Who’s Hot in 2021
So after much deliberation and a constantly changing list I am now bringing you my bands/musicians to look out for this year.
I’m going to start with a few obvious ones and these should be no surprise to anyone as these names will already be on the tip of your tongue.
I’ll then look at some other bands who I’m predicting big things for in the next twelve months.
So in the very missed words of a live gig, here we, here we, here we, here we ……….…
The Snuts
The West Lothian quartet have been building up a reputation as one of the best new bands in Scotland for a few years now but 2021 will see them hit the heights UK wide.
Last year saw them release the brilliant Mixtape EP and continued to show innovation in their music with the releases of Elephants, That’s All It Is and Always.
The release of their debut album in March will propel them into radio playlists up and down the country and see their star rise.
Be Charlotte
Be Charlotte had a fantastic 2020, it started off with her curating and hosting Scotland’s first ever all-female songwriting camp in her hometown of Dundee where she gathered some of the best talent in the country to bounce ideas off each other and use the space to create.
Musically we have seen Be Charlotte release some brilliant music this year and seen wider recognition on radio and industry playlists.
Hopefully we will see her debut album released this year.
Luke La Volpe
Luke La Volpe’s 2020 started off with a sell out Scottish tour and had a huge headline show at King Tuts to look forward to when the coronavirus pandemic struck.
However, rather than allowing the virus to stifle his ambition he grabbed the unknown by the scruff of the neck and was the driving force behind the Sofathon Singalong in support of The Music Venue Trust.
His year was topped off when he won the Male Breakthrough Award at the Specsavers Scottish Music Awards.
The Lathums
The Lathums are another band who have been building a name for themselves over the last few years and have garnered airplay and support from radio.
Despite the pandemic the Wiganers had a busy 2020, they have recorded their debut album which is due for release later this year and played a livestream concert from the world famous Blackpool Tower.
2021 will see them, pandemic permitting, tour with Blossoms and Paul Weller and will just see them getting bigger and bigger.
So those were the obvious ones that are probably on everyone’s radar, let’s take a look at who else I think is destined to shine brightly in 2021.
Dictator
Dictator exploded onto the scene in late 2019 with their debut single Anthem for a Doomed Youth.
They are another band from West Lothian’s blossoming music scene and 2020 saw them grow a bigger fan base by selling out their own headline set at Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh and heading south to support Mark Sharp and the Bicycle Thieves.
They were also the inaugural winners of The Weekender Magazine song of the year for their single Days Gone By.
Gold Baby
North London dreamy grunge outfit Gold Baby are that kind of band who write fuzzy pop songs that give you goosebumps.
Packaging emotional lyricism and delicately fractured guitar parts with dynamic surges of power pop and fuzzy feedback they will grab your attention and hook you in.
2021 will see them extend their reach beyond London and grab a nationwide audience.
kitti
Glaswegian singer/songwriter kitti has certainly become a name to watch after picking up some fantastic awards during 2020.
Her fantastic soulful jazzy vocals saw her first of all pick up the best vocalist award at the Scottish Jazz Awards and this was followed up by winning the Female Breakthrough Award at the Specsavers Scottish Music Awards.
Hopefully 2021 will see kitti release lots of new music and build on the success of 2020.
Reclaim Vienna
Reclaim Vienna are one of my favourite lockdown discoveries and I’m loving the music they create.
They are one of the North West’s most innovative bands and kicked onto the scene with their brilliant debut single Kick The Butterfly and have pushed on ever since.
Their sound is a real sense of 80’s nostalgia if you cross Duran Duran with New Order then you will get an idea of the vibes their music delivers.
Fingers crossed we see a debut EP or album in 2021.
Rachel Jack
Wow what can I say about Rachel Jack, a real shining light in the Scottish music scene in 2020.
In the summer we saw Rachel deliver her debut EP The Calgary Tapes which was a stunning collection of folk inspired acoustic tracks.
And then Rachel gave us a change in tempo with Magazine Girls and For You as she moved into the indie pop space.
For 2021 we await the release of her sophomore EP and hopefully an album later in the year.
Tom Lumley & the Brave Liaison
Another band that I discovered during the first lockdown are Cambridgeshire’s Tom Lumley & The Brave Liaison.
Their debut EP Sign of the Times absolutely blew me away, it was a fantastic blast of indie punk and immediately had me reeled in as a fan.
I love that they are very active on social media and have great interaction with their fans.
I’m looking forward to hearing their journey continue this year.
The Capollos
Aberdeen’s The Capollos have been building up a loyal following in the North East for the last few years.
They are a band that draw influence from the indie rock giants of Oasis, Arctic Monkeys and the like but they crank the rock up a degree or two to give us their own unique sound.
Their two singles this year Electrify and Telephone have saw them gain more national attention and I’m looking forward to see them play in bigger venues and bigger crowds once live concerts resume.
Brownbear
Brownbear have been very quiet musically since the release of the fantastic debut album What Is Home.
That changed with the release of Retro which teased us with a brilliant sound which bodes well for future releases.
Matt the driving force had a busy 2020 contributing to debates about equality in music and the unfairness of streaming revenues as well as keeping us entertained with his popular Sunday Social broadcasts on Instagram.
Back to music, hopefully 2021 will see a follow up album released and some live performances.
Pillow Queens
Pillow Queens had been steadily building up a reputation as a brilliant live band with support slots for Idles, Future Islands and Pussy Riot to name a few.
Not content on being in the supporting role they have burst out of the shadows by delivering one of the best albums of 2020.
That album, In Waiting is full of brilliant and thought provoking tracks and will pave the way for a huge 2021 for the Pillow Queens ably assisted by a recent appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
Get this band on your radar now and don’t miss out !!
Venus Grrrls
Venus Grrrls are an alt punk band from Leeds who bring some serious attitude with their music, promoting and participating in the drive to increase respect for women in music.
They deliver fierce driving tunes but have the ability to slow it all down and turn out a bangin’ rock ballad.
Their Wicked Things EP was one of my favourite releases in 2020 and ever since I heard it I have been waiting on more.
2021 is going to be huge for Venus Grrrls.
Joshua Grant
Joshua Grant when interviewed tells everyone he was inspired to write and perform after seeing The Snuts.
And boy has he wrote some cracking songs, Transparent probably his breakthrough tune in 2019 and then last year he smashed his way to the top of the Scottish Singles Charts with his poignant and heart warming Edinburgh.
Joshua writes songs that connect with his audience and that will bring him a lot of attention in 2021, look out for the name he is only going to get bigger.
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald - Love Valley Tour
Canadian singer-songwriter Michael Bernard Fitzgerald is bringing a unique socially distanced gig format to the UK in Spring 2021, The ‘Love Valley’ tour.
The highly acclaimed artist has tried and tested small shows in his magically decorated travelling tent venue ‘The Greenbriar’ in Canada this year and has confirmed twenty one outdoor dates in the UK for Spring 2021.
Tickets are on sale now and dates include shows in Ireland, Scotland, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Cambridge, Brighton, Bristol and London amongst others (full list below).
Each night, Michael will host an exceptionally intimate crowd of around twenty people and with locally sourced partnerships with food and beverage companies, the experience allows the ticket holders to pre-order refreshments in advance to allow a troublefree relaxing show.
The Greenbriar tent is a romantic, quaint venue decorated with canvas curtains, lanterns, chandeliers and wooden chairs. As the sun goes down, the space glows with string lights and people can take in the live music in a socially distanced environment.
Michael is creating safe and memorable opportunities to catch a set of his critically acclaimed hushed and beautiful singer-songwriter tunes and to spend an evening letting go.
The Tour will be promoting Michael’s new album Love Valley. It is the kind of record you want to listen to cover to cover, falling into the narrative and existing within it. In a culmination of Fitzgerald’s experience as a songwriter, the lyrics are intended and wistful, telling a story you cannot help but want to be a part of. The intimate vibe achieved with this record is something that Fitzgerald strives to convey in everything he creates, from song writing to live shows.
Give the new album Love Valley a stream:
https://open.spotify.com/album/7C2z6TlBtL6Z9izPzVnOmd?si=D9oAhNiBQqqGgXkAPdQUrg
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald can be followed on Website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Spotify:
http://www.michaelbernardfitzgerald.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ilovembf
https://instagram.com/ilovembf?igshid=v0t4emj23dne
https://twitter.com/ilovembf?s=21
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7qugSH6OA23DE6I5v4kpdv?si=1Pk_saXzTDC2FnmgdiwsKA
Spring 2021 UK ‘Love Valley’ Tour dates:
April
Tuesday 6 - Donegal
Wednesday 7 - Sligo
Thursday 8 - Galway
Friday 9 - Cork
Saturday 10 - Dublin
Tuesday 13 - Liverpool
Wednesday 14 - Manchester
Thursday 15 - Carlisle
Friday 16 - Glasgow
Saturday 17 - Edinburgh
Tuesday 20 - Perth
Wednesday 21 - Aberdeen
Thursday 22 - Inverness
Friday 23 - Newcastle
Saturday 24 - Sheffield
Tuesday 27 - Norwich
Wednesday 28 - Cambridge
Thursday 29 - Brighton
Friday 30 - Bournemouth
May
Saturday 1 - Bristol
Tuesday 4 - London
Tickets are available from:
Mofi Record Label
MoFi Record Label is a brand new DIY indie project co-founded by Montrose based musician William Codona and Neil McLeod, proprietor of Mo’ Fidelity record shop.
The ethos is to put the artist and their music first and provide a vehicle for bands and solo artists from across Scotland to get physical copies of their recorded work pressed and distributed in independent record shops.
The label is run on a not for profit basis with funds accrued by the label being ploughed back in to fund future releases.
When asked about the project the founders commented:
We believe there has never been a richer, more diverse selection of great Scottish independent music and fertile ground for even more getting their voices heard and their songs out there. We aim to emulate in some small way the models successfully adopted by labels like Lost Map and Last Night From Glasgow.
Mofi Records can be followed on Website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:
https://mofirecordlabel.wixsite.com/mofi
https://www.facebook.com/MoFiRecordLabel
https://instagram.com/mofirecordlabel?igshid=1jr01d4shye2b
https://twitter.com/mofirecordlabel?s=21
The label has just announced its first two releases, the first is the debut album from the fantastic Glasgow based band, Peter Cat. Peter Cat channel the perennial upstarts and outsiders of indie pop, the ones who weren't supposed to make it, but did, think Sparks, Pulp, The Divine Comedy, The Associates, and John Grant.
The album entitled The Saccharine Underground is released on Friday 6 November 2020. It’s a sonically ambitious debut album recorded over a two year period at Green Door Studios, mixed by production wunderkind Chris McRory of Catholic Action.
On the debut LP from Glasgow based artist Graham Neil Gillespie, otherwise known as Peter Cat, the observational songwriting spirit of Jarvis Cocker, Neil Hannon and Stephin Merritt is summoned with aplomb across ten tracks of sharp, gorgeously ornamental pop, rock and electro.
Peter Cat can be followed on Website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:
https://www.petercat.co.uk/music
https://www.facebook.com/petercatcatband
https://instagram.com/petercatcatcat?igshid=1k9zhaqht0n63
https://twitter.com/petercatband?s=21
The second release is from Fielding Chase and their new three track EP Apocalypse which is released on Friday 13 November 2020.
Fielding Chase is the current musical moniker of William Codona and his wife Rachel. William comes from several generations of entertainers, a legacy stretching back over two centuries. The Codona family hall of fame includes acrobats, clowns, Punch and Judy performers, world famous trapeze artists and fairground show people who travelled across Europe and America to bring entertainment to the masses.
The EP features three brand new tracks of pulsating power-pop, complete with shimmering synths and gale force guitars. Tense music to both soundtrack the tense times we live in and to soothe those tensions in a cathartic release of coiled up musical emotion, reflected in the titles, Nowhere to Hide, Trapped and Breaking Out.
Fielding Chase can be followed on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter:
https://www.facebook.com/fieldingchase/
The Distillation of Sound
Glenfiddich, a family run distillery which has been making globally revered single malt Scotch whisky since 1887, has partnered with Dumbarton’s own state of the art production team Skapade Studios.
The new documentary reveals how Glasgow DJ and Skapade director Stephen Kirkwood worked alongside Glenfiddich ambassador David Allardice, to produce an ambient-electronic masterpiece using only sounds recorded from the Highland distillery.
As it turns out, Skapade and one of the country’s oldest distilleries share a very similar approach to production, using a blend of carefully selected elements to create one, perfectly balanced product.
Whisky barrels, copper pot stills and huge industrial machines were all used as original sounds in the project. However, perhaps the most significant and unique addition to the track was the voice of whisky making legend Dennis McBain, who has worked in the industry for almost 60 years.
The coppersmith’s lifelong passion for Glenfiddich runs throughout the track, providing an authentic listening experience that perfectly encapsulates the love that has gone into 130 years of making Scotland’s favourite whisky.
Based in the village of Dufftown, The Distillation of Sound celebrates Scottish heritage with a glimpse into one of the country’s most beautiful distilleries; and the creative process behind the production of a piece of music like no other.
Dave Allardice, Glenfiddich ambassador and project creator said:
The idea came to me a couple of years ago to fuse my passion for electronic music and whisky by creating a unique track using sounds recorded at the whisky distillery. I needed to find the right partner. Someone that could bring their own creativity to the project and that had an appreciation for all the elements involved - whisky, music and Scottish heritage.”
An old friend of mine, Andy Begg suggested that I connect with Stephen on Instagram. I was already aware of Stephen’s reputation as a DJ/ producer and we started to message via social media. Within a few months we had built a rough plan. We lined up an amazing video production partnership with Enterprise Screens and off we went to the Scottish Highlands to record the sounds of distillation!
DJ/producer and Director of Skapade Studios Stephen Kirkwood said:
I was approached by Dave about a project that involved two of my favourite things - music and Scottish Whisky! As soon as we got chatting about the idea, I knew I was the person for the job. Ideas started flowing between us and before we knew it, we had Glenfiddich’s distillery booked out for a couple of days to record sounds of the whisky making process. What an honour it was to get the chance to go behind the scenes of one of the world’s most popular and sought-after whiskies!
The documentary we produced gives a window into the traditional process of whisky making, a beautiful distillery and its people, as well as a unique look at how everyday sounds can be creatively transformed into a piece of music. What a truly amazing experience.
This is a very interesting short documentary about a collaboration between two industries using only sounds captured within a whisky distillery with no traditional instruments and then fused to create a unique and engaging ambient electronic track.
Social Media Links:
Business:
https://twitter.com/GlenfiddichSMW
https://twitter.com/SkapadeStudios
Personal:
Riverside Festival - Live Broadcast
Scotland’s premier electronic music event, the Riverside Festival was due to take place this weekend but with the world’s dancefloors out of bounds that wasn’t possible.
To mark the occasion there will be a nine hour fundraising live stream on Saturday 23 May at 3pm hosted by BE-AT-TV on Facebook and Youtube, with donations encouraged to a trio of charities and initiatives to enable them continue to do amazing work supporting some of the most vulnerable in our society.
The supported charities are:
The Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity
They fundraise to ensure that every baby, child and young person treated at Scotland’s largest children’s hospital receives the extra special care they deserve. More info can be found here:
https://www.glasgowchildrenshospitalcharity.org/
Tech Device Network
A collaboration between publicist Jenn Nino-Smith and Scottish Care, the campaign to get more video calling devices into care homes was launched following Jenn’s concern about her mum who is cared for in a nursing home and how other loved ones would stay connected during lockdown and beyond. More info can be found here:
https://scottishcare.org/techdevicenetwork/
Vise Up
Vise Up is continuing to produce and distribute over 25,000 Personal Protective Equipment units per week for NHS and emergency services front line workers. The limited amount of PPE in Scotland is being distributed predominantly for intensive care workers, however, there are an array of wider community staff who also desperately need PPE. More info can be found here:
https://swg3.tv/news/2020/may/vise-up-help-us-them-them
There will be exclusive sets from some of Glasgow’s finest selectors with the line up and set times as follows:
15.00 - 16.00 Wardy
16.00 - 17.00 Melting Pot
17.00 - 18.00 Bonzai Bonner
18.00 - 19.00 All U Need
19.00 - 20.00 AISHA
20.00 - 21.00 Nightwave
21.00 - 22.00 SLAM
22.00 - 23.00 IDA
23.00 -24.00 DJ Smoker
Wardy
Resident and booker at Glasgow’s La Cheetah club which, with its especially intimate environment, has consistently punched above its weight, hosting many of Glasgow’s best underground parties whilst regularly featuring many of electronics leading luminaries.
Melting Pot
Scotland’s longest running club dedicated to the New York sound with a generous dollop of disco for good measure. The residents and guests play music from the soul no matter the genre, with no musical boundaries, be it disco, house, techno, soul or funk.
Bonzai Bonner
has for the past five years been the single creative force behind SHOOT YOUR SHOT, a highly successful Glasgow-based club event where she occupies the multi faceted role of curator, DJ, performer and host.
All U Need
All U Need for a good time is good tunes. A simple ethos that this collective has stayed true to over their five year stint as promoters and DJ’s in Glasgow. The crew have made waves with regular shows at the Sub Club and SWG3 bringing them to the attention of Riverside Festival where they will make their debut later this year.
AISHA
A rising star of the SOMA camp and recently established as Animal Farm resident. Aisha is infamous for her sets at the city’s underground clubs and on its after party scene, etched with deep electro grooves, acid and heavy techno.
Nightwave
Glasgow based Slovenian DJ,
producer, vocalist, club promoter and label boss with a punchy signature sound of acid, Chicago house, Detroit techno and electro fused with heady rave nostalgia and hybrid forms of bass and club music.
SLAM
Slam are a tour de force on the global techno circuit. Their unique, 6 deck, back-to-back DJ performances have seen the duo play leading clubs & festivals across the world. They are renowned for both their experience and their powerful, contemporary sound.
IDA
IDA is a Finnish DJ and promoter based in Glasgow, UK. Launched in 2015, IDA’s Acid Flash parties have quickly become one of the most exciting fixtures on Scotland’s club circuit.
DJ Smoker
One of the residents and promoters of the enigmatic Missing Persons Club, responsible for some of the most forward thinking techno bookings in Glasgow. A wizard on the decks, DJ Smoker played a blinder in the docklands at last years Riverside Festival and is providing a great vinyl only finale to the proceedings.
On what will be a fantastic day for dance music lovers, Glasgow’s Riverside Festival along with Soma Records, will also be releasing an exclusive good causes charity single featuring remixes by two of the scene leaders in house and techno. Spreading positive vibes through music with their isolation interpretations of Slam’s genre-defining underground anthem Positive Education are the mighty Skream, the inimitable Paula Temple and the maverick JD Twitch of Optimo.
The single is available now exclusively on BandCamp:
https://bit.ly/RF20SlamPosBandcamp
Tracklist:
Positive Education (Paula Temple's MEGASHIFT Remix) *mastered by Conor Dalton @ Glowcast Mastering
Positive Education (Skream Remix)
Positive Education (A JD Twitch Remix)
Talking about the single and the livestream Slam said:
We are glad to be part of this release and live stream - spreading positive vibes and music to those in isolation while raising funds for 3 Glasgow initiatives helping those in the greatest need right now.
Paula Temple said:
Nurses and doctors are working MEGASHIFTS to help sick people with the Coronavirus to survive, whilst being under funded and and under protected. So this remix is named MEGASHIFT in honour of their extraordinary selflessness.
Regardless of when this remix is heard in post covid society, I want it to sound like it's coming from the year 2020 forever, to never forget this MEGASHIFT moment. The style of the remix is therefore fast paced, mixing classic techno and rave, a reflection of what would have been heard in the cancelled techno festivals this year.
The energy we would have put into dancing at those festivals will be turned to a greater solidarity and functionality of our health care systems.
If you love your electronic vibes get tuned in to the livestream and support some great charitable causes by buying the exclusive release or by donating whilst watching.
Katee Kross - Pioneering the Live Stream
So we are now very familiar with musicians doing live streaming as a result of the Corona Virus pandemic but I just wanted to shine a light on one of the original PIONEER’S of this format Katee Kross.
The Bishopbriggs singer has been live streaming once a week for the past couple of years in an attempt to bring a little bit of cheer into people’s homes on a Monday evening.
Katee is forging ahead with her weekly live-streaming shows and since the lockdown, she and bandmate Ross Barron have switched to Saturday nights, with a couple of thousand logging on to catch their half hour sets.
They are determined to provide a cultural lifeline for all those who are seeking a bit of a distraction amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis and Katee said:
Now, more than ever, people need human interaction. We all need that in our lives and many of us find a certain comfort in music.
Going live on Facebook is not just broadcasting a few songs. We play for audiences who tune in and interact with us directly. It’s not the same as a traditional, face-to-face gig, but it goes a long way.
Even before lockdown, we always had people who would tell us they love the live streams because they can catch performances without leaving their homes. That’s especially important for people who, for one reason or another, cannot get out to see us.
She added:
We are performers, and like all other artists, we want to reach out and play for as many people as we can.
It’s painful to think of those self-isolating and unable to meet friends and see family. If by playing a few songs once a week we are able to ease that, even just a little, then we will be there.
Without a doubt, it will be the little things that will keep us going. The value of a distraction and a little entertainment at this time should not be overlooked.”
Katee had been set to play a number of huge gigs throughout spring and summer, including events in Inverness, the Borders and a two week tour of Germany.
Although those shows have been cancelled or postponed, she is not prepared to sit back and feel sorry for herself.
While the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has brought the entertainment industry to its knees, hundreds of Scottish artists have sought to fill the gap through online gigging.
Katee said:
There are so many artists in the same position as we are, everyone has taken a knock with this. But we are in a position where we can still play together and put something out for people to watch and listen to.
We’ve been live streaming for a few years now, and it has always gone down well with viewers.
It’s usually myself and Ross playing a few tunes and having some fun. We play all sorts and are always on the look out for new things to try.
We’ll be there every Saturday night, so get in touch with some requests and we’ll try to sort that out.
To catch Katee’s weekly live stream, log on to Facebook (link below) shortly before 7pm each Saturday evening.
https://www.facebook.com/KateeKross/
So who is Katee Kross, she is a 23 year-old singer/songwriter from Bishopbriggs who has already worked with some top names including Dougie MacLean, Barbara Dickson, Karine Polwart, James Grant, Red Sky July, John Doyle, Findlay Napier, JJ Gilmour, Tony McManus, Catherine McGrath, Wildwood Kin, Ferris & Sylvester, Whispering Bob Harris and Seasick Steve.
Katee has written and released four full length albums. The first Beautiful Dreamer was released in March 2016, the second Don’t Fade to Grey just a year later, and the third album Body & Soul was released October 2018 at a SOLD-OUT show in Glasgow.
These albums show a beautiful progression of original music from a young artist as she matures as a songwriter and Katee added a fourth album to her collection, when she released Show Your Hand, which was partly funded by Creative Scotland in February of this year.
Katee Kross can be followed on her Website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter:
https://www.facebook.com/KateeKross/
https://instagram.com/kateekross?igshid=1mxv5rek9jx7i
https://twitter.com/kateekross
Give Katee a follow and have a listen to one of her singles from her latest album below:
Sofathon Singalong
Sofathon Singalong has grown multiple arms and legs since Luke La Volpe launched the initiative from his parents living room on 18 March 2020 after a call with his manager Gordon Duncan earlier in the day.
The idea is that an artist will stream a ‘gig’ live from their home and then nominate three other artists to then take part and stream their own shows, Luke nominated Stephanie Cheape, Kitti and the band Black Dove.
The idea of the initiative is to support the #Fightback crowdfunder designed to help the Music Venue Trust, which is an advocacy set up to support grassroots venues during the unprecedented times of the coronavirus outbreak, this can be supported by making a donation at https://www.gofundme.com/f/2pt5g8k.
There have been fantastic performances so far, from so many up and coming musicians, including Liv Dawn, Cameron Barnes, Luke Friend, Ryan Keen, Alec Dalglish, Fraser McLean, Kerr James, Gary Burns, PG Ciarletta, Ewan Butler, Black Dove, Megan D, Katie O’Malley, Amy Lou, Clara Watt, Jen Ella, Cody Feechan, Connor Fyfe, Tamzene, Tom McGuire and The Brassholes, Erin Ferguson and Ethan Malcolm. Huge apologies to anyone I may have missed.
This is fantastic to see so many musicians who may be struggling themselves in the current environment pull together to save the venues that their careers will need once the uncertain times have passed and we resume to some form of normality.
But it doesn’t stop there, the plans are well in place to have a 24 hour Sofathon Festival, this weekend on April 4, it’s not full yet so any artists reading this who want to take part can register details of their Sofathon Singalong via the online form at bit.ly/SofathonSingalong.
For more info, please contact gordon@apb-pr.co.uk.
I’m going to leave the final words to the driving forces behind this and their reasons for pushing this forward.
Luke said:
Idle hands are the devil’s hands, I know a lot of people in music just now who had things planned and are feeling low. Rather than just sitting in your room worrying about everything you’ve not got coming, this gives you something to focus on, something to work towards, something to get up for.
Gordon said:
While a lot of big artists are doing their own streams, there’s also an opportunity here for grassroots bands and venues to help each other in what is a very difficult situation.
For many of us, keeping working in some capacity is what’s helping us feel grounded at this time of unprecedented uncertainty.
I know that applies to me and it applies to lots of musicians as well.
Like me, they are all freelancers, which is a nightmare just now. For people just starting out, just starting to get a bit of headway, this has been an absolute tsunami which has knocked them back. The point here about Sofathon Singalong is about creating a community feeling and supporting each other.
From my point of view I just wanted to write a few lines mainly to say thanks to the musicians for keeping us entertained during the long days of self-isolation and to praise their generosity in promoting the needs of others when they may be struggling themselves.
If you can afford to contribute please do as we need these venues to be retained to ensure the independent music scene continues to flourish and all the artists we have watched on their sofas are given a stage to showcase their undoubted talent going forward.
My only other commitment is to help publicise as many as the upcoming performances as I can by retweeting etc.
Sofathon Singalong will share as many as the performances as they can their social media pages - so like and follow to keep up to date:
BBC Radio Scotland Singer-Songwriter Award 2019 Tour
So this blog was supposed to be to give the tour of the the inaugural 2019 BBC Radio Scotland singer/songwriter awards a little bit of publicity, but with things as they are, if this is not already cancelled it will be.
Hopefully it will be rescheduled for later in the year !!!
But to be perfectly honest the whole BBC Radio Scotland singer/songwriter awards had slipped under my radar so I thought I would give you all some background to the award and give you some information on some the up and coming artists who featured in the awards.
BBC Radio Scotland secured the services of big names from the music industry to play a leading role in the search for the country’s newest star.
A panel of five judges - Fran Healy, Horse McDonald and Karine Polwart together with promoter Geoff Ellis and music industry executive Dee Bahl - would have the final say on who won the station’s Singer/Songwriter of the Year Award 2019.
BBC Radio Scotland Executive Producer, Sharon Mair, says:
We are absolutely delighted to have an amazing panel of judges and talent from across the music industry involved in this project. It has been a joy to bring them all together - good luck to everyone that is entering.
The judges are looking forward to working together and playing their part in this pioneering venture to discover exciting new talent.
Fran Healy, singer/songwriter with Travis, says:
I'm looking forward to being a judge on the BBC Radio Scotland Singer Songwriter Award. Hoping to find the next Robert or Roberta Burns. Expectations are high.
Horse McDonald says:
What a wonderful opportunity! This is something for songwriters from every walk of life to work towards - and for the ultimate winner, an exciting platform for their future. I am excited to be on this brilliant panel - it’s going to be quite a journey of discovery.
Karine Polwart says:
It’s always exciting to discover new voices making music and writing songs in Scotland. We have such a vibrant scene here across so many genres. I know from my own career how much difference it makes to find support on the radio. I hope this award brings luck and opportunity and new ears to the winner.
Geoff Ellis, CEO of DF Concerts & Events, says
Without songwriters, there would be no music industry. Everything that the industry is built upon originates from a good songwriter, and they are who we have to thank for the thriving music scene here in Scotland. I’m both honoured and delighted to be a part of the panel to acknowledge and celebrate all of these fantastically gifted individuals.
Dee Bahl, music executive whose label was responsible for the first releases for the bands Biffy Clyro and Aerogramme, says:
Having worked with so many talented people over many years I am excited to be involved in a project encouraging emerging talent across Scotland.
The prize for the winner includes a recording session with BBC Scotland in Glasgow, an opportunity to play the King Tut’s stage at the TRNSMT Festival and a promotional video.
So it all kicked off last year with artists, who had to be over the age of 17, having to submit short videos, featuring an original composition and a cover version of a favourite song, to meet a deadline of Friday 31 May 2019.
The entries will be shortlisted by the judges to ten and they will then go to public vote in early September. The top four from the public vote will perform at a live final where the judges will select the recipient of the BBC Radio Scotland Singer/Songwriter of the Year Award.
Ahead of the event, that final four contestants will be mentored by songwriter and producer, Davie Scott, lead vocalist with The Pearlfishers, and a leading light in the University of West Scotland’s Masters in Songwriting course.
So let’s meet the final ten contestants:
Megan Black
Megan Black is a young musician and vocalist from Livingston, Scotland. Megan’s musical influences tend to derive from 70s blues rock and early jazz. Bringing this into the modern day, Megan tends to base her songs on her own experiences, political views, and what is currently present in the world at the moment.
For example, Megan’s song Fur Coat Queen is based around Megan familiarising herself more with her own sexuality and as a result of that, finding empowerment from other women – both in the music industry and in her day-to-day life. This helps for Megan to speak freely about her views regarding feminism and the LGBTQ+ community and brings a fresh view on an older style of music; connecting different generations of people and helping to create more awareness for important issues in today’s society.
Along with musical influences, Megan also finds style inspiration from many different artists and tries to create more of a concept within her stage persona, taking away gender and a sense of familiarity, and focusing more on how she feels comfortable presenting herself.
Follow Megan on Twitter and Instagram
@meganblackmusic
#meganblackmusic
Darrell Cram
Darrell Cram is a Scottish singer/songwriter and producer from Edinburgh who releases pop and dance music as the artist Novaborn.
Darrell comes from a singing background having grown up performing in choirs, acapella groups and the occasional short-lived bedroom boyband.
During his time at university he began learning music production so that he could create his own songs. After countless mistakes and many unreleased projects he finally started writing music that was gaining positive feedback online and the attention of blogs and independent labels. From this point onwards, Darrell has been trying to evolve as a music artist and take it to the next level.
His musical influences are vast ranging from old Motown artists to 90s hip-hop to modern house music. In an ideal world Darrell wants to go all the way and forge a career connecting with people all around the world through his songs. He wants to represent the idea that if you work hard enough and learn from your failures that you really can get what you want. Darrell is also learning to breakdance because he secretly wants to be able to move like Jason Derulo but admits he isn’t quite there yet!
Follow Darrell on Twitter and Instagram
@Novaborn1105
#novabornmusic
Liv Dawn
Liv Dawn is a twenty year old singer-songwriter from Loch Lomond. With pop country style, Liv’s original music is heartfelt and honest.
Liv crafts powerful stories through her lyrics that relate to everyday life and relationships.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Stevie Nicks, Adele, Dermot Kennedy and Ed Sheeran helped develop Liv’s songwriting technique and connect with the art of it. For such a young age, Liv’s emotional maturity is prominent through her lyrics and she likes to writes songs that make people feel something.
Liv would love to tour, release albums and be a genuine artist anyone can relate with. Having only released her first single Reason in July, Liv Dawn has a lot to offer and plans to keep moving forward within the industry.
Follow Liv on Twitter and Instagram
@livdawnofficial
#livdawnmusic
Bethany Ferrie
Bethany Ferrie is a 21 year old singer/songwriter from Glasgow. She learned to play guitar at a young age from her dad but didn’t start singing until high school when she would send voice notes to a friend to test the water and eventually start writing her own songs.
Bethany takes as much influence from today’s musicians as the artists she grew up on – The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac. Her guitar driven pop is based on the style of the likes of Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes and Lewis Capaldi. And she looks to women in pop music such as Taylor Swift, Julia Michaels and Nina Nesbitt when writing her own lyrics of her own stories or the movie scenes playing out in her head.
Bethany finds it hard not to have a guitar in her hands and hopes that whatever the future brings, writing and performing are a part of it.
Follow Bethany on Twitter and Instagram
@bethanyferrie
#bethanyferrie
Gus Harrower
Born and raised in Scotland's capital, Gus Harrower, grew up listening to his parents record collection. Immersed in the music of an eclectic mix of artists like Elton John, Jackson Browne and Del Amitri, his love for songs and story-telling was found.
Gus began learning the piano at the age of 6 however his appreciation for the instrument grew as he became involved with musical theatre. As a pianist, his marriage of jazzy pop and classical training produces a captivating unpredictability tied, invariably, to a gripping and cathartic resolution.
He ventured into songwriting prior to his debut gig in order to break up a set list of covers and from there, he continued to write and gig, self-producing and self-releasing his debut EP in 2015 and then his sophomore EP in 2017. Gus’ current aims are to continue writing to complete a fuller, album-sized body of work for release in 2020 which would tie into his studies.
The entry for this award, Tremolo, was inspired by his brother, and his fruitless ventures in the dating scene.
Follow Gus on Twitter and Instagram
@gushmusic
#gusharrower
Kate Kyle
Seventeen year old, singer-songwriter Kate Kyle, who's unique blend of soulful country and powerful voice is establishing herself in the Scottish music scene. Having recently released her 5 track debut EP entitled Where I'm Going, Kate's music has been met with a great deal of accolade.
Bruce McKenzie Dumfries & Galloway Life Magazine said
possibly the finest song-writing I've heard from someone of this age
Accompanied by her guitar, Kate performs regularly at gigs locally as well as events including Celtic Connections in Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall, Eden Festival, Edinburgh Hidden Door Festival, D&G Arts Festival, Doonhamer Music Festival, Maidens of Music, Millport Country Music Festival, Scottish Parliament and Resonate Live 2018.
Kate's influences stem from country/singer-songwriter acts such as Lady Antebellum, Chris Stapleton, Dixie Chicks and Stevie Nicks.
Kate aspires in the coming years to study music at university and take on a career as a full-time songwriter, working and collaborating with other artists.
Kate hails from the beautiful Dumfries and Galloway area and lives on her family farm. She is extremely proud of the fact that she has managed to teach her dog how to do the perfect high-five!!
Follow Kate on Instagram
#katekylemusic
Mike McKenzie
Mike McKenzie creates an eclectic combination of old meets new with extensive songwriting influences from Elton John to Brandi Carlile, Billy Joel to Tobias Jesso Jr. Growing up in a musical home Mike began writing on a banged-up piano, passed down over the years, as soon as his mother taught him the basics. Throughout high school and college he began his discovery of the music scene as a drummer for Edinburgh band JAKIL.
In 2010 he threw himself into songwriting and production behind the scenes, working with other singers he'd encountered along the way. It was after being influenced by his partner in 2018 that he began to explore the possibility of releasing material as a solo artist and found himself back at the piano where it all started.
Some people keep a journal to process their lives. Some work out or take long walks to clear the air and reset their minds. Mike’s way of navigating his labyrinth of thoughts is to write. When sitting down at the piano it always becomes an outpour of how he feels now or has in the past.
Mike is currently writing his debut album, set for release in 2020.
Follow Mike on Instagram
#mikemckenzieonline
Project Nigle
From Forfar in the heart of Angus Project Nigle is driven to making catchy indie/pop music after a few years of developing the sound. Playing live as much as possible is the main goal and promoting our local music scene along the way is just as important.
Taking influence from the likes of The Beatles, Catfish And The Bottlemen and Kings Of Leon (circa 2003) but I find myself very "genre fluid" exploring every idea with an open mind and ear. I take inspiration wherever I find it, or wherever it finds me, usually in the form of a melody or rhythm that somehow finds its way to the forefront of my head. My brother Adam handles all the sound production and video editing for the project as well as being the chief stick handler behind the kit.
We want to keep creating music that we are proud to share and love to play and appreciate this opportunity to share our passion with everyone, although being voted through to the next stage would be unbelievable...purely being in the top 10 and meeting so many inspirational people is a massive win for us already.
Follow Project Nigle on Instagram
#project_nigle
Moteh Parrott
Moteh Parrott is a Scottish singer-songwriter hailing from Stratherrick, on the south side of Loch Ness. Born in Cameroon and given the local name ‘Mnkongmoteh’, his music complements open-tuned electric guitars with cello and reflective lyrics focusing on themes of social change, love, loss, and spirituality.
After the break up of his Guildford-based band, Red Kites, Moteh returned to The Highlands in 2016, where he began working on new music with cellist Kathleen Rollins-McKie and drummer Marc Rollins-Mckie. With Blair Young completing the line up on bass, the band have spent the summer recording their debut album with Paul Savage at Chem19 studios.
Moteh now calls Edinburgh home, where he works as a songwriting mentor for Music Plus, Musicares and The BIG Project, and as a musician for the charity Live Music Now. He aspires for meaningful connection with listeners through songs and live performance, and would love the opportunity to reach a wider audience with his original music.
Follow Moteh on Twitter and Instagram
@MotehP
#motehparrottmusic
Scott Wallace
Scott Wallace is a 21 year-old musician from Aberdeen, Scotland. Scott's contemporary-pop meets accomplished blues style sounds modern yet classic and sits comfortably between that of John Mayer and Shawn Mendes. Performed with Scott’s natural and inventive style, his music sounds perfectly at home on mainstream radio and film.
In 2018, Scott released his debut EP Here Goes Nothing. He received national radio coverage and performed live in session on BBC Radio Scotland with Janice Forsyth. His song Will You Mean It? was Single of the Week on this show.
Scott balances music with his work with Sport Aberdeen. He currently works in various sports centres in Aberdeen and was previously a lifeguard and swimming coach.
Scott aspires to continue to improve as a singer / songwriter, record his first album and establish himself as a recording artist and live performer nationally and internationally. He is currently recording new material with Rod Jones of Scottish band Idlewild.
Follow Scott on Instagram
#scottwallacemusic
The Finalists
The initial ten contestants were narrowed down to the final four who were Liv Dawn, Gus Harrower, Scott Wallace and Mike McKenzie.
Mike McKenzie won the inaugural BBC Radio Scotland Singer/Songwriter Award after an outstanding performance in the live final.
He was named winner by a prestigious panel of judges at the event hosted by Ricky Ross which was broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland from St. Luke's, Glasgow, as part of BBC Music Day.
Mike from Edinburgh has now secured a recording session with BBC Scotland in Glasgow, an opportunity to play the King Tut's stage at the TRNSMT Festival and the production of a promotional video.
Mike’s original composition, Love Like This, and his accomplished performance, won the acclaim of the judging panel.
Mike reflecting on his win said :
It’s just amazing. It’s the first time this has taken place, and it’s so important for us songwriters. I stopped trying to write what I thought people would like a couple of years ago and I just started to write what I wanted to - and since then it has started to work.
And now full circle I’m back to the tour I was going to do a piece on to begin with, the idea of the tour was that the four finalists would each do a 30 minute acoustic set and the tour would take in Scotland’s three major cities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Hopefully it will be rescheduled later in the year and gave the finalists a chance to showcase their talents then.
In the meantime the link below will take you to the evening of the final and events around it.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p073nw31
Also take a look at the social media profiles of each of the ten contestants and give them a follow.
Gigs,Gigs & More
So what’s coming up over the next month or so on the website, you can expect more gig reviews as I have a few in the calendar for the next month.
I will list them at the bottom of the article, you might see me there if you’re going along to any of them. You can expect reviews of rising star Luke La Volpe, Echo Machines album launch, stmartiins and Mark Sharp and the Bicycle Thieves to name a few.
If you would like me to review your bands live set, get in touch to discuss.
There will be more questions for the band, featuring Mark Sharp, Amy Lou, Neon Waltz plus others.
I will continue to review new singles for bands, so please get in touch if you have new music that you would like me to have a listen to. I have recently reviewed new music for Post Ironic State, The Bright Skies, Dictator amongst others.
And where possible I will try and do some reviews of new albums that are released.
Hopefully, you are enjoying the website, please get in touch if you have any ideas for future features, to give feedback or even just to say Hi.
Remember if you want to know when new stuff is posted, please follow me on Instagram or Twitter.
Take care and be kind.
David
AliveandGigging
Upcoming Gigs
27 February - Luke La Volpe, The Hunter S Thompson, Dundee
28 February - Echo Machine, Assai Records, Dundee
3 March - BeCharlotte, Assai Records, Dundee
12 March - Gallus, The Hunter S Thompson, Dundee
13 March - stmartiins, SWG3 Poetry club, Glasgow
18 March - Circa Waves, Fat Sams, Dundee
21 March - The Bright Skies, The Hive, Edinburgh
23 March - The Ninth Wave, Church, Dundee
24 March - Hunter & The Bear, The Byre, Inchyra
27 March - Mark Sharp and the Bicycle Thieves, The Mash House, Edinburgh
The Brit Awards 2020 - My Predictions
Well I know what I’m watching tonight, the 40th anniversary of the Brit Awards. It will be brought to you from London’s 02 Arena live on ITV at 8pm or you can tune into the red carpet arrivals on ITV2 from 7pm.
Now although this is the biggest night in the British music industry, you have to take with a pinch of salt if it is actually rewarding the most talented musicians. There is again a huge disparity in the gender balance of the nominees, with very little female representation in the main categories of Best album, Best song, Best British group and Best new artist, and there are many arguments for why this is the case, but we will leave them for another time, as the criteria of the Brits is purely based on chart success, and that the Brits only nominate artists who have enjoyed Top 40 success.
In fact when they announced the nominations, the Brits pre-empted any criticism by saying in a press release: “The eligibility list has been compiled by the Official Charts Company and includes artists who have released product and enjoyed top 40 chart success”
So let’s watch it tonight knowing that the awards are based on commercial success rather than necessarily the most talented, albeit the nominees are all talented artists.
To make the viewing more fun I have listed all the awards below, I have highlighted who I predict will win the award in BOLD, not necessarily who I think should win it, I have asterisked * the artists I think should win. Let’s see how my predictions turn out. I know I have got one right with Celeste in the Rising star award as that has already been announced.
Please feel free to let me know your predictions by adding your comments.
Best album
Stormzy - Heavy Is The Head
Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka *
Lewis Capaldi - Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent
Dave - Psychodrama
Harry Styles - Fine Line
Best British female
Mabel
Freya Ridings
FKA Twigs
Charli XCX *
Mahalia
Best British male
Harry Styles
Lewis Capaldi *
Dave
Michael Kiwanuka
Stormzy
Best British group
Coldplay
Foals *
Bring Me The Horizon
D-Block Europe
Bastille
Best new artist
Aitch
Lewis Capaldi
Dave *
Mabel
Sam Fender
Best Song
Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber - I Don't Care
Mabel - Don't Call Me Up
Calvin Harris ft Rag 'N' Bone Man - Giant
Dave ft Burna Boy - Location
Mark Ronson ft Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove
Lewis Capaldi - Someone You Loved *
Tom Walker - Just You And I
Sam Smith ft Normani - Dancing With A Stranger
Stormzy - Vossi Bop
International Female
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish *
Camila Cabello
Lana Del Rey
Lizzo
International male
Bruce Springsteen
Burna Boy
Tyler, The Creator *
Dermot Kennedy
Post Malone
Rising star award
Celeste - Winner
Joy Crookes
Beabadoobee
Assai Records
I really couldn’t start a a music blog/website and not write about my favourite record shop Assai Records or as my partner would say my 2nd home, not sure if it is because I spend so much time there or I spend that much it could pay for a 2nd mortgage !!
Assai have two stores one in Dundee which this blog is going to focus on and one in Edinburgh and are owned by Keith and Clare Ingram.
There are a few strings to the bow with Assai, firstly there is the shop and the amazing range of vinyl they stock.
The shop is well organised and split into genre sections which makes looking for LP’s very straightforward, one of the sections is dedicated to the Scottish music scene and contains a huge range of music from all genres of Scottish artists.
In addition to the vinyl, they also stock the hardware needed to play it, with their own range and also leading manufacturer Pro-Ject.
They also stock a range of books, T-shirts and other related bits and pieces.
A huge shout out to the staff who are all very knowledgeable, extremely helpful, great service and good chat, especially store manager Matthew and Gary who are there more often than not.
The Assai team also work hard to bring both local acts and big name acts to Dundee to do in-store or out-store album launch shows. In 2019 to name a few they brought The Twilight Sad, Malcolm Middleton, Tom Walker, Idlewild, Lewis Capaldi, Foals, Divine Comedy, Two Door Cinema Club, Sam Fender, Billy Mitchell, Shhe, The Ninth Wave, The Xcerts, Snow Patrol.
And already in 2020 we have had Vukovi, Twin Atlantic with shows planned for Echo Machine and Circa Waves.
As if that is not enough they also have their own Assai record label and have supported local talent by pressing their music on vinyl, artists include Carousel, Brownbear, Billy Mitchell, Hamish Hawk, Kyle Falconer and the soon to be released debut LP from the brilliant Echo Machine.
Last year saw them nominated for the Long Live Vinyl record shop of the year which they narrowly missed out on, but they did walk away with an award for Dundee’s Retail Business of the Year and they have just been nominated for the Independent Retailer of the Year 2020 for MusicWeek.
So a huge shout out to Keith and his team for everything they do to keep Dundee on the music map.
To discover the shop either pop in and see the guys in Union Street, Dundee or if you are further afield click on the link below:
Or follow them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter
https://www.facebook.com/pg/assaiuk/about/?ref=page_internal
What’s Coming Up ?
What’s going to be coming up in February and beyond.
I have been asked to review a couple of EP’s/singles that are going to be released soon, so will create a new page to capture this feature. If you are a band or a manager of a band and you would like me to review an upcoming single please get in touch.
I will be continuing to review the gigs that I am going to, again if you would like me to do a review of your band please get in touch to discuss.
I am also creating a new feature called Questions for the Band, look out for some upcoming answers from Mark Sharp and the Bicycle Thieves, stmartiins and Echo Machine to name a few.
I hope you are enjoying the website, please let me know if you have any feedback.
You can also follow me on Instagram and Twitter, please follow to ensure you are kept up to date with new articles.
Keep on enjoying your music, keep AliveandGigging.
David
Who’s Hot in 2020
I’m going to take a look at the five Scottish bands that I expect to make big strides in the industry in 2020.
Please feel free to comment if you agree or suggest alternatives as I’m always looking to discover some new music.
Mark Sharp and the Bicycle Thieves
Mark Sharp and the Bicycle Thieves are a five piece band from Whitburn and are the latest product from the burgeoning West Lothian music scene.
Their music combines indie rock with some heavy dance beats, great melodies and catchy choruses.
They had a successful 2019, supporting West Lothian counterparts The Snuts and Lewis Capaldi as well as selling out all their own headline shows topping the year off with a full house at St Luke’s in Glasgow.
My favourite tunes are Tippy Toes, Warpaint, Firewater and Liquid Gold.
I fully expect them to kick on in 2020.
Walt Disco
Walt Disco are a Glasgow based band whose influences are not from just music but also glamour and androgyny. Their songs feature sharp angular guitars, dark heavy synths all accompanied by crooning vocals, with comparisons from The Associates to David Bowie.
After establishing themselves in 2019 as the band to see due to their flamboyant, glamorous and unpredictable live shows I fully expect their rise to continue in 2020, where they will take their show to the famous new music showcase that is SXSW in Texas.
Favourite tracks are Hey Boy, Dancing Shoes and Drowning in Your Velvet Bed.
I was lucky enough to catch them live in Dundee earlier this month and will testify to their upward curve.
Retro Video Club
Retro Video Club are a four piece Indie Rock band from Edinburgh,formed in 2015.
They have been gathering a steady following over the last few years on the back of releasing some banging singles.
2019 has seen them enhance their reputation as a great live band selling out their own shows and supporting the likes of The Hunna and The Vaccines.
Favourite songs are Night In, Chemistry and 3AM.
They are about to embark on a tour, look out for them appearing at a venue near you soon !
Goodnight Louisa
Goodnight Louisa is the dark pop created by Louise Anna McCraw, a singer/songwriter from Edinburgh, Scotland.
Goodnight Louisa combines pop melodies combined with synths, guitars and well written lyrics.
She performed a fantastic set at BBC Music introducing in late 2019 and is one to watch in 2020.
Favourite tracks are Hollow God and Someone So Sublime.
Echo Machine
Echo Machine are a four piece band from Dundee, they play loud danceable pop music with the help of some electronics.
They have a big sound, heavy guitars, deep bass, drums and synth producing great melodies carried off with killer hooks and great vocals.
Favourite tracks are Automatic Love, Chameleon and The Road.
I’m really looking forward to their debut album Instant Transmissions being released at the end of this month on the Assai Records label.
Just Under the Radar
It was difficult to narrow down my choices so just flying below them are the following:
Luke La Volpe
The Bathgate singer/songwriter Luke Gibson has been tipped for the top by many and brings a unique mixture of blues and rock’n’roll to his music.Look out for his tour which starts in February.
The Ninth Wave
The Glasgow based 4 piece band deliver a brand of post punk dark pop songs and are one to watch following the release of their brilliant debut album Infancy in 2019.
They are currently playing venues in promotion of that album, get along if you can.
The Lutras
The Lutras are a Scottish quartet based in Dumfries who produce stomping tunes best appreciated when live. They were winners of Firestone’s national 2019 ‘Road to the Mainstage’ and this should help them secure slots at this years festivals.
They are currently on the road so grab a ticket if you can.
The Novacs
The Novacs are a four piece Indie rock band from Airdrie, I managed to catch them earlier this year at King Tut’s in Glasgow, where they played a confident and tight set. If they can showcase their talents further this year then they have the songs and attitude to gather momentum.
Shhe
Shhe is the creation of singer/songwriter Su Shaw and produces fantastic dark pop songs with fantastic melodies and haunting vocals. Her self titled debut album was released last year and was in my top ten for 2019. I also had the pleasure of seeing her live at The Hug and Pint and again review can be found on site.
Welcome to AliveandGigging
Hi, please let me start by giving you a warm welcome to AliveandGigging.
After many years of listening, buying and watching music I have taken the leap to start a blog to give me the chance to share my experiences and to give my views on the music scene.
So what are my passions in music, well up until a few years ago my main taste in music would have been guitar based music, and a self description of “Indie Dude” would be spot on.
Although as I get older my appreciation of other genres is now better so have a more varied taste in music.
I am a huge fan of vinyl, there is nothing better than holding the record sleeve and then removing the vinyl in anticipation of hearing some new tunes or old favourites.
I also love live gigs, the connection between the band and the crowd is always an uplifting experience and the buzz you get is huge.
There is nothing better than seeing new bands and promoting their music to others to help them hopefully grow their fan base.
So what can you expect from the site, well the plan is to is to do reviews of gigs and new albums/songs and general chat about music.
I am based in Dundee and work full time so live gigs may be restricted as the North East of Scotland is often off the radar for many bands and due to time, travel, finances etc It is often difficult to get out and about to the central belt.
I’m not going to put pressure on myself by committing to issue daily/weekly updates or reviews every week as I want the website to be natural and follow my own experiences but I will use social media to promote new content when it is available.
Anyway enough about the site and its plans, I just want to finish by saying feedback is very welcomed and want to once again give you a warm welcome to the site and I hope that you find it enjoyable.
Keeping it AliveandGigging
David