Sunken Sofa
A Networking Night for Glasgow's alternative and DIY Music Scene
On the 13th of March 2022, Sunken Sofa hosted their first DIY Networking Night at the Old Hairdressers in Glasgow. The purpose of this event is to encourage collaboration and grassroots activity within Glasgow's alternative music scene.
Development of the Event Poster
Notable promotion from other projects
The Panellists
Miranda Westerlund
“My name is Miranda and I work as an artist manager for The Stoned Immaculate as well as an independent promoter for my own promotions company called Ivynites. I’ve been working with The Stoned Immaculate since the end of 2019 and together we’ve released 2 EPs, and we’re currently working on our third (and best one yet). I’ve been running Ivynites along side, and last year also launched something I call the artist self-management guidance service. It’s a service I provide for independent artists who would prefer to self manage but still need a little bit of help getting organised. Since 2020 I’ve also been working alongside Stephen Archibald, Chris Blackmore and Libby Dougall at Jumping The Shark Management.”
Steven Hill
Steven Hill is a graphic designer turned label owner and promoter based in Glasgow. He started Struggletown as a way to make it look like his friends' bands were on a label and to get the chance to design more record covers and merch.
With a wide-ranging taste in music - Steven found the local music scene to be fractured into small pockets of interest, the indie rockers never went to local punk shows and vice-versa. The Struggle shows he ran over the course of 2011 to 2016 at Bloc focused on building a community of musicians and friends that would support each others' bands regardless of genre.
Struggletown Records was mainly active from 2011 to 2018 releasing records, tapes, and digital releases for DIY bands from Scotland, England, Canada, France, and the US. During the pandemic, the label re-emerged to work with a few friends (Flinch & Grand Forward) on musical releases as well as branching out into photo zines with long-time collaborator Shaun Murawski.
As the DIY scene continues to build itself back up - Steven will be around for posters, t-shirts, and record cover designs as well as promoting the odd release and show.
Find out more at struggletown.co.uk
Gary Taylor
Hi, I'm Gary Taylor.
I run GoldMold Records which mainly entails dubbing tapes and promoting gigs. I started in 2013 while studying Commercial Music, inspired by the good work of Steven at Struggletown Records and Derrick at Make-That-A-Take, and the emo/screamo "revival", which was the style at the time. The aim is to support the local scene, to facilitate physical releases for smaller bands and help them meet their aims.
As much as I'd like it to be this isn't my job, and never has been - you don't need to be a "music industry professional" to find your place and be creative. You also don't need to be a musician.
Get involved. Contribute. Find some friends. Find yourself.
Beth Black
Hi, I'm beth - musician, disability advocate and feminist. During the day I work as a community musician on various projects that aim to level out the music industry for disabled people/women and girls/anyone who is struggling to find their place. By night I'm singer/songwriter flinch. and the over-energetic bassist for Slowlight and Peter Cat. I cut my teeth at Struggletown's monthly gigs at Bloc and 10 years on the DIY ethos is something that underpins my work both as a "professional" musician and as a scrappy performer. Special interests include: inclusive spaces, the lack of women in the music industry and my dog.
The Artists
Teose
Raveloe
The Event
Video Credit - Jen Mcanally Media (Sunken Sofa Volunteer)
Music taken from Teose's acoustic set
This playlist was curated specifically to be played in the background of the event, it features DIY/Alternative artists based in Glasgow
Photo Credits: Shaun Marawski and Jen Mcanally Media
Raveloe
Teose
These stickers were printed to encourage networking at the early stages of the event, the idea of "Favourite Genre" allowed for really interesting conversation about niche genres within alternative music
