The Legendary Barrowlands Ballroom

The legendary Glasgow venue the Barrowlands Ballroom, taking it's name from the equally famous Barrowlands Market or 'The Barras' as we know it, is world renound and has won numerous awards to back it up. The original building opened in 1934. In 1958 the building was almost completely destroyed by fire, which led to a complete rebuild in 1960 where we saw the iconic neon sign introduced.

The venue holds a relatively small capacity, in comparison to it's competitors, of 2,100 people. However the Barrowlands still manages to attract a plethora of top-name performers such as U2 and Metallica. Metallica said that because of it's size and nature, it was one of the best gigs that they had ever played in 1996.

A shot of a crowd at Barrowlands.



The Barrowlands was also voted the second best small venue in Europe and if that wasn't enough they were also voted the best venue in Great Britain from a Radio 1 poll of over sixty bands. I have been to many gigs here over the years and I feel that the venue deserves everything it has achieved. The sound is great, the atmosphere even better and it always makes for an amazing night. Glasgow loves the Barrowlands!

Music shops in Glasgow.

Hey folks, so we know that in Glasgow there are hundreds of bands and artists etc. I thought that it would be a good idea to talk about some of the main music shops that we have here in Glasgow, that supply us with all our instruments, gear and accessories. It's always fun looking about music shops in Glasgow, you never know what you might end up taking home with you! So here are some of the music shops that I think are worth mentioning:

Guitar guitar Glasgow. Does what it says on the tin. Located at Tron Gate, they have anything and everything guitar related in the store. It is also Glasgows largest music shop and you can spend ages just looking around. Two floors of acoustic, electric and bass guitars, amps, effects pedals and tuition books. What more can you ask for? The only thing you need to watch out for though is price. They do overcharge quite a bit on most of their stock so you have been warned! Also recently opened right beside it is GG Digital, Guitar guitar's sister store serving the more electronically minded musician. Check it out.

Merchant City Music is one of my favourite music shops in Glasgow. Just round the corner from Guitar Guitar this wee jem jumps out at you. Small shop but consise. It has a good selection of stock, friendly staff and really good prices. Go have a look about, it's such a cosy shop. Having bought guitars there in the past I would recommend you look there. The manager is nice and often gives in to price bartering. ;)

Rhythm Base is one of Scotlands best drum shops. Located by the River Clyde just before you cross into town, this store has everything a drummer needs. I am always in with the drummer from my band and he is one of their best customers! I know the staff quite well and they are really reasonable with their prices and always have a laugh with you. So worth a visit for any drummer. They also have loads of electric drumkits set up so you can sit and play drums for a bit when you're in. :)

Biggars Music was first established in 1867. It has always been one of Glasgow's favourite and longest established piano, instrument and sheet music store. Located on the famous Sauciehall Street this shop has an old fashioned but welcoming feel. It has been done up in recent times and now has a cafe which has increased the popularity of the shop. My favourite part of the shop is the bit with loads of piano's. It's really good because you can try out really expensive grand piano's if you ask nicely! I would recommend this shop for the traditionalist music lover.

Mccormacks Music. R.I.P. It is the end of an era. Mccormacks music first opened in Glasgow in 1940 selling guitars and sheet music. It is a special shop to me as I got my first guitar there. I was sad to here that it was shutting down. Even though it no longer serves us, I thought it was appropriate to pay tribute to one of Glasgow's most iconic music stores.

Although Missing isn't an instrument shop it is still worth a mention. It sells second hand CD's, DVD's and games. You never know what weird music you're gonna find when you walk in. Maybe there's an album you've always wanted but never go round to buying? They'll have it. It's really cheap and they also give you money for trading in old CD's etc. Missing has helped me out a few times when i've been mega skint so I can't complain!



So there we have it. Some of the best music shops in Glasgow. All of them are worth a visit so next time you're in town wandering about, check in and make your mark on Glasgow's music scene. Over and out.

Whilst you're on your travels, look out for this. Nothing better than some spontaneous air guitar! 



I blinked and I missed them...

Every time I hear Blink 182 I get all nostalgic. Not real nostalgia apparently, as I keep getting told that you don't feel real nostalgia at 18! But nonetheless, they were my favourite band growing up and I was strangely upset in 2005 when they announced that they were going to have a hiatus.


When they announced that they were reforming I and the rest of my generation were overjoyed to hear it! In September 2011 they released their new album 'Neighborhoods'. It echoed the sound of their past releases but it had an all round more mature sound to it. Gone are the days of 'What's my age again?' It's clear that age has brought along some changes. A good album overall I would say, but it just didn't have the same quirkiness and attitude as their old stuff. Well I guess this is growing up! :p

So why are you reading about my pop-punk fuelled nostalgia? I was reminded of it when I saw that Blink 182 are playing the SECC on the 20th of June as part of their UK tour. It is going to be a gig of epic proportions! Supporting them is the successful Glasgow band Twin Atlantic, another reason to celebrate! and fellow American pop-rock band All American Rejects.

Get your tickets here http://www.tickets-scotland.com/events.html?event_method=viewevent&event_id=d2de70d0-6b5b-11e0-8bbb-12313d02ceaa

It's bound to be a sell out so don't be disappointed!

Here is Blink 182's classic 'All the Small Things' to get you in the blink mindset. Enjoy!

                              

'I'm an Imagineer I see as I say'

The Imagineers, a band based in Glasgow and at the forefront of the evolving music scene, are set for great things. Their name coming from the 20th century word 'Imagineering' used to describe the interface of imagination and engineering adds to the enigma surrounding this band.

 But there is no real mystery to them. They are great musicians and they put on a unique show. Having met them and seen them live I would describe them as having old fashioned songwriting style but with a modern twist. One thing you will notice straight away is their Scottish twang when they sing. I think this is a good thing and I like hearing it in local bands. I can hear a lot of old influences in their music such as Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash.

Last year they joined fellow Glaswegian music titans Kassidy on their tour. On top of this they have made various festival appearances and played frequently in the legendary venue King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. They are one to watch and have already left their mark on the Glasgow Music Scene.

The boys will be returning to King Tut's once again on the 15th of June. Give it a shot, it won't disappoint! ;)

Tickets are available here: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/The-Imagineers-tickets/artist/1642737

Also their first EP 'Say as I see' is available now on Itunes.

In Rockness we trust?

So as I go about my daily life, there is one word that I keep hearing. Rockness. 

The winner of NME's Best small music festival 2012 takes place at Loch Ness on the 8th to the 10th of June. But what is it that makes this festival so popular with the youth of today? Perhaps young travellers go in the hope that they will catch a glimpse of the magnificent Loch Ness monster? Or maybe because of the world class scenery? Nah probably not, I think it's more because of the music and the chance to break away from home life and go nuts with your mates.

So i talked about the rival festival T in The Park earlier in my blog, but how does it compare?

The Headliners are:

Friday: Mumford & Sons, Ed Sheeran.

Saturday: Deadmau5, Justice.

Sunday: Biffy Clyro, Friendly Fires.

Amongst all this is a tonne of random electro? acts that I have never heard of. So this festival isn't really doing anything for me. But as I always say whatever tickles your taste buds. So if this sounds like your neck of the woods I'm sure it will be a laugh and definately better than the abysmal T in The Park Lineup. Tickets are £160 so not too bad price-wise eh?

I think the only reason I would go would be to find out what on earth this thing is!? 

?

Anyway to get a sense of what the atmosphere is like, here is a clip of last years Sunday headliners Kasabian playing the main stage.

A chance to see a real Blues Legend

Joe Bonamassa

Hey People! So American blues legend played in the HMV Picture House in Edinburgh last night on the 27th of March. You may be asking what has this got to do with Glasgow? Well, Joe is coming to Glasgow on the 4th of April to play the prestigious Royal Concert Hall! But that's not all folks, to get you in the mood I interviewed my friend and bandmate Craig who travelled all to Edinburgh to see him the other night. He told me all about the gig. Below is a wee question & answer session. :)

So is this the first time you've seen Joe Bonamassa live?

C: No I have seen him a few times before. Once before as a solo artist and twice in his band Black Country Communion. So four times altogether now. 

How did this performance compare against previous performances?

C: It was the same high standard. He's been great every time I've seen him. He is a phenomenal talent, It's great to watch as he plays guitar and sings at the same time. I was right at the front so got an amazing view of the show.

What was the atmosphere like at the gig?

C: Really good. It was an exciting show. Everyone was really enjoying it.

What was your favourite song of the gig?

C: One of my favourites was when he played a song from his band Black Country Communion called 'Song of Yesterday'. It's great live. I also really enjoyed the song 'Sloe Gin'.

Any other highlights worth mentioning?

C: It was amazing, I caught the drummer Tal Bergman's drumstick!

Finally, would you recommend people to see him in Glasgow on the 4th of April?

C: Yeah definitely, if blues or classic rock is your thing then it is a must see. Even if it's not I'm sure you'll be impressed by the high standard of music.

                                    

Tal Bergman's drumstick caught by Craig!

             Above is a video of Joe Bonamassa playing 'Song of Yesterday' in America last year.

Australia's finest visit Glasgow!

Parkway Drive

 

Parkway Drive L to R: Luke Kilpatrick (Rhythm guitar), Jeff Ling (Lead Guitar), Winston McCall (Vocals), Jia O'Connor (Bass), Ben Gordon (Drums)

Hailing from the hippy loving Byron Bay, New South Wales come Parkway Drive, one of Australia's biggest recent music exports. Flying the flag for modern metal, these beach loving surfers have taken the world by storm having toured in the UK, USA, Europe, Australia and across Asia. The band have released 3 full length studio albums, a DVD, 2 split E.P's and an E.P to date. Their latest album 'Deep Blue' released in 2010 reached number 2 on the Australian Apple i store download chart, 4 hours after it's release.

Parkway Drive also released a live performance DVD in 2009. Parkway Drive: The DVD had equally high success and was crowned ‘Best Music DVD’ at the 2009 Rolling Stone Awards. Check out a clip from their DVD below!

Carrion performed live at Byron Bay. 

Parkway are coming to Glasgow next month! They are playing at O2 ABC on the 9th of April. I've got my ticket! I've seen them in Glasgow twice before and each time they've given an amazing performance. Definately a must see. Get your tickets here! http://www.tickets-scotland.com/artists.html?event_searchtext=parkway+drive&event_method=search&city=

To get you in the mood, heres their latest video for the song Karma of of 2010 album 'Deep Blue'. It's them on the beach surfing, in their element. It looks amazing, I wish I lived there.

See you in the pit!

Gies more T

Hello people.

Need I say more? It's that time again, the days are longing the the bees are buzzing. Summer is fast approaching and that means one thing... festivals!
T in The Park held at Balado, Kinross-shire , Scotland's largest music festival is on the horizon and set to be bigger than ever. But that all depends on the line up. Lets see whats in store...

Friday

Artists kicking off the festival include:

Snow Patrol

Tinie Tempah

New Order

Florence and the Machine

Example

Kaiser Chiefs

Plus many more...

Saturday

You've reached the half way point, but plenty more to come.

The Stone Roses

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

David Guetta

Calvin Harris

Jessie J

The Vaccines

Amy McDonald

The Maccabees

Plus many more...

Sunday

The grand finale. To finish off the festival.

Swedish House Mafia

Kasabian

Elbow
Nicki Minaj
Chase and Status
Skrillex
Twin Atlantic


Plus many more...


So there we have it. One of the worst line-ups I have ever seen for a festival. I am struggling to find something that I would want to see! However there will be plenty of people interested so they will be wondering things like... if sunday night headliners Kasabian will pull off a better performance than last years headliners Foo Fighters? I doubt they will. Foo Fighters are way better! Look below for a glimpse of the atmosphere with Foo Fighters from 2011 and you'll see what I mean.


The eagle eyed amongst you may also have spotted that Glasgow's own Amy McDonald and Twin Atlantic are both performing the main stage so it's good to see some Glasgow acts doing well.


Apparently, playing at T in the Park is an honour. Noel Gallagher, previously of Oasis, now with his High Flying Birds recently said 'Nobody does it like the Scots'. I would agree with this statement!
So if this years line-up happens to float your boat, grab a full weekend camping ticket for £190. 


Gies more T. I'm fine thanks, but for those to which this festival is aimed, I'm sure you'll have a blast.

                         Foo Fighter's performing sunday main stage T in the Park, 2011.

Scotland's Metal Heroes

Scotland in general produces a wide variety of talented artists, bands and groups. Every music genre under the sun is represented here, in Glasgow especially. Flying the flag for the more 'underground' music scene is Scotlands very own metal gods, Bleed From Within.

Left to Right: Craig 'Goonzi' Gowans (Guitars), Davie Provan (Bass), Scott Kennedy (Vocals), Ali Richardson (Drums), Martyn Evans (Guitars).

Formed in Hamilton, just outside Glasgow in 2005 Bleed From Within quickly made a name for themselves in the Glasgow music scene by supporting touring bands. They showed great work ethic and played gigs relentlessly up and down the UK and organised their own tour of mainland Europe! This lead to them becoming an internationally recognised band who have headlined gigs across the globe. So far they have released 2 E.P's, 2 studio albums and are currently working on their 3rd which is due in the coming months. I would definately recommend that you give them a listen! They show good musicianship and creativity in their music and from what i've seen from their tour blogs and interviews, they seem like a great bunch of guys that love to have a laugh. :p

 They are in my opinion the dark horses of the Glasgow music scene. Due to the fact that their music is not exactly mainstream, I'm sure that most of you won't of heard of them but they are in fact one of the most successful music acts to come out of Glasgow in recent years. Even if you don't appreciate their music I'm sure you can appreciate their drive and passion for doing what they love.

A few months back I was walking down Union street in Glasgow on a friday night. I was on my way to meet a friend and I saw Bleed From Within standing outside Chopstix chinese restaurant eating noodles! It shows you that the success hasn't got to their heads and they still love a Glasgow night out and more importantly fast food. :) On top of this they go to the same gigs as me and make regular appearances in my favourite club Cathouse. So i've seen them about a good few times. I've always been too shy to say hello but next time I definately will ;)

Bleed From Within playing Groezrock Festival Belgium in 2011.

 Metal music also happens to be my passion and they are a huge inspiration to me. They have achieved everything that I want to achieve and have the music career that I have always dreamed of. The fact that they are from Glasgow makes it even more incredible to me and makes me proud to be Scottish! Keep an eye on them though, Scotlands metal heroes move speedily and are constantly growing as a force. Check them out next time they're in town. Nothing better than supporting some good homegrown talent eh? I can't stop thinking though, if they can do it, why can't I?

Music video for 'The Healing' off of the album Empire.

'Dear Green (tuneful) Place'

Hello folks

So Glasgow, the world renound 'Dear Green Place'. No introduction needed. It means the world to so many people, but what would it be without it's music? Music lays the foundations of this great city. As a musician myself growing up in Glasgow, I can honestly say that the music scene is one of the best. It's vibrant and you'll find something no matter what your tastes in music. I've spent years playing in bands and as a solo artist in the vast array of venues and have first hand experience and knowledge of the gig circuits. So i've many stories to tell...

From a young age I ventured into the city to see bands play. It was incredible. A chance to escape the monotonous routine of daily life. It was freedom, what every young person craves. Music however is not just something that you listen to because you're told to, the song you play before you go out on a friday night or the songs you listen to on the bus. It is for some but for me it's like a religion, a stronghold of my feelings, emotions and passions. It's what makes me happy and feel like I have a cause. This may sound intense to you and you're not wrong for thinking so! But the point is that Glasgow is an amazing place to have a passion for music. There are so many talented creative people, you'd be mad to not want a part in it. This is the main reason for this blog, to explain why Glasgow is so special and why it is a hub of musical talent, creativity and madness!

Glasgow was named UNESCO city of music in August 2008. The UNESCO City of Music status opens opportunities for Glasgow to enhance it's music world further through partnerships, initiatives and international cooperation with other creative cities. There must be something in the water here. I blame the water! ;) On top of this every band or artist you can think of will at some point grace through the gates of Glasgow so it's clearly not just me that thinks it's special. The main reason though?, definitely the fact that anything goes here. Anything. And the whole world knows it.