SHOWCASES

Artists or music creators developing a profile in Scotland and looking for support to take them to the next level and to become export-ready.

Artists should be attracting audiences and local media support, getting some interest to take their first-steps outside Scotland, and looking to start building a team.

Before applying, please read the full details of what’s included and what’s expected of you and the pre-application guidance document below…

The Wide Days talent development programme is designed to help accelerate the international careers of four emerging artists from Scotland. 

Selected participants will receive:

• 2x in-person artist mentoring days + 1 online mentoring session.

• ‘Becoming Sync Ready’ online workshop ahead of Wide Days.

• Weekly online meetings with the talent development manager.

• Pre-Wide Days showcase production briefing.

• High-quality backline + professional sound and light engineers at your showcase.

• Two songs from the showcase filmed and professionally mixed. 

• Professional photographs of live showcases.

• Bespoke 1-2-1 meeting programme with international delegates at Wide Days 2027.

• Free Wide Days 2027+28 delegate passes (for all performers + 1 team member).

• Invitation to artist brunch for all performers at WD27

• Guaranteed inclusion of one track for Sync Or Swim feedback session with music supervisors during Wide Days conference. 

• Artist catering at your Wide Days showcase.

• Artist grants of £500-1000 for participation in the programme (paid in three instalments upon fulfilment of the programme).

• Catering at in-person mentoring days.

• Contribution to meet access costs + support for those who require it.

• Two follow-up development meetings with the Wide Days team, plus a programme of meet-ups with the core artists (online).

• A £200 grant for mentoring with an industry figure in an area chosen by the act (eg vocal coaching, digital promo)

Each place on the programme is valued at over £5,000, and requires all full-time members of the acts to take part in every part (session performers are welcome but it is optional). Our experience has shown that artists who fully engage are most likely to benefit. 

Criteria:

• All performers must be currently based in Scotland.

• All featured band members must participate in 100% of the programme.

• Artists consider themselves ready to showcase and/or participate in international opportunities.

• Artists are serious about building a career in music and are in a position to take up opportunities such as touring, festival dates, sync, writing camps etc.

• Artists will fill a free guestlist allocation. This will be agreed on an artist-by artist basis, but is likely to be approximately 75-100 people (duos/bands), 60-80 people (solo acts) based on previous years.

• Artists are members of PRS (songwriters) and PPL (performers) or equivalent Performance Rights Organisation (PRO), or will have joined by 30 March 2027. We are happy to help get you registered.

• Artists will have a band agreement in place by 30 March 2027, the Talent Development Manager will work with artists on this and artists will be connected with a Lawyer during the mentoring programme.

• Artists will promote their Wide Days showcase and will engage with the organisers to get the most from the opportunity.

• The artist/band name is not already in use or if already being used by multiple acts, will be amended by 30 March 2027. For information and why this is important please read the pre-application guidance.

• Artists will make themselves available for media interviews and appearances.

• Selected artists should not play any Edinburgh/Glasgow shows for three weeks either side of Wide Days without prior agreement. If you have another offer you’d like to discuss prior to the outcome of your Wide Days application, please get in touch hello@widedays.com.

• All featured performers will attend artist mentoring sessions (all day) on the following dates:

• Artist Mentoring Day One (in-person, Edinburgh): 29 January 2027 

• Artist Mentoring Day Two (online): 26 February 2027 

• Artist Mentoring Day Three (in-person, location TBC): 25 June 2027 

• Artist Showcase Production Meeting (online): 31 March 2027 

• All credited songwriter(s) will participate in one 4-hour online evening event ahead of Wide Days (all band members are also encouraged to attend): Wednesday 7 April 2027: Preparing for Sync (workshop)

• All featured performers will attend an online debrief meeting on either 3 or 4 June 2027.

• All featured performers will attend the entirety of the Wide Days 28 - 30 April 2027.