We could discuss the artist, but others are already doing that at length. What I want to know is - just what was it Ed Sheeran's team thought they were doing?

The first response should surely have been: stick your stadium up your arse and good luck explaining it to the fans ....

Obvs more complex. But as someone who has been involved in PR, journalism and public affairs for 35+ years now, it genuinely baffles me - that they could get it so wrong.

Inconsequential, though, to the realities of those caught in a genocide.

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MUSIC

Rachel Sermanni has released her EP Still No Way Blues. A journey of five songs to close your eyes too. A tremble in the voice, the smile of a fiddle, the gift from a guitar, laden with imagery. It's everything you need for your playlist right now.

I've had the privilege of spending a lot of time hanging out with Laura Silverstone recently for shows, recordings and, of course, in the promo build up to her next single - 'September' which is out next Friday. I'll come back and talk in more depth about the track next week. But in the meantime, here's a sneak peek from her on Instagram.

You can pre save here.

(Pre-saves are really important for artists, because it signals to the algorithms that this is a song worth putting to the head of the queue. It only takes a couple of seconds, but can make a huge difference. It can also be a real boost of encouragement for artists too. So click, save, share. I might do a podcast on it, if any experts out there are up for sharing their knowledge. DM me.)

Catch Laura soon in the colourful surrounding of The Hillhead Sessions in Glasgow next month. Tickets available here.

Scottish folk duo Rebecca Hill and Charlie Stewart released their new single Abhainn Hotaroil yesterday, the second track to be shared from their forthcoming album Glas. Written by Charlie Stewart for his gran, Abhainn Hotaroil takes its name from a favourite river on the Isle of Lewis that his grandparents would often walk alongside.

Tune in Celtic Music Radio today (Sat) from 12pm to hear some chat and song with Flew the Arrow. Lee McGilvray will be talking about his new album with host Iain Oliphant album.

NORWAY

A couple of years ago I stumbled across Siv Jakobsen. She stopped me in my tracks with her music, which drew me to her album 'Gardening'. It's gorgeous, thoughtful music. But this gem of a discovery was followed by a period of quiet. It turns out there was a reason.

Like so many artists she had tried hard, lost faith, felt lost, and wondered what the point of it all was. She talks about this in a series of posts heralding her return. It's brave, moving, and above all something I hope others take comfort, and maybe even inspiration from.

Listen to to The Fixer, it's just out. And it too is sublime.

This time last year I had tickets to go and see Sigrid play an acoustic set at All Saints Church in London. In the end I couldn't make it because of a diary clash, but from the photos and videos it looked terrific, and is in part the inspiration behind booking Laura into The Hillhead Sessions (above).I'm obsessed with the idea of the acoustics and visuals, and can't wait to see it brought to life.

But all of this has surely been trumped by Highasakite, the Trondheim band, who have secured an entire tour around churches in Norway. It looks incredible, and I'm eager to figure a way to get to at least one. Check out the tour dates for yourself. It's all but sold out in a few day.

The 9 to 12 August 2027 have been confirmed as dates for the next Oyafestivalen. I was there this summer, and it brilliant, including Aurora and Tomora who are the main reason my personal Instagram is nudging 100k views this month, for this collab with @amrothian.

EVENTS

Politics and music have been interlinked for generations and will no doubt form part of the discussion at the forthcoming SMIA Summit happening at The Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow on 8 October. High on the agenda, discussing the Scottish Music Industry Roadmap framework, following its publication.

But equally interesting a whole raft of panels and advice workshops covering a wide range of discussions. Well worth looking into. Details here

Resonate is on the horizon too. First wave acts for the event on 19 November are here.

And don’t forget on Wednesday, Born to be Wide, returns to Leith Arches. The panel discussion is The Rise of Independent Promoters. More here.

Also on Wednesday, Stand Up For Trad are hosting a European Folk Day from 2pm, broadcast live across their social media channels, discussing the proposed New National Company for traditional music.

Details and link are here.

Got something happening? Let me know: [email protected]

LIVE

Can you remember the first album you ever bought? How about your first vinyl album? I can, and I still have it. It was Raintown by Deacon Blue.

I'd never even heard of them before, and I had no intention of even buying a record that day. But there I was, standing in what wa s the old HMV in Edinburgh's Princes Street and this photo just stared out at me.

It was a gloomy looking skyline, an image captured by the Italian photographer Oscar Marzaroli. It was to begin a lifetime of listening for me, and I've been lucky enough to have watched the band play live on a few occasions.

But the prospect of seeing them perform Raintown in its entirety again so many years later, I think, will be quite impossible to resist.

I've been a fan of, but yet to see, Dylan John Thomas live - so the prospect of an up close session via our friends at Assai Records appeals very much.

Huge congrats to Bottle Rockets who are headed to New York and New Colossus Festival in March. There's just something about these guys that suggests that anything is possible career wise. Take your chance to go and see them close up while you can. I'll be at their Fife show, for sure.

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Indie band Bottle Rockets. Explore our latest EP 'father's daughter,' stay updated on tours, and connect with us on social media!

NEWS

Brian Ferguson at The Herald had another great scoop, plans for a major revamp around the SEC Event Campus, home to some of the country's biggest live venues. Read here

More, I suspect, to come.

OPPORTUNITIES

Applications are open now for the Showcase Scotland Expo with Between the Trees festival. Deadline next weekend. Apply

SWG3 in Glasgow are hiring a Senior Events Manager. C/D: 30 Sept. Details

PROMO CORNER

Willie Campbell & Taylor Swift’s engineer Matt Bishop collab on indie pop track ‘Leaving Lewis’

Former ‘Astrid’ frontman Willie Campbell has joined forces with Taylor Swift’s recording engineer Matt Bishopfor the release of indie-pop charged solo single ‘Leaving Lewis’, released on 11 September. 

Campbell turned to Bishop, previously nominated for a Grammy for his work on Swift’s multi-platinum ‘Red’ album, to capture the full energy, urgency and comfort the new track brings. 

The result is one of the brightest, high-tempo indie guitar bangers this year, packed with the imagery laden and trademark storytelling that Campbell’s growing fanbase loves.   

Willie said: “I’m excited about this track and just felt that it deserved to be mixed by someone with skills far better than my own. I love Matt’s mixing and that ability he has to tease the energy and brightness out of a song, he really took it up a level.

“He’s one of the best I’ve ever worked with, his CV is unreal Taylor Swift, The Killers, U2 and others speaks for itself, and he has really managed to capture that air and emotion in the song that I was hoping for beautifully.”

Also appearing on the track is James “Cliffy” Clifford, his former Astrid bandmate and Cosmic Rough Riders bass player, in a familiar lockstep with Campbell’s distinctive guitarmanship. It provides a sound that readily straddles indie pop rock generations.

Conjuring images of his beloved Western Isles and being on the road performing under the relentless gaze from an always on society, Campbell is at his creative best as he contemplates where everyone fits into the world. 

“The first verse is just thinking about the enormity of 'it' all: about having your soul inside your body, a bag of bones held up by a ghost, and the thought that we are orbiting a gigantic nuclear reaction,” he says. “Then there's news fatigue. I went through a phase of listening to the news on the radio almost relentlessly every morning and it was just starting to pull me down, just the horror of everything that's going on in the world just now. That low-level dread about the state of the world.

“So mostly it's about having to leave my wife and the kids and get the ferry to go away and play while all this is happening around us. I know I'm really lucky to be making a living as a musician, but I get down  at the same time, having to go.

"It's just about having gratitude for the good things in my life.”

Campbell, who has forged a sought after reputation for his songwriting, is preparing the release of his new album, including recent singles X and O, Holiday From Myself, as well as a series of live solo dates to be announced. He will also appear with his band The Tumbling Souls at McChuill’s in Glasgow on 13 November. 

WHAT’S YOUR IDEA?

What would you like to see covered in this newsletter? Let me know.

And pleae do send your updates and promo to [email protected]

Thanks for reading, Shaun.