Rocking All Over the World

Scotland's musical talents are playing to sell-out venues all over the world.

From the concertos of Nicola Benedetti, to the thumping electro-pop of Calvin Harris, or the powerful rock of Biffy Clyro, the voices and melodies of Scotland are echoing around the world.

Flick through an international music magazine and top-selling bands such as Snow Patrol and Franz Ferdinand are likely to feature. Boundary pushing Scottish rap/hip hop acts like Werd are even penetrating an underground genre associated more with America than Edinburgh.

Sounds of the moment

This month and next, bands from Scotland will headline major venues around the world. Biffy Clyro, a Kilmarnock threesome, have joined rock musics elite after developing their work and fanbase in Scotland. The Ayrshire outfit have just returned from a US tour and are readying themselves to conquer Australia, Germany, Switzerland and Finland in the summer as well as enjoying a homecoming at T-in- the-Park on 11th July.

Such has been their success, in a recent poll conducted by The Scotsman newspaper, Biffy Clyro were voted the best Scottish act of the new century, taking 35 per cent of reader votes. UK music authority, NME, claimed the band's new April release, 'Bubbles' takes the band level with the greatest rock acts in the world".

Friends in distant places

Biffy Clyro are not the only Scots making an international impact in this golden age. Selkirk's Frightened Rabbit have grown from a one-man-band to a leading entity within the independent music scene.

At the outset, vocalist Scott Hutchison, who sings in a thick Scottish accent, didn't believe he could write music until 'it kind of appeared from out of nowhere'. Since then, Hutchison and Frightened Rabbit have exploited that talent. This year's third album, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, has received glowing reviews across Europe. Earlier this month, the group wowed the audience at the chic La Fleche D'Or venue in Paris. In the coming weeks, they will take their emotionally charged guitar tunes to fans from California to Quebec.

On 12th June, they return home just in time for an eagerly awaited festival with Snow Patrol, the Editors and Band of Horses at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow.

New optimism

So what makes Scotland a hotbed for talent that can reach out across continents? Jim Gellatly, leading exponent of new music and the first radio DJ to play native acts such as K T Tunstall, Glasvegas, The Fratellis, Sergeant and The View, believes there is confidence bubbling within the national music scene.
"I cannot remember another time when so many Scottish bands have been signed," said the former BBC presenter. "There is an influx of bands proud to be Scottish, singing in Scottish voices. You also have a proper music community here now. All the major labels have scouts in Scotland. There are labels, studios and management. Before, people went to London to further their careers. Bands don't have to do that any more."

Amy Macdonald is a striking example. A self-taught musician, who started playing pubs in Glasgow aged 15, Macdonald's debut album This Is The Life sold 3 million copies. Her unique contralto voice and west coast accent have, somewhat surprisingly, netted her awards in countries like Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

At only 22, Macdonald is a major star. Her new album A Curious Thing has already reached the top of the pan-European chart. Despite her astounding success, she still feels most comfortable in Glasgow, where she can avoid the scrutiny of the media. "I think I'll stay here and be normal as long as humanly possible," she says, describing her home city as the only place she feels truly comfortable.

Sheer electricity

In the world of electronic pop, Dumfries' Calvin Harris (born Adam Richard Wiles) has been one of the most successful figures of recent years. His 2007 debut, I Created Disco, was an instant gold seller. His high profile collaborations include working with Kylie Minogue on her album, X.

In Classical music, Ayrshire's Nicola Benedetti continues to exhilarate.

Born in West Kilbride, Benedetti rose to fame by becoming the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2004. In season 2009/2010 the 21 year old, who plays a 2 million Stradivarius violin, will perform with the Russian National Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic and the Toronto and Vancouver Symphonies.

In folk music, too, Scots are prominent. Multi instrumentalist John McCusker from Belshill has worked with Mercury Prize nominated Kate Rusby, Paul Weller and Mark Knopfler. This year, he has been nominated for Musician of the Year in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

When it comes to music, Scotland is certainly small but its influence is disproportionately strong. Furthermore, its voices are coming through loud and clear.