Tartan tours: Bands from home around the world.
Peej Reid, 34, might be based in Austin, but his heart still beats for his home town of Barrhead. Now a permanent resident in the US, he is one of the people behind Dear Scotland a website that lists every Scottish band that is playing a gig outside of Scotland.
With the Scottish music invasion of South by Southwest happening right on his doorstep, he's getting ready for a week of music from bands he's been following avidly for years.
“Ask a typical American what Scotland means to them and they generally mention three things... golf, whisky and Braveheart.” Reid jokes, but it is fair to say that America has always taken the Scots to its heart?
“There is a feeling of Scottishness that is promoted in America,” he explains. It's this strange mix of Scottish and American influences that he witnessed first-hand when on the board of National Tartan Day and that is still being pushed by Scottish tourist bodies.
He adds: “If you look at the VisitScotland stuff and how Scotland promotes itself, it's a lot of that stuff anyway. America is just looking for something to identify with.”
Working on Dear Scotland this week is proving to be particularly busy for Reid with the South by Southwest music festival under way. “Normally there are eight to ten Scottish bands touring overseas in any week, from the small bands to more recognisable names like Eddi Reader. With 14 bands playing 81 official shows in Austin, it's the biggest week of the year for Scottish music abroad.”
With his many years in the US and tracking countless bands touring the world, has he noticed any musical trends to pay attention to? “Accents. There's a shift towards natural accents being used in music. Glasvegas is an excellent example of a band happy to just be themselves; while Twin Atlantic use their rich accent to best advantage.
“Bands making the jump to the US are preserving their own identity in a crowded field, but are definitely coming over as Scottish bands. At heart, they're all playing fantastic music that people love and want to talk about.”
Does he have any advice for the bands that have made the long trip to Austin? “Don't expect to be signed at the end of your showcase. If you're lucky, the industry watchers might pop in for five minutes. But take this chance to play as many gigs as you can. If you get offered gigs during the day alongside your official showcase, take it”
This is the perfect place to make as many contacts as possible; you should be looking out for US agents, potential tour managers, publishers, in fact just speak to as many people as you can. This is a great opportunity, but you have to work hard and make sure every show you play is a good one.”
