The covid-19 pandemic has hit many sectors in Scotland, none more than the events industry which has pretty much been decimated in 2020 due to the restrictions. One positive we see emerging from the current situation is the coming together of Scottish artists, who have joined together to show their support of Scotland’s frontline charities by agreeing to perform at the inaugural Frontline Festival Scotland on St Andrews Day.
The Frontline Festival Scotland is a new virtual gig and will be supported by over 30 Scottish artists. The online gig will be streamed over social media and the organisers are inviting everyone to attend, as viewers will be able to tune in throughout the day and watch it for free.
Part of Ceangail’s delivery team is Artist Liaison Volunteer Mark Barrow who says, “to secure such a high-class line up has been exciting if not a little challenging in the last few weeks.” He continues “the frontline emergency services have been at the forefront of the pandemic providing safety and reassurance throughout. To bring together Scottish artists for the chosen charities really shows a collectiveness and willingness to provide a bit of light during the dark winter nights, supporting worthy causes and grassroots artists.”
With the hard work been done in the background, the organisers are excited to announce a number of headline acts that will feature at the event including Wet Wet Wet, Hue & Cry, Altered Images, The Bay City Rollers, Sandi Thom, The Bluebells and Nicholas McDonald. With more acts still to be announced it looks like it’s building up to be a fantastic day of entertainment.
The Bluebells whose massive hit in the ’90s, Young at Heart, which also featured in a Still Game episode in 2019 said, “We are proud to give our support and recognise the work of the Frontline Festival and Scotland’s vital frontline services as well as our solidarity with Scotland’s artists during such difficult times as these.”
Indeed, even in the current crises, there is a real positive vibe surrounding the Festival and it’s on that basis that the organisers are appealing to both businesses and viewers to stand with them and show their support of the frontline services. Festival-goers would usually be paying upwards of £50 a ticket to attend an actual festival so all be it this one is free to watch, Ceangail has suggested that viewers could instead donate £5 to the campaign via the Just Giving pages.
In talking with Hue & Cry about the campaigns aims to raise awareness as well as funds for good causes they said, “We have the greatest respect for those who volunteer their services in responding to emergencies – putting themselves under duress, and sometimes even in harm’s way, solely for the good of others. It’s an honour to play at this virtual concert – so please make all your donations as ‘actual’ as they can be!”
Nicky McDonald who was runner up in the tenth series of The X Factor also added, “Playing the frontline festival is a real honour and am very happy I got asked to play. These are the heroes of today and always have been in my eyes. The least I could do was sing a couple of songs for you guys and support Scotland’s emergency service charities.”
Ceangail, the social enterprise behind the project, has managed to pivot the delivery of this fundraising gig for good causes and take it online. If restrictions continue then it could be the biggest, all be it home-based, individual shindig in Scotland people will virtually attend in 2020!
Businesses and Individuals can support the campaign in advance by visiting the Just Giving Team Page and then selecting one of the charities to donate to. There is also an opportunity for both businesses and individuals to create their own mini fundraiser by linking it online and contributing to the overall campaign. For more details please get in touch with the organisers at of****@ce******.org