Soundhouse Winter Festival: Spotlight

Discover the best of Scotland's up and coming jazz musicians.

A highlight of all our festivals is our Spotlight concert which showcases the very best up and coming musicians in Scotland. At the Soundhouse Winter Festival we feature some of the most exemplary young jazz musicians making their mark on the scene. This year we are delighted to reveal that our line up is comprised of:

TIMMY ALLAN

Timmy Allan studied jazz guitar and double bass at Birmingham Conservatoire and then Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he developed his jazz language and proficiency on both instruments to a high level. Shortly after his return to Scotland, Timmy began playing with some of the best musicians around the UK including Brian Kellock, Joe Webb, Kevin Mackenzie and Konrad Wizniewski.

In 2024 he won the BBC Scotland Young Jazz Musician award, and in 2025 he won the Alan McAuley Jazz Award. Timmy holds an expansive love of jazz from Django Reinhardt to Reinier Baas and everything in between.

His set at Spotlight will include a mix of old American Songbook and his own original compositions created in the modern jazz lexicon.

EWAN JOHNSTON TRIO

“Expression is excellent and vast… Piano touch is both sensitive and bold… a future master of the piano” - Dennis Rollins

Ewan Johnston is a 22-year-old pianist/composer/improvisor who thrives off of innovation, emotion and freedom of expression. Born and raised in Fife with a musical family, he blossomed through membership of FYJO (Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra) and RCS Juniors graduating in 2025 from the RCS Jazz Department. Shortlisted for Rising Star in the 2023 Scottish Jazz Awards, he strives to push boundaries and break the rules whilst keeping love and expression at the centre of everything he does; working with visual artists, dancers, filmmakers and all types of musicians to create inspiring work.

Ewan is joined by Christopher Quinn on bass and Roan Anderson on drums.

MILELE COLLECTIVE

Milele Collective is a young five-piece band making waves on the Scottish scene with their original compositions and inspiring covers. Expect energetic experimentation with groove jazz, latin, afro and drum and bass vibes.

Led by bass player Ashwari Panesar, Milele Collective features Laura Oghagbon(vocals), Zoe Downs (saxophone), Finlay Mayers-Porras(drums) and Alex Handyside(guitar).

It’s sure to be an inspiring afternoon of jazz, don’t miss it.

Explore more Music At The Traverse here.

If you have access requirements, please contact our Sales and Welcome Team on boxoffice@traverse.co.uk or 0131 228 1404 so we can arrange reserved seating for you and discuss how else we can best support your visit.