- SONAS: Sounds of New Artists Scotland runs 19-28 February 2027 in venues across Scotland.
- Created by Tinderbox Collective, the festival celebrates emerging artists and bands aged 14-25.
- A wider programme of gigs, showcases, workshops and creative events to be revealed in the coming months.
- The festival is hosting a major callout for artists, bands, venues, promoters and youth music organisations across Scotland to get involved.
Tinderbox Collective today launches SONAS: Sounds of New Artists Scotland, announcing a bold new nationwide festival designed to open up more stages, spark new connections and celebrate Scotland’s next wave of emerging musicians.
Running 19–28 February 2027, SONAS will bring gigs, workshops and artist‑led events to communities across Scotland – from major cities to island halls, coastal towns, village venues, record stores, youth centres and unexpected spaces.
The festival is built with partners across the country and aims to create meaningful opportunities for musicians and bands aged 14–25, whether they’re playing their first gig or already building momentum in their careers.
SONAS is issuing a major callout to artists, bands, venues, promoters, youth music organisations and anyone passionate about Scotland’s new music to get involved.
Claire Docherty, Senior Producer at Tinderbox Collective, said: “SONAS is about opening up the map, shining a spotlight on local venues and organisations, connecting communities and celebrating the incredible amount of talent that Scotland’s next generation has to offer.”
SONAS invites young musicians aged 14–25 to apply to play at events in their own area, with applications shared directly with participating venues and promoters. Young people can also organise their own SONAS event, from headline shows to unplugged sets, school gigs, youth centre performances or collaborations with local venues. The festival encourages events of all sizes and styles, as long as they platform and celebrate young and emerging artists.
Scotland’s music community is already rallying behind SONAS, with participating venues and organisations confirmed across the country. Iconic spaces such as Caird Hall (Dundee) The Jazz Bar and Queens Hall in Edinburgh are already involved, alongside a growing network of partners in every region; including Jazz Scotland, Macarts (Galashiels) An Seaomar (Inverness) and An Lanntair (Stornoway), as well as venues in Aberdeen, Dumfries, East Lothian, Fife, the Borders, the Western Isles and Caithness.
SONAS is also working closely with Hen Hoose; the pioneering women and non-binary-led songwriting collective who recently announced Scotland’s first safety certification scheme for the music industry, and Bit Collective; a huge driver in progressive and intersectional structural change in the Scottish folk and traditional music community.
Venues, promoters and music organisations from all across Scotland are being encouraged to get involved.
“We want SONAS to be a national celebration powered by everyone who gets involved,” said Claire Docherty. “Every artist who applies, every promoter who takes a chance on a new act, every organisation that spreads the word – they’re all part of building something new for Scotland’s music scene.”
Alongside the callout, SONAS is announcing its first series of free online artist‑development workshops and open mics, curated in partnership with the Music Education Partnership Group and Graeme Smilie – musician, educator and researcher at the University of Glasgow and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Workshops are designed to support young musicians at every stage of their careers, and online open mics offer a place for young people to share their music with other musicians across the country.
The full programme will be announced in the coming months.
SONAS is the latest project from Tinderbox Collective, an organisation known for bringing young people, music, arts and technology together through projects rooted in creativity, collaboration and community. SONAS continues this mission by creating new routes into live music and making emerging talent easier to discover.
The festival is open to artists, venues, promoters, youth organisations, photographers, filmmakers, designers, educators, community spaces and anyone who wants to help new talent get heard.
Claire said: “Whether you’re playing your first gig or you’re a touring band, whether you’re a rapper, trad musician, jazz artist or indie punk band – there’s a place for you in the SONAS programme.
“Scotland’s next generation has an incredible breadth of musical talent as well as the many organisations who work tirelessly to foster this talent.
“We want to create a festival that celebrates all of it, inviting Scotland’s whole music community to help us do it”
Applications to play, event registration forms and workshop information are available at www.sonascotland.org
