Renowned Photographer Captures Young Stirling Musicians
Jill Furmanovsky's exhibition at Tolbooth Stirling featured participants from the 'Pump Up the Jam' youth music initiative.
By Alasdair Buchan
••3 min read
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Generic image of a vintage camera lens with a blurred background of a music venue.
Renowned music photographer Jill Furmanovsky has captured images of young musicians from Stirling's 'Pump Up the Jam' youth music initiative during her recent exhibition at Tolbooth Stirling.
Over a 50-year career, Furmanovsky has photographed iconic names such as Stevie Wonder, Blondie, The Clash, Kate Bush, and Oasis. The latest subjects to join this esteemed collection were participants of Tolbooth Stirling’s 'Pump Up the Jam' music initiative.
The encounter occurred in September during 'Rebels and Renegades', an exhibition curated by Rock Archive in association with Street Level Photoworks as part of the Stirling Photography Festival. The exhibition drew over 800 visitors.
The 'Pump Up the Jam' initiative involves workshops at Tolbooth Stirling for young people aged 11-18, guiding them to create and perform original music over an eight-week term.
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"A major highlight for me this year has been my 'Rebels & Renegades' photography exhibition at Tolbooth Gallery in the enchanting city of Stirling. Curated by the legendary Malcolm Dickson from Street Level Photoworks, in association with Janie Meikle Bland, director of the Stirling Photography Festival. I was blown away by the venue, the attention to detail on the installation by Tolbooth, and the enthusiastic crowds who visited and wrote wonderful words in the visitor's book. Thank you all - I hope to be back!"
Jill Furmanovsky, who has received numerous accolades including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Amateur Photography Magazine and the ICON Award at the Abbey Road Music Photography Awards in 2024, expressed her delight with the exhibition's reception.
Cllr Gerry McLaughlan, Finance, Economy and Culture Convener, stated: “It was a significant coup to have the work of Jill Furmanovsky exhibited within Tolbooth Stirling and a fantastic memory for our young musicians to have had their photographs taken by her. “Stirling is a hive of cultural activity as evidenced by the many events and exhibitions hosted by Tolbooth Stirling in addition to their youth music initiatives that engage young people in creativity through learning to play instruments and write their own songs.”
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"It was such a thrill to have Jill and her fabulous 'Rebels and Renegades' collection at this year's festival. The public's reaction to Jill's work has been so moving - visitors from across the world have commented on how memories have been stirred and emotions ignited! And to hear the story of Jill's journey through a five-decade career in music photography, so vividly brought to life in-conversation with Nicola Meighan at Tolbooth, offered us a unique glimpse behind the lens of this icon of music photography. Thank you to Jill, to Malcolm for once again curating a stunning exhibition, and to Tolbooth for being an ongoing supporter of the festival and to the team there for hosting the exhibition and associated events."
Based on information from the official source: Stirling Council (29/10/2026)
