Glasvegas To Rock Glasgow!

It is no secret that when some bands make that leap from clubs and theatres to main stages and arenas - there is no turning back. 

Maybe it's because they have kept their Glaswegian feet firmly on the ground or that they want to test drive new material on a smaller scale or simply when lead singer James Allan went missing a few months ago - he's lost it. Whatever the reason, be thankful. Glasvegas are playing the humble Classic Grand on April 5th. 

I am over the moon about this upcoming gig but I must say, it is rather surprising. This is a band who have toured the world over - Australia, China, America...Paisley, you name it. They have packed arenas everywhere and even opened for Kings of Leon and U2 on their UK arena/stadium tours; it's hard to get bigger than that.

550...yes. 550 is the capacity of Glasgow's Classic Grand music hall. This is genuinely as intimate as it gets - unless you manage to get a winch whilst they're on stage. 

As exciting as this all sounds, from where Glasvegas's career bagan to where they are now  plus the status they have earned, this gig may seem rather claustrophobic. 

I have been lucky enough to see Glasvegas live a few years ago at T in The Park and I have to say they were absolutely fantastic. I'm sure if they managed to handle a 90,000 plus steamin' Scottish rain soaked crowd, dancing in four feet of mud, they will have no problem at Classic Grand.

Trust me Glasgow, this one is going to be a cracker.

For ticket info Click Here!

http://www.glasvegas.net/gb/live-upcoming/global/all

http://www.classicgrand.com/gigs/

Murryfield - More Than Madge Can Chew?

Technically, this entry doesn't apply to the Glasgow scene. However, because this event is so important to Scotland's music scene as a whole I feel I must comment on it! 


Now, don't get me wrong. Just like the rest of us, I too have the odd Madonna 'tune' which always surprises when I am listening to my Ipod and I stumble across it. 


However, the news that  the bold Madge is once again pulling up the support tights and  heading back out on the road for a world tour has came as a shock to me...especially, because this time she is taking to Murrayfield Stadium on July 21st. 

A fan of the original queen of pop or not, you have to give this woman her dues. Madonna has achieved unparalleled success as a female solo artist and this week she has overtaken a Mr Elvis Presley to the title of most number one albums sold by a solo artist of all time - impressive stuff. 

So clearly Madge is still doing it for some people and in this ageist society we live in today, for a 52 year old woman surrounded by numerous pop tartlets bighting at her ankles - the pressure to stay relevant must be extraordinary. 

So, now that we've taken care of the pleasantries and praise let's get down to business. I genuinely shudder at the thought of Madge's name being mentioned in the same breath as some of our real music legends who have played Murrayfield Stadium such as The Rolling Stones and James Brown. 

Filling this stadium is no easy task as at full capacity it holds 67,00 plus. This concert has been playing on my mind for a while now and I have been asking lots of people if they will be going, unfortunately for Madge, the general response has been 'hahaha, no'. Does she really have such a strong following in Scotland? If so, I am not aware of it.

It seems that my fears have been reinforced in the rate of tickets being sold. Tickets have been on sale now for over a month and the 'definite sell out' cries from the tabloids have died down and I worry the tumble weed is fast approaching. And even the most dedicated Madonna fan would be questioning the absurd prices she's flogging tickets at - ranging between £45-£450. 


Oh please, If I wanted to see an elderly woman shaking her arse and miming to 80's trash I'd talk to the mother of the bride on a hen night on Sauchiehall Street at 3am.  

So, only time will tell. Can the material girl prove the doubters wrong once again and wow the sold out crowd at Murrayfield Stadium? Or is it simply time to hang up the pointy bra and generally just put it away. Good Luck Madge

....I think you're going to need it.

Christy's Back!

This latest post includes two of my favourite things on the planet - Christy Moore and the Barras. The County Kildare born folk singer returns to the Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom on Nov 9th at the ripe age of 66 years old to do what he does best. 

Appearances can be deceiving - more so in the case of Christy Moore. An average looking, balding man graces the stage with no big production, or even a band.


As I stood in the packed crowd at The barrowlands two years ago the roars of the crowd fell to a haunting silence when this unassuming figure graced the stage with nothing but his guitar and his friend Declan Sinnott; who plays lead guitar and back up vocals. 


Then the voice hits you.


I have never experienced anything quite like the time I witnessed this incredible man on stage. How one person can have 1400 Glaswegians standing together in silence, hanging on his every word is just absolutely spellbinding. 

Christy started his career wandering from pub to pub playing Irish folk songs to anyone that would listen - the same as thousands of Irish men at that time. However, there was something special about Moore which separated him from the masses and his fan base grew by the day.


The Irishman soon found fame with mesmerizing Celtic anthems such as 'Black Is The Colour' and Ride On'. Over the years Christy has toured the world over, leaving audience shaken to the core with his soul stirring vocals. He is a personal favourite of many celebrity such as Bono and Billy Connolly and in recent years duetted with Sinead O'Connor and Damien Rice.


If you aren't into folk or Irish music - it does not matter. Go and see Christy Moore while you still can. I am not an overly religious person, but as cringe-worthy as it sounds standing in the audience listening to this one man power house was one of the most spiritual things I have ever experienced. 

Get Tickets here! 

http://www.christymoore.com/

http://www.glasgow-barrowland.com/ballroom.htm

SECC - Tin Shed or God Send?

Although not one of my personal favourite places to go and see live music, it can be argued that Glasgow's Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre (SECC) is Scotland's premier venue. 

I am more of a nostalgic kind of guy. So I like ageing posters and signatures on the wall, a sticky dance floor and the fear of a pint of pish being thrown over head when I go to see a gig - everything the SECC doesn't provide. 

Sitting on the banks of the Clyde this mammoth venue is by far the largest in Glasgow. The main halls used for exhibitions and concerts can hold around 13,000 which completely crushes all surrounding competitors. 

The events calender for this venue is extraordinary long and varied, with events from A list musicians playing one night to bridal exhibitions the following morning. One thing it does well, is cater for everyone. 

I myself have stomped on the concrete floor at the SECC many a time going to acts such as Primal Scream and Lady GaGa (don't ask). Don't get me wrong, it is an amazing feeling to be a part of such a massive and usually intoxicated Glaswegian crowd. But once the gig is in full swing the atmosphere always seems to fall apart. 

The electric buzz of thousands of people united to experience a shared love with one another seems to collapse to an irritating buzz of individual conversations and an army of whitey victims being pulled of the barriers. This teamed with the realization the gig is being held in a massive tin hut puts a downer on the experience.

It is easy enough to criticize the SECC due to many factors, but lets not be to hasty. I ask you this - what would we do without it? This venue is solely responsible for bringing in the biggest acts on the planet to Glasgow (although I live for this city, it's hardly the centre of the universe). Tina Turner, U2, Coldplay, Whitney Houston and Fleetwood Mac are to name but a few of A list talent who have strolled into town to play for us at this venue.

To conclude, without the SECC us Glaswegian folk would have to hop on a bus to either Manchester or New Castle in order to see out favourite stars. For that soul reason, the SECC is more than welcome to stay.

For the latest gigs at the SECC click below!

http://www.secc.co.uk/attend/event-listings.aspx

Simply The Barras

Who knows, maybe its the stale smell of urine lingering in the air, the fact that everything you touch leaves a sticky residue on your fingers for a fortnight or simply the ailing décor - but there is simply no better venue than The Glasgow Barrowlands.  

This rough and ready venue has played host to some of the most important acts around including Oasis, U2 and Hole ...sorry, that last one was just for me. But on a serious note, this haunting room has seen the birth and death of more A list talent than some of the most prestigious venues worldwide.

I have had the absolute pleasure of visiting The Barras to see various bands over the years and a I have to say, this place is in a league of its own. Throughout the country we are seeing massive venues being thrown up costing millions and millions of pounds, but I can guarantee you - they will be no match for the mighty Barrowlands.


For years this musical institution has been a favourite of many performers including one of our biggest national exports - Billy Connolly. He describes the venue as "capturing the essence of what Scottish people are", and it's no secret that we Scots have a reputation for being rowdy crowd. 


Below you will find a list of events and gigs being held at Glasgow's Barrowlands. Take my advice, go. Experience the most electric, fragile and mesmerising atmosphere only The Barras can produce. 

http://www.glasgow-barrowland.com/ballroom.htm

Paddy's Day In Glasgow!

...Well, it's that time of year again. No! Not Christmas or some other mediocre calender event - its nearly St Patrick's Day, March 17th. 

Who would have thought that when Saint Patrick himself was banishing snakes from the coast of Ireland with his sacred staff  around 400AD, we would find ourselves here today raising pints of Guinness and dancing The Wild Rover in celebration of him.

I am fully ware that I am writing this latest entry on a rather biased note, but I can't help myself! all of my family are Irish and we take this celebration seriously - and Glasgow, so can you.

In recent years the Celebration of St Patrick has shifted from a day of solemnity and holy obligation, to a celebration of heritage and Ireland itself.

And here is the good news - because Irish roots run strongly in thousands of Glaswegians, Glasgow boasts an incredible calender filled with Irish celebrations.

From Comedy nights hosted by the stars of Father Ted, to traditional Celtic dance evenings and plays, Glasgow is one of the best places to be around March 17th.

Head down to the Merchant City area on the 17th where street parties and events take place throughout the day for all the family. Additionally, what do the Irish and Glaswegians have in common? a love of bevy. At night time, the majority of pubs come alive with music and dance in celebration of the emerald aisle. 

(Coatbridge ,just outside of Glasgow celebrating Paddy's Day in 2009. It is ranked as the 7th best place in the world to celebrate St Patrick's Day)

Obviously, the list of events happening for this festival are in hugely wide and varied. So, get yourself on one of these sites to find an event perfect for your celebrations. I'll see you there!

http://www.glasgowstpatricksfestival.co.uk/listings.html

http://www.irishinscotland.com/id9.html

http://www.stpatricksdayfestivalcoatbridge.org/

ABC?...Isny whit is used to be.

Maybe it's because I'm getting older and more morbid by the day, but recently Glasgow's O2 ABC is losing everything about it that made spending a night in there a unique & memorable experience. Although most weeks I still haunt the halls of the old cinema, something has went wrong.

The long street defying queues which used to move a centimetre at a time have been replaced by a revolving door which leads to just another cattle market; full or 17 year old's requesting Katy Perry and whiteying on bean bags. Yes, the once effortless clatty but classy halls appear to have been replaced with the chino & fake tan army, and the easy but electric atmosphere has been reduced to...meh.

This is all a result of arsehole business men at O2, looking to make a quick quid on packing the place with any reprobate they can get their hands on, even a citizen knock-backed from the Garage will do. HOWEVER, one crucial benefit has to be recognised in this change over...O2 ABC - Music Venue.

It is no secret that in this day and age music acts will for the majority of the time make most of their money touring. O2 has transformed this iconic nightclub into arguably, Glasgow's premier small scale music venue. 


A quick glance down their upcoming calendar outlines gigs nearly every other night, boasting big names such as Marina & The Diamonds, Adele and  The Enemy. I recently experienced a gig in ABC for one-ish hit wonders - Electric Six (Yes I was intoxicated when I purchased these ticket's) and I must say, the venue itself made up for the questionable audience. 


There is something special  about a room full of people waiting humbly in a darkened room to be entertained, and there is something even more special when ABC is hosting. The old electric atmosphere was back once again. From the layout, the sound and the disco ball, 02 - although wrecking a favourite stomping ground come the weekend, has revived mainstream live acts in central Glasgow, and this cannot be ignored. 

(Six time Grammy Award winner Adele plays the humble but Unique Sauchiehall Street.)

Get the latest concert dates here!

http://www.o2abcglasgow.co.uk/

The Big Question...Rockness or TITP

There is no doubt about it, that for the past 10 years or so T In the Park has been Scotland's premier festival; bringing top acts from across the globe to the humble setting of Balado. The festival is considered to be a big contender on the UK summer festival scene attracting crowds of 100,000 +. However, over recent years a smaller scale festival taking place amongst the picturesque hills of Lochness is offering serious competition - Rockness. 

There is rising criticism surrounding many factors of T In the Park and the list is growing - 
Over crowding, horrendous toilets, the overflow of pop acts and the arrival of the neds are to name but a few. Even the loyal T army are beginning to doubt their commitment to the festival as it has been suggested that the event has simply became too large.

 Rockness on the other hand oozes a fresh and simpler approach. With an impressive trophy cabinet boasting awards such as 'Best Small Festival' for two years running and more headline acts by the year, this event is definitely one to check out. Eevn from last year, the number of tickets has grown by 10,000 resulting in the total number of festival gowers reaching 40,000+.


Having experienced both of these festivals I have to say - sorry T fans, Rockness is the way forward. Fair enough, it is not yet attracting the likes of U2, Coldplay and Beyonce...but give it a few years. There is nothing quite like the atmosphere at this festival. Even first thing in the morning when the smell of tequilla haunts your tent, and the thought of lighting a fag makes you want to end your life - Rockness will soon cure you. Maybe its the breathtaking surroundings, the simple layout or too much fresh hair up in the mountains; but Rockness is the one for me.

   

    ...Get all the latest news from this years Rockness here! http://www.rockness.co.uk

       OR get instant updates from the Twitter page https://twitter.com/#!/RockNessFest

Florence is coming...

March 12th, SECC, Glasgow - brace yourself. The first time I seen the mighty Florence and The Machine was at T in The Park 09'. Stumbling in the direction towards a different stage myself and a group of friends suddenly  realised that Florence Welch was about to make her debut at T' in a much smaller tent. The festival was coming to an end and we had to make the decision; whilst largely under the influence, which act we would chose to spend our closing night with. Thankfully, we sided with Florence...


The flaming red head demanded attention as she whirled up and down the stage as we stared on  in awe of this goddess. The music provided by 'The Machine' which accompanied Welch's earth shattering vocals, genuinely struck at the core of every individual. Since that evening I have waited patiently to witness this force of nature once again.


After the success of Florence's debut album 'Lungs' which gained massive success internationally, she has now returned with the number one follow up album 'Ceremonials'. To accompany the bands mammoth achievements, they have stepped up a gear in regards to touring. Leaving behind the o2 venues and ageing theatres up and down the country, Welch and her band are setting off on a full arena tour of the UK which includes Glasgow's SECC on March 12th. 

It is common opinion that once you have experienced a band on a smaller, intimate scale, when they eventually take on the larger venues the fail to maintain the same connection and atmosphere. I genuinely cannot imagine Florence Welch's atomic presence fading against the scale of a venue. However, we will have to wait and see. If you have any sense, get tickets for this event and sit back and enjoy an empowering female at the top of her game.

Catch Florence on tour here!

http://florenceandthemachine.net/news/tags/tour

'Another Love Party' - What Glasgow has been crying out for

Wandering down the stairs to Bar Maggie May's basement on a Thursday night and catching a glimpse of a sign saying 'Open Mic Night', my immediate thought was - sack this. However, being drawn in with the adjacent sign saying £1.50 pints and the thought of climbing back up the stairs, I decided to soldier on. And by God was I happy I did.

'Another Love Party'

My initial fears were correct. Although the cheap bevy was magic - the accompaniment of plookey 15 year olds battering out car crash renditions of 'Mr Brightside' only to be followed up by a morbid mid life crisis of a man roaring 'A Lilttle Old Wine Drinker' by Dean Martin (I didn't know it was possible to make that song sound even more suicidal, fair play to him), we were soon headed for the door. Then, the girls appeared.

..."Good evening Glasgow, we are Another Love Party, and we're going to sing you a few songs".

Even though our ears had already taking a beating for a long half hour, the mood immediate changed when these girls graced the stage, we some how knew we should hang on for one more.

Immediately captivating. A four piece of absolutely stunning girls got everyone's attention. Then the instrument's appeared - Bongos, two guitars, a keyboard and a violin. What on earth were these girls going to sound like? Sure I was willing to hang on just to hear the bongos and violin together, a sort of Bob Marley meets Beethoven was my initial hope.

...Perfection. The song choices; both written and covered, the look, the harmonies, the stage presence - these girls are on to a winner. The girls revealed they are all trained in musical theatre which explained their note perfect performances.

Dominating the banter in between songs was the lead singer Holly Jack (2nd from left), after only a few numbers she had the crowd eating out of her hands. Covering a version of Ida Maria's hit 'I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked', Jack grins and winks to the audience during the line - 'I won't mind, if you take off all your clothes, come on, take them off!". It would be a lie to say many of the audience weren't tempted.

I wish I could describe what these girls sounded like, but, I can't think of anyone to compare them to. which is surely a good thing. Go and see them for yourself and see if you can conjure up a comparison?  They are the genuine article and I can't wait to see where they head in the future.

Click here to keep up to date with the girls!

www.myspace.com/Anotherloveparty