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Mar 24, 2019 By Christopher Roberts Craig Finn

In May 2018, Scott Hutchison, 36-year-old frontman for Scotland’s Frightened Rabbit, was found dead of apparent suicide after he was earlier reported missing by the band. Last December there was a benefit concert at Rough Trade in Brooklyn featuring the songs of Hutchison performed by Julien Baker, Ben Gibbard, Aaron Dessner from The National, Craig Finn, and others. Now the remaining members of Frightened Rabbit have released the concert as a live album that’s a free download or available to stream below. They are also encouraging fans to contribute to The Scott Hutchison Fund, a mental health charity that will officially launch later this year. Download the album here and donate to the charity here.

The band issued this statement about the release: “This night was not a night of mourning or a night of sadness but a celebration of an extremely special person and the music he created. Scott inspired everyone who met him, heard his lyrics or saw his art. We feel his loss every day but we are all in this together and we carry on strengthened by the support of the people involved in this recording and those around the world who have been affected by Scott’s passing. A huge thank you goes out to Ben Gibbard, Craig Finn, Aaron Dessner, Julien Baker and Kevin Devine for their support, love and kindness in being involved. We want to encourage people who listen to this to laugh, cry, hug and sing in your worst Scottish accent at the top of your lungs and keep the spirit of Scott alive in all our hearts and all our voices. While we’re alive let’s all make tiny changes to Earth.”

Pick up Under the Radar‘s current print issue (Issue 65) to read a tribute to Scott Hutchison. For the article we spoke in-depth to Grant Hutchison, Scott’s brother and Frightened Rabbit bandmate, about Scott’s long-term battle with depression and what he meant to his fans. We also spoke to James Graham of The Twilight Sad and Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai, both members of fellow Scottish bands who also knew Scott. In addition, we interviewed Frightened Rabbit’s former manager Storme Whitby-Grubb. Matt Connor wrote the article, which features a new illustration of Scott Hutchison by Elena Johnston.

Frightened Rabbit released five studio albums: 2006’s Sing the Greys, 2008’s The Midnight Organ Fight, 2010’s The Winter of Mixed Drinks, 2013’s Pedestrian Verse, and 2016’s Painting of a Panic Attack. In 2014 Scott Hutchison released a solo album under the name Owl John. Hutchison also teamed up with his brother Grant Hutchison (also Frightened Rabbit’s drummer) and brothers Justin and James Lockey of Editors and Minor Victories to form supergroup Mastersystem, whose debut album, Dance Music, was released in April 2018.

In April 2018 we interviewed Hutchison about the Mastersystem album. You can also revisit our 2016 interview with Hutchison on Painting of a Panic Attack and our 2014 interview with Hutchison about the Scottish Independence Referendum.

Back in May 2018 we posted three tributes to Hutchison after his passing:

Read Michael Hall’s tribute.

Read Paul Bullock’s tribute.

Read Mischa Pearlman’s tribute.

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