DOWN AT THE ABBEY - CHILD (Ages 11 - 17)

Kathryn Joseph released her debut album “bones you have thrown me and blood I’ve spilled” in January 2015; what started as an album “kickstarted” by dedicated fans has quietly and organically become a much loved, critically acclaimed album of 2015 – and in June – became the winner of Scottish Album of the Year (the longlist included Young Fathers, Belle & Sebastian, Mogwai and Paulo Nutini)

Prior to her debut release – Kathryn Joseph was regarded one of Scotland's best-kept secrets; prodigiously talented and criminally underrated her voice possesses the other-worldly quality comparable to Ms Newsom and Björk; but she is by no means of an ilk. Better compared with Anthony Heggarty; she is an artist in every way; unique and soulful, and at the core a beautiful unnerving truth.

Kathryn Joseph’s debut album "bones you have thrown me and blood I’ve spilled" paints a delicate moving, at time visceral but always intricately beautiful description of her life until now. Lyrically compelling and sonically stunning, her album evokes a stark, cinematic journey. Written in a period during which life took Kathryn between northern bothies, east coast beaches, the forth bridges and ultimately the east end of Glasgow where she recorded the album.

It was captured predominantly live in just a week by Scottish music industry veteran Marcus Mackay at the diving bell lounge (Frightened Rabbit, Snow Patrol, Trembling Bells, Alasdair Roberts, Sparrow and the Workshop).

Kathryn's on record, and sometime-live collaboration with Marcus offers an unmissable, heart heavy and gut wrenching but understated performance. Those lucky enough to catch her at one of her rare performances are sure to be captivated, moved and perhaps a little disturbed.

Kathryn Joseph's first limited edition pressings onto white vinyl (250 copies) and handcut CDs sold out quickly. It has since been re-mastered and been made available for wider distribution. Kathryn’s first single release the bird \ the worm is now available as download and aa side on 7” (limited to 250 copies). Accompanying the already heard title track “The Bird” is the previously unheard “The Worm” a song that was recorded with the rest of the album but never made it on -and since the re-master and playing live with Marcus on percussion, it made sense as a single in its own right. On release, it made Drowned in Sounds single of the week.

For Kathryn’s official video for The Bird – she and SCOTTISH BALLET Creative have collaborated with Eve Mcchonachie as director, and Sophie Laplane as choreographer/dancer to create a beautiful, moving and picturesque video set on a West coast beach at sunset.

*Radio sessions have included * "BBC Live at the Quay" with DJ Roddy Hart Marc Riley at 6 Music Shawn Keavney 6 Music at Edinburgh Festival BBC Introducing with Vic Galloway, Radio Scotland The Janice Forsyth Show Loose Ends with Clive Anderson

The Bird has been playlisted on Radio Scotland daytime and Amazing Radio. Kathryn has had 6 Music champions include Lauren Laverne (headphone moment, and 6 music recommends), Tom Robinson, Tom Ravenscroft, Marc Riley, Gideon Coe and Shaun Keaveney. She was breakout track of the week for Jon Kennedy as well as Scotland’s Jim Gellatly.

Emerging West London based five-piece Saltwater Sun recently released their debut EP 'Wild' through London-based independent label Hand In Hive.

Earlier this year the band released their debut single Habit On My Mind, which was met with widespread acclaim across tastemaker blogs and press, including being heralded by NME as, “the soundtrack to summer evenings” and also sitting firmly in Hype Machine’s Top 10. This was followed by Making Eyes, produced by Gengahr album collaborator James Bragg, which “melted together sugary pop gorgeousness with grunge-flecked licks” (The Line Of Best Fit) and has already had support from BBC London and featured by Radio X as their Shock Of The New.

Produced by Saltwater Sun and Gengahr album collaborator James Bragg, Making Eyes and Habit On My Mind form two-thirds of their forthcoming debut EP Wild, which will drop this November alongside the title track.

Saltwater Sun are: Jennifer (vocals), Dan (guitar), Ben (drums), Rob (bass) and Joel (guitar)

“Portishead doing a Tarantino soundtrack” Huw Stephens, Radio 1

Released in June last year, Vienna Ditto's debut album Circle received airplay on BBC Radio 1, Amazing Radio and BBC6 Music- earning a coveted spot on Tom Robinson's BBC Introducing Mixtape. Nightshift called it “One of the best Oxford albums of recent times” and Frank Skinner said it was “Smashing”, which is nice. Their next 7-track EP Ticks is due for release late April.

“Sexy pop noir” The Daily Sport

Hatty and Nigel first met when he taught her guitar at the age of 11, and although they lost touch in the intervening years the duo were reunited following a chance encounter in the street 8 years later. Originally intended as a bit of fun singing old gospel songs over wobbly synths, Vienna Ditto were prematurely catapulted into the limelight when their first song Long Way Down somehow ended up being played on Huw Stephens’ Radio One show, leading to an appearance on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury Festival. The band have since been given a Maida Vale session for BBC6, received glowing reviews in Q Magazine and Artrocker and appeared on Channel 4’s Hollyoaks Music Show.

2016 saw the band touring the album around the UK and Northern Europe, bolstered- if not financially, then surely in spirit- by the use of their music in several advertising campaigns (most notably for Saks Fifth Avenue and The Polish National Health Fund) and the film Sacred Heart by award-winning Australian director Kosta Nikas.

“With Smoky-voiced femme fatale Hatty Taylor on vocals, London-based three piece Vienna Ditto mix wild-eyed rockabilly riffs with sparse, atmospheric electronica.” Q Magazine

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