A MAJOR music industry event is taking place in Glasgow next week.
And as part of the RESONATE convention, a top Scots band will be playing a free gig.
Music icons The Bay City Rollers will top the bill at the event this Thursday, when band member and manager John Mclaughlin will also be delivering a keynote speech.
John is a renowned songwriter, producer and industry heavyweight as well as frontman of arena-packing band Johnny Mac and the Faithful.
He is also a major contributor in Boybands Forever, the Louis Theroux three-part documentary, in which he talks about his past creating, writing for, managing or quietly steering bands like Busted, Blue, 911 and many more.
He’s written hits for Westlife, Girls Aloud, Echo and the Bunnymen, Rod Stewart and, of course, himself.
At Resonate, after he delivers his speech, John will fling on the tartan and take to the stage with the Rollers.
John said: “It’s a fun thing showing both sides of my career here – the behind the scenes industry guy writing songs, producing records, managing and developing artists and then in more recent years the guy on stage performing too.
“I always said I didn’t want to be on stage, I was happy in the background doing my thing. But then some opportunities came up, I went for them and now I tour with Rod Stewart fronting my own band Johnny Mac and the Faithful.
“I’m also really proud to be part of a band I loved my whole life, the Bay City Rollers. I got involved a long time ago now, helping out with management and production stuff and it snowballed from there.”
Rollers guitarist Stuart ‘Woody’ Wood is still the very heart of the band and is thrilled his pal John is being honoured by being the keynote speaker.
Woody said: “It’s great to see John being recognised for his amazing achievements over the years – he’s written for just about everyone.
“Of course he played a huge role in reuniting the Rollers and bringing this huge success to us, all the way to the Hydro and T in the Park.
“So it’s great that he’s now part of the band properly, and for us to play this special show at an event he is keynote speaker at. It’s a festive gift to the fans and a nod to the wee man.”
Resonate takes place at Platform, in Glasgow, and tickets are available for the day-time convention priced at £50.
Meanwhile, the first 100 tickets for the evening showcase, starring the Rollers, are available free now from buytickets.at/23rdprecinctmusic/1477422 using the access code 1964 – but if you miss out on the freebies, tickets only cost £8.50 for the musical show.
