The lead singer of Scottish band Tide Lines says he owes his career to the experiences and opportunities he was given growing up in Lochaber and being involved in Highland Young Musicians.
Robert Robertson was the guest performer at a special High Life Highland ceilidh at the weekend (25th January), which was organised to raise funds towards helping two particular Highland Young Musicians bands attend upcoming competitions and performances. ‘Beira’ and members of the High Life Highland Pipe Band provided entertainment at the event alongside Robert and there were some excellent ceilidh tunes courtesy of High Life Highland music instructors.
Speaking after the sell-out fundraising concert at the Strathpeffer Pavilion, Robert Robertson praised High Life Highland’s Music Service for the chances it gives young people regardless of whether they intend to pursue a professional music career or just enjoy it as a hobby.
He said: “I was involved in the Highland Young Musicians groups when I was a pupil at Lochaber High School – both in the ceilidh band, ’Snas, and the Gaelic Choir, Còisir G. They provided a unique opportunity to play on big stages at venues such as Eden Court in Inverness. Looking back now, I think this really helped me become comfortable performing in front of a large audience at a young age. I still draw on those experiences to this day and often consider how lucky I was to get that kind of head start when I was a school boy.
“Musically, I learned so much from the wisdom of the amazing tutors but most importantly, we always had great fun and made lifelong friends. In fact, years afterwards, I shared a flat in Glasgow with a boy I played with in ’Snas! I feel very grateful that I’m still playing music for a living all those years later and I quite possibly wouldn’t be doing that were it not for Highland Young Musicians.” 
Highland Young Musicians groups provide a supported and inspirational introduction to high quality music-making for talented musicians across the whole of the Highland area.
High Life Highland’s Head of Music Development, Norman Bolton said: “We are rightly proud of the opportunities we create for young musicians in Highland and it is wonderful to keep in touch with so many of them and track career success both nationally and internationally. Robert is an extremely talented musician who has forged a highly successful pathway in both performing and writing, and we wish him continued success in his career.”
Originally from Lochaber, but currently based in Glasgow, Robert Robertson is lead singer and guitarist with the band, Tide Lines. He has written the majority of the songs on their four albums – two of which charted in the UK top 15 and reached number one in Scotland. The band played to 14,000 fans on their latest Scottish tour and, prior to that, were inducted into the Glasgow Barrowland Hall of Fame after enjoying three sell out nights in the iconic venue. Their new album, Glasgow Love Story, is currently available to pre-order ahead of its release on 25th April.
Robert is a former winner of both the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal for singing at the Royal National Mòd and Gaelic Singer of the Year at the MG Alba Scots Trad Awards. His songs have also been broadcast to millions worldwide as part of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Highland Young Musicians groups are run as an extension to the weekly music tuition delivered across Highland schools. There are eight flagship ensembles and if any individual or business would like to support the future of this work, please get in touch with Norman Bolton at [email protected]
