Scott Hutchison performing with Frightened Rabbit, Stendhal Festival 2014.
Members of the music scene - both locally and globally - have been paying tribute to Scott Hutchison, following the recent news of his death.
The Frightened Rabbit singer’s body was found on Thursday night, almost two days after he was reported missing. Scott spoke openly about his issues with mental health and depression.
Scott’s music has touched fans around the world, and Northern Ireland is no exception.
Sian O’Neill is a Youth Engagement Manager at Oh Yeah Music Centre. She also worked with Scott Hutchison, at Oxjam – Oxfam’s annual charity music festival, and has been influenced by him on a personal level:
“Like so many fans, Scott's music has been the soundtrack to some seriously bleak episodes in my life but it's also been the backing to some of the best too - my fiancé and I recently got engaged in Glasgow, when we travelled over to see band play the decade reunion tour of Midnight Organ Fight.
I am heart sore that we have lost someone of his calibre, even more so because his lyrics resonated with the darkness he ultimately couldn't escape from and yet the greatest irony of all is that he saved so many of us from that darkness in the end.
His legacy will obviously be the tunes we are left with and the view that no matter how much we talk about Mental Health, it's meaningless without action and without tangible resources to tackle the scourge of mental ill-health.
Rest easy Scott, the 'changes to earth' you made were anything but tiny.”
Here are words from former ATL Producer Paul McClean:
“Recording with Scott for Across the Line he was a warm, humble and gentle man in person but also an intense and fiercely committed artist.
The subject matter was dark, especially when he kindly agreed to record a song for our ATL Carol Service. “It’s Christmas So We’ll Stop” is a visceral piece about a seasonal truce in a doomed and ragged domestic situation and was deeply touching.
Frightened Rabbit's songs may have mined that darkness but all of his work was also uplifting in a cathartic way, aimed at empathising with all of our broken-ness and embracing us all as flawed human beings.
We all owe a great deal to artists such as Scott who share themselves and allow us hope in dark times. Rest easy.”
Stendhal Festival’s John Cartwright shared his thoughts:
“Last week, for the 3rd time in a little under 2 years, we heard the terrible news that an artist who helped build Stendhal had taken their own life.
Scott Hutchison, from 2014 headliners Frightened Rabbit, was a gentleman in all the dealings we had with the band that year. He played a huge part in helping to overcome a booking clash which had originally put their participation at the event in jeopardy and for that we will be forever grateful. He and the band loved their fans and the work they put in to ensure they didn’t let anybody down at Stendhal that year is testament to that.
Consequently, Scott and Frightened Rabbit put on a hell of a show for us that year, one which helped Stendhal continue to grow as an event, again something for which we will be forever grateful.
His openness in how he suffered and dealt with depression gave hope to others and his songs helped people cope in times of personal darkness. We have no doubt that they will continue to do so for many generations of music lovers.
To Grant, Billy, Andy and Simon and Scott's family and friends, everyone at Stendhal passes on their condolences and our thoughts are with you at this time.
We hope Scott has found the peace he was searching for but please God let this be the last time we have to send thoughts and prayers to anyone for this reason.
To anyone dealing with depression or any other mental health issues - please talk, please don’t shoulder your burdens alone and please remember, you and your life are worth an infinite amount more to those you love and who love you, than our thoughts and prayers will ever be.”
Details of organisations offering information and support with mental health are available at or you can call for free, at any time, to hear recorded information on 0800 155 998.