Scotland in Colour to celebrate the culture and creativity of young BPoC

Experienced artists and emerging new musicians will perform live at Scotland in Colour (SiC) 2022, the fourth annual celebration of the culture and creativity of Black people and People of Colour (BPoC) from around Scotland, on Saturday 3^rd September 2022 at the Old Royal High School on Edinburgh’s Calton Hill.

SiC will count with headliners BEMZ, BBC Introducing’s Scottish Act of 2022, jazz outfit Grace & The Flat Boys, Edinburgh artist Billy Got Waves and a host of young performers.

SiC is hosted by Intercultural Youth Scotland (IYS), the country’s leading charity for BPoC young people, and aims to celebrate the young artists IYS connect with through their services, with many such acts set to hone their live talents at the venue’s Pianodrome, a unique amphitheatre constructed entirely from discarded pianos.

Free and open to all, the showcase will feature a special performance of ‘Out of the Common’, a collaboration between musicians with differing experience from IYS and Drake Music Scotland, an organisation that is creating music making opportunities with children and adults with disabilities and additional support needs.

BEMZ ( Photo Credit: Andy Low Photography)

Following the youth showcase, there is a ticketed concert in the School’s Old Grand Hall featuring artists and DJs from around Scotland, such as rappers AD3, Skyy Boii and Bemz, himself a keen supporter of IYS’s work.

Lastly, Music Vault, SiC’s closing party (18+) will offer sets from a pick of DJs from Scotland’s club scene such as Iso Yso, a Glasgow-based DJ whose sets take inspiration from orchestral compositions and video game soundtracks, Optimistic Soul aka electronic music DJ and producer Sibusiso Mpofu now showcasing his love for underground afrohouse and afrotech at his own Africa Is Now night and KTAB, the Moroccan-Scottish DJ/producer soon to make his debut as a recording artist.

Besides music, SiC also features further opportunities for families, fans and individuals to connect and celebrate through BPoC-led art workshops, food stalls and an outdoor area with its own bar.

Matthew Wright, Director of Pianodrome, says: “We’ve been blessed to work with Intercultural Scotland a few times and are in awe of their energy and their activism. Our Resonancy at the Old Royal High heralds the site’s future use as a new centre for music in Scotland’s capital, and we’re here to open the doors to people from all backgrounds in the hope that all can feel welcome to engage in its future. Scotland in Colour will be a great opportunity for us to collaborate with IYS again and to support them in creating an amazing celebration of under-represented music and culture.”