Talking Events, Partnerships and The Future with Colours’ Julie McEwan

Please start by giving a brief history of Colours

“Colours made its mark on the Scottish Dance Music scene in 1995, coinciding with the rise of the ‘super club’ era, which saw a shift from outdoor raves to indoor venues. Since then, we have been instrumental in shaping the electronic dance music landscape, initially hosting residencies in prominent clubs across the UK, including The Arches in Glasgow, The Vaults in Edinburgh, and Ministry of Sound in London, then growing to host parties at world renowned venues such as Ku and Es Paradis in Ibiza and Limelight in New York as well as many other venues and cities around the world. Throughout our journey, we have collaborated with many prestigious brands, such as Gatecrasher, Pacha, God’s Kitchen, Cream, and Defected, to name but a few. Behind the scenes, we have a dedicated, small, longstanding team who have contributed to our success over the years. Their passion and expertise have been instrumental in curating unforgettable experiences.”

Undisputedly one of the UK’s longest-running and most established dance event brands, having been at the leading edge of events in Scotland for nearly three decades, the calibre of entertainers you’ve hosted over the years is seriously impressive.

Who have been among some of the best artists you’ve worked with over the years and why?

“Over the past 29 years, we’ve repeatedly worked with some of the biggest names in dance music, like Carl Cox, Calvin Harris, Deadmau5, John Digweed, Paul van Dyk, Oliver Heldens, David Morales, Roger Sanchez, Sasha, Swedish House Mafia, there’s hundreds we could list. We brought the likes of Tiesto, David Guetta, Eric Prydz and Martin Garrix over for their first Scottish shows. We love all the artists we work with and deeply appreciate their ongoing support and willingness to come back time and time again. No one can beat the Scottish crowds’ welcome and atmosphere or our Scottish hospitality, our afters are legendary!”

It’s widely acknowledged that Colours plays a vital role in the nurturing of the Scottish music scene, including some of its most current and future stars, the likes of Hannah Laing and Ewan McVicar.

Can you explain the importance of supporting emerging Scottish talents and how Colours goes above and beyond to help artists?

“We take great pride in our role within the Scottish club scene, actively supporting emerging talents who represent the future of our industry. Supporting local talent is paramount to us. We want to inspire and empower artists to pursue their dreams, [and] we have a number of brands and genres within our repertoire, which puts us in the fortunate position to offer slots to local talent regularly. We make it a priority to showcase homegrown talent on our line ups. Some of the world’s finest DJs hail from Scotland, and we are committed to nurturing the next generation of talent.”

Colours have maintained a professional partnership with Skiddle for over a decade. What specific aspects of our service drive your decision to continue using our platform? What are the tools or features you use the most and why? What are their benefits?

“We’ve been with Skiddle since 2013, spanning over a decade. It has consistently been a positive experience. Skiddle’s service encompasses several key attributes that reaffirm our choice to partner with them. The user-friendly system and comprehensive functionality simplify the management of ticket sales and event promotion. The analytical insights provided by Skiddle into ticket sales, demographics, and marketing performance play a pivotal role in optimising our promotional strategies. These insights allow us to tailor our marketing efforts, ultimately contributing to the overall success of our events. The Skiddle team deserves a shout-out! Throughout our partnership, every team member we’ve interacted with has demonstrated exceptional professionalism and dedication, consistently exceeding expectations when needed. An absolute pleasure to work with.”

The current economic landscape is one of the most challenging the live events industry has faced in recent times. How is Colours addressing the current challenges and adjusting strategies to maintain competitiveness?

“Adapting to shifting consumer habits post-pandemic and heightened financial constraints for attendees are among the foremost challenges. Moreover, there has been a notable increase in production costs, posing a challenge to keep ticket prices competitive. To remain competitive, we recognise the importance of continuous assessment and adaptation of our events. Our priority is to consistently provide exceptional experiences while ensuring value for money for our attendees.”