Hello and welcome to the show notes for this week’s episode of the PerthshireHour podcast. You can listen to this episode and all the past episodes by clicking here.
This week we’ll take a quick look at two local event organisations and hear from them what it’s like running and coordinating an event in Perthshire.
We’re quite lucky in our part of the country in terms of distance from major cities and in terms of our own pool of talent. As you’ll hear tonight, this combination has come together in a number of ways to make some really unique and impressive events.
Before we get properly started I thought I’d start this week with a bit of housekeeping. As you may or may not know, I had connectivity issues last week and had to postpone the episode. We now have a set timetable of episodes for the PerthshireHour podcast so obviously this will need to be revised. You’ll find the updated list at the bottom of this week’s show notes over on greenflamecreative.co.uk.
I’m always happy to take contributions of content or ideas so if you want to look at the upcoming list and get in touch you’ll find all the details you’ll need on my website.
Anyway, back to this week’s topic.
Perthshire Open Studios
Perthshire Open Studios is an organisation dedicated to supporting Perthshire creatives. This year has seen changes and the organisation now has three events in the year and a permanent website. You’ll learn almost everything there is to know about their creative community by keeping up with Perthshire Open Studios.
There is now an all-year-round Perthshire Creative Trail. The Trail offers you a chance to visit dozens of artists and galleries that are open all year. There are also walks and places to visit around the Perthshire Area. It’s an incredible chance to develop a deeper awareness of various art forms, as well as foster a more complete knowledge of your favourite creatives and their work whatever time of year it is.
There is also a 2 week Summer show of 70 creatives from 1-16th July at Birnam Arts and the Open Studios festival around the second weekend in September. There will be a festival showcase at the Bield from 2 – 11 September (The Bield at Blackruthven, Perth).
For maps and information visit the Perthshire Open Studios website.
Heather Budge-Reid, the Chair of Perthshire Open Studios was kind enough to fill in a written interview for tonight. Thanks for taking the time to get back to me Heather, it’s really appreciated.
Questions
Q: Tell us a little about the role you play in organising your event.
Heather: Covid had hit the organisation hard after many years of hard work by a brilliant team. But it looked like it might be all over at the beginning of 2022. After a year of consulting artists and researching changes in the Perthshire’s creative community a new team was brought together and POS became a stronger membership organisation that did not just organise 1 event a year but 3 and widened its membership benefits.
Q: What’s the trickiest element of planning your event?
Heather: Well there is an element of herding cats – sorry artists! With so many creatives involved with such a wide variety of IT skills getting listings together has its difficulties and of course, there is raising the funding. Increasing visitors’ and residents’ access to art is not a cheap exercise.
Q: What’s your personal favourite element of your event?
Heather: When I see artists working together to help each other – also when I get to look at wonderful things after hours!
Q: Are there any local businesses that offer you particular support and in what way does their assistance help make your event what it is?
Heather: The Council through its UNESCO project has been very supportive as has the creative Exchange, Perthshire Artisans, and the team at the Quir also deserve a big thank you. We are still searching for sponsors so …….
MugStock (Auchterarder)
MugStock, a Festival of Music & Merriment, is known for its commitment to producing the best and friendliest wee festival possible. Now in its fifth instalment, MugStock will take place from the 4th of August till 7th, 2023.
They promise an unforgettable experience for music lovers. As a not-for-profit event, MugStock emphasises creativity over commerciality, curating a lineup that showcases the finest musical talents from Scotland and beyond.
This year, MugStock undergoes an exciting transformation as it moves from its previous location at Mugdock Country Park to the stunning and spacious grounds of Strathallan Castle (in the beautiful Strathallan area between Crieff and Auchterarder).
Festival-goers can look forward to immersing themselves in the enchanting atmosphere of the new venue, with its captivating surroundings. The lineup for MugStock 2023 features renowned artists such as Idlewild, Craig Charles, Beardyman, and over 100 emerging artists, ensuring a magical journey of musical discovery for all attendees.
Beyond the festival itself, MugStock is actively engaged in refurbishing and reactivating The MugShack, Cumbernauld’s old town hall, which serves as its headquarters and a venue for gigs, jam sessions, and community projects.
Additionally, MugStock has launched Festival Studios, a creative co-working space located in the heart of Glasgow. The extended community plays a crucial role in shaping the festival, and their support is greatly appreciated. Whether you join in at the festivities at Strathallan, The MugShack, or Festival Studios, you can expect to be part of something truly special.
Don’t miss out on the adventure of a lifetime. Weekend and day tickets for MugStock 2023 are now available, and with monthly payment plans, attending the festival has never been more affordable. Gather your loved ones and bring your enthusiasm as you become part of a vibrant and welcoming community. Find out more on the MugStock website here.
MugStock offers free camping throughout the entire weekend, exclusive pre-festival activities like the Flashmob Bootcamp, and a special Monday Warmdown session. Join the celebration at MugStock 2023 and create cherished memories together.
Alan Govan, Festival Director and Head of Planning & Development at MugStock was kind enough to fill in a written interview for tonight.
I should point out that his response was the fastest interview response I’ve ever had for the podcast. The questions were filled in and answered within minutes. Unfortunately, I don’t have a badge to send Alan’s way but I did want to give him a wee mention tonight as it made my job a whole heap easier. Thanks again, Alan.
Questions
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and the role you play in organising your event.
Alan: My name is Alan Govan. I’m one of the voluntary directors of the charity and have been involved from the start back in 2015. I lead on planning and development which is a fancy way of saying whatever needs done to create an event.
Q: What’s the trickiest element of planning your event?
Alan: One of the hardest jobs is deciding who gets to play. We obviously have a wish list and approach lots of acts directly but we keep as many slots as possible for new acts who apply. This year we had to choose from more than 650 and with few exceptions they were all really accomplished, festival-ready acts.
We’ve ended up with more than 130 things to see and do but we honestly wish we could just keep the festival going all year round and give everyone a chance to show off their talents.
We’re planning to develop a year-round programme of gigs at the MugShack, which is the next best thing (and probably a little more sustainable than attempting to squat at Strathallan indefinitely!). Whilst it’s hard to say no, having such a large pool to choose from means that everything which has made the cut is excellent – there’s absolutely no filler!
Q: What’s your personal favourite element of your event?
Alan: Too many to choose from, but most of them fit loosely under the heading “Extraordinary Occurrences”. We started in 2015 with a kazoo playing conga led by Mr Boom. Since then we’ve done music hide and seek, a giant human peace sign and this year we’re planning a flash mob. About that, I can only say that it’s open only to weekend visitors who have arrived before 3:30 pm on Friday 4th August. If I said any more I’d have to kill you, and that’s pretty far from our mission statement!
The best thing we’ve had consistently has been SmugStock which is an experiment in creating the conditions for the very pinnacle of well-being. At SmugStock you can sit with a good view of the main stage whilst enjoying a shoulder massage and waiter service. It’s all designed to produce the very maximum amount of smugness possible for a human being to exude.
Q: Are there any local businesses that offer you particular support and in what way does their assistance help make your event what it is?
Alan: We’re still quite new to the area and are getting to know everyone gradually. Local businesses can be integral to running a festival. A few will be involved as traders and suppliers but if anyone out there wants to get involved as a sponsor or by sending their staff to volunteer we’d love to hear from you.
Upcoming PerthshireHour Podcast Episodes List
As noted, last week’s postponement means that our programme of Podcast episodes has been bumped forwards by a week. Below you’ll find the revised dates. If you see a topic that you’d like to be involved in please feel free to contact me here.
5 Wednesday the 14th of June: Hidden Histories of Perthshire – This episode will discuss some of the lesser-known historical facts and figures about the area, including local legends and folklore, unusual buildings and landmarks, and forgotten stories from the past.
6 Wednesday the 21st of June: The Role of Perthshire Businesses in Supporting the Local Community – This episode will feature interviews with local business owners and leaders, discussing their commitment to supporting the local community and how they go about doing so.
7 Wednesday the 28th of June: The Creative Scene in Perthshire – This episode will showcase some of the most talented creatives in the area, including artists, musicians, writers, and designers, discussing their work, inspirations, and the challenges of working in a rural area.
8 Wednesday the 5th of July: Charitable Organizations Making a Difference in Perthshire – This episode will focus on the charitable organizations operating within the Perthshire area, discussing their mission, achievements, and impact on the local community.
9 Wednesday the 12th of July: The Future of Perthshire’s Economy – This episode will feature interviews with experts and thought leaders on the economic future of the Perthshire area, including the opportunities and challenges faced by local businesses and entrepreneurs.
10 Wednesday the 19th of July: Perthshire’s Hidden Gems – This episode will feature interviews with locals who have discovered some of the area’s hidden gems, such as little-known businesses, off-the-beaten-path destinations, and unique experiences that can only be found in Perthshire.
Thanks for listening
As always, thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this week’s episode, or about anything else to do with the PerthshireHour Podcast. Please feel free to contact me using the contact page on my website.
Green Flame Creative 