Born To Be Wide
Music industry seminars, events and socials held in Scotland for emerging artists through to industry professionals.
The Rise of Independent Promoters
Born To Be Wide returns to Leith Arches on Wednesday 23 September with a panel exploring the role of Scotland’s independent promoters in sustaining the grassroots music scene.
The discussion will look at how they discover and nurture new talent, the type of deals they offer and how approaches vary across different genres and scenes.
Confirmed speakers are:
Gloria Black runs the Microsteria club nights, which feature live electronic music, DJ sets and performance art, and guest-programmes line-ups for other events, including Hidden Door and Kelburn Garden Party. She is also a member of the bands Maranta and Acolyte.
Frankie Elyse is a DJ, producer, journalist and founder of the Polka Dot Disco Club, which books both local and international artists, covering a range of electronic styles, including house, techno, breakbeat and bass.
Jamie Thompson from SMC Presents, an independent promoter based in Glasgow that hosts grassroots shows across Scotland. The collective also co-hosts House Guest and Fheadain festival.
Jemima Fasakin, co-founder of Baile Baile, Scotland’s most remote club night, which has taken place in Ullapool, Helmsdale and on Isle Martin. They also host regular nights across the Central Belt and programme nights and stages at Kelburn Garden Party and People’s Leisure Club.
plus more to be announced
Born To Be Wide is supported by Creative Scotland, EmuBands, LIVE Trust and Rightsbridge.
Wednesday 23 September 2026
Leith Arches
19:00 - 23:00
Speakers
Frankie Elyse
Promoter, Polka Dot Disco Club
Frankie Elyse is a Glasgow-based DJ, producer and broadcaster known for melody-driven sets spanning bounce, high-energy house and ravey club music.
Her sets are playful and high-energy, weaving big melodies and synth-heavy sounds through harder-edged club cuts. Her productions follow the same formula: bold, dancefloor-focused tracks, often featuring her own vocals.
She is also the founder of Polka Dot Disco Club, an inclusive party and platform championing FLINTA DJs. Alongside her work as an artist, Frankie is a BBC music journalist and broadcaster with a deep love of club culture, storytelling and finding the tunes everyone else needs to hear.
Gloria Black
Curator/Producer, Microsteria
Gloria Black is an Edinburgh-based musician, promoter and curator. She is the founder of Microsteria, an event series she started with her previous band, Maranta, and continues to run regularly. Originally hosted at Summerhall, Microsteria is now based at People’s Leisure Club.
Microsteria has become a space for Gloria to bring together musicians and artists from different backgrounds and creative practices, with collaboration and unexpected connections at the heart of what she does. She has a particular passion for creating platforms where artists and musicians can experiment, take creative control, and build unexpected worlds for an audience.
Gloria previously set up Lost In Leith as a venue and has worked across a range of independent music and arts projects over the years. She currently performs live with Acolyte, curates a programme for Kelburn Garden Party each year, and has also worked closely with Hidden Door Festival.
Her experience of working both as a musician and promoter has given her a hands-on understanding of what it takes to create opportunities, build events and develop a creative community independently.
Jamie Thompson
Promoter/Booker, SMC Presents / Houseguest / Fheadain
SMC Presents programmer and booker. Co-founder and booker of Houseguest Festival and Fheadain all-dayer.
2025-26 Panel Videos
Born To Be Wide celebrated the people, organisations and companies that sustain Edinburgh’s music scene, while exploring how it can continue to thrive. Held at Leith Arches on 26 March, the event featured a panel and open forum that brought together artists, charities, clubs, collectives, educators, festivals, labels, media organisations, promoters, record shops, venues and others who contribute to the city’s vibrant music community.
Born To Be Wide presents an evening dedicated to developing sync opportunities in Scotland. The panel explores how Scotland’s musicians, labels and publishers can connect with clients who license music for film, tv, trailers, advertising and games. Speakers include Dan Gautreau (First Cut Music Ltd), Isaac Allaway (Feel for Music), Lena Obara (Sector C) and Lorna Hall (LALA). The night forms part of our work over the past three years to develop opportunities in this area of the music business.
Born To Be Wide presents a special night celebrating grassroots Music Collectives and their roles in championing a diverse range of genres and communities. Evie Smith (The Forbidden Zone), George McFadyen (Crowded Flat), Sanjeev Mann (Hip Hop Scotland) and Vicky Kavanagh (Works in Progress) explore how collectives operate, how they work with grassroots artists and tips for setting up your own collective.
Born To Be Wide presents Independent Festivals. Chris Knight (Kelburn Garden Party) Katch Holmes (Knockengorroch), Megan Evans (Deer Shed) and Michelle Shields (HebCelt) explore independent festivals and their role in supporting new talent and developing fresh approaches, and a look at how programming decisions are made.
Born To Be Wide presents an evening dedicated to community radio and the role it plays in promoting musical and broadcasting talent. Becca Clark (Dundee Radio Club), Jamie Pettinger (EHFM), Steg G (Sunny Govan) and Suz O’Neill (Radio Buena Vida) outline their approaches to programming, the opportunities they offer and off-air activities, which include training workshops, events and their own cafes.
Born To Be Wide presents a special Local Heroes evening celebrating 20 years of The Skinny Magazine. The panel explores The Skinny’s origins and how it continues to champion Scotland’s creative talents. Co-founder Sophie Kyle, editor Rosamund West and music editor Tallah Brash join Born To Be Wide’s Olaf Furniss in-conversation.