Working lessons are being ‘priced out’ of tradition

When Ewan McVicar was an adolescent, he would spend what cash he had going to golf equipment whereas dreaming of changing into a famous person DJ.

However, having realised his ambition, he fears the following technology of working class youngsters are being priced out of Scottish tradition.

The 31-year-old, who brings his Pavilion pageant again to his native Ayr over the primary weekend in Might, is worried the rising value of going to gigs or golf equipment will cease individuals being energised by music.

McVicar instructed BBC Scotland Information he usually felt alienated at trade occasions as a result of they have been dominated by individuals from prosperous backgrounds.

He was working in a chilly storage warehouse when his cowl of Rufus monitor Inform Me One thing Good cracked the High 20 within the UK charts.

It went on to be downloaded greater than 83m occasions.

McVicar beforehand spent years coaching to be a instructor, earlier than deciding to to pursue his ardour for music.

The DJ traces this again to watching rave documentaries as an adolescent and going to nights at Glasgow’s legendary Sub Membership venue.

Having the ability to spend a number of kilos and soak up music is one thing that’s more and more uncommon, with main live shows usually costing three figures, aided by controversial dynamic pricing methods – the place the fee can enhance if demand is excessive.

“Going to golf equipment and gigs modified my life,” he says.

“I ended up working on the Sub Membership so I might see my favourites without cost, and earlier than that I would spend a fiver going to see any DJ – that impressed me.

“If I could not afford to try this, then none of this might ever have occurred.

“For those who look deeper, that is the place my story began – going to see a DJ or a band can change your life.”

McVicar’s father died earlier than he was born and, rising up in Ayr, he needed to work arduous for all the things.

He believes the present financial challenges will squeeze out individuals from ever moving into the music trade.

“Working class individuals getting priced out of issues is getting worse and worse,” he says.

“I do know what it’s wish to be skint. About 5 years in the past I used to be dwelling off my overdraft.

“For those who have a look at soccer, working class individuals are being priced out of going to video games and that is true in music too.

“Have a look at the Brit Awards, almost all of the winners have been privately educated aside from Sam Fender.

“I really feel fairly alienated at these occasions the place you will ask somebody how they received into there to carry out and so they’ll say it is as a result of their dad did this and that.

“I labored my buns off to get the place I’m.”

That perspective is why the Pavilion pageant – named after a famed Ayrshire membership evening within the 90s – is so essential to him.

He launched the occasion two years in the past, having lengthy wished to utilize the Low Inexperienced space close to the seaside within the city.

Greater than 7,000 individuals attended every day of the pageant.

And this yr he has expanded it to 3 days, with the primary day on 2 Might that includes bands together with James and Starsailor.

McVicar will play the center day of the pageant alongside an array of different DJ’s, together with Annie Mac and Ben Hemsley.

And he’s excited in regards to the last day when Madchester pioneers the Blissful Mondays high the invoice.

“Pavilion within the 90s was predominantly a rock membership, the place STREETrave [veteran Ayrshire promoters] occurred to do dance occasions.

“So I all the time kinda wished to get bands into the pageant.

“It is psychological. For those who stated earlier than the pageant began that the Blissful Mondays can be enjoying on the Low Inexperienced, then you definitely’d be like ‘aye, positive’.”

McVicar says there was loads of scepticism surrounding his plans to carry occasions in Ayr, but additionally native help as nicely.

It now has the backing of South Ayrshire Council, who beforehand said the weekend bash gave a “huge” monetary increase to the world.

Nevertheless there may be one supporter of the occasion way more essential than anybody else – his child son Mac, who arrived in December.

“I have been again on tour the previous couple of months and it provides me extra of a objective than ever,” he smiles.

“I used to be scared in a method as a result of my complete life has all the time revolved round music and now I’ve much more of a purpose to do larger and higher issues. It is for him.

“After I get dwelling from tour one of the best factor ever is simply seeing him smiling.

“You have achieved three flights however you see him and exhaustion simply goes away.”

He admits the previous yr has seen some huge adjustments, like Mac’s arrival and shopping for his first dwelling with fiancée Aimei Melvin.

McVicar’s life has modified musically too – he broke up along with his administration final yr, having felt they did not perceive what he wished from his profession.

Now, having carried out in Japan and Korea, he has booked an American tour and likewise hopes to launch new music.

“I undoubtedly pinch myself,” he says.

“It feels loopy to be doing stuff this huge.

“There is a Scottish factor of being arduous on your self, and typically I do not give myself a pat on the again.

“You see different artists and so they’re so assured, it nearly verges on vanity.

“Perhaps it might be simpler to be like that – however I suppose it makes me who I’m.”