Tide Lines lead singer owes ‘head start’ to Highland Youth Music
Following the decision to transfer Music Tuition Services to High Life Highland, Highland Council can reveal today (26 January 2018) that a former Highland Youth Musician owes his ‘head start’ in traditional music to the development of his professional career.
Speaking to Norman Bolton, Highland Council’s Music Development Officer - Robert Robertson of the 4 piece Scottish band Tide Lines said:
“I was involved in the Highland Young Musicians groups throughout my time at Lochaber High School - both in the ceilidh band, ’Snas, and the Gaelic Choir, Còisir G. They provided me with a wonderful opportunity to play at venues such as Eden Court in Inverness which helped me become comfortable performing in front of a massive audience. I draw on those experiences to this day when I am about to go on stage and often consider how lucky I was to get that kind of a head start when I was a school boy.
“Musically, I gained so much from the wisdom of the wonderful tutors and (most importantly) we always had great fun. In fact, my flat mate today down in Glasgow played with me in ’Snas and we regularly reminisce about the laughs we had in those days. I quite possibly wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today were it not for Highland Youth Music.”
Photograph courtesy of Robert Robertson
Highland Young Musicians groups provide a supported and inspirational introduction to high quality music-making for talented musicians across the whole of the Highland area.
Music Development Officer, Norman Bolton said: “We are rightly proud of the opportunities we create for young musicians in Highland and it is wonderful to keep in touch with so many of them and track career success both national and internationally. Robert is an extremely talented musician who has forged a highly successful pathway in both performing and writing, and we wish him continued success in his career.”
Originally from Lochaber, but currently based in Glasgow, Robert Robertson is a singer in Gaelic and English, a song-writer, guitarist, and accordionist. He wrote the majority of the songs on “Dreams We Never Lost” - the debut album of his current band, Tide Lines, which made it to number 16 in the iTunes UK album download charts on the week of its release last year.
Robert won the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal for singing at the Royal National Mòd in Paisley in 2013 and in 2016, he claimed top prize in the Traditional Solo Singing Competition at the International Pan Celtic Festival in Carlow, Ireland. In 2017, he was named Gaelic Singer of the Year at the MG Alba Scots Trad Awards. He has been nominated for Live Act of the Year three times - winning the prize in 2015 with his previous band, Skipinnish.
Lochaber Leader and Chair of Highland Council’s People Committee Cllr Andrew Baxter added: “Robert Robertson is a shining example of why we need to foster and encourage music development among our young people in Highland. By making the decision to transfer Music Tuition Services to High Life Highland, Highland Council is not only securing the continuation of the service and enabling it grow and develop further, it is creating opportunities for young people whatever their musical aspirations, be it lead singer of a professional band or simply to learn an instrument for their own pleasure.”
The next performance by Highland Young Musicians will be their Concert Festival featuring all eight groups with guests Calum Alex Macmillan; Innes White and Dingwall Choral Society which is being held on 17 March in Aviemore’s Macdonald Resort – tickets now on sale at: www.thelittleboxoffice.com/hym