Glasgow

Glasgow is a great place for music. But don’t take our word for it – listen to what some of the city’s musicians have to say on the subject. We’re pleased to introduce the first in a series of (very) short films we’ve put together, in which Glasgow musicians talk about making music and going to gigs in town. First up is Mr Francis Macdonald – composer, label impresario behind Shoeshine Records, and drummer with popular beat combo Teenage Fanclub. For more on Francis, check out his website. Huge thanks to the legend that is Scott Paterson, director, interviewer and general man behind the camera for all of these films. We’ll be putting up another little video soon…watch this space! (Meanwhile, you can check out our other clips here.)

Mary Barbour: The Clutha Mural A gala concert organised by the Remember Mary Barbour Association to raise funds to create a memorial to one of Glasgow’s greatest heroes takes place this Sunday at the Old Fruitmarket. Five sculptors were shortlisted to create a statue of her to be placed in her community of Govan. Mary…

Folk punk troubadour Frank Turner plays Barrowland with his trusty band The Sleeping Souls next week, so we took the opportunity to ask the hardest working man in rockendom about his Glasgow gigging memories. When it comes to serious touring, Frank Turner has written the book. Literally. The Road Beneath My Feet, published earlier this year, is more gigography than autobiography, recording his recollections and impressions of the thousands of shows he has played in the last ten years, since splitting his hardcore band Million Dead and going solo. “I read a lot of music books growing up and I always got annoyed when they glossed over what to me is the interesting bit – the mechanics of how you go from being a band just playing with your mates in your bedroom to playing in big venues,” says Turner. “Get In The Van…

Tucked away in a nondescript lane off Argyle Street in Glasgow is the entrance to the world’s oldest surviving music hall, the Britannia Panopticon. It’s one of our favourite stops on our Merchant City Music Past and Present tour, and it never fails to astonish our guests —including Glaswegians. Our guide Fiona onstage at The Panopticon with guests…

SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER THE PASTELS WITH BIRDIE, SPINNING COIN, NORMAL LOVE, PAUL KELLY FILMS ‘We always wanted to make music sound like it was being played for the first time, like it was new to us.  We never over-practiced or anything, we just were.’ Two years on from their late period Slow Summits triumph, The…

Back in July when Glasgow Music City Tours launched at the Merchant City Festival, we ended each tour with a set from a local band at Mono. We were really pleased when Spinning Coin agreed to perform, although they must have wondered what on earth they’d committed to. Probably slightly bewildered they played on and…

On Wednesday this week the 9th Glasgow Americana Festival kicks off in venues across the city. We managed to catch up with the Festival Director, Kevin Morris, for a few words on this year’s highlights. Over to Kevin… At Glasgow Americana we’re gearing up for our 9th Festival and we can’t wait to welcome music lovers to…

On our tours, we try to give a flavour of the diversity of music which pumps out of Glasgow year round. But indulge us for a moment, as we compile our latest playlist from a particularly juicy genre vein – that somewhat mercurial many-headed beast that is the Glasgow indie sound. We have already celebrated…

This Saturday Paolo Nutini headlines Glasgow Summer Sessions at Bellahouston Park. With support from the amazing Grace Jones, the line up also features sets from The View, Soak and one of our own favourites, Tuff Love. Earlier this year one of Glasgow Music City Tours’ founders, Fiona Shepherd, met up with Paolo for what can only be…

Linden is the latest musical project from songwriter, singer and ex Superstar, Joe McAlinden. This Thursday 27th August, Linden return to play The Poetry Club for the first time since the release of the critically acclaimed, and very lovely, Rest And be Thankful. Superstar were originally signed to Creation Records by Alan McGee in 1992 and, up until 2000,…