Get your Stag on

Stag & Dagger, Glasgow, May 2011

Warnings that the end of the world was nigh could easily have been believed yesterday in Glasgow...rain, rain, rain and many a drenched damsel screaming out to be raptured, I myself was beginning to wish I’d invested in an ark.

Still, this is the west coast of Scotland, it rains sometimes, we don’t let it get us down.

Stag and Dagger is a multi venue festival and yesterday it hit Glasgow with a wealth of great bands that I couldn’t wait to get my ears into.

First stop was Nice n Sleazy’s to catch Tall Ships, a 3 piece from Falmouth and a guitar-led band who are more than happy to break out the synth when required. I really liked their sound, they play around with tempos, have good strong melodies and there’s an almost ‘folky’ sound to Ric Phethean’s voice. I expect they own at least one Foals record between them.

Listen to: Vessels

Then it was a quick sprint up Garnet Street to the Art School to see Ghostpoet – think Roots Manuva crossed with The Streets – stream of consciousness style lyrics, beats you can’t help but nod along to and the best named album of the year so far ‘Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam’

Listen to: Survive It

Next on the itinerary was Glasgow’s own Admiral Fallow at ABC. Like Frightened Rabbit before them the band have a distinctively Scottish sound – largely down to the strong accents they sing with. Clearly a talented young bunch of multi-instrumentalists, Admiral Fallow write beautiful melodies and combine them with heart rendingly honest lyrics.

‘Delivered’ is a favourite of mine “This is your end, this is your end, you’re delivered” sung in Louis Abbott's dulcet tones brings a tear to the eye. Yes, the band could be accused of being a little twee at times but it’s just so damn pretty you can’t help but listen.

Listen to: Delivered

They were followed by Warpaint, an all-female four-piece who hail from sunny LA, my highlight of the day, utterly brilliant! They have such an original sound but for the sake of comparison think The XX, but much better and much louder. They create this beautifully dark, whimsical sound and play so well together, you kind of feel like you’re underwater and to top it off they’re so effortlessly cool it hurts. Clearly the other Stag and Dagger attendees agreed, the ABC was packed out.

Listen to: Undertow

A quick pint brought me out of my dream-like state and off we plodded back to the Art School where we finished our night with Glasgow favourites Sons & Daughters. Vocalist/guitarist Scott Paterson appeared to be wearing a dead fox around his neck – not to worry, probably died of natural causes...

Sons and Daughters do what they do very well, some of their new tunes sound a little samey in parts but the crowd love them, Adele Bethal has a cracking voice and some of Franz Ferdinand were spotted mulling at the back of the room. They finished off their set with Dance Me In, an undoubtedly banging track and a great way to end a great day.

Listen to: Dance Me In

Can't wait until next year!

It’s all getting rather exciting down by the river…

The opening of Glasgow’s new £74m Riverside Museum is only weeks away (21^st June) Designed by award-winning Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, the building is strikingly innovative and is a superb addition to Glasgow’s cutting-edge architectural offering.

I find it somewhat amazing that the jagged ceiling, shaped to symbolise Glasgow’s skyline or, depending on who you ask, the tidal movements of the Clyde, is supported by the weight of itself alone, you will notice a lack of supporting infrastructure when you step inside…try not to worry, hard hats are provided. (I joke…I’m sure there’s method to the madness of those architect types)

The Museum will be the new home to over 3,000 exhibits, all of which explore and celebrate transport and technology through the ages…oh and I believe Hagrid from Harry Potter donated his Chrysler Jeep to the collection.

And great news for fans of the Museum of Transport of old, the re created streets that proved so popular will take pride of place at Riverside. Three streets have been created spanning the years from 1890 – 1980, you can even take a look around the shops and tube station built within, little ‘uns and big ‘uns alike are sure to love it.

The development of the Riverside Museum is another positive step towards the regeneration of the riverside area which, to be fair, is already a hub of activity with the ultra modern BBC building down at Pacific Quay, Glasgow Science Centre and new flats aplenty. The Tall Ship will be berthed alongside the Museum and Loch Lomond Seaplanes have just announced that they will now take off from a Riverside pontoon.

I tell you, it’s all go down there and I for one am delighted that Glasgow is once again making the most of the Clyde and its surrounding area, it looks fantastico...and there's not an abandoned shopping trolley in sight*

*Ahem...at time of publication

The Turner Prize: Glasgow nominees

Ooooh, the shortlist for the Turner Prize has been revealed!

As ever the Dear Green Place is well represented. The four-person shortlist includes two Glasgow-based artists, Karla Black and Martin Boyce - both studied at Glasgow School of Art.

Karla Black, who is also representing Scotland at the Venice Biennale this year, creates sculptures from a variety of materials ranging from mud and lipstick to powder and cellophane - always good to see a commitment to recycling. Martin Boyce's work is also interesting consisting of sculptures inspired by modernist design history.

Glasgow has been the home to a number of Turner Prize winners including Susan Philipsz, Douglas Gordon, Martin Creed, Simon Starling and Richard Wright, long may this continue!

Above are some examples of the work of Martin Boyce and Karla Black.

Through the looking glass

I took a trip to Glasgow’s Theatre Royal this week to see Scottish Ballet’s Alice. It was utterly brilliant, a divine snapshot of its creators wildly fantastic imaginations...and a nice excuse to squeeze in a little gin with mother dearest.

We were treated to two hours of beautiful dancing (ah to have the grace of a ballet dancer!) an array of surreal characters, a lovely score which complimented every movement and an imaginative collection of vibrant costumes which must have taken months and months to create.

This was not a simple retelling of Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s story, a much darker element was present throughout making the content much more adult, but despite this underlying theme it did not take itself too seriously, the ballet was witty, funny and at particular moments genuinely touching as the lead characters, Charles Dodgson and Alice, drifted apart as time took its natural course.

Ashley Page, Antony McDonald and the cast and crew of Scottish Ballet have created something truly intriguing.

It's well worth taking a look... through the looking glass or otherwise.

"Wake Up" Glasgow

They're an energetic bunch that Arcade Fire, after a busy year of touring you would forgive them for feeling a little lethargic, but the truth is this band couldn't be much more lively, they radiate get up and go and even on a cold Sunday night the essence of the Canadian 8 piece is infectious. The gig at Glasgow's SECC was the last of their current tour and they certainly ended on a high. Rest assured, these guys love their job.

They're a fascinating band to watch, lively, engaging and obviously incredibly talented, they take turns at instruments on a rotational basis and throw themselves entirely into the music they play.

'I know a place where no cars go' sings Butler to the sold out crowd (thankfully the thaw has ensured that that 'place' is no longer the M8) The hauntingly brilliant My Body is a Cage follows and breaks into The Suburbs, the title track from the latest album.

They disappear behind the curtains before returning for the encore of all encores. Wake Up - the chugging riff builds sending the crowd into a euphoric frenzy of 'woah oh oh oh oh ohing' (this will make sense if you know the song) . It takes a very special band to fill the rather vast surroundings of the SECC but Arcade Fire do it with ease. Utterly brilliant, tingles up the spine brilliant.

Glasgow: Artistic and Tasty

Two wins for Glasgow this week (well 3 if you include the city's wellie manufacturers - damn you pesky snow slush!)

Firstly Glasgow born Susan Philipsz won the Turner Prize for her sound installation Lowlands. She is the first female Scottish winner of the prize and now joins fellow Scots and Scots based Turner winners Douglas Gordon, Martin Creed, Simon Starling and Richard Wright. (We're an artistic bunch up here don't you know)

Lowlands was an installation originally presented at the Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art earlier this year. Recordings of Philipsz singing three versions of the folk song Lowlands were installed under George V Bridge, the Caledonian Road Bridge and Glasgow Bridge. It is also the first time a sound installation has won the coveted prize.

Secondly a subject very close to my heart...curry.

Glasgow has regained its title as Curry Capital of Britain. And rightly so...anyone who has ever eaten at Mother India's Cafe will concur. The competition was organised as part of National Curry Week, an excuse to indulge in pakora and chana daal if ever there was.

Mr November...in the snow

Today Glasgow lies under a blanket of snow - very picturesque and very, very slippy!

I went to see The National on Friday night, best gig of the year, by miles, times a hundred. I could listen to that baritone voice for ever, lovely and gloomy, hauntingly beautiful lyrics and a dapper two piece suit, what more could you ask for on a Friday. The Glasgow crowd made a path as singer Matt took a daunder through the crowd during Mr November, he made it as far as the bar, well when you need a gin you need a gin I suppose.

There was a nice wee sing along at the end, someone with a significantly more hi tech phone captured it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4i_zdmtrcg