Glasgow named as City of Music

Laura Marling

Cara Dillon and the RSNO

Hiam

Glasgow is a vibrant and exciting city of music, with the diversity and range of music venues. It has a slightly wild, irreverent and challenging side. Many musicians also say Glasgow audiences are the best!

 

From the concert hall to the modern 14K seater Ovo Hydro; iconic mid-size venues and the large number of small venues. World renowned venues include – the Barrowlands, King Tuts, Oran Mor and the Old Fruitmarket. These venues offer a close up and intimate live music experience.

 

There is also the unusual and historic venues – the Tall Ship, on the Clyde, the Macintosh church, Nice n Sleazys, St Lukes, Brel. All this matters in terms of building a healthy and active grassroots music scene for the future. Plus a number of busy folk clubs, jazz bars and more.

 

Over the past years I’ve been to many memorable concerts and taken photos of my musical heroes. I saw my music and lyrics hero Bob Dylan on the Braehead arena - I have to assume he found the large SECC arena impersonal and remote for his previous gig here. I went with my teenage son and his audience is certainly a broad church – from the dedicated disciples who go to every concert, to the curious. At 70 Dylan is a proliferate as ever with a new album release in 2020, with his stunning, immersive songs.

Rab Noakes

Karine Polwart

 

Another icon was Paul Simon, Clyde Auditorium, which was uplifting and joyous. Plus Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Neil Young. Paul McCartney.

On the smaller stages – Arcade Fire, Barrowlands; Admiral Fallow, King Tuts; Hiam, 

Oran Mor, Emeli Sande; Karine Polwart, Tall ship.

 

Blue Rose Code

Emeli Sande

 

I’ve seen other folk heroes at both Celtic Connections and Milngavie folk club - notably the legends Dick Gaughan. Dougie Maclean, Rab Noakes, Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis. And Blue Rose Code (Ross Wilson) was another favourite.

 

Plus the excitement of taking photos at the Royal Albert hall London for Emeli Sande!  2012.

I’ve taken photos at many top class gigs – its often been a thrill and an honour with the buzz of the pit and the adrenalin rush to try to capture the right image, that not only tells the story but the artist expressing their innermost reflections.. 

Music photography expresses my passion of both art and music.

The Arts and music is a huge industry for the UK and for Scotland. 

 

Glasgow boasts lively Trad sessions, decades of history, iconic venues, intimate gigs,

 

 Outstanding festivals, passionate audiences, record shops, 

 

Proclaimers

Mogwai

Kathryn Joseph

Admiral Fallow

King Tuts Revolution Program

Famous steps King Tuts

The famous King Tuts venue in Glasgow celebrates women musicians along with emerging new talent 

with their exciting January Revolution Program 

https://www.kingtuts.co.uk/whats-on#/january-2019

Emeli Sande at her sound check King Tuts 2009

Viking Galaxy at King Tuts

Viking Galaxy headlined Glasgow's King Tuts, which could have proved a daunting experience for a band so early in it's career. They met the challenge bravado as the packed crowd where enthralled by their rock 'n' roll theatre! The band have strong stage presence with their leather trousers, capes, catsuits, pan pipes, horned space helmets and an array of plastic weaponry. 

Their songs Call of the Valkyrie, Space Chariot, Raid and Pillage, and Galactic Plunder all went down well. Their catchy melodies give their music broad appeal while their thunderous soaring riffs and vocals won't leave metal fans disappointed!  

The King Tuts gig was the perfect showcase for their brand of theatrical rock!  The band’s shows combine costume, props and comedy with well-written, catchy power metal which all made for a fun night.

The band includes - William Hill (lead vocals), Ross Keightley (bass) and Mike Parkin (guitar), Mathew Brown (keys) and Alasdair Dunn (drums). Three of the band members met at school where they won the school talent show. Watch out for them at a venue near you! More gigs around the UK are to follow, updates are on their facebook and twitter. 'Viking Galaxy' is a space viking metal band based in Glasgow who released their debut album, 'First Contact', at Love Music Glasgow on Record Store day this May. Viking Galaxy's 'First Contact' is available on Amazon.

I go to many fun gigs - yet it is hard to explain quite what its like when it is your son's gig at such an iconic venue as King Tuts Glasgow. On the stairs are painted the lists of top bands who have performed here over the years. Simply ultra cool!
Fun crowd and great tunes. The band have just released their 'First Contact' album. I love King Tuts one of my favourite Glasgow venues!  http://soundcloud.com/viking-galaxy

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