2014, or at least the 9 months from January to September, was a busy year for Yes. During these months our core team of photographers did their best to get out when they could to cover the Yes campaign happenings. We didn’t manage to cover everything we wanted to but as a group of dedicated volunteers we managed to build up a pretty impressive set of pictures. Pictures that went far and wide throughout the duration of the campaign to help show the positivity and vibrance of the Yes movement.
In this post we take a look back, through our photographers images, at the incredible amount of events that were going on throughout those 9 months. Enjoy.
January 22nd – Knitting for Independence
The women of Scotland Handknit start a creative project to knit a map of Scotland in support of Independence.
Photographer: Robb Mcrae
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Knitting-for-Independence
January 24th – National Collective Aberdeen Launch
The first National Collective branch launch of they year takes place at The Tunnels in Aberdeen.
Photographer: Alex Aitchison
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Aberdeen-Launch
February 19th – National Collective Edinburgh Sessions #2
The second of the National Collective open sessions takes place at Circus Cafe.
Photographer: Simon Baker
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Edinburgh-Sessions-2
February 22nd – National Collective Stirling Launch
The National Collective Stirling Launch takes place at Mediterranea featuring music and spoken word from Zara Gladman, Frank Hewitt, Jenny Lindsay, Citizen Smart, Megan Mcavoy, Loki, Rebecca Pollock, Jason Riddell, End of Neil and Jelly Roll Soul DJ’s.
Photography: Robb Mcrae
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Stirling-Launch
February 26th – The National Collective Zine
National Collective’s first Zine is ready to send out and we were there to provide some product photographs.
Photography: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/The-National-Collective-Zine
March 1st – Yes Edinburgh Super Saturday
Yes Scotland Supporters from across Edinburgh get together for their second monthly ‘Super Saturday’ campaigning day. This month they visited Gorgie.
Photography: Robb Mcrae
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Yes-Edinburgh-Super-Saturday-2
March 1st – National Collective Dundee Launch
The National Collective Dundee Launch take place at Buskers featuring The Strangers Almanac, Overview Effect, Sonny Carntyne, Commodore & The Feathers, Michael Yellowlees and special guests.
Photographer: Robb Mcrae
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Dundee-Launch
March 2nd – Lady Gaga Video Shoot
A look behind the scenes as filming for Zara Gladman’s Lady Alba Bad Romance video takes place at Edinburgh Castle.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Gaga-for-Indy
March 5th – Dearest Scotland Launches
Cat Cochrane and Sarah Drummond launch their project Dearest Scotland at The Glad Cafe in Glasgow’s southside. Dearest Scotland is an apolitical campaign, focused on crowdsourcing a future vision for Scotland by the public for a common good. They invite you to write to the future of Scotland.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Ful Set: http://documentingyes.com/Dearest-Scotland-Launch
March 7th – Clean Slate Scotland Launches
A new project called Clean Slate Scotland is launched at the DUSA Union. Students are invited to wipe the slate clean and express what they would like to see in an Independent Scotland.
Photographer: Robyn Glendinning
Ful Set: http://documentingyes.com/Clean-Slate-Scotland-Launch
March 8th – Hugh MacDiarmids Cottage
National Collective visited Hugh MacDiarmid’s cottage in the Borders to film a short documentary about his poetry and politics. The day included readings from Professor Alan Riach and the author James Robertson.
Photographer: Simon Baker
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Hugh-MacDiarmid-s-Cottage
March 19th – National Collective Edinburgh Sessions #3
National Collective Edinburgh hosts the third in their series of open sessions offering an evening of debate, presentations, music and spoken word. This session held at The Outhouse in Edinburgh featured amongst others a special guest appearance by playwright and theatre directorDavid Greig talking of his personal views on voting for Scottish independence and a presentation by Robb Mcrae showcasing and discussing some of his own contributions to Documenting Yes.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Edinburgh-Sessions-3
March 23rd – The Art Cave Sign Installation
Simon Baker installs his hand made sign for National Collective at The Art Cave in Leith, Edinburgh.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Sign-Installation
April 3rd – Yes Edinburgh Public Meeting
Liz Lochhead, Marco Biagi MSP, Alison Johnstone MSP and Tommy Sheppard make the case for independence at a public Q&A in the Augustine United Church, Edinburgh. Organised by Yes Edinburgh Central.
Photographer: Robb Mcrae
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Yes-Edinburgh-Public-Meeting
April 5th – Yes Edinburgh Super Saturday #3
Yes Scotland Supporters from across Edinburgh get together for the monthly ‘Super Saturday’ campaigning day. This month they visited Wester Hailes.
Photographer: Simon Baker
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Yes-Edinburgh-Super-Saturday-3
April 11th – SNP Spring Conference
Members of The SNP and international media gather in Aberdeen over two days to hear speeches from Blair Jenkins, Nicola Sturgeon & Alex Salmond, as well as touching tributes to Margo McDonald and excerpts from a new play by National Collective’s Alan Bissett.
Photographer: Alex Aitchison
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/SNP-Spring-Conference-2014
April 16th – National Collective Edinburgh Session #4
National Collective Edinburgh hosts the fourth in their series of open sessions offering an evening of debate, presentations, music and spoken word. This session held at The Outhouse in Edinburgh featured beatboxing by Iqbal, poetry from Max Scratchmann, presentations on potential future land use and forestry from architects Lateral North and Roland Stiven respectively, song from storyteller Marie Louise Cochrane, music from Euan Campbell, Iain MacLeod and Stuart McHardy and poet Theresa Muñoz and theatre maker Kieran Hurley shared their personal views for why they’ll be voting Yes in September 2014.
Photographer: Robb Mcrae
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Edinburgh-Sessions-4
May 12th – National Collective Glasgow Sessions #1
National Collective host their first Glasgow Sessions at Stereo Café Bar featuring guest speakers, poetry, music, presentations and project updates.
Photographer: Alex Aitchison
Ful Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Glasgow-Sessions-1
May 17th – Women for Indy Campaign Morning in Portobello
Women For Independence spend a morning campaigning on the Portobello promenade with support from the Independence Choir.
Photographer: Robb Mcrae
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Women-for-Independence-at-Portobello
May 20th – National Collective Aberdeen Session #1
The first National Collective Session in Aberdeen takes place at Cellar 35 with a host of acts, videos and discussion. A fine wee crowd of about 30-40 folk came out to see Daemons, Lizabett Russo and C S Buchan perform on a Tuesday evening and kick off what should be an exciting monthly night of informal shenanigans. Local Teacher Amy Nicholson shared her Journey to Yes and there was a video screening of Ross Aitchison and Andy Summer’s ‘Scotland Is’.
Photographer: David Officer
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Aberdeen-Sessions-1
May 21st – National Collective Edinburgh Sessions #5
National Collective Edinburgh host their fifth open sessions night offering an evening of debate, presentations, music and spoken word. This session was held at Circus Cafe Bistro. Also visiting was an RTL TV crew from Germany.
Photographer: Simon Baker
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Edinburgh-Sessions-5
May 21st – Referendum Cafe Launches in Glasgow
The launch of Referendum Café takes place at Fringe HQ on Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow featuring Dearest Scotland, Scotland Loves Democracy and Lateral North. Referendum Cafe was a pop-up venue for 3 months, offering events, debate and discussion of all issues surrounding Scotland’s Referendum.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Referendum-Cafe-1
May 25th – KILTRref #3
The third KILTR Scottish Independence Referendum debate takes place at the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow and focuses on the media and its role and involvement in the lead-up to September’s referendum. The panel included Brian Cox, John McTernan, Mark McGowan (The Artist Taxi Driver) and Susan Dalgety; chaired by Anna Burnside.
Photographer: Simon Forsythe
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/KILTR-Referendum-Debate-3
May 26th – Africans for an Independent Scotland Launches
The official launch of Africans for an Independent Scotland took place in Glasgow. Contributions were heard from Michelle Monaghan, Chimezie Umeh, Blair Jenkins and Grace Kitenge before an open discussion and Q&A with the audience.
Photographer: Robb Mcrae
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Africans-for-an-Independent-Scotland-Launch
June 1st – Aye Talks
Celebrities, artists and political campaigners outlined their hopes for the future at AyeTalks, a special filmed event that took place at the Pearce Institute in Govan, Glasgow.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Aye-Talks
June 1st – National Collective Inverness Launch
Also on the 1st of June, the launch of National Collective Inverness at Bog Bain Farm saw over 200 people come along to listen to talks and music.
Photographer: Paul Campbell
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Inverness-Launch
June 5th – Radical Independence Public Meeting in Glasgow
Radical Independence public meeting hosted by RIC Govan takes place at Kinning Park Complex with speakers Patrick Harvie (Green MSP), Aamer Anwar (Human Rights Lawyer), Cat Boyd (Radical Independence), Suki Sangha (STUC Youth Committee -PC), Richie Venton (SSP Organiser) & Women for Independence.
Photographer: Simon Forsythe
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Radical-Independence-Public-Meeting-Kinning-Park
June 17th – National Collective Aberdeen Sessions #2
The second Aberdeen Sessions for National Collective takes place at Cellar 35 featuring music, poetry and films.
Photographer: David Officer
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Aberdeen-Sessions-2
June 18th – National Collective Edinburgh Sessions #6
National Collective Edinburgh Sessions #6 take place at a packed Circus Cafe Bistro with special guests from Wales for Yes and the Campaign for Newsnight Wales. The night also featured journey’s to YES from Gerry Hassan, Julia Taudevin and Rachel McCrum, art-work and stories from Polly T, music from Craig Lithgow, song from Eileen Penman and comedy from Viv Gee.
Photographer: Mhairi Law
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Edinburgh-Sessions-6
June 28th – Aye Inspired Premier
The Aye Inspired exhibition premiers at The Priory on Aberdeen’s Belmont Street the weekend of 28th and 29th of June before heading off on tour with National Collective’s Yestival.
Photographer: Rachael Robertson
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Aye-Inspired-Premier
YESTIVAL
And so after many months behind the scenes planning it was Yestival time. A month-long national grassroots festival that took place place across Scotland during the month of July.
Travelling across Scotland from the 30th June until the 3rd August, the Yestival tour showcased the grassroots cultural movement for Scottish Independence and included communities in the Scottish Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, central Scotland, Western Isles, the Highlands, Orkney, Shetland, the North East, Angus, Perthshire and Fife as well as all of the country’s seven cities.
The busy schedule also included a mixture of small gatherings, pop-up happenings and larger scale events together with a few surprises along the way.
Here we have gathered some images from each stop on the tour.
Yestival Photographers on Tour: Alex Aitchison, Robb Mcrae, Simon Baker, Ross Colquhoun.
Contributing Photographers at Summerhall: Peter McNally and Simon Forsythe.
See all the sets from the Yestival tour at http://documentingyes.com/yestival
June 30th – Yestival Haddington
July 1st – Yestival Melrose
July 2nd – Yestival Sanquar
July 3rd – Yestival Ayr
July 5th – Yestival Glasgow
July 6th – Yestival visits the festival of the Common Weal at the Arches in Glasgow
July 8th – Yestival Falkirk
July 9th – Yestival takes over Summerhall in Edinburgh for 4 days.
July 10th – Yestival at Summerhall Day 2
July 11th – Yestival at Summerhall Day 3
July 12th – Yestival at Summerhall Day 4
July 13th – Yestival Fort William
July 15th – Yestival Sails to the Outer Hebrides
July 16th – Yestival North Uist
July 17th – Yestival Harris
July 19th – Yestival Ullapool
July 20th – Yestival Inverness
July 21st – Yestival Stromness
July 22nd – Yestival Kirkwall
July 23rd – Yestival Lerwick
July 25th – Yestival Lossiemouth
July 26th – Yestival Aberdeen
July 28th – Yestival Montrose
July 29th – Yestival Arbroath
July 30th – Yestival Dundee
July 31st – Yestival Perth
August 1st – Yestival St Andrews
August 2nd – Yestival Stirling
August 5th – One Love Concert
One Love Concert celebrating Jamaican independence at Studio 24 Edinburgh.
Photographer: Simon Baker
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/One-Love-Concert
August 5th – All Back to Bowies
David Greig’s ‘All Back To Bowies’ show at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, featuring Julia Taudevin, David Torrance, Neal Ascherson, Wounded Knee, Jim Monaghan, Peter Arnott, Andrew Tickell, Isobel Lindsay & David Greig.
Photographer: Alex Aitchison
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/All-Back-To-Bowies
August 11th – National Collective Glasgow Sessions #4
National Collective Glasgow Session #4 and IndyRef Film evening takes place at Stereo Café Bar.
Photographer: Robb Mcrae
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Glasgow-Sessions-4
August 28th – David Cameron Comes to Glasgow
Protesters organised by Radical Independence gather at The Hilton, Glasgow as David Cameron visits to speak at the annual CBI dinner.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/David-Cameron-in-Glasgow
September 4th – Greg Moodie Versus The Union Book Launch
As part of The Auld Acquaintance exhibition, Scottish Cartoon Art Studio Co-ordinator Terry Anderson welcomes Greg Moodie, cartoonist for the National Collective website and others, to discuss his work as he launches his new book Greg Moodie Versus the Union with a special appearance by YouTube star Zara Gladman (aka Lady Alba).
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Greg-Moodie-Versus-The-Union-Book-Launch
September 5th – Imagination Festival
Imagination, Scotland’s Festival of Ideas, was a weekend gathering of ideas, culture and politics hosted by the University of the West of Scotland and PAL Labs, programmed and produced by Gerry Hassan and Roanne Dods.
The festival was running from Friday September 5th – Sunday September 7th in the southside of Glasgow at Glad Café, Govanhill Swimming Pool, and other venues in the southside of Glasgow.
This event on the friday was hosted by Jenny Lindsay and included music from A New International, Chrissy Barnacle, Findlay Napier and featured spoken word from Leyla Jospehine.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Friday-Night-at-Imagination-Festival
September 5th – KILTRref #4
Kiltr referendum debate #4 takes place at The Bridge in Easterhouse, Glasgow and focuses on the youth vote. Speakers included, Heather Whiteside of Better Together, Alan Grant of Better Together, Katie Gallogly-Swan of the Common Weal and Liam McLaughlan of Radical Independence. The panel was chaired by Holden Hunter and the event was live streamed online.
Photographer: Simon Forsythe
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/KILTR-Referendum-Debate-4
September 6th – Our Future Our Scotland Launch
Nicola Sturgeon launches Generation Yes – Our Scotland, Our Future Declaration in Glasgow. The launch featured performances by Lady Alba and Macanta.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Our-Future-Our-Scotland-Launch
September 6th – Yes Windaes
A look at a small selection of Yes Windaes around Glasgow’s Southside.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Yes-Windaes-Southside
September 6th – Yes Edinburgh Super Saturday #4
Yes Edinburgh hold Super Saturday #4 as part of the Mile of Yes event which sees supporters from all parts of Yes out campaigning the whole way from Haymarket to Leith Walk.
Photographer: Simon Baker
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Yes-Edinburgh-Super-Saturday-4
September 6th – The Indy Choir
Members of the Independence Choir take to the streets in central Edinburgh to sing for a Yes vote as part of the Mile Of Yes Super Saturday.
Photographer: Robb Mcrae
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/The-Independence-Choir
September 8th – Yes Live at the Alhabmra
#YesLive at the Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline was three hours of a 12 hour live broadcast created by National Collective featuring Kieran Hurley, Ruth Mills, David Greig, Josephine Sillars, Declan Welsh and Miriam Brett. There was also a Q&A with Fiona Hyslop MSP and Alison Johnstone MSP. There was campaign films shown throughout the entire day and the entire event was streamed live.
Photographer: Simon Baker
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/YesLive-at-The-Alhambra-Theatre
September 8th – National Collective Glasgow Sessions #5
The final National Collective Glasgow Sessions takes place at Stereo Cafe Bar. Featured on the bill was award winning author, Christopher Brookmyre, Glasgow based research & design Collective Lateral North, Shambles Miller, Poet Kathleen Jamie, Josephine Sillars, Janey Godley, Dol Eoin Mackinnon, Liz Lochhead and Lori Watson & Rule of Three.
Photographer: Clair Donachie
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Glasgow-Sessions-5
September 10th – National Collective Edinburgh Sessions #7
The last in the series of National Collective Edinburgh Sessions takes place at the Art Cave featuring appearances from Craig Coulthard, Tom Farrington, David Greig, Knitters for YES, Jenny Lindsay, Rachel Maclean, Lake Montgomery, Whyte & MacKay and music by TradYes.
Photographer: Simon Baker
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/National-Collective-Edinburgh-Sessions-7
September 11th – The Final Push
National Collective Edinburgh leaflet the city’s Princes Street with a very special friend.
Photographer: Robb Mcrae
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Darling-in-Edinburgh
September 13th – Yes Supporters Gather on Buchanan Street, Glasgow
5 days before the vote Yes supporters gather the length of Buchanan Street in Glasgow to sing and dance and campaign.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Yes-Gathering-Glasgow
September 14th – A Night for Scotland
The Yes campaign concert ‘A Night for Scotland’ takes place at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh featuring performances from Amy Macdonald, Franz Ferdinand, Frightened Rabbit, Mogwai, Eddi Reader, McIntosh Ross and Stanley Odd. Campaign videos were shown during the changeovers and the night was hosted by Ricky Ross and Elaine C Smith.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/A-Night-for-Scotland
September 16th – Yes Supporters Gather in George Square, Glasgow
Another spontaneous gathering of Yes supporters takes place in Glasgow’s George Square with only 2 days until the Vote.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Yes-Gathering-Glasgow-2
September 17th – Yes Supporters Gather in the Meadows
On the eve of polling day, yes supporters gather at The Meadows in Edinburgh.
Photographer: John Duncan
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Yes-at-The-Meadows
September 18th – Leithers take to the Polls
Photographer: Mhairi Law
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Leith-Says-Aye
September 18th – The Polls Close
Yes supporters gather in George Square in Glasgow after the polls close to wait in anticipation for the final result.
Photographer: Peter McNally
Full Set: http://documentingyes.com/Yes-Glasgow
Thank you to all of you who have followed, supported and contributed to the Documenting Yes project. Especially our core team of photographers. See you all in 2015!
Happy New Year!
BONUS VIDEO: The end of night sing along at a Night for Scotland
