Hello and welcome 

Thanks for dropping by. I’m Shaun, a journalist, PR and a huge music fan. Let me explain a little bit about the background to this project.

After launching the Good Stuff in Between podcast, and because of the hugely positive reaction to it pilot season, one idea was to take it a stage further with a newsletter to plug the gaps between recording.

Something geared towards regularly curating new gigs, tour dates, music releases, festival updates, interviews, jobs and opportunities to help folk promote whatever it is they are doing in the industry.

There’s a form on the site’s nav bar to fill out and submit with details of updates to make it easy to get involved.

The idea is to create an at a glance catch-up taking up only as much time as the next song on your playlist to read. It will no doubt evolve over time, but the layout should be pretty self explanatory.

You can subscribe and follow for free here. That’s the main thing. The more people who do the bigger chance we’ll have of connecting you with great music, and sharing stories and advice to those making their way.

If you like what you see and hear, please do consider taking out a paid subscription to support what I’m trying to do. It will help me continue to develop the project and fund things like travel, fees and equipment.

I’m not sure how many (any?) of you will, but a friend told me that it would be a good way to build forward for wherever this goes.

Subscribe now

As well as live gigs, festivals, the ‘business’ of music, I’ve a real interest in the music scene in Norway, so there’s a separate section for that too.

I hope you’ll give it a go and, if you like it, please do share with your friends, family and colleagues and get in touch to promote your music too.

Thanks for following. Yours in music, Shaun

What is the Good Stuff In Between? 

The Good Stuff In Between started life and fondly remains a podcast (by me, Shaun Milne) going behind the scenes of the music industry, searching out advice, creativity and stories from all those making it happen.

I wanted to get into the industry as a teenager, but never did. Instead I enjoyed a really fun and successful career in UK journalism, and now media consultancy and PR. But music has always been a constant draw in my life.

The inspiration for the podcast came via conversations with people working in music about what they wished they’d known before starting out. Making a podcast asking those same and other questions seemed like the obvious way to help.

I talk with artists, managers, promoters, crews, technical specialists and others about their own journeys in bringing music and joy to fans everywhere.

I love gigs and festivals, watching bands and singers. But I can’t help but wonder what the person is doing with the cable, how the photographer is thinking, what size of truck brought the stage gear, what the sound engineer hears, what the security team is looking for, who is that at the side of the stage.

So many people are involved in making the magic happen, this is a chance to bring some of those stories - and the lived experiences - into the spotlight.

I’ve interviewed people from the events industry, managing festival sites, new and established artists, promoters and artist managers, and individuals spearheading sustainability and well-being efforts for the sector. 

There’s much more lined up in the coming months involving festivals, bands and artists, PRs, and some of those unsung heroes we rarely get to see. 

You can find the show links on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and wherever you get your podcasts. The new series is coming soon.

Get involved

I’ve been hugely grateful to all those who have taken part in the podcasts so far, and am delighted with the list of people willing to take part in future recordings. It really is the perfect mix and, wherever possible, will stay gender balanced.

I hope to inspire a similar network and community around the newsletter too, curating the very latest announcements, releases and projects.

Got something to plug? I’m keen to hear from promoters, managers, PRs, artists and anyone looking to promote their music and events, as well as those working behind the scenes or putting tours together.

If you think you or someone you know would be taking part, tag me on Instagram @goodstuffinbetween or better still fill our share your news form. I’m also on Bluesky if you’ve switched at goodstuffinbetween.bluesky.social.

Very special thanks

Among the many people who have supported this project so far, a special thanks goes to Lewis-based singer songwriter Willie Campbell.

Not only was he among the first people to be interviewed he gave his kind permission for me to use his song Nothing’s Going To Bring Me Down as the show’s theme music, after its lyrics inspired the podcast’s title.

You can fine out more about his music, this link to his website.

Thanks also to my former colleague Michael MacLeod, publisher of The Edinburgh Minute series, for his invaluable insights about Substack and community building.

Finally, a special mention also to Event Grads founder and festival executive Naomi Hollas, singer songwriter Mima Merrow, Iain Macphail at IDM Group Scotland, Craig Corse of CCM Live, Kevin Mackay from DF Concerts and Events and Katie Macdonald, founder of Well On Tour, for their faith and support in taking part in the opening series.