SAVE CARLTON STUDIOS

Carlton Studios an 'institution' in the Glasgow music scene is under threat. Please support our campaign to raise £30k to survive the Covid pandemic

Carlton Recording Studios and Rehearsal rooms, began in 1990 as a collective with the help of a small start-up grant and support from The Scottish Cooperative Development Company. It has been described by the Musicians Union as an 'institution’ in the Glasgow music scene, owned by Jake (of James King and the Lone Wolves)and Barny (of The Carlton Jug Band) ‘who are not as scary as they look!’. Far from being scary they have welcomed all who come through its doors, ushering them in to be part of the friendly Carlton Studios good vibrations, home of the quirky, left of centre of Glasgow’s world of music and art.

In its 30 years of existence Carlton Studios has supported the growth and development of thousands of musicians.

• Musicians from all genres, from hobbyist to full time professionals across Glasgow, Scotland and internationally have used its services.
• 

Including Biffy Clyro, Franz Ferdinand, The Fratellis, Mary Kiani, The Silencers, Duncan Campbell video artist and Turner prize winner.

Also Michelle Cohen, artist and a winner of the Oor Wullie's Big Bucket Trail, Scott Peden, actor/singer/songwriter and of course Kenny Hyslop ( original drummer with Simple Minds) had his tuition Drum Room there for many years.

Rising Star Scottish Jazz Award 2019.

 Marianne McGregor teaches vocals and piano at the studios and is the latest in a long line of artists who have been supported by Carlton, and is the winner of Rising Star Scottish Jazz award. Marianne pledged her support,’ A lot of the success I have achieved is down to the support and encouraging attitude of the studio and its people. Not only a well-priced and friendly place to rehearse or record tunes, this establishment is also a hub of creativity, enterprise and an authentic space where all art is celebrated

An affordable venue for artists from near and far.

Carlton’s appeal extends nationally and internationally It is often used by artists performing at The Barralands, The Hydro and Celtic Connections. A driving passion of the Studios is for music to be affordable and true to its word it has been facilitating an affordable space for musicians to meet, eat, learn, record, network, and enjoy. Mince, drummer with The Fratellis, has been using the studio since 2002. “I fell in love with the place –  the rooms sound really lively, like a gig.  With The Fratellis, in 2004, this is where we got our act together and learned all the tunes. They’ve made a studio for musicians and they care about the bands… it’s the personal touch that makes the place so amazing.’

Alabama 3 fundraisers for MOJO and venue of the quirky Glasgow arts scene.

The after-show parties are legendary, particularly the MOJO (Miscarriage of Justice Organisation) fundraisers with The Alabama 3… if those walls could speak! Carlton Studios not only promotes music but also the wider arts including film, literary and visual arts. Organising and hosting poetry slams, storytelling clubs, The Scottish Beatbox Championships, comedy nights, book launches, plays, independent film shows, exhibitions in photography, textiles, and paintings. The multi-award winning Theatre Nemo established it's first office premises in it's early years at Carlton by patron Isabel McCue MBE and a winner of The Saltire Society’s Outstanding Women of Scotland award and Dougie McKechnie is its present artist in residence, who amongst many other great acclaims designed John Martyn’s album cover Cooltide.

Supporting recovery from addiction and promoting positive mental health.

 It’s no secret that the music industry has more than its fair share of individuals with problems around mental health and addiction. These issues touch all our lives and Carlton Studios has keenly supported numerous individuals and organisations, such as Quarriers, Theatre Nemo, MOJO, Barnardos, GAMH and Amnesty International.  

Social Work, college and school student work placements.

 Over the 3 decades many schoolchildren and young people from organisations such as The Princes Trust and the Social Work Department have been given work placements providing useful work experience as well as free music lessons and recording sessions. 'Carlton studios gave me work experience as a sound engineer, they provide opportunities for young people and its just so much more than a recording studio. It's a little community', Laura-Jane Kerr. Following this some of these young people went on to being employed by the Studio. 

Barny (aka Michael) Taplin, Carlton's 'Tour de Force'.

As Barny often says, Carlton Studios is the sum of its parts and it is the punters that make it what it is.  You just never know who you will meet, famous, infamous, talented, creative, wacky, up for a bit of banter in the cafe, a jam, or a professional artistic collaboration. However, as anyone who has ever been to Carlton will know it is Barny (Michael) Taplin who is its tour de force.

 It is his tenacity, drive and vision, blood, sweat and tears (and laughs!) that has kept it going all these years. His generosity knows no bounds from free cups of tea, soup and sandwiches to, free rehearsals and recordings, use of guitars, amps, symbols and leads to allowing musicians from afar to sleep overnight in the studio, or camp in his garden…I could go on! BTW some of you may know him as Michael from The Jolly Market and from leading the campaign in the 1980s to Save Paddy’s Market.

Now is your chance to help keep the wonderful resource of Carlton Studios alive by donating whatever you can afford.

 Carlton provides a source of income for many workers, including cleaners, café staff, music tutors, sound engineer, filmmaker and studio assistants. Studios  have been hit hard by COVID-19, with little or no income for months whilst rent, Council Tax, and general running costs continue to mount up. Plus falling through the net of Government support such as the 100% Covid Council tax relief for some sectors has sadly left studios out in the cold, please sign our petition regarding this here:http://chng.it/FWSQM66L

'An iconic institution, built on love and friendship and understanding', Mary Kiani.

Some might say I am biased cos I met my darling at Carlton Studios, well yeah, I am but beyond that, the encouraging network of talented, friendly folks that work and meet there have played an immeasurable part in my journey into the world of being a professional storyteller and singer and I know that I’m not the only one whose felt the love and support from Carlton, that's helped fulfil numerous artistic dreams.

On a cultural, spiritual and economic level.

To help us recover from this pandemic we are going to need venues such as Carlton, on a practical level but also to help lift our spirits.

As one of Glasgow’s longest surviving music studios let’s see it outlive this crisis and help Scotland’s future rising stars to rise and shine. 

‘Art washes from the soul, dirt of everyday life’– Picasso.

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much’ - Helen Keller.

Love and vibes from all at Carlton Studios

Lesley O’Brien, Singer with The Carlton Jug Band

Here are our T-shirts and designer ceramic wall available as 'rewards'. 

Designed by Kenny Hyslop.

Terms and conditions of prize draw

The promotor of this competition is Carlton Studios

It starts on  09.01.21 and will end on  27.02.21

The draw will take place on 6.03.21and we will notify winners by email giving details of how and when to claim your prize.

Winners will be selected by blind and random selection from all eligible participants by an a 3rd party and this selection will be independently witnesses.

All winners will be announced on the Crowdfunding page after this date.

To be entered for the prize draw we ask you to make a donation of £10 or above to the Save Carlton Studios Crowdfunder

We will only use your contact information to notify you if you have won. We will not use your personal data for any other purpose unless you have given permission to do so.

You can have a free entry to the prize draw by putting your contact details on a postcard and sending it to this address –

Prize Draw Free Entry

Carlton Studios

54 Carlton Place

Glasgow

 G5 9TW