Declan McKenna, Tom Walker and Nathan Evans among others will perform intimate phone-free gigs across Scotland to raise money for suicide prevention charity, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).

In the run-up to Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May 2025), CALM will host three concerts at the Edinburgh Assembly Rooms, Stirling Albert Halls and Glasgow Old Fruit Market. Nina Nesbitt, Saint PHNX and Caity Baser will deliver support sets.

Each venue will be using Yondr phone pouches for the duration of the shows to ensure mobile phones and any other recording equipment aren’t used during the performances.

Tickets cost £12.20 each – the amount it takes to fund a call to CALM’s free-to-access suicide prevention helpline, which is run by trained professionals – and 30% of ticket sales will be donated to the charity to make their work possible.

“Music, and musicians, truly are a lifeline for so many people going through tough times”

“CALM started its life in music, having been set up by Factory Records’ Tony Wilson,” says Simon Gunning, CEO of Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). “It’s part of our DNA, and a key tool in our fight against suicide. Music, and musicians, truly are a lifeline for so many people going through tough times, and it’s apt that these three gigs are taking place in the lead up to Mental Health Awareness Week.

“The theme this year is community, and there really is no greater community than music, and the collective experience of live music in particular – especially when we get a chance to switch off from our phones for a few hours. We’re incredibly grateful to all the artists involved, including our Ambassador Tom Walker.”

Phone-free gigs are an increasing trend, with acts including Bob Dylan and Ghost forbidding devices at their recent gigs. Iconic hotel and nightspot Pikes Ibiza, meanwhile, prohibits mobile phones from the dancefloor seven nights a week.

See the full list of CALM’s concerts below.

Edinburgh Assembly Rooms – Friday 2nd May 2025
Tom Walker – Nina Nesbitt

Stirling Albert Halls – Tuesday 6th May 2025
Declan McKenna – Bradley Simpson

Glasgow Old Fruit Market – Saturday 10th May 2025
Nathan Evans & Saint PHNX – Caity Baser

Fans can now sign up for the on-sale at 10 am on Thursday 17 April.

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UTA has signed Nathan Evans, the Scottish singer who found fame on TikTok for his rendition of the whaling ballad ‘Soon May the Wellerman Come’, for worldwide representation.

Evans, a former postman who is credited with inspiring the unlikely social media craze around sea shanties, has held the no.2 spot in the UK charts for three weeks with the 220 Kid/Billen Ted remix of ‘Wellerman’ on Universal Music. At UTA, he will be represented by a “large-cross section of agents” responsible for both his live career and commercial partnerships.

“In Nathan we see huge potential, and UTA is thrilled to be part of the team,” says London-based agent Emily Robbins. “We are excited to help shape the story from here and build his future career in the industry.”

“In Nathan we see huge potential … We are excited to help shape the story from here”

Jonathan Shalit OBE, chairman of InterTalent, adds: “Emily Robbins of UTA was quickest off the mark in calling after I signed Nathan to InterTalent. Within days she had gathered the incredible UTA global team, who were irresistible.”

“Watching Nathan’s brilliant and original videos inspire our community and kick start a global trend demonstrates the power of TikTok,” says the short-form video platform’s UK head of music, Paul Hourican. “We look forward to working more with Nathan and his team and are excited to see what comes next.”

“To be represented by one of the greatest talent agencies alongside signing to Polydor, Sony ATV and InterTalent, is a dream come true,” comments Nathan Evans. “On 27 December, when I uploaded ‘Wellerman’ to TikTok, it was just me. Now I have the support of the best music people in the world.”

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