About the Open Mic...

This year the Saturday afternoon Open Mic session will again be held in the Rustic Barn at Cardney Steading  on what will once again be called The Ewen Sutherland Stage.  The 2023 and 2025 Open Mic was hosted by Gina Macleod (with able assistance from Alan Jordan) who have both been involved with our festivals since the first year of Perthshire Amber in 2005! For many years Gina and Alan hosted our early evening Cabaret Amber.  We welcome them back again this year to this important role as welcoming hosts of our Open Mic.

 

Since it began in 2005 our Open Mic was hosted by Ewen Sutherland, who very sadly and quite suddenly died in 2017. Ewen was a fine performer in his own right as well as a wonderful and encouraging compere. Dougie and Ewen formed a folk duo while at school called Cruachan and then went on to form a band called Puddock's Well, which had an influence on the development of what is now called "the celtic music scene"- with members Andy M Stewart and Martin Hadden joining well known folk band Silly Wizard And Dougie himself joining The Tannahill Weavers. Ewen is still missed by all our festival team and we have named the performance area The Ewen Sutherland Stage as a tribute to him. The 2018 and 2019 Perthshire Amber Open Mic was hosted by Katie Kross and Ross Barron. They had both been involved with our autumn festival for many years  since they first performed at the Open Mic as youngsters as part of the Bishopbriggs Ceilidh Band!..then later as KT and the Amberjacks … then Katee Kross and Ross! 

 

The Open Mic concept has been in existence for years at music festivals, but of late has become more widely known through the very successful Open Mic sessions started by Danny Kyle at Glasgow's Celtic Connections Festival. The Open Mic gives the chance to musicians, who aren't performing at the other concerts, to get involved in the weekend's music.

 

The most important thing about an Open Mic is the audience. Over the many years of past Perthshire Amber Festivals the welcoming, attentive and responsive audiences at the open mic sessions helped to make the events enjoyable for all the performers involved.

 

The date for this year's Shades of Amber Open Mic is Saturday 31st October from 3.00pm - 6.00pm.

 

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Instructions for Artists wanting to perform ...

As with past years, the time for each performance will be limited to 10 minutes (2 songs max) per artist or group. Please note that this is an acoustic open mic. event, with a good quality but small PA system, so we will not cater for heavily electric music.

 

If you are interested in performing please email admin@butterstone.com with the name and a short description of you/your group (with what instruments you play) and two mp3 music files so that we can have a listen and (hopefully) add you to our list. Please also send a mobile and home contact telephone number. There has always been a wonderful response from musicians of all ages and from all over the world! ... this should be a really enjoyable afternoon of music!

 

 

THE OPEN MIC at SHADES OF AMBER 2026.  (The list below is not in order of performance...that will be organised on the day)

9

Saturday 31st October

1.  Pete Smith

2.  Vic Peterson

3.  Kenna

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The OPEN MIC LIST IS NOW open for applications (see instructions above)

IF YOU ARE A PERFORMER ON THE LIST WHO IS UNABLE TO COME FOR ANY REASON, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH AND LET US KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ... as there are always other musicians keen to enjoy the opportunity to perform. Email admin@butterstone.com 

 

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