Radar recommends: 23 - 29 January

[North Atlantic Oscillation: limbering up for Limbo on Friday]

Plan your gig-going with our pick of the week's choicest live music nights...

The best...

John Knox Sex Club, Baby Boyz
Saturday @ The Ferry, Glasgow / 8pm / £6
Not your typical wide-eyed indie-pop band, The JKSC inflict moody, clanging blues riffs and deranged vocals on anyone who'll listen. Will you?

Burns Night Celebration: Broken Records, Woodenbox With A Firstful of Fivers, Whisky Kiss
Sunday @ King Tuts, Glasgow / 8.30pm / £12
More Scottish than a ginger man in a kilt shouting 'freedom', drinking whisky and killing a haggis with his bare hands. What a lovely patriotic way to celebrate the Bard.

Marble Valley
Tuesday @ Nice'n'Sleazys, Glasgow / 7.30pm / £TBC
In advance of their much-anticipated return, Pavement drummer Steve West shows his vocal worth.

The Foundling Wheel, Smack Van, Ian Ryan
Wednesday @ Electric Circus, Edinburgh / 8pm / £3
The Foundling Wheel is a solo project with a difference: a one-man, bass guitar-wielding, beat-programming, noise-fuelled rammy. And then some.

The Mill: The Seventeenth Century, There Will be Fireworks
Thursday @ Oran Mor / 7.30pm / Free but ticketed
Gilt-edged, mellifluous folk-rock from the highly rated Seventeenth Century. There Will Be Fireworks? Apparently a few folk rate them too.

The Low Anthem
Thursday @ The Old Fruitmarket / 9pm / £16
Lovely Celtic Connections ditty. Beautiful pop in a beautiful building. It’s gonna be special guys.

Limbo: North Atlantic Oscillation, Simon Doherty and Louise McVey & The Cracks In the Concrete
Friday @ The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh / £5 / 8pm
Limbo had a healthy effect on the Edinburgh scene over the past two years, so locals will be happy about its imminent return. The night may have gone from weekly Thursdays to monthly Fridays, but their band booking policy looks as infallible as ever.

Adam Green
Friday @ Stereo / 7pm / £10
Get your skinny jeans and white plimsoles on and boost your indie credentials with a trip to see the manly half of The Mouldy Peaches solo. Sweet.

The Lava Experiments
Friday @ The 13th Note, Glasgow / £5 / 8.30pm
To quote ourselves, The Lava Experiments make "gorgeously cinematic electronica, reminiscent in places of Kraftwerk or a heavier Explosions in the Sky". They launch a new EP of remixes at this gig, for which they enlisted the help of Dans Le Sac, Pumajaw and Betamax Warriors.

The rest...



Words: Aimi Gold, Nick Mitchell

What have we missed? Tell us below, or add it to the calendar by emailing utr.scotsman@gmail.com

Oxjam in Glasgow: 102 bands in two nights

[Yahweh. Photograph by Andrea Heins]

The sheer scale of Glasgow’s Oxjam Takeover is a daunting proposition. With over 100 bands playing a slew of venues across city in just 48 hours, the co-ordination required to maximise this two-day aural extravaganza will rival that of an Olympic standard synchronised swimming troupe.

Of course, in these capitalist climes where value for money is the whole enchilada, Oxjam’s west coast roster of tune-chugging rapscallions is the musical equivalent of a five fingered discount at Harrods - thrilling fun, with the added knowledge that you’re benefiting a greater good by not lining the pockets of an intolerably rich buffoon.

Mhairi Love, Glasgow volunteer Oxjam Regional Manager, says of the two day shindig: “In Glasgow we are spoiled for choice when it comes to music. It’s fantastic to be able to use the talent of local musicians to help raise so much money to fight poverty, and put on a great show at the same time. I’m really excited about our multi venue event. We have a great line up ranging from local talent to living legends.”

She’s not wrong. The parts that make up Glasgow Oxjam’s whole gleam with musical brilliance. A number of UtR favourites decorate this glittering roll call, including The Seventeenth Century, Barn Owl and the always exceptional Yaweh.

But really, Oxjam is not about the bands, the venues or, indeed, the price. No folks, [Ruffles up hair and puts on best Bob Geldof-at-his-most-stoic tone] this is about music and people uniting to make a difference in a world that can be achingly unjust. And, for this reason alone, you need to be there.

Words: Billy Hamilton

Oxjam Glasgow takes place this Saturday (24th) and Sunday (25th). Tickets are £8 and are available here.

The current line-up (subject to change) is as follows:

SATURDAY 24 OCT
2pm-12am
Venues 1-8

1. 13th Note (Acoustic Riot Stage) 3pm-11.30pm
Dave Hughes and the Renegade Folk Punk Band
Roscoe Vacant
El Bastardos
Judith Harron
Jimmy Richards
Billy Liar
Roberto Cassani
The Moth and the Mirror
Shambles Miller

2. Metropolitan 3pm-6pm
Martin John Henry (De Rosa)
Mike Nisbet
Jamie Keenan
Ben Chaddock

3.ABC - Polar Bar 3pm-6pm
Brother Louis Collective
John B McKenna
Full House
Mike and Solveig

4.Panoptican 6pm-8.30pm
Johnny Jack
Paul McGranaghan
Pure Brass
Compere TBC

5.Blackfriars 6pm-10pm
The Xcerts
Cuba Cuba
The LaFontaines
Atlas Skye
The Marder
Young States

6.The V Club 6pm-12.00am
My Cousin I Bid You Farewell
Esperanza
Lions.Chase.Tigers
Young States
Maple Leaves
Odeon Beat Club
Glider
Hidden Masters

7.The Vale 7pm-11.30pm
Vendor Defender
Homework
Ben TD
Gong Fei
The Reveres
Endor

8. Sloans (The Skinny Stage) 7pm-12am
Strike the Colours
Zoey Van Goey
The Low Miffs
Yahweh
Le Reno Amps
The Seventeenth Century

SUNDAY 25th OCT
2pm-3am
Venues 9-15

9.Brunswick Hotel Penthouse Suite
Emma Curran
Andrea Marini
Kristina Cox
Jamie Marshall
David Bova
Mark McCabe

10.Pivo Pivo 2pm-11.30
Tango in the Attic
The Deals
Schnapps
The Dull Fudds
Big Ned
Bwani Junction
Wilson Tan
Eddy and the T Bolts
The Black Delorean
The 123s
Three Blind Wolves
The Deneros
The Cellophanes

11.The Admiral 6pm-3am
Trapped in Kansas
Yoshi
The Social Services
Haight Ashbury
The Apologists
Alex Wayt
The French Wives
Castaway

12. Capitol 6pm-12am
Tempercalm
Nacional
Ming Ming and the Ching Chings
Call Me Ishmael
Barn Owl
Maple Leaves
Boycotts
Casino Brag
Man at the Window

13. McChuills 5.00pm-10.30pm
Nine Circles
My Actions Your Exit
Little Eskimos
Reginald
Bad Day?
Albino Monk
Fanzine Hero
The Dirt

14.Mono 6pm-12am
Attic Lights
El Dog
United Fruit
The Mode
Foxgang
The Meatmen
Man at the Window

15.Basuro Blanco(Brunswick Hotel basement) till 2am
Lowreck
Jan Cree
Gareth Whitehead
My Evil Twin
Chris Coulston

Under the Radar podcast #3

It's been a while 'in development' - or more accurately, 'on the backburner' - but at long last we present our third podcast to new music fans everywhere.

This time we paid a visit to Mr Stevie Kearney's home studio in Leith for the recording. Stevie is a regular UtR contributor and a genuine audio whizz, having presented his own shows on Fresh Air as well as setting up his own podcast over at Dylan and the Mule.

The third instalment is all about the music: we have an exclusive new track from Trapped in Kansas, a Springsteen cover by Beerjacket and new singles by UtR-featured Randan Discotheque and The Seventeenth Century.

On top of that, Stevie caught up with Edinburgh band White Heath for a chat at their recent EP launch, and there's more music from Glasgow/Dundee math rockers Popolo, a band we haven't featured yet (shock) in My Tiny Robots, and Small Town Boredom, the Paisely duo who were offered a record deal a couple of hours after appearing on UtR (yes, that's the sound of us patting our backs).

Hope you enjoy the show...

Play: Podcast #3


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Running order:
00:55: The Seventeenth Century - Roses in the Park
06:22: Beerjacket - Dancing in the Dark
10:15: Popolo - Or Optimism
13:45: Interview: White Heath
17:20: White Heath - Election Day
21:30: Trapped in Kansas - Carpathia
24:53: My Tiny Robots - Other People Matter
30:01: Randan Discotheque - Daily Record May 18th 1993
35:10: Small Town Boredom - White Cart Water

Words and podcast: Nick Mitchell, Stevie Kearney

Previous UtR podcasts

Radar recommends: 7 - 13 June

[Miss The Occupier: playing The Twisted Wheel on Sunday]

In the past we've been guilty of catering only to the gig-goers of Edinburgh and Glasgow in these here Radar Recommends. Granted, that's because 95% of the best gigs take place in Scotland's 'big two'. But we don't want to be seen as narrow-minded Central Belters (especially when one of us hails from wind-battered Thurso), so this week we've tried to cast our nets a bit wider.

Miss the Occupier, Come in Tokyo, We, The Last Men
Sun 7 Jun, The Twisted Wheel, Glasgow. Doors 7pm, FREE
Widely touted as one of Scotland's most exciting bands, Miss the Occupier make clattering, vampish alt-rock in the style of Sonic Youth and Sleater Kinney. We featured them on the eve of their Hinterland show, and this date, with support from bluesy Edinburghers Come In Tokyo and local hardcore trio We, The Last Men, promises to be unmissable. [NM]

Play: Miss The Occupier - Whilst I Stared


Teitur, The Seventeenth Century, Empires
Sun 7 Jun, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow. Doors 8pm, £8
The Faroe Islands may be just beyone our musical radar, but that doesn't mean we can't recommend you head along to this gig by Teitur, an inventive singer-songwriter who opened for Radiohead at the Roskilde festival last year. Especially when he's playing with recent UtR stars The Seventeenth Century and Glasgow rockers Empires. [NM]

Play: The Seventeenth Century - Traffic


The Void, cryoverbillionaires
Tue 9 Jun, The Tunnels , Aberdeen. Doors 8pm, £tbc
Big, swooping indie always has a place on the UtR stereo and The Void are quickly becoming regulars on our shamefully beat-up tape deck. Both anthemic and anathemic, the Glasgow/Edinburgh ensemble produce effervescent, guitar driven totems tinged with sleek college rock production. No stranger to these pages, the hard-working cryoverbillionaires expel chiming chasms of riff across taut, hairpin percussion to produce a sound that quivers neck hairs and shudders the soul. [BH]

Unicorn Kid, Soft Toy Emergency, Crayons, Skitten
Tue 9 Jun, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow. Doors 8pm, £tbc
Not since The Proclaimers wrote a song about that very long walk has Leith known a success story like that of Unicorn Kid. 17-year-old Oliver Sabin is the epitome of the bedroom DJ, except he also has a nationwide and American tour lined up and is fast becoming a worldwide hit with his ringtone-friendly electro-pop. [NM]

We Were Promised Jetpacks
Wed 10 Jun, Doghouse, Dundee, 8pm
If it’s indie-pop you’re after then look no further than the spikey guitar riffs of We Were Promised Jetpacks. The quartet's new album These Four Walls is due out on 15 June and has been produced by Ken Thomas, who has previously worked with the Sigur Ros and David Bowie. Featuring guitar driven pop ranging from 70s influences such as the legendary Gang of Four to more modern tracks reminiscent of British Sea Power, their sound blends seamlessly over Adam Thompson’s distinctly Scottish vocals. [SK]

Play: We Were Promised Jetpacks - Quiet Little Voices



Punch and the Apostles
Thu 11 Jun, Captain’s Rest, Glasgow. Doors 8pm, £3
If you're in Glasgow this Thursday evening, head along to Captain’s Rest to catch the wonderful Punch and the Apostles, who will be performing a new show complete with visuals by Graham Tiler. For the uninitiated, Punch and the Apostles bring a frenetic energy to their live set with stylings not unlike a mid-80s freak show era Tom Waits crossed with some Balkan plate smashing. A mysterious and eclectic band, fans of the musically diverse will be delighted to find something macabre straight out of the leftfield. [SK]

Trampoline featuring Meursault, Wounded Knee, The Foundling Wheel
Sat 13 Jun, The Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh. Doors 7pm, £5
Another month, another stellar line-up at Trampoline. Local luminaries Meursault need little introduction, their startling folk-tronica having already broached public consciousness over the last 12 months. Less renowned, the hymnal rabble of Wounded Knee and The Foundling Wheel's serrated electro-bending are just as beguiling; both beginning to ripple waves of interest in Edinburgh's oceanic scene. [BH]

Woodenbox With a Fistful of Fivers, Wilson Tan, The Parsonage
Sat 13 Jun, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow. Doors 8pm, £tbc
You only need to ponder their name for a moment to realise that Woodenbox With a Fistful of Fivers are more than a little indebted to one Ennio Morricone. There's a distinct Wild West feel to their trumpet-led folk-rock, so get your Winklepickers out and mosey on down to Tut's for on Saturday, where you'll hear more Americana stylings from Wilson Tan and The Parsonage. [NM]

Words: Stevie Kearney, Billy Hamilton, Nick Mitchell

Have we missed something? Tell us about it below, or add it to the gig guide...