Coronavirus: Glasgow band launch crowdfunder after having to pull plug on US tour

Glasgow band Talisk have been left more than £10,000 in debt as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Glasgow outfit Talisk, a former Scottish Folk Band of the Year, say they are at least £10,000 out of pocket.

The trio - Mohsen Amini, Hayley Keenan and Graeme Armstrong - have asked fans for their financial help in getting them home and meeting some of their costs.

The members of the band, who are all self-employed musicians, has revealed the “massive investment, racked up for flights, visas, accommodation and vehicle hire for their tour.

It had just got underway when it became clear that the number of cancellations they were experiencing would mean they would have to pull the plug.

Another leading Scottish trad band, Elephant Sessions, have revealed they have had to scrap planned tours of Denmark and Australia over the next few weeks.

The Shetland Folk Festival has been forced to pull the plug on its 40th event next month, while the March Into Pitlochry music festival later this month has suffered the same fate.

Talisk, who have won huge acclaimed for their festival appearances in Scotland, have also appeared at events like Cambridge Folk Festival, Tønder in Denmark, WOMAD UK, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Celtic Colours in Cape Breton and the Milwaukee Irish Festival since forming in 2014.

Gigs in Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Madison and Milwaukee had been lined up as part of the US tour.

In a message posted on their social media accounts, Talisk said they faced further costs for rearranging flights home, as well as the loss of income from their cancelled shows.

The band posted: “Just firstly want to send our love out to everyone who is struggling at the moment. “This has taken the world by surprise and we know everyone is suffering in some way or other.

“We are only three days into a 20-date US tour and the last 16 have either cancelled in the last 24 hours, or seem more than likely that they will follow suit.

“We are so sorry to all the people we are letting down over here, you’ve been so good to us.

“We take such pride in making music and it’s genuinely a privilege to be able to bring our music around the world to all of our incredible fans.

“You honestly are so special to us and we couldn’t do what we do without you.

“We are pretty much self sufficient and fund everything ourselves, so touring any country is a bit of a risk.

“But with the USA the costs are absolutely staggering and is a massive investment especially when we are all self-employed.

“Unfortunately now we find ourselves in a huge amount of debt.

“We’ve set up a fundraiser and if you could help us clear even some of our debt we would be massively grateful. There’s no donation too small. It’ll help us get home, re-group and reschedule.”