Scottish Tourism Guide - Articles
Live Music in Glasgow
Scotland has a rich history of producing successful musicians. Glasgow, in particular, boasts a canon of popular music hugely disproportionate to its size. Teenage Fanclub, Primal Scream, Texas, Franz Ferdinand – the list of huge commercial successes goes on and on. But where did these acts cut their teeth? Here, we take a look at some of the city’s seminal venues, all of them must-see’s for any visiting music fan...
King Tut’s
Tucked away on St. Vincent Street, just around the corner from Blythswood Square, is King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, a crucial stop-off point for bands on their way to stardom or obscurity. It was here, in 1993, that Glaswegian music mogul Alan McGee saw Oasis perform, and promptly signed them to his Creation label. Anyone who’s anyone has included the 150-capacity Tut’s on their tour itinerary; it’s rough charm and reputation for high-energy gigs continues to draw crowds and bands alike.
13th Note Cafe
Set just behind the Gallowgate, the 13th Note Cafe on King Street is the first step on to the gig circuit for local acts looking to break through. With a cafe upstairs serving excellent vegetarian fare, this subterranean venue is a training ground for any new band in Glasgow, and numbers Brendan O’Hare - ex-drummer for Teenage Fanclub - amongst it’s attentive and skilled sound engineers. If you want to see grassroots talent in it’s rawest state, you could do worse than parting with the £3 entry fee for a different bill on every night of the month.
Nice n Sleazy’s
Doing pretty much what it says on the tin, Nice n Sleazy’s on Sauchiehall Street is more than just a venue for bands – it’s a headquarters for musicians to swap ideas and members over an average pint and a top-notch jukebox. With a 200-plus capacity, and a first rate PA system, Nice n Slezy remains a favourite with bands and punter alike.
Barrowlands
Any band that makes the big leagues in Glasgow will inevitably play at the legendary Barrowlands ballroom, a dancehall in the fifties and sixties, and now the premier rock concert venue in Scotland. “The Barras” is well-regarded by all who play there, as much for the notoriously high-spirited Glasgow audience as for any idiosyncrasies of the venue itself. Holding 2000 people, and located in the East End of the city, the Barrowlands puts on established, big-name acts from all over the world, and never fails to deliver a high-energy evening’s entertainment.
For cheap flights to Glasgow try a low cost airline like Monarch
King Tut’s
Tucked away on St. Vincent Street, just around the corner from Blythswood Square, is King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, a crucial stop-off point for bands on their way to stardom or obscurity. It was here, in 1993, that Glaswegian music mogul Alan McGee saw Oasis perform, and promptly signed them to his Creation label. Anyone who’s anyone has included the 150-capacity Tut’s on their tour itinerary; it’s rough charm and reputation for high-energy gigs continues to draw crowds and bands alike.
13th Note Cafe
Set just behind the Gallowgate, the 13th Note Cafe on King Street is the first step on to the gig circuit for local acts looking to break through. With a cafe upstairs serving excellent vegetarian fare, this subterranean venue is a training ground for any new band in Glasgow, and numbers Brendan O’Hare - ex-drummer for Teenage Fanclub - amongst it’s attentive and skilled sound engineers. If you want to see grassroots talent in it’s rawest state, you could do worse than parting with the £3 entry fee for a different bill on every night of the month.
Nice n Sleazy’s
Doing pretty much what it says on the tin, Nice n Sleazy’s on Sauchiehall Street is more than just a venue for bands – it’s a headquarters for musicians to swap ideas and members over an average pint and a top-notch jukebox. With a 200-plus capacity, and a first rate PA system, Nice n Slezy remains a favourite with bands and punter alike.
Barrowlands
Any band that makes the big leagues in Glasgow will inevitably play at the legendary Barrowlands ballroom, a dancehall in the fifties and sixties, and now the premier rock concert venue in Scotland. “The Barras” is well-regarded by all who play there, as much for the notoriously high-spirited Glasgow audience as for any idiosyncrasies of the venue itself. Holding 2000 people, and located in the East End of the city, the Barrowlands puts on established, big-name acts from all over the world, and never fails to deliver a high-energy evening’s entertainment.
For cheap flights to Glasgow try a low cost airline like Monarch
