April 27th, 2024
On the edge of summer & the verge of another fantastic Scottish festival season, when friends reunite, romances begin & everyone just has a damn funky good time, the first whisperings of that hurricane of music are, well, in the air. Being the veritable audio capital of Scotland, the Glasgow area was feeling the first gusts last weekend with two all-day fiestas of band after brilliant band – in the Paisley case -, & singer after slick singer in the case of La Sierra Casa showcase at Room 2.
It was time for a gentleman’s stroll – Paisley first, & it’s well busy Food & Drink festival, sprawling congestiveley thro the central plaza area around St Mirin’s impressive Cathedral. I mean, Paisley is kinda impressive really, & I’m hearing great things about its music scene, fresh from the lips of my mate, Myles, from Arran, who recently moved to the place. Apparently, there’s this cool jam night on Wednesday’s hosted by The Keg music venue, & by the end of his first jam there had become the drummer in two bands, both of which play’d last Saturday.
The idea is that, during the festival, Keg set up their own stage in a marquee on the bridge over the White Cart Water, in which all the bands who play at their venue get a chance to play outside – well kinda outside -, & as a part of the festival its free for everybody.
People were congregating from Glasgow, Ayr, Arran & Galloway for some proper tunes, including me & crew, & I thoroughly enjoy’d St Mungo, one of Myles’ bands, a standard 4-piece electrified by Myle’s ever evanescent drumming & the honey-soak’d vocals of singing & catchy songcrafting of front man, Greg. I especially enjoy’d their track, Goodbye (above).
After offering my appreciation to the band for a fine performance, it was time for the second half of my Clyde-water’d afternoon of Caledonian guitarwork. So, to Room 2 & the La Sierra Casa showcase. Set up by Kyle Falconer from the View, the idea is you & other budding songwriters go & spend a few days with each other & tutors at a villa near Alicante in Spain, have a fantastic time in the sun & become, by osmosis, a better songwriter.
I’ve made pals for life thro’ this nonsense
Alan Purvis
With several ‘camps’ a year going on, that means a lot of alumni, which meant that Room 2 served up something of a speed-dating style scenario, with new singers every 10 minutes or so. It was like we were all sat by a campfire being lit by the luminous flames of Glasgow’s intense love for music.
From 6PM, however, more time began to be allotted for the acts those whose songwriting efforts are seriously taking root, such as Neeve Zahra, Rosie Alice & Dovv (see Spotify links). The whole affair was fascinating, really, a staccato trolley-dash thro’ 2024’s sonic zeitgeist, it was really interesting to hear how the ‘voice of the people’ was coming out of, well, it’s voices.
Keep it up Glasgow, you really do go from strength to musical strength, with each new generation inheriting, & adding to, your catalogue of classy tunes!
Damo Beeson Bullen
Mumble Music 