won an award from Dundee Music Prize in 2014 towards recording a studio album. They gig regularly in Scotland although did venture south of the border in May this year where they were invited to play at the Orwell Bluegrass Festival in Suffolk.

What is it about Dundee that inspires you?

Living in Dundee you couldn\'t fail to be inspired by the river, the history, the spectacular location of the city and an increasingly vibrant acoustic music scene.

Kinbrae

Kinbrae are twin brothers Andy & Mike Truscott. We grew up in Wormit, and spent our youth visiting the city to visit family and go to football games. We both moved to Glasgow to study music and are now based in Dundee and Edinburgh.

Our music is a mixture of brass, piano, percussion, musique concrete and found sounds with the aim of creating a uniquely experimental yet melodic form of ambient, classical music. We take influence from artists such as Max Richter, Johann Johannsson, Brian Eno and Arthur Russell as well as a wide range of others.

We have released one short run, lo-fi album of works relating to our time growing up in Wormit which was released on 13^th July this year.

We are currently writing material for an album and will hopefully be entering the studio to record early next year. We hope to have an EP released in the next few months and are aiming to hopefully head across to Germany in the New Year to promote the new material. Our next live show is on the 29^th September supporting Noveller at The Glad Café in Glasgow.

What is it about Dundee that inspires you?

The landscape in and around the city, the river, the city lights reflecting on the River Tay at night,the people. The opportunity for creative expression and collaboration.

Sheena Wellington

Sheena Wellington was born and brought up in Dundee learning Scots songs from Granny and father. As a teenager in the early 60s, she honed her skills, and met all the big folk names,  in the city’s vibrant folk club scene.  Through a varied career as Wren, bookmaker’s clerk, childminder and guesthouse proprietor she kept singing.

She was a folk programme presenter at Radio Tay when she recorded her first acclaimed album ‘Kerelaw’ in 1985.  Since then she has toured across the British Isles, in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa, comfortable in concert hall, folk club or classroom 

You can next hear Sheena at Leith Folk Club on Tuesday 22nd September, “Remembering Loos” at the Caird Hall on Friday 25th September and Family Ceilidh on the Frigate Unicorn on Sunday 27th September. 

What is it about Dundee that inspires you?

The beauty of the setting, the quality of the light, the gallus spirit of the people

Panda Su

Half Portuguese, born in the rural Highlands of Scotland and having spent her formative years deep in the forests of Fife, PANDA SU found her own voice with the release of the critically acclaimed Sticks and Bricks EP in 2009.

Having been awarded Best Scottish Newcomer (Jockrock Poll) 2010, Panda Su quickly found the appeal spreading beyond her adopted homeland. Her track Eric is Dead was the only track by a Scottish artist on the French release Fete de la Musique and was featured on the season 4 finale of cult TV show Skins.

Her follow up EP I Begin was released to even greater critical acclaim with the title track being awarded Single of the Month in The List (May 2011), whilst the EP was described in Audioscribbler as, “Arguably the most engaging record of the year”. In the USA, the EP also met with great commendation, with Best New Bands view that, “The EP becomes better and better with each listen… immediately evoking Sufjan Steven’s older albums”.