Glasgow gigs strike a chord with Rough Guide

Catching a gig in Glasgow has been named as a “must-do” in the latest guide-book from influential travel publishers, Rough Guide. Their new book 'Make the Most of Your Time on Earth: A Rough Guide to the World', describes Glasgow’s live music scene as “enthusiastic, vociferous and utterly magnetic”.

It states that: "Some places have a genuine buzz about them and sometimes, just sometimes, when bands grandly announce how glad they are to be in a particular city, they are telling the truth. And they are always glad to be in Glasgow.”

Glasgow has an alternative rock pedigree that few can match. Bands such as Primal Scream, Franz Ferdinand, the Jesus & Mary Chain, Teenage Fanclub, The Fratellis, Travis, Belle & Sebastian and Mogwai have all sprung from a city that Time magazine described as Europe’s “secret capital” of rock music.

The legendary Barrowland Ballroom in the city’s east end has been singled out for special praise. With a 2,000 capacity that’s atmospheric but intimate, and without any of the seats or barriers that tend get in the way of the music, Rough Guide states, that: “the Barrowlands is a wonderful place to see a live performance, full of energy and expectation. It’s the venue that defines the city.”

Joe Aitken, Head of Events at Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, commented: “Glaswegians have known for years that bands love performing in this city. Performers feed off the Glasgow crowd’s enthusiasm and will do so again at the forthcoming Tartan Clef Awards which will be held at the city’s Old Fruitmarket on 24 November.

“The 2007 Tartan Clef Awards, in aid of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, will honour some of Scotland’s brightest and hottest talent, and will feature exclusive live performances from some of Scotland’s top music stars.”

However, not content to rest on its growing reputation, the city’s vibrant music scene is also the subject of a new podcast.

Glasgow: City of Music, Cool Sounds and Art Rock, takes the listener on a journey of Glasgow’s music scene: past, present and future and is narrated by local actor/musician Sean Biggerstaff.

The podcast features interviews with indie veterans Francis MacDonald, drummer with Teenage Fanclub and Emma Pollock, formerly of The Delgados, now branching out as a solo-artist and also includes contributions from Paul Savage of Glasgow based record label, Chemikal Underground, and Glasgow based promoters DF Concerts and CPL.

Produced by Stephen Gilmour and featuring tracks by up-and-coming bands like The Dykeenies, Union of Knives, Attic Lights and Make Model, Glasgow: City of Music, Cool Sounds and Art Rock, provides the definitive guide to the city’s rambunctious live scene.

Listen to the podcast at Seeglasgow.com/seeglasgow/photo-gallery/cityofmusic or download it from iTunes at Phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=262953961