Tracks of the Year – The Ginger Quiff Top 100 of 2025

I could write and re-write this list 100 times and still not come up with a definitive 100 songs, I know I’ve missed out songs from some of my favourite albums, I’ve hummed and hawed over songs to include, and I know these lists are subjective and could change by the day depending on my mood. The list also leans heavily towards home grown talent, not an unintentional move, as I want the blog to be a platform to promote Scottish bands, but not at the exclusion of everything else… There also occasions where some bands could have had several songs in the 100, so to avoid multiple entries, I’ve limited my choices to one song per band.… Read the rest

The Ginger Quiff – Albums/EPs of the Year

Having had a prolonged break from writing The Ginger Quiff blogs in 2025, as well as missing many of the gigs I wanted to get to, it also meant I missed reviewing some of my favourite albums of this year. That didn’t mean I wasn’t enjoying the music or using it as a form of therapy, I am one of those people who can’t get through a day without listening to music, and if I do, something is majorly wrong… any, for what it’s worth here are my 50 favourite akbums of 2025, 25 favourite EPs (actually 26) and my favourite re-releases and compilations, where I did review them, I’ve included the link to the review.… Read the rest

MILANGE – Till You Drop – EP Review

From the opening bars of the potent energy of  Front Row right through to the closing bars of On & On Milange had me utterly absorbed. The former, a glorious anthem celebrating live music that has you imagining you are right there front and centre, while the latter announces its arrival with a low bass rumble before forging a path of low key menace, the spoken word vocal sitting somewhere between despair and rage and the clamorous soundtrack matching it’s absorbing intensity. 

And across the five songs in between, Milange draw you in with their engaging narratives in the lyrics, and have you thrilled by the dynamic magnetism and dramatic fervour of the accompanying music.… Read the rest

Water Machine/Maz and the Phantasms/Vibrator/Junk Pups – Live Review – Palestine Red Crescent Society Benefit

My third from last gig in 2025… in a year when I seem to have missed more gigs than I managed to get along to for a combination of reasons not worth going into here..Let’s just say I need to resolve to ensure 2026 is much of a shit storm than 2025…

There was the potential for me to be missing this one too, but with this line up, plus the knowledge that this would be the last ever outing for Junk Pups it was a no brainer to pull out all the stops and make it by hook or crook.… Read the rest

November Singles Round Up – Final part…

While everyone else is publishing their end of year lists, as usual I’m bringing up the rear and finally publishing my final part of November’s singles round up… a part which throws up just as many pure gold nuggets as the rest of the month did. Rock, glam, punk, indie… from artists who have reached legendary status (in my eyes and ears at least) to those who are breaking though and creating some astonishingly good new music.

First up in this part is one of those who have reached legendary status. It’s Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe and the second single to be released form his new album Outerstellar due for release on the 20th February.… Read the rest

November Singles – Part 3

We’re nearing the end of November and the singles keep on coming, with another motley bunch hitting the airwaves since I out pen to paper for the last batch… once again there is sureky somethonh here for every taste, with the young Scottish crew making an impression, and another few songs vying for the title of Single of the Month for November.

First up in this part is the latest single from Jo Carley and the Old Dry Skulls side project Carley’s Wreck and Ruin, Jo’s familiar vocal capturing me under her spell immediately as her bewitching voice repeats the song’s title Devil’s Got The Poison.… Read the rest

Son of the Right Hand – EP launch gig – Glad Cafe

It had been too long since I’d been at a gig in the Glad Cafe, especially considering that it and The Rum Shack are my local venues. It was especially great to walk into the venue knowing what I was going to witness, such is the beguiling and intriguing nature of the music of Son of the Right Hand. Clearly the feeling was mutual given the hubbub and upbeat buzz around the cosy and welcoming venue right from doors open. I had a good feeling that it was going to be a gig to remember.

Before the band got to officially launch their EP, we had two support bands to entertain us, with eclectic styles to mix things up a bit.… Read the rest

Shinlifter – Other Conspiracies – EP review

The debut three track EP, Other Conspiracies, from the raucous rising stars of Auld Reekie, post-punk noiseniks, Shinlifter is out now. Other Conspiracies kicks off with Close Encounters, a song that has the band high on adrenaline, musically launching themselves headlong at your jugular with a furious urgency, the lyrics spat out rant-like with an unbridled venom. The driving fuzzy guitars change mid-song to sharp angular riffs that match the pointed lyrical barbs. I do hope you’ve never got on the wrong side of vocalist Olivia Furey, as you’re definitely on her shitlist, “I want to list them name by name from primary school to the present day.” … Read the rest

Quad 90 – debut album review

The debut album from the talented duo of Amelia Lironi and Naomi Mackay, who met while studying music at Riverside College, is an exquisite masterpiece with its stylish melding of 1970s styledisco and funk with 1980’s post punk, their perfectly syncopated dual vocals playing off the sweeping synths, disco handclaps and funk/punk guitar riffs and creating an overall sound that is elegantly suave and coolly sophisticated.

This album has feel good written all over it, the infectious nature of the music, and it’s laidback geniality has a way of catching you unaware, enveloping you in it’s warm embrace until you feel invincible, like you don’t have a care in the world and nothing really matters anymore, apart from the music.… Read the rest

Pick of the Gigs for November AND October’s Singles Round Up

Two birds, one stone and all that… November in Glasgow has some inviting offerings large and small, with the usual amount of gig clashes. While we’re here October served up some juicy morsels on the singles front…

Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start… Another multi venue offering comes Glasgow’s way in the 1st of the month, with Scottish Music Collective serving up a smorgasbord of some of the best young talent Scotland has to offer. Fheadain takes place in Stereo and The Old Hairdressers, and the festivities kick off in The Old Hairdressers at 2.30 in the afternoon with Lint Bin, followed by Vacant Pavements, Awful Eyes, Puppy Teeth, Milange, PVC, PSweatpants, Straid and The Froobz, with Roller Disco Death Party winding things up at 10pm.… Read the rest