Original songs written at Burns’ historic farm to be performed at Hopper Records showcase
A new generation of songwriters from Dumfries & Galloway will share their original music at Hopper Records on Friday 7 November, following a creative retreat at Robert Burns Ellisland Farm.
The live showcase marks the culmination of SONG 101, Ellisland’s inaugural songwriting development programme for emerging artists aged 16-25. The evening will feature performances by band YOU Problem!, Castle Douglas singer-songwriter Rose Benson, and other participants who wrote and recorded their work at the historic site where Burns composed Auld Lang Syne and Tam o’ Shanter.
The concert will also celebrate the launch of Rose Benson’s debut EP, professionally recorded at Circa 16 Studio as part of the programme and released on streaming platforms including Bandcamp and Spotify.
Creating at Ellisland
Led by Dumfries-based musician and educator Rory Comerford (Rua Soul), SONG 101 offered young songwriters an immersive creative experience in the spaces where Burns worked nearly 250 years ago. Participants explored diverse songwriting techniques, from stream-of-consciousness free writing to David Bowie-inspired collage methods, before taking their compositions into a professional recording studio.
For Rory, SONG 101 demonstrate the importance of space, time and support to help nurture creativity. He said: “There’s something genuinely special about watching creative inspiration grow in a person, especially in a place like Ellisland. The quietness, the shelter, the sense of heritage here, it creates conditions where authentic voices can emerge.
“The craft these young people have demonstrated was genuinely impressive. From writing songs in ninety minutes to recording in a professional studio for the first time, they stepped through every barrier with courage and creativity. The songs range from rocky social commentary to beautiful storytelling, and I can’t wait for audiences at Hopper Records to hear what they’ve accomplished.”
Burns’ Legacy, Contemporary Voices
Joan McAlpine, Project Director at Robert Burns Ellisland Trust, emphasised the connection between Burns’s own creative journey and the young artists working at the farm today.
“Ellisland has always been a place of deep creative inspiration,” she said. “When Robert Burns lived here at just 29 years old, he was himself a young artist finding his voice and writing some of his most enduring work. To see a new generation of young songwriters discovering that same creative energy in these spaces is profoundly moving.
“The young people who have taken part in SONG 101 have brought fresh creativity to Ellisland, and their songs demonstrate how this special place continues to spark authentic artistic expression across the generations.”
The programme demonstrates Ellisland’s growing role as a contemporary creative space while honouring its rich literary heritage; proof that the farm where Scotland’s national poet once worked remains a vital source of inspiration for today’s emerging artists.
Join Us at Hopper Records
The SONG 101 LIVE showcase takes place on Friday 7 November at Hopper Records, Queensberry Street, Dumfries. Doors open at 7pm, with performances hosted by Rua Soul throughout the evening.
Tickets are £5 and available online at https://buytickets.at/robertburnsellislandfarmmuseum/1911148 or at the door on the night.
Come and support these talented young artists as they share the songs born at Ellisland—and celebrate the launch of Rose Benson’s debut EP.
SONG 101 was made possible thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Holywood Trust.