November 2007

Glasgow Hogmanay 2007/2008 Announcement

It's just been announced here that The View will be headlining this year's Glasgow Hogmanay extravaganza in George Square.

They'll be supported by the up-and-coming (and far too talented for her age) Amy Macdonald, and the King's tribute act Suspiciously Elvis, who I've heard are really pretty close performance-wise to the main man himself.

This year the 15,000 tickets will be going on sale for 10 bucks each on this Saturday, 10th November. Can that number of people really fit into George Square? Make sure if you're heading along to it you've gone easy on the Festive dinners, otherwise you might not squeeze in...

It promises to be a great night, and whilst I'll be spending it elsewhere in the comfort of a 5 course dinner dance (now who's talking about excessive eating?) taking place inside, I know that if you're brave enough to confront the cold in the George Square you'll be warmed up by the atmosphere and entertainment all night, so for a tenner it's pretty much worth every penny.

It's all hotting up for the Festive holibags - despite the weather...

It's Official. Glasgow rocks like no other

I've been saying this all along. I've just read this article in the Scotland on Sunday newspaper about the new Rough Guide published on my home town. Well it must be true then...

SCOTLAND'S largest city has been named as Europe's music capital by an influential international travel guide.

The new edition of The Rough Guide To The World has named Glasgow as a centre of excellent live rock music.

The 2008 version of the book, which is published around the globe, claims that seeing a gig in the Dear Green Place is a 'must-do' experience.

The guide describes the city's music scene as 'vociferous, rambunctious and utterly magnificent'.

It states: 'Pop stars travelling from coach to bar and from plane to arena are notoriously oblivious to the city they happen to be performing in.

'Some places have a genuine buzz about them and sometimes, just sometimes, when bands grandly announce how glad they are to be there they are telling the truth.

'And they are always glad to be in Glasgow. Scotland's biggest city has an alternative rock pedigree that few can match.'

The travel tome lists Franz Ferdinand, Primal Scream, Simple Minds, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Snow Patrol and Belle and Sebastian as bands who have emerged from the city, which is described as 'Europe's secret capital of rock music'.

It claims: 'Glasgow's gig scene, which stretches from gritty pubs to arty student haunts, marvellous church halls to cavernous arenas, is enthusiastic, vociferous and utterly magnificent.'

The Rough Guide To The World singles out King Tut's Wah Wah Hut as the place where Scottish music mogul Alan McGee discovered Oasis, but reserves its most lavish adulation for the long-established Barrowland Ballroom.

'If one venue really defines the city it's the Barrowland,' it says. 'Opened in the 1930s as a ballroom, it was the hunting ground of a killer known as Bible John in the 1960s and it is still a fairly rough and ready place.

'The Barras market is just outside and its location in the Celtic heartland of Glasgow's East End makes it a favourite venue for rambunctious traditional bands.'

The book affectionately recounts tales of grizzled Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan downing 'lurid cocktails' on stage while his slurred vocals were drowned out by the roaring crowd.

It also claims that members of English middle-class piano rockers Keane looked decidedly bemused at the sight of scuffles breaking out in the crowd during one Barrowland concert, but asserts: 'Of course, most gigs finish without the drama getting violent.

'With a 2,000 capacity that is atmospheric but intimate, the Barrowland is a wonderful place to see a live performance full of energy and expectation. Go get some memories of your own.'

The ballroom was recently voted the best music venue in the UK in a Radio One poll of 60 top British bands, while the Independent newspaper named it as the second-best place in Europe to see a gig.

So what did I tell you? Have a look at my top ten Glasgow music venues here to find out more...