My Story

My Story: The Birth of Bonnie Scotland Presents

It all began two months before my 30th birthday, when I decided to book that solo trip to Paris. I had tickets to see John Mayer and I decided I wasn’t going to be missing out. As soon as I clicked “book” on my flight, something extraordinary happened: The Xcerts (my favorite band since I was 15) announced a European tour, with a stop in Paris during my visit. It felt like a sign and I knew this trip would be something special.

I now had two great reasons for the journey; both capturing my love of music in different ways. For those local to Scotland, Super Sonic was a venue that reminded me of King Tuts (Glasgow) crossed with Dexters/Non Zeros (Dundee). It already felt like a home from home. The Xcerts pulled off an unforgettable show that filled the room with energy and love. Paris adored them, and so did I, all over again. But it wasn’t just The Xcerts that caught my attention that night, the support band, Fences\\\\ , blew me away. Their set left me buzzing with inspiration. They reminded me of early Biffy Clyro and I was absolutely here for it.

As soon as they came off stage, I messaged a friend who works in music management, raving about Fences\\\\ and said “We need to bring them to Scotland.” What started as a conversation turned into something bigger when my friend joked, “Bonnie Scotland Presents.” The name stuck, and so did the idea.

Falling Back in Love With Music

Growing up music was everything to me. I was around live music every weekend, which led to the insane opportunity to be invited on stage with BB King in Edinburgh in 1993 where I received a badge and plectrum for probably being his youngest ever fan. I took lessons in saxophone and keyboard and I sang in a band too. I always had a keen interest in more than performance, at shows as a kid I’d be intrigued by the sound and light guys and I wasn’t just listening and watching the show to enjoy the music I had an awareness of what gear musicians would play, their stage placement and their creative parts in songs. I poured my heart into music, building connections with other musicians and found joy in booking live events at a local Dundee coffee shop during my time at University. But as life got busier and a bit dark, my passion faded and my saxophone sat untouched.

Fast forward 10 years and I’ve fully embraced music again. I’ve picked up my saxophone and joined a band, David the Delinquent and the IOUs. Playing again has reminded me of why I fell in love with music in the first place.

What began as a plan to start a music blog quickly grew into something more. Originally, I envisioned Bonnie Scotland Presents as a platform to write about releases from friends and artists I admired from outside of Scotland. But the more I thought about it, the more I realised that live music—the energy of a concert, the magic of a shared moment—was my true passion. That’s when I decided to go all in and venture into music promotion; showcasing grassroots, emerging bands and artists. I spent a year writing for Discovery Music Scotland, championing Scottish talent and creating features like “Discovering Scottish Sounds.”

These experiences laid the foundation for Bonnie Scotland Presents. They taught me how music tells our stories and brings us together in unforgettable ways.

Building Something Special

At the time of writing this, I’m preparing for Bonnie Scotland Presents first live event in Dundee in February 2025. What began as a spark of inspiration has turned into a mission: to create something that celebrates Scotland’s music scene, highlights incredible talent and brings people together through the magic of live music.

This isn’t just about putting on shows—it’s about fostering a community where artists, audiences and music lovers can share in something bigger than ourselves.

Why Follow My Journey?

Bonnie Scotland Presents is more than a company—it’s a movement born out of authenticity, passion and a love for live music. Every event, every review, every collaboration is driven by the belief that music has the power to inspire and unite us.

I’m inviting you to join me on this journey. Whether it’s following the story, attending a show or simply celebrating the talent that makes Scotland’s music scene so vibrant, there’s room for everyone to be part of this.

This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us.

Buckle up. Join me. Let’s make something unforgettable together.