In this guest post our son Simon describes the current Glasgow music scene and why the city’s a mecca for music lovers. Simon Bryan is a DJ in the Glasgow area and presents the Beat Beneath show on Subcity Radio, his email address is simon (at) subcity.org.

Simon’s gig at the Lite Club by subcityphotos

“Whether you know it or not, Glasgow is proud to have a vibrant music scene with nearly all styles being represented, from folk music in traditional pubs to some of electronic music’s most interesting new artists and labels and just about everything in between. There is no shortage of venues either, so whether you’re into seeing international pop acts in places like the SECC, the Glasgow Auditorium and the Academy or want to witness some obscure DIY noise-punk in a dingy basement you’re bound to find something that takes your fancy.

Glasgow Auditorium by alllyballly

The current local scene is as diverse as ever with plenty local bands and artists of various styles doing the rounds. The last year or two has seen bands such as The Twilight Sad, Frightened Rabbit and We WerePromised Jetpacks break out of the local scene onto national radio and US tours, and young groups such as Nevada Base, Vendor Defendor and Super Adventure Club are sure to follow suit. If you want to catch the next big thing then head to the very reputable King Tut’s (often
publicised as the place that Oasis were discovered but don’t let that put you off) or Nice N Sleazy in town or perhaps the West End’s new kids on the block The Captains Rest and The Halt Bar, the latter of which has recently made a name for itself putting on an extremely wide range of free gigs in its function room. Also worth mentioning are The 13th Note and Mono just east of the city centre, both of which are famed for their anything-goes music policy and tasty vegetarian food.

Francois & the Atlas Mountains @ mono by twistyfoldy.net

Glasgow is also renowned for its electronic music scene: long-running clubbing institutions such as Slam, Colours, Subculture and Optimo are going as strong as ever, helping clubs like the Arches and the Sub Club consistently place high in worldwide clubbers’ and DJs ‘ lists of favourite destinations, and at the same time there is no shortage of newer but nonetheless high quality nights in smaller venues like AdLib, Stereo and The V Club. Those looking for a true underground experience should check out the Soundhaus, a former warehouse in an industrial part of the city’s Anderston district, home to regular techno, drum and bass and dubstep nights, while a more hip, studenty crowd can be found throwing shapes on the Glasgow School of Art’s infamous dance floors. In terms of DJs and artists, youngsters barely out of high school including Rustie, Hudson Mohawke and other members of the Numbers collective are finding international acclaim with their hard-to-categorise styles and exhilarating live sets.

Mu @ Optimo by biotron

As well as venues, local media help to support the thriving scene. Publications like The Skinny and The List are full of articles and listings about the most interesting gigs and releases while Subcity Radio and Radio Magnetic pride themselves on their all-inclusive, no-playlist policies and have served as the launchpad for countless DJs and musicians. Overall Glasgow is, more than ever, a hub of exciting, forward-thinking music and is a must-visit for music lovers from around the world.”

More Tips for Things to Do in Glasgow

You can also read more ideas on things to do in Glasgow collated from Europe a la Carte readers’ tips.

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