Contemporary Music Glasgow
| by Neil Mowat, Director - Better Days, Glasgow-based music marketing company | |
| Globally, cities rooted in music tend to be hooked to the one key catalyst, which allowed their scene to evolve in the first place. For Detroit it is Berry Gordy and Motown, Manchester it is Tony Wilson, Sheffield is Warp Records. And often, when that catalyst goes, so does the scene. Glasgow, however, seems to be able to self perpetuate; re-invent and continue to produce significant musical leaders, generation after generation. Glasgow has a contemporary musical heritage thanks to stalwarts like the Jesus and Mary Chain, Josef K, Postcard Records, Primal Scream, The Pastels, The Blue Nile. The list is far too long to mention them all but they continue to feed into a scene which nourishes itself and produces new heroes - like Franz Ferdinand, Snow Patrol, Belle and Sebastian, Dogs Die in Hot Cars and Sluts of Trust - on an ongoing basis. Whatever the reason, there is no doubting the vibrancy of Britain’s key musical city. On any night of the week a music fan faces a myriad of choices; a walk through the streets or to a local bar and you will see everything from informal PR initiatives used by small, niche promoters working on a wing and a prayer, to the established clubs and venues. If you don’t get a flyer for it when you’re in Glasgow, it doesn’t exist. It’s something of an incestuous scene at times. Wander into Nice and Sleazy on Sauchiehall Street, Mono on King’s Court , Stereo in Kelvinhaugh Street or King Tuts on St Vincent Street any night of the week to watch the beginning of something beautiful. | Alternatively you will see the return of something great and you’ll be doing it alongside the bands who are part of it. They all hang out together, along with key promoters, designers and artists, in the right places. Where are these places? For electronica, contemporary folk and general weirdness the city centre Mono café, its internal record store, Monorail and west-end sister venue, Stereo, are good places to start. Louder, brasher and all things generally rockier can be found in Nice ‘N’ Sleazy, King Tut’s or the Barfly on Clyde Street. If you like music to dance to then The Buff Club in Bath Lane, Universal or Glasgow institution the Sub Club on Jamaica Street are the regular stomping grounds of most of the cities aficionados. If you can’t make up your mind what you like, but like it late, then it has to be the weekly oddfest that is Optimo - well worth a visit no matter what your tastes in music! Despite the UK music industry’s London-centric approach to business, Glasgow bucks the trend with a proliferation of key labels and collaborations that keep the business as well as the music here. Perhaps started by Texas who defiantly retained their Glasgow roots, labels in the city are flourishing. Chemikal Underground, Domino offshoot Geographic and Breastfed are examples of the range of active, successful labels operating from the city. As well as its own sons and daughters, Glasgow boasts a key presence in terms of visiting artists. As the hub of the internationally recognised Triptych event over the past few years Glasgow’s role has been crucial in bringing international artists like Philip Glass, Laurie Anderson, Lee Scratch Perry and Arto Lindsay, often premiering new work, to the UK. www.triptych05.com |