Beyond are one of the busiest promoters in the region having in the past brought acts like Ash, Idlewild and Biffy Clyro north to put on some legendary performances in some of most unassuming venues on the UK tour circuit.

Robert Hicks, originally from Cornwall, moved to Ullapool in 1993 to become manager of the now legendary Seaforth pub and it is from there that he moved on to create Beyond promotions.

Over the past few years Beyond has grown remarkably providing local bands the chance to play support slots with some of the country's highest profile rock acts whilst giving Highland music fans the chance to hear the newest talent from the UK and beyond. MIDAS caught up with Robert at the recent "triple decker club sandwich" nights at this years Highland Festival to get some more background on Beyond and Roberts tips for those interested in having a go at promotion…
  

MIDAS: So Robert, when did you first become interested in music and gigs? Was there anything in particular which sparked off your interest in promotion?

Robert: When I was younger I was an avid gig goer and really enjoyed listening to recorded music as well. It wasn’t until I moved to Ullapool to manage the Seaforth that I became involved with booking live music. It was just part of the job. My background is in the restaurant trade and it was on that basis that I was invited to come up and manage the Seaforth. As time went on I started to really enjoy the whole experience of putting a band on so I guess that was the first indicator of an interest in promotion.
 

MIDAS: It seems that a lot of people working in the music industry end up in a job which is completely different to what they set out to do. In your case you kind of fell into the industry through chance...

Robert: Yeah, I didn’t come up to Ullapool to become a promoter or to get involved with the industry in any way for that matter. The live music side was a small part of the job but I ended up really enjoying it. I started to get a bit more involved with looking for more bands to bring up to the Seaforth. Looking after the bands came naturally to me because of my hospitality background and this was evident in the way so many bands came to love playing in Ullapool - it was such a refreshing experience in comparison to many of the other gigs that they did.
 

MIDAS: Did you ever think about getting a job with one of the more established promoters in the central belt? What made you decide to stay in the Highlands?

Robert: Yes and no. With one of the big promoters in the central belt I would have a lot more financial security, not having to risk my own money on gigs but on the other hand there is a lot more competition to work with them. I feel as though I am in a stronger position to build on things in the Highlands. These days I do a lot of work in conjunction with the larger companies promoting Highland dates for some of the higher profile touring acts.

In the past year I have also been working with some of the bigger bands out-with the area in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh so I am getting involved on a wider scale as well but this way it’s at my own pace.
 

MIDAS: What is the current set-up with beyond - how many gigs are you putting on per year?

Robert: At the moment I am doing between 80 and 100 gigs in a year. These gigs are of varying sizes ranging from well known signed bands to those at the beginning of their career who are looking to build on their fanbase.
 

MIDAS: With so many gigs and acts passing through the books since you have been a promoter, what have been the highlights?

Robert: My favourite gig I ever put on was with Miles Hunt from the Wonderstuff. They are one of my favourite bands so that was a real treat. Another memorable one was when I had Dodgy up on tour a few years ago and we took them over to Taransay where the BBC we filming the Castaway series. They wanted to play a gig there and it ended up in every single newspaper the following day - it was quite an experience! Lastly, one of my proudest achievements has to be establishing the Seaforth [in Ullapool] as a gig of legend. So many of the bands that come and play in the Highlands have a special place in their hearts for the venue and the town - a lot of them take a day off from touring when they are up here because they love the atmosphere and friendly reception that they get.
 

MIDAS: The front-end of the business sounds like pretty good fun. Away from the enjoyment and the social elements of it what are the difficulties in pulling it all together to put a gig on?

Robert: It can be very difficult however, if you are organised then the only big worry is the financial one. Every gig is a gamble and at times it can make things very hard to the extent that you have to turn down the gigs that you want to do because you can’t afford to take the risk.

MIDAS: If somebody is interested in having a go at promotion, what advice would you give them? What are the pitfalls and what qualities are needed to make a go of it?

Robert: Don’t! No seriously, I suppose the main thing is to work as hard as you can and promote the event as well as is possible. You want to do everything in your power to get people out to the gigs and even then it can be a game of chance. Be sure and budget correctly and avoid spending unnecessarily. One of the most important things you have to remember is to look after the bands. If they enjoy themselves they will come back and work with you again. In a lot of cases you can grow with a band if you establish a good relationship with them early on.

MIDAS: Finally what are your plans and ambitions for the future?

Robert: To put on a sold out gig at the Glasgow Barrowlands.

MIDAS: What would be your dream line up be if you could put on any band you wanted?

Robert: Beyond Presents - The Wonder Stuff, Idlewild, Twp, Pala, Actual Size.  Venue - Glasgow Barrowlands.  I would put on a warm up gig at the Seaforth the night before and then have the aftershow party at the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen.
 
 

Maybe one day Robert! If you would like more information on up and coming Beyond gigs along with a wealth of other music info then go to the Beyond website at www.beyondit.net for more information.

If Robert’s story has made you want to have a go at promotion yourself why not have a look at our Promoting a Gig Tip-Sheet. With advice from Robert and other Highland promoters you will find a lot of useful info to help you avoid some of the pitfalls of promotion whilst putting on a professional show.