August Blog
Govanhill International Festival

Join us in celebrating the Govanhill International Festival and Carnival 2024, from August 1st to August 11th! This vibrant two-week event, now in its 8th year, highlights Govanhill’s diverse cultural heritage and addresses important community issues such as amplifying Palestinian voices, celebrating Roma culture, preserving Irish heritage, and promoting healing and wellbeing.
August 3rd: The Ghill YG’s, a talented young drill group who we’ve been working with alongside Community Renewal, showcased their skills at the Love Music Hate Racism event at Queen’s Park Arena.
August 11th: Look out for us on Victoria Road where we’ll be running a drop in DJ workshop - a fantastic chance to learn and have fun!
Celebrate with us and be part of a movement for creativity, solidarity, and social change. To get a flavour of what’s in store for GHill YG’s performance this Sunday, listen back to our Radio Buena Vida show, where the group performed live in the RBV booth with the support of their tutor, Steg G. At just 16 years old, we are beyond impressed with their lyricism and techniques on the mic.
August 3rd: The Ghill YG’s, a talented young drill group who we’ve been working with alongside Community Renewal, showcased their skills at the Love Music Hate Racism event at Queen’s Park Arena.
August 11th: Look out for us on Victoria Road where we’ll be running a drop in DJ workshop - a fantastic chance to learn and have fun!
Celebrate with us and be part of a movement for creativity, solidarity, and social change. To get a flavour of what’s in store for GHill YG’s performance this Sunday, listen back to our Radio Buena Vida show, where the group performed live in the RBV booth with the support of their tutor, Steg G. At just 16 years old, we are beyond impressed with their lyricism and techniques on the mic.
Join us at the Healing Arts Scotland Conference 2024!

- We are excited to announce that The Sound Lab will be participating in the Healing Arts Scotland Conference 2024.
Run by Scottish Ballet and the The Jameel Arts and Health Lab, in partnership with the WHO, the conference is a country-wide celebration of arts and health, taking place across 19th - 23rd August. Attendees can look forward to a dynamic, participatory event bringing together communities, researchers, and academics to celebrate and explore the benefits of participatory arts in health.
Join the Sound Lab for the Glasgow instalment of the conference on August 21st, hosted by Scottish Ballet, Tramway, and the Hidden Gardens. Sound Lab Highlights will include: - DJ Workshop: The Sound Lab will run a DJ workshop at Tramway from 10:45 to 11:15. Book your spot here to get involved.
- Live Guitar Performance: Talented young Sound Lab guitarist Kieron will also be performing live from 12:30 in the Hidden Gardens, supported by his tutor Nicky Murray.
- Sangeeta Isvaran, founder of the Wind Dancers Trust
- Agustin Ivanez, Director of the Latin American Brain Health Institute
- Dr. Nisha Sajnani, founder of Arts & Health at NYU
- Moira Pirsch, Education Director at Maui Arts and Cultural Center
Queens Park Arena Recap
In July we had a fantastic time delivering a range of DJ, songwriting, and steelpan workshops in the heart of Queen’s Park as part of Inhouse's ‘Open Stage Presents’ community engagement programme.
The DJ Skills Workshops, led by Wheelman, provided participants with a hands-on experience with CDJs and an introduction to mixing. Our songwriting sessions for women and girls, run in partnership with Milk, were facilitated by Lisa Meech and Sound Lab alumni Eyve and resulted in some powerful lyrics and reflections, with participants writing in a number of different languages. Under the expert guidance of Nick Sigsworth, the Southside Steelpan workshops engaged children, young people, parents and bystanders alike, creating a vibrant and inclusive musical experience. Despite the unpredictable Scottish summer weather, the energy and creativity remained high.
The DJ Skills Workshops, led by Wheelman, provided participants with a hands-on experience with CDJs and an introduction to mixing. Our songwriting sessions for women and girls, run in partnership with Milk, were facilitated by Lisa Meech and Sound Lab alumni Eyve and resulted in some powerful lyrics and reflections, with participants writing in a number of different languages. Under the expert guidance of Nick Sigsworth, the Southside Steelpan workshops engaged children, young people, parents and bystanders alike, creating a vibrant and inclusive musical experience. Despite the unpredictable Scottish summer weather, the energy and creativity remained high.
We’re looking to continue supporting some of the young people from these workshops, fostering their growth and creativity in the coming months. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and made these workshops a success! Additionally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community partners we had the pleasure of working with; we look forward to developing our relationships with the likes of Gig Buddies Glasgow, Gilded Lily, Giving it Laldie, and MusicALL.
Did you miss us in the park? You can experience the vibrant energy of our Queen’s Park Arena work by listening back to the latest installment of our Clyde Built Radio Show, where we highlight the sounds and voices from an incredible few weeks of music-making!
Did you miss us in the park? You can experience the vibrant energy of our Queen’s Park Arena work by listening back to the latest installment of our Clyde Built Radio Show, where we highlight the sounds and voices from an incredible few weeks of music-making!
Dixon Young Carers Partnership
Our first session with Dixon Young Carers was a resounding success, led by our tutors Marina Rolink and Alex Smoke. Over the course of four hours we delivered a dynamic blend of songwriting, vocals, and production tuition. The group brainstormed different lyric ideas before choosing to write a collaborative song about friendship - having worked on lyrics and production with Marina and Alex in the first half of the session, for the second half they began working on artwork to accompany the song.
We hope to make the next session even more interactive, featuring more percussion and organic instruments to provide a hands-on musical experience, as requested by the young carers. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to support and celebrate these remarkable young individuals!
We hope to make the next session even more interactive, featuring more percussion and organic instruments to provide a hands-on musical experience, as requested by the young carers. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to support and celebrate these remarkable young individuals!
Thank You Joe!
After three remarkable years as our treasurer, Joe Lee is stepping away from Sound Lab to focus on making his own music. Over the last 3 years Joe has played a crucial role in steering and developing our charity, significantly contributing to its growth and success. Joe’s talent with numbers and penchant for spreadsheets has been invaluable. An ever-present member of our Board of Trustees Joe has played a vital role behind the scenes in terms of our financial governance. From making sure tutors get paid, to the financial forecasting and accounting that underpins our work with children and young people, he’s given a huge amount of time and energy to getting The Sound Lab to where we are today.
We’ll miss his presence, sense of humour and music recommendations, but we are excited for him as he embarks on this new journey. Thank you for all that you have done for The Sound Lab Joe. Look out for an introduction to our new Treasurer, Ruairidh Lennie, in next month’s edition!
After three remarkable years as our treasurer, Joe Lee is stepping away from Sound Lab to focus on making his own music. Over the last 3 years Joe has played a crucial role in steering and developing our charity, significantly contributing to its growth and success. Joe’s talent with numbers and penchant for spreadsheets has been invaluable. An ever-present member of our Board of Trustees Joe has played a vital role behind the scenes in terms of our financial governance. From making sure tutors get paid, to the financial forecasting and accounting that underpins our work with children and young people, he’s given a huge amount of time and energy to getting The Sound Lab to where we are today.
We’ll miss his presence, sense of humour and music recommendations, but we are excited for him as he embarks on this new journey. Thank you for all that you have done for The Sound Lab Joe. Look out for an introduction to our new Treasurer, Ruairidh Lennie, in next month’s edition!
Stirling Champions Board
We’re now halfway through our collaborative project with the Stirling Champions Board, a group of young asylum seekers, which began in the shadow of Stirling Castle in July. The sessions have been a joy to facilitate thanks to the fantastic space and the high level of engagement from the group.
Many of the young people in Stirling face significant isolation and lack opportunities, making these sessions a vital source of support and connection. Each two-hour session offers both active participation and valuable social interaction, helping improve English speaking and comprehension while providing a chance to explore a range of musical instruments and production equipment.
Many of the young people in Stirling face significant isolation and lack opportunities, making these sessions a vital source of support and connection. Each two-hour session offers both active participation and valuable social interaction, helping improve English speaking and comprehension while providing a chance to explore a range of musical instruments and production equipment.
Celebrating Volunteers in Community Music
Sound Lab featured in the July issue of Third Force News! Our chair Paul Sullivan gave an insightful interview as part of the cover story, discussing the crucial role of volunteers in third sector community music organisations like ours. Volunteers have been the backbone of Sound Lab, helping us grow from an entirely volunteer-run organisation to one that now employs three full-time staff members. The dedication and passion of our volunteers has been instrumental in our success, enabling us to continue offering music making opportunities to those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access them. |
To learn more about the importance of volunteers to third sector community music organisations, be sure to read the article in Third Force News
Participant Spotlight: Ciaran Novek
We want to give a special shout-out to Ciaran Nowek, a former Sound Lab participant now turned volunteer DJ tutor who performs as Novek. Techno guru Ciaran was a massive help at our QPA DJ sessions in July, helping others to take their first steps in terms of beat matching and mixing.
You can see Novek in action on Sauchiehall Street later this month, as he puts on ‘Meet Me On The Dancefloor 001’ his first ever club night, also featuring A Burd Called Keith, Daniel Campbell (Live) and Anthony Henderson. It’s all happening at Brunswick Cellars on 16th August, 9PM - 3AM. Get your tickets here.
We want to give a special shout-out to Ciaran Nowek, a former Sound Lab participant now turned volunteer DJ tutor who performs as Novek. Techno guru Ciaran was a massive help at our QPA DJ sessions in July, helping others to take their first steps in terms of beat matching and mixing.
You can see Novek in action on Sauchiehall Street later this month, as he puts on ‘Meet Me On The Dancefloor 001’ his first ever club night, also featuring A Burd Called Keith, Daniel Campbell (Live) and Anthony Henderson. It’s all happening at Brunswick Cellars on 16th August, 9PM - 3AM. Get your tickets here.
Ciaran has also curated a mix for our next Radio Buena Vida show, so make sure you tune in on 17th August from 3-4pm!
Pitch Scotland is back!
PITCH - Scotland's hip hop & underground culture conference - returns to Glasgow this month. Featuring Panel Discussions, Music Feedback Sessions, 1-2-1s, Showcases, Open Mic, DJs and more, this year’s conference will take place at Drygate Brewery. A diverse lineup includes industry figures, performers and authors drawn from Scotland, Europe and North America. Speakers include the likes of Darren McGarvey, Aja Garrod-Prance (SMIA) and Sarah Jones (FOCUS Wales) whilst the performing lineup features Sound Lab’s own Paque, alongside the finest emerging talent from across Canada, Wales, Scotland, Europe and beyond.
Don't miss the chance to see Paque in action and support this vibrant community of emerging artists. For more information, visit Pitch Scotland.
Don't miss the chance to see Paque in action and support this vibrant community of emerging artists. For more information, visit Pitch Scotland.
The Sound of Young Scotland Award
Applications for the Sound of Young Scotland Award are now open! The award supports emerging Scottish musicians with a funding package worth up to £10,000 to facilitate the creation of their debut album.
Supported by Help Musicians and the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative, the award provides cash grants, studio time, business advice, and more. The winner also receives a bespoke art prize and a performance slot at the 2025 SAY Award ceremony. Eligibility criteria include age limits and being an active, self-managed artist based in Scotland.
For more details on how to apply, visit The Sound of Young Scotland Award.
Applications for the Sound of Young Scotland Award are now open! The award supports emerging Scottish musicians with a funding package worth up to £10,000 to facilitate the creation of their debut album.
Supported by Help Musicians and the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative, the award provides cash grants, studio time, business advice, and more. The winner also receives a bespoke art prize and a performance slot at the 2025 SAY Award ceremony. Eligibility criteria include age limits and being an active, self-managed artist based in Scotland.
For more details on how to apply, visit The Sound of Young Scotland Award.

Networking Event for Music Creatives and Emerging Artists
Are you an emerging artist or music creative seeking to strengthen your connections in the music industry? Join Youth Music, for a music networking event, featuring a panel discussion where industry experts will offer tips and insider advice on community growth and audience building.
This event is a prime opportunity to network with fellow creatives, gain valuable insights, and enjoy performances from Youth Music Funded artists, including Eyve, a former Sound Lab participant and now a talented tutor and artist.
Date: Wednesday 14th August
Time: 7pm-10:30pm
Location: Mono, Kings Court, 93 King St, Glasgow G1 5RB, UK
Click here for more information and to sign up.
Are you an emerging artist or music creative seeking to strengthen your connections in the music industry? Join Youth Music, for a music networking event, featuring a panel discussion where industry experts will offer tips and insider advice on community growth and audience building.
This event is a prime opportunity to network with fellow creatives, gain valuable insights, and enjoy performances from Youth Music Funded artists, including Eyve, a former Sound Lab participant and now a talented tutor and artist.
Date: Wednesday 14th August
Time: 7pm-10:30pm
Location: Mono, Kings Court, 93 King St, Glasgow G1 5RB, UK
Click here for more information and to sign up.
ESNS 2025 Applications are Open!
We’re excited to share that artist applications for ESNS 2025 are now open! If you’re an emerging artist looking to make an impact on the international music scene, this is a fantastic opportunity for you.
ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) is Europe’s leading music festival and conference, held annually in Groningen, Netherlands. Renowned for showcasing new and emerging European talent, ESNS offers a significant platform for artists to gain international visibility. Each year, the festival draws over 4,000 delegates, including representatives from more than 400 international festivals, providing invaluable networking and industry connections. The event features a blend of live performances and a comprehensive conference, making it a prime opportunity to connect with industry professionals and showcase your talent.
If you’re interested in applying, please visit Play at ESNS to submit your application before September 1st.
We’re excited to share that artist applications for ESNS 2025 are now open! If you’re an emerging artist looking to make an impact on the international music scene, this is a fantastic opportunity for you.
ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) is Europe’s leading music festival and conference, held annually in Groningen, Netherlands. Renowned for showcasing new and emerging European talent, ESNS offers a significant platform for artists to gain international visibility. Each year, the festival draws over 4,000 delegates, including representatives from more than 400 international festivals, providing invaluable networking and industry connections. The event features a blend of live performances and a comprehensive conference, making it a prime opportunity to connect with industry professionals and showcase your talent.
If you’re interested in applying, please visit Play at ESNS to submit your application before September 1st.