New music camp Soft Gut is launched for NI artists

Soft Gut is a brand-new song camp, created for Northern Irish musicians. Founded by acclaimed Northern Irish artist Ciaran Lavery, alongside music industry professionals Nikki MacRae and Jo Wright, its mission statement is simple: to encourage and cultivate a community of creative collaboration and support within the Northern Ireland music industry by delivering a fully immersive multi-day song camp for regional artists.

Set to take place between 14th and 16th of April at world-class analog recording studio Analogue Catalogue in Newry, the Soft Gut Song Camp is designed not only to unlock the collaborative potential of artists, songwriters and producers in Northern Ireland: it’s an opportunity for music creators from all backgrounds to work alongside new creative partners, to forge new relationships and to promote a unified and exciting community. As well as embodying the collaborative potential of the Northern Irish music scene, the Song Camp - which was successfully trialled in October last year - will also offer more holistic elements to best maximise the impact upon artists’ careers, such as mentoring, skill gap discussions and the formation of accountability groups.

Speaking about the initiative, Ciaran Lavery said: “Soft Gut was created primarily out of the desire to support a healthier and functioning music community - not just a theoretical one, but one that can encourage collaboration and healthy competition in the north of Ireland.”

“The last two years have been stifling for artists everywhere, to say the least,” added Nikki MacRae. “Through the Soft Gut Song Camp we aim to provide a positive environment where creativity can flourish again. We want artists and producers across this country to have the opportunity to connect, to work together and to really thrive.”

“We are committed to providing a unique high quality experience and fostering a more collaborative community of songwriters in NI,” echoed co-founder Jo Wright. “This is a very exciting process and it’s amazing just how much progress can be achieved in what is a relatively short period of time, including connections that will last forever.”

Applications for Soft Gut open on Thursday, 24th February. The deadline for applications is 24th March 2022.