Author Archives: Barry Dickson

Hard Rock Rising 2013

Hard Rock Rising is a battle of the bands competition and they are looking for the next big band . The worldwide competition is coming to Edinburgh at Hard Rock Cafe in the city’s George Street they are looking for bands/artists from all over Scotland to take part and new talent can win music equipment valued at  around £6,000 as well as shoot a music video and embark on a world  tour.

Any artist interested can register on the Edinburgh Hard Rock Cafe  Facebook page, where fans will decide who can move on to the live performance rounds. Registration ends January  21. Once the favourites have been selected they will perform at The Hard Rock Cafe in front of a panel of judges at the venue who will then decide who wins and will then be representing Scotland and be up against the winners from all the other Hard Rock Cafe’s participating throughout the world. The winners will then be narrowed down to a Top 25 and a panel of  judges will decide the overall winner.

More than 12,000 bands entered Hard Rock Rising and nearly one million votes  were cast by fans around the globe in 2012 with the Edinburgh event being won by local group The Asps.

The overall winner of the competition will play a world tour in cities including Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong,  London, Chicago and Honolulu, arranged by Hard Rock International, as well as  record an album with Hard Rock Records.

Entries must be received by 21st January 2013.

 

For more information or indeed to enter please follow the links below:

https://www.facebook.com/thomas.carlin.5/posts/575346339146164?comment_id=7066391&ref=notif&notif_t=share_reply#!/hardrockcafeedinburgh?fref=ts

or

https://www.facebook.com/thomas.carlin.5/posts/575346339146164?comment_id=7066391&ref=notif&notif_t=share_reply#!/hardrockcafeedinburgh/app_205164529573076

May The Best Band Win!

Sixth Avenue Traffic Interview

Glasgow based rock band Sixth Avenue Traffic are headlining a big gig on Christmas Eve at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in the city.

Chris Thompson (Vocals), Chris Gould (Guitars and Vocals), Kirsten Stevenson (Bass) and Jordon Lang (Drums) are finishing off a huge year for the band, from playing Hard Rock Rising Battle of the Bands in Edinburgh back in March to releasing their debut EP Whisper, Smile and Wave to a packed house at the Classic Grand. Playing a major gig at King Tut’s 2012 rounds off a busy and successful year for this great band.

Here Barry Dickson interviewed them about the past year, Christmas Eve and what 2013 will bring for the band and their ever growing fan base.

Sixth Avenue Traffic Interview by Basher1969 on Mixcloud

To find out more about the band go to:

www.sixthavenuetraffic.com

www.facebook.com/sixthavenuetraffic

Huntington’s Disease Awareness Fundraiser

An event to increase the awareness of Huntington’s Disease (HD) will take place this month at Firhill Stadium, the home of Partick Thistle F.C, in the Alan Rough Suite.

Huntington’s Disease is a condition described as “a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and psychiatric problems. It typically becomes noticeable in mid-adult life.”

The event will take place on Friday 30th November 8pm – midnight, organised by Annie MacKenzie.

It is billed as “Rock Around The Christmas Tree For HD Awareness” and will feature some of the best up and coming musical artists from Scotland, including Sixth Avenue Traffic, The Cosmanauts, Honeybadger and Ded Rabbit. There is also a buffet and an auction to raise funds.

Annie MacKenzie explains prejudice against those with Huntington’s Disease due to misunderstandings can be very hurtful to sufferers.

She said: “Most sufferers stop going out due to being accused of being drunk which is very hurtful for them, our event’s are now giving them a space to feel part of their communities again, they all know we find a safe environment, friendly people and we are all together for HD awareness, that empowers people who suffer from HD to change their own attitude towards their ways of coping, helps their families feel less stressed and we all know music is a good healer for anyone who suffers from high levels of stress.”

Annie has previously organised many other fundraisers to support sufferers and families of sufferers of HD.

Commending those who help to create the event, she continued: “We always thank all the bands who play at our event over and over again for their kind free contribution not only has band members, but they guide us through the process of planning a live music event and of course our wonderful team of volunteers with who we all share one thing in common: we are all from HD families, we all know the impact HD has had on our lives and we all push to make huge changes so the next generation do not have the same amount of upset and stress as most of us have to cope with on a daily basis.

“There is also a CD called Carry On which is a compilation of 20 tracks that have all been donated (play-list to be released just before the 30/11/12) by 20 of the bands who have played at our past HD awareness live music event. The track Carry On was written by a Glasgow based band called The Coffins (who are also appearing at the fundraiser). The lead singer attended our last gig which we held at the Woodstock music club in Dunfermline, he asked me why the need to be HD aware and by the time I finished telling him it had such a huge impact on him that he went home and wrote the song.”

Tickets for the event can be purchased for £8.00 in advance  by calling or texting 07706080367  or at the venue on the night for £10.00.

For more information go to: http://www.liveforlifescotland.webs.com/