Rising female artists, Riley, Becki Rutherford, and Megan Black surprised passers-by on Castle Street today with a busking set and free tickets to their upcoming Glasgow gigs as part of Glasgow Life’s Glasgow Music Nonstop busking tour.
The busking tour, which makes its second stop in Edinburgh, is bringing together musicians from across Scotland to get people excited about Glasgow’s jam-packed programme of music events this summer.
The three Glasgow artists kicked off the second day of the tour and gave away tickets to their upcoming gigs in Glasgow (all three artists are performing at King Tut’s Summer Nights Festival), in support of the city’s summer of music.
The tour is now gathering pace and makes its final stop in Dundee tomorrow (Friday 22 July).
Riley said: “Glasgow is one of my favourite cities to play in, so I was thrilled when I was asked us to join the Glasgow Music Nonstop busk tour in Edinburgh.
“I’m delighted to be headlining King Tut’s this Sunday and love that Glasgow Music Nonstop is supporting all the fantastic artists that are playing Glasgow this summer.”
Edinburgh resident, Michelle Finlayson was one of the lucky passers-by who managed to snap up a ticket to Becki’s gig. She said: “Being given these tickets totally cheered me up and Becki’s beautiful voice had us dancing along and joining in.
“I absolutely love the live music scene in Glasgow, there’s always a great atmosphere at gigs, so I’m really looking forward to seeing Becki perform there.”
Glasgow Life Chair, Bailie Annette Christie said: “Glasgow enjoys a global reputation as a live music hotspot, with our venues regularly playing host to some of the world’s biggest artists. As the UK’s first, and Scotland’s only, UNESCO City of Music, Glasgow’s music scene has something for all fans, which is a major reason visitors choose to come here.
“The Glasgow Music Nonstop busking tour is our way of bringing a flavour of Glasgow’s summer of music to our fellow Scottish cities and celebrating the artists that make Glasgow’s music scene so vibrant. We’re delighted to support homegrown talent and hopefully get people excited about Glasgow’s upcoming events with some free tickets to enjoy our city’s summer of music.”
Developed by Glasgow Life’s Destination Marketing team, and with the support of VisitScotland’s Destination and Sector Marketing Fund, the ‘Glasgow: Music Nonstop’ busking tour is bringing a line-up that includes Riley, Megan Black, Becki Rutherford, Pages, BOOTlace and Silvi to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Dundee to promote Glasgow’s lively music scene and give music fans across the country the chance to scoop free tickets to upcoming gigs.
Glasgow Life is a charity which delivers culture and sport across Glasgow.
Glasgow’s summer of music kicked off with a bang in June as some of the industry’s biggest names descended on the city’s venues. From Green Day at Bellahouston Park, to Liam Gallagher at Hampden, to the city’s 5th year of TRNSMT festival and King Tut’s Summer Nights, Glasgow is living up to its title of Scotland’s UNESCO City of Music.
With plenty of music events lined up this summer, Glasgow is playing host to Summer Nights at Kelvingrove Bandstand (27 July – 13 August), Merchant City Festival (28-31 July), Piping Live! (6-14 August), the World Pipe Band Championships (12-13 August), and a whole host of other live gigs that span a wide range of genres.
With an impressive range of accommodation, Glasgow is an ideal place to enjoy a music-themed short break and make the most of the city’s lively nightlife. Perfect for music lovers, the Ibis Styles Glasgow Central features showstopping music memorabilia and themed murals in contemporary surroundings.
Fans can follow in the footsteps of music icons Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones by booking a stay at Voco Grand Central Hotel.
For those attending gigs in the city centre, Radisson Blu is a top choice with its music-themed illustrations and photography, and for music fans visiting big names at the OVO Hydro, Radisson Red offers unparalleled views from across the street and plays host to DJs in its rooftop bar.
Find out more about the campaign at www.peoplemakeglasgow.com/see-do/glasgow-for-music-lovers/glasgow-music-nonstop.
Pictures: Mile Wilkinson
