Introducing the Band(s) – You Are Here – The New Sound of Scotland CD

June 12, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

Having had the seed of an idea towards the end of 2025, and then going through the stress of being let down by an unreliable CD production company, The New Sound of Scotland finally saw the light of day a few weeks ago. The idea for the CD was to celebrate the vibrant music scene in Scotland and the new, young and emerging Scottish bands that form part of that scene. The 30 songs across 2 CDs in this compilation form just a snapshot of the burgeoning underground music scene in Scotland, and the word is out, with many of the bands on this first (?)… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2026 – May – Part 3

June 9, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

The first couple of songs in this part were actually April releases which I didn’t pick up on at the time and there are a few others from earlier in the year that I didn’t pick up on…

Based on the current state of the world and the behaviours of some sections of society I’m beginning to think that the name of this next band is something that really should be considered, anyway… Veto Humans debut single Belong to Glasgow, is a moody brooding track with low key vocals that deliver the refrain of the song’s title repeatedly throughout, the vocal soundtracked by darkly glitchy driving dance beats interspersed with some sonorous guitar riffs. … Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2026 – May – Pt 2

June 6, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I keep thinking I’m getting there then something knocks me back again… so here we are in June and I’m only on part 2 of May’s singles round up’s with the remainder of April and all of May’s album reviews languishing uncomplete… Anyway here goes for part 2 of May’s singles

Something a bit different from Verse Metrics this month with the multi-textured and hypnotically atmospheric Robin Southby remix of their track Arcane Spillage. A slow burn intro breaks into delicate piano parts, before the rhythm builds and the urgency increases, the refrain of “like I’m being gently pulled apart” glitching and repeating until the full blown thunderous beats and synths opens up.… Read the rest

Sugar – Live in Barrowland – Love You Even Still tour

June 3, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I don’t often venture out to “bigger” gigs that often these days preferring to spent my hard earned bucks going to several small gigs rather than one big splurge. However, there are those gigs that come along that are a no-brainer and so I found myself in the Barrowland for the first time in an age having set my alarm to buy tickets for Sugar the moment they went on sale. I wasn’t missing this one for anyone…

If I thought the Hug and Pint was a sweat box on Sunday, it had nothing on the Barrowland, and that was even before Sugar made an appearance, I already had lines of perspiration running down my back and things were just going to get hotter in every way imaginable as Bob, David and Malcolm took to the stage and launched into The Act We Act the wall of sound created by the powerful trio hitting like a piledriver from the very first moment.  From… Read the rest

Keeley – The Hug and Pint w/The Martial Arts

June 1, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

The end of the weekend loomed but there was one last hurrah to enjoy after the shenanigans of The Termites the night before, this time in the company of the inimitable trio Keeley and their long awaited Glasgow headline show where they treated the gathered throng to their uniquely cinematic soundtrack in celebration of the short life of German backpacker on her ultimately tragic trip through Europe to Ireland. 

Before Keeley it was the turn of another trio, this time led by local stalwart of the indie scene, Paul Kelly and his power pop band The Martial Arts, he was joined on stage by other luminaries of the Scottish music scene Ian Cronin (The Supernaturals) on drums and Simon Shaw of Dragged Up (and a host of others) on bass.… Read the rest

The Termites – live in Audio with Gallowgate Murders and Aftrshocks

May 31, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

There aren’t many guarantees in life, especially in these fucked up dystopian times when Trump does whatever the fuck his perverse addled brain tells him and fuck the consequences while over here Starmer continues to look like a rabbit in the headlights without a clue what he is doing, ultimately both of them acting as the  puppets of Netanyahu…

One thing in life that is guaranteed however is that when you see a gig being put on by Shrunken Head Promotions you just know there will be a party atmosphere from the off, with a vibe that says everyone is welcome and no one is left behind.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2026 – May – Part 1

May 27, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

It’s a small miracle, I’ve nearly caught up with the singles round ups, not quite the end of May yet and here is the first part of the round up for May, with more to come of course…

wojtek the bear are producing some of the best songs of their career just now in my humble opinion, from the response track to Kylie’s Got a Crush On Us, the tongue in cheek kylie’s put a curse on us, through the self deprecating french blue to this, the third single to come from album, i don’t think you want to be here.… Read the rest

The Countess of Fife – Live in The Glad Cafe

May 24, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

Photos courtesy of Stephen Brown

The Countess of Fife recently released her second album, New Phone, New Car, New Man, so for the Glasgow half of her album launch gigs, having already played Edinburgh’s Voodoo Rooms earlier in the week, it was fitting for her to return to the scene of previous victories, a local gig for me at The Glad Cafe.

It was a very civilised affair in the intimate surroundings of the room in the Southside venue, and as I took my seat, I was anticipating a highly entertaining night packed with jocose quips from the inimitable Countess herself punctuating a set of rabble-rousing alt-country anthems.… Read the rest

Warmduscher & San Jose – live in the Classic Grand

May 19, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

This was a bit of a last minute one, I’d seen the Warmduscher gig advertised but it was only in the last week or so that I noticed San Jose were to be the support, that sealed the deal for me.

Anytime I’ve seen San Jose before, the gig descends into near riot with stage invasions, beer flying, raucous pits, athletic moves and incursions into the crowd from their rambunctious frontman Calum as well as disrobing by the band, well particularly guitarist Cean. Despite the early set time and the fact it was a Tuesday night, pretty much everything was there apart from the stage invasion for the finale, a boisterous and life affirming multi faceted anthem through one of my favourite singles of last year, Dirty Linen.… Read the rest

Singles Round Up 2026 – April

May 19, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I feel like I’m running to stand still in playing catch up, but there are so many great new singles out in the wild that I wanted to capture them all, for my own benefit more than anything else. April was another strong month for emerging Scottish talent, alongside more established Scottish bands, as well as singles from far and wide, including a rare appearance from Finland with a new Teksti TV 666 single from their new EP.

Pedalo continue to excel as one of Scotland’s finest purveyors of majestically soulful dream pop with the irresistible groove of Hate Me. Charlotte’s soaring gossamer smooth vocals belie the tale of a broken relationship where the desire to even receive negative emotions would be better than nothing at all.… Read the rest

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