The singles round up for March has more than it’s fair share of excellent singles from emerging Scottish talent from alt-rock right through to Gaelic rap (yes, you read it right), with debut singles from the likes of Honey, Close Control, Sports Frock and Quality Control and cracking singles from Tanzana, bottle rockets, Martha May and the Mondays, Stratus, Verse Metrics, Bandit Country, Dubinski, Doss, Subterranean, Brontes, Grow Up, Pearling. Arran Hopkins, Conscious Pilot, Limonead, Gichard, Mantel, Big Crunch, and braes, with some more established Scottish acts like Middle Class Guilt, Carla J Easton, The Countess of Fife, The Girobabies and Broken Chanter joining the party. There are also a few coincidences here too, with the round up almost bookending the alphabet given the welcome return of A at one end and new songs from one of my current favourite new bands, Y, at the other end. Two of the hottest properties on the punk scene are here in the shape of Split Dogs and The Meffs, both with “business” related songs… In all, there are over 3 hours of songs for your delight and delectation…
First up it’s one of those new hot emerging talents on the burgeoning Scottish underground scene I mentioned with Cavemen, the debut single from Honey a highly potent burst of vexatiously urgent energy from the off, it feels like there is a weighty unease at it’s core as the repeated refrain of “wasting away” is sung with a desperate insistence.
The second of two beltin’ debut singles to kick off this round up from rising Scottish talent, Proximity from Close Control is a joy to behold, blending fierce and fuzzed up riffs with energetic drums pounding out fresh pulsating dance beats to create a dazzlingly uplifting earworm.
Y follow up last years brilliant eponymously titled debut EP with a new five track EP, Enter, in May. Ahead of the EP release and to follow up the first taster for the EP, the excellent Skipper, from October comes the single May. A bittersweet anthem (“flowers grow and flowers die in May”), appropriately written in the run up to an election, it adds to their burgeoning and eminently danceable collection of saxophone-laced experimental alt-rock.
Inca Babies continue to push out re-recorded/re-imagined versions of past glories, this time in the shape of Daniella (Reincarnation25) another satisfyingly menacing gritty swamp blues with a glitchy dark gothic backing.
Falling was released by Mark W. Georgsson, whose 2016 single The Ballad of the Nearly Man was Last Night From Glasgow’s first ever release, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the label which has gone on to be an extraordinary success. The song is a passionately heartfelt folk tinged/indie psych love song packed with a fire in it’s heart and a palpable feeling of longing and yearning.
The Loft‘s March single Campervan is an aspirational feel good song, a tale of escapism, of jumping in the camper van of the songs title and driving off into the sunset, breaking free from the shackles of life. I can’t be the only one who has been so exasperated by life that they’ve thought about selling everything and spending their life on the road?
Andy Smith aka Burnt Log continues his 2026 quest to release a single every month with his March single Duty of Candour, a frank and candid exploration of the increasingly litigious society we live in, focusing on the medical profession, where it seems everyone is looking for someone to blame. Another thought provoking epic from Burnt Log taking on the hot topics of 21st Century broken Britain.
Building up to the release of their debut EP, father’s daughter, Bottle Rockets released the first of two singles from the EP in early March. This song is the title track and it bodes well for the rest of the EP, a gentle intro showcasing Kenzi’s familiar warm vocal, before the song opens up into an soaring cinematic widescreen soundscape with Kenzi’s powerfully assured vocal matching the sweeping majesty of the music.
Pollen is the welcome debut single from Sports Frock, the first to come from their forthcoming album Hot Wash and it is a exuberantly giddy and tumultuously exhausting (in a good way!) listen, packed as it is with fervent choppy guitars, a pseudo Joy Division bassline and a wildly agitated vocal, with a bizarrely mirthful break for the spoken word line “I forgot what I was going to say because I was thinking about Carrie Bradshaw, Greg what am I gonna do?” before they launch into a series of La la las before returning to that frenzied vocal. What’s not to like?
Bellevue was one of my favourite records of 2022, so it’s great to have The Bobby Lees back with the titles track of their forthcoming album New Self. Bellevue was a very personal record with a battles with mental health, on New Self and has Sam in reflective mood, looking back on a past situation and relationship when she was a different person, with an element of regret, exclaiming in the chorus “I’m older now, I’ve gotten help, I wish you could meet My New Self.” Opening with a deep throbbing bassline, Sam’s vocals kick in almost rap style, and when she reaches the chorus guitars crash in to create a blistering melange of noise, in a lot of ways the song channels Ill Communication era Beastie Boys. Looking forward to that new album…
The ever wonderful Jo Carley & the Old Dry Skulls continue to plough their own furrow in their inimitable style with their singularity unique blend of gothic vaudeville rockabilly calypso with a spooky twist on Lover Love Spell.
The second single to come from the forthcoming album New Phone, New Car, New Man and The Countess of Fife follows up the magnificent Live Again with another exquisitely flawless slow-burner in the shape of Sweet Beneath the Wishing Tree, Fay’s stirringly emotive vocal once again taking centre stage atop a subtly beguiling and alluringly bewitching arrangement and a gently sympathetic backing vocal from a certain Martin Metcalfe.
Another cut from the Keeley album Trains & Daydreams, featuring Sice from The Boo Radleys on backing vocals, the mesmerising pace and reflective mood of the song, musically and lyrically, this feels just like the daydream of the songs title, painting dreamy pictures “from the window a beautiful blur…” as Inga drifts into the landscape totally immersed in her adventures.
Following on from the previous single’s round up inclusion of the discordant noise of Dirty Tech, comes Play Me which adds an element of a laidback jazz groove to the glitchy title track from Kim Gordon‘s latest album.
A slice of raw honesty and reality from Grade 2 on Better Today, a hard hitting full throttle punk single from their new album Talk About It, as they tackle the subject of mental health and it’s impact, there are some completely relatable lines in there.
From Close Control to Quality Control and we’ve been treated to yet another bangin’ debut from an emerging Scottish band on the underground scene. Party Lover is a celebratory Riot Grrrl anthem packed with grungy guitars and thumping drums paired with an effective muted vocal low in the mix.
Simon Bromide last made an appearance on these pages with his 2022 album Following the Moon reviewed here. Forest Mountain Forest comes from his forthcoming new album of the same name and I’m glad to say in the intervening years his music has lost none of its timeless charm, the single is a welcome slice of melodic sunshine and a graceful and engaging introduction to his new record.
The brilliant Martha May & the Mondays follow up their hard-hitting February single Sink Dogs with one of their favourites. Their spirited high energy fiddle infused version of the Electric Six classic Gay Bar is as much fun as you would imagine it to be.
Opening with meaty riffs that channel the spirit of AC/DC, Open Road from Stratus is a gloriously uplifting classic rock anthem, with a protagonist at the core of the lyrics who is living the cliched life of a rock star… the driving riffs guitars are replaced with a soaring solo to match the tone of the story as the character changes from carefree when he’s “rolling like a stone” to desperation “I’m sinking like a stone.”
From the forthcoming tribute album to Shane MacGowan, 20th Century Paddy (not due out until November) comes a faithful rendition of the heart-melting A Rainy Night in Soho from Bruce Springsteen, giving justice to the original by playing it straight and respectful to the classic song.
North Shields Hector Gannet rousing new anthem Seven Signs has an immense and hugely uplifting brass infused melody, with plenty of biblical references, a particular favourite is the angelic reference “pullin’ at the feathers underneath his motorcycle vest.” This is a cleverly sophisticated takedown of those who have a “God complex” and think they can literally walk on water. The driving rhythm soars into the ether with the brass section adding a powerfully soulful Dexys feel. A total, excuse the pun, revelation.
The Bar Stool Preachers are certainly living up to their name with the follow up to Pick a Side, their genocide apologist baiting previous single. This time around they are taking on toxic traits of men and the manosphere on the bluntly forthright anthem Plastic Romantic. Their new album Party Eternal is due in October.
I’ve been banging on about the wonderful Tanzana for a few years now, so it’s great to finally hear their second single release. The follow up to their debut Covet has the band on stellar form, the elegiacally majestic Pulse, Pose, Position promising great things to come. From it’s radiant hypnotic trippy soundtrack to Freya’s vocal which switches from delicate innocence to powerful potency, the song radiates an air mysterious intrigue while giving a reassuring sense of warmth and wellbeing. 2026 promises to be a busy year for the band who already have support dates with Madra Salach under their belts with plenty festival appearances lined up.
It’s a Bear! is the second single from Verse Metrics upcoming album Descents. The single, about overthinking and building your thoughts into something bigger than they are, something I recognise only too well, is perfectly suited to their intensely earnest dark indie sound, reminiscent of White Lies or Editors. The story behind the song title is worth mentioning too, Robert Dick had trapped a mouse (humanely) which had been destroying the inside of his car, on showing the mouse to his 3 year old, they exclaimed “It’s a Bear” and the rest is history.
Maybe the “stop worrying about it” refrain of the song is appropriate given David and my football team of choice as they battle against potential relegation this season. Anyway, A Year Without Summer is another sublime single release from the inimitable Broken Chanter. In a song that tackles deeply personal feelings of loss and sadness. David’s familiarly distinctive vocal has a comforting aura to it, his vocal intonation like a reassuring verbal hug as we all face personal challenges in an increasingly dystopian world. This gloriously personal and somehow comforting single frames a sentiment that feels like permission to be vulnerable and feel seen comes from the new album This Could Be Us, You or Anybody Else
Carla J Easton‘s second single from her new album I Think That I Might Love you might be called Really, Really, Really, Really Sad but this wistfully soulful single with some glorious harmonies in the chorus packs a liberatingly joyous punch and makes this listener really, really, really, really happy. Dance like no-ones watching.
Middle Class Guilt continue to tread a path less travelled with The Golder Tiger, their singularly unique sound blending mesmerising drone folk influenced by traditional music of the Shetland Isles, where four of the band originate from, with an off-kilter left field tensely abrasive style of post punk thereby creating their own distinctively unique sound, an eccentric sound which espouses the subjects they choose to be inspired by in their songs, with the eccentric writing of Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal being the muse for this particular single
Ciggy Burns from Dubinski is a complex song of several parts, with a killer guitar riff at its core, all coming together to create an buoyantly uplifting emotional declaration of overcoming addiction, and feelings of defeat and desperation, the self deprecating lyrics and refrain of “I can’t get over it” eventually changing to “I can get over it” as the character at the centre of the song retakes control of his life.
Bandit Country‘s Colossal is a suitably intense towering behemoth of a tune, following a loud quiet loud format, with low key brooding verses interspersing the sweeping brobdingnagian chorus which swells and bursts with a thunderous dynamic vigour.
In the Forest first came to my attention when Last Night From Glasgow released their 2022 debut album These Four Walls. Their latest single, the warmly affecting Love is Not an Emotion, comes from a short film of the same name written and directed by Will Collins and produced by Adfywiad Revival. The film is set in 2030 in a dystopian Britain and explores the relationship between an AI android and a human being and what love actually means.
The first of two punk diatribes against the music industry comes from Split Dogs and the bluesy punk of Rock n Roll Business, a frenetic aural breath of fresh air, and a breathless oral attack on an industry focussed only on financial gain and not artistic integrity.
A Feminine Ending is the potently powerful new single from The Empty Page, as Kel takes on a patriarchal society and a beauty industry that views women on how they look. “We’re under the filter, Pumped full of filler,” sings Kel, with the ending of the songs title being when the unwanted male gaze falls away as they age “One day you start to disappear” is the refrain, this comes with a sense of relief, dealt with in the first verse, the vocal delivery and musical backdrop being suitably melancholic to match that world weary mood of the lyrics. As the song progresses and Kel starts listing elements of beauty products, the justified exasperated rage starts to kick in matched by an increased intensity in the music.
There is a lot to be angry about in 2026 and most of it revolves around Trump & Netanyahu who both seem to think they are some sort of untouchable demigods, so it is no wonder, to quote the lyrics of the song, that Dead Pioneers continue to impress with another no holds barred lyrical assault encouraging us to “kick against the fascist bastards” on No Kings. While the song may have a US slant, the sentiments work the world over, as the lyrics suggest the system is designed for oppression, depression, white supremacy, class war, oligarchy, grifters, genocide and death to thrive. Post American was one of the best albums of 2025, their new album Wagon Burner will, I’m sure, be one of the top albums of this year.
The brilliant and frenetically supercharged SUPERSECRETAGENT from Doss is packed with a jittery paranoia, fraught with tension and with an edge to the lyrics and vocal delivery built on the agitation caused by a culture of corruption and subterfuge. “If they’re comin’ for me, then they’re comin for you – it could be someone you know, it could be someone you knew…” you have been warned…
How Do You Sleep? I’m sure this is a question we all ask ourselves when we see politicians, corporates and corrupt money men on the news as they seem dead set on destroying the planet and everyone on it to meet their own personal agendas. Steve Hogg aka Subterranean is clearly one of those and has put his thoughts to music on this questioning hyper-charged driving rock anthem.
Grow Up’s More does exactly what it says on the tin. It is a manically frenzied joyride of a song, a frenetic melodic punk soundtrack paired with playfully witty lyrics listing the things lead singer Dale McPhail wants more of, delivered in an increasingly hyperactive manner. Ultimately finishing with “I want it all.” Altogether delightfully moreish
Another virtuoso single from the brilliant Brontes ahead of their debut album in April, the lyrics a perfect reflection of that situation where you develop feelings for a close friend and you’re full of uncertainty about acting on these feelings for fear of what might happen. The soaring melody and alluring harmonies of Asking for a Friend cements Brontes as one of Scotland’s hottest properties with a real progression in their sublime and silky smooth alt/guitar pop sound from early singles like First Hand Arrogance to now. The settled line up of Eva (vocals/guitar), Erin (guitar/vocals), Amelia (drums/vocals), and Katie (bass/vocals) have hit a golden seam of song-writing, long may it continue.
Seeing Straight throbs with some weighty riffing, the crunching angst ridden guitars that channel Frogstomp era Silverchair soundtracking defiant lyrics from Arran Hopkins in a self assering statement of intent about rising above, moving on and leaving your old baggage behind.
The second single in this round up from Sports Frocks is Petty Little Grievances, slightly less frenetically charged than their debut Pollen, but just as mad as a bag of frogs and hook laden and continues to pave the way for their debut album Hot Wash, which from the evidences of the two singles to date is sure to be a surprise packed cracking debut album.
Ginger Quiff favourites bring the Garage Glamour all the way from Chicago to this months list as The Claudettes unleash their soulful disco funk side with the funktastic Touch You Back, the first fruits of recordings with Rachel Williams who joined the band as lead singer after the departure of Berit Ulseth. The single is the first from the aforementioned Garage Glamour album due later this year (June 5th) the follow up to 2022’s The Claudettes Go Out (review here). If you’re not familiar with the band I highly recommend checking them out. And if you watched The Bear you’ll be familiar with the music of the bands founder Johnny Iguana who created the score for the highly acclaimed series.
Pearling released my favourite song of theirs to date in March, the surreal gossamer like qualities of the electronic dream pop of Baby the Clouds Will Kiss You takes you to a place of trance like eternal calm with its ethereal otherworldly feel.
The Real McKenzies bring the party with the raucously demented Celtic punk of I Wanna Eat Sardines (With Yer Mother), you can’t help but smile, and the chorus will be stuck in your head all day…
Not one, but two aural treats from returning rockers A who announced their first new album, Prang, in over 20 years from which these singles Walkover & Hello Sunshine come. The later channels the spirit of Beastie Boys Sure Shot in its lyrics, while the former is a kind of list song as Jason Perry runs through the attributes (is that a reference to early 90’s Gladiator Jet I hear?) both positive and negative from the point of view of the “walkover” of the songs title.
Taking the likes of the Epsteins and Harvey Weinstein as their inspiration, Lambrini Girls do what they do best on latest single Cult of Celebrity a frank and scathing acid tongued attack on the rich and famous male abusers who use their power and status to manipulate and exploit. “Oh how the other half live” indeed. A disgusted “just say you saw nothing” ends the song in exasperation that these monsters continue to get away with their crimes..
As you would expect from the multi-talented Micko Westmoreland and his band Micko & the Mellotronics, Parked Car is more than just a song, it is full on kitchen sink drama, packed full of twists and drawing you into the tale of illicit meetings as the as the events unfold before you.
With an engaging intro that instantly grabs you by the lugs and shakes you into submission and with a trumpet/sax heavy sound throughout, Come Over, Do Me Wrong, the first single to be released from Opus Kink‘s forthcoming album, The Sweet Goodbye, is an absolute triumph. Kinda sleazy, kinda menacing, it drags you kicking and screaming into their world and once you’re their there is no escaping…
Touring soon and playing in Glasgow with Big Girl’s Blouse AND Bikini Body on the 22nd of May Conscious Pilot released the title track from their debut album, Human Poultry fairly propels along at pace with their post-punk leanings and influences worn unashamedly on their sleeves, aglow with serrated spiky riffs and sharp staccato beats. Roll on the gigs and the album.
Who knew I’d be sharing a single which is essentially Gaelic rap with a rousing techno dance beat, and who knew it would be so utterly addictive despite me not having a clue what is being said? Well the brilliant Nach Buidhe Dhut from Limonead is just that!
Like Split Dogs earlier in this round up, The Meffs tackle a corrupt music industry on their single Business, a forthright commentary on the hypocrisy and discrimination faced by bands from an industry that manipulates what the public listen to and rejects bands that don’t fit in their current mould.
Another March single from the forthcoming Bottle Rockets EP, won’t speak again is another highly emotive exemplar of the bands accomplished sound, complex but laidback , building from a gentle gossamer smooth intro into a powerful many textured, sublimely layered sound bath, Kenzi’s impassioned soul-stirring vocal the charry on the cake as always.
Not unlike Dry Cleaning, Gichard‘s single Your Private Hell uses minimalistic arrangement and a combination of sung and spoken words to great effect creating a slightly sinister spacey atmospherically hypnotic song with lyrics painting surreal images including references to carbolic soap, fish out of town and hot dogs and drinking brine…
Following on from the debut single from Apsi (who you all probably know from the band Brenda) and a name change from her own name to Big Crunch comes this single Big Crunch which she describes as “a soaring slice of Italo space disco, exulting in our impending cosmological collapse!!” Listen on the Soundcloud link below (it’s not on the Tidal playlist) and while you’re there check out the cover of Last Resort from Papa Roach.
A 2026 re-release of wilt‘s debut single gwen (riffed), and as the title suggests they’ve added some crunching riffs to the mix making it more muscular and ripped than the original.
envy is the first single to be released from Braes sophomore EP, of all the things i envy, due on the 20th May and the song sets things up nicely for things to come from the earnest Glasgow/Paisley band, a mix of melodically lilting guitar lines that build, with a melody that increases in intensity as the song progresses alongside some emotionally wrought vocals.
The Girobabies played their farewell gig in Glasgow’s Art School on the 28th of March, then released this single on the 31st. Wired to the Moon, from the bounteous 32 track compilation Sunday Replacement Service (B Sides album) is a suitably melancholic and atmospheric alt-folk ballad featuring Maighread Ni Ghrasta, a fine farewell for a unique Glasgow band.
If you merged Toy Dolls with Silver Sun you might get a band like Manchester’s Midland Railway, their highly addictive latest single, a tribute to tabletop role playing wargames, All-Day Epic Warhammer gives off an air of geeky power pop with punky riffs akin to late 70s/early 80’s releases like Tribe of Toffs or Jilted John.
In a round-up bursting at the seams with emerging Scottish talent, the last word goes to Mantel with their moody and invigorating latest single Generator announcing its arrival with a mighty wall of sound, the guitars layer and swirl forming a perfect foil for Ailsa’s emphatically unflappable vocals the overall effect a magnificent contradiction of laidback feistiness.
March Playlist
Find all the tracks from this round up on the handy March Playlist here on Tidal…