Halls of fame: The Queen's Hall

It's a cliché you often hear from fledgling reviewers, but live music at its best can seem like a religious experience.

One such occasion for me was watching Spiritalized singer Jason Pierce's comeback show at the Queen's Hall a few years ago, when he gave his normally raucous repertoire the semi-acoustic, gospel choir treatment.

But it wasn't just the music that was the trigger for the emotive impact of the night; the venue was just as important.

The Queen's Hall opened under the intriguing title of the Hope Park Chapel of Ease in 1823, and it continued as a church under several names until its closure in 1976. The gig venue opened in its present guise after substantial refurbishment in 1979. With its narrow upper tier and church-like seating plan, it has retained its character of old, and marketing manager Andy Catlin believes this is what appeals to musicians.

"Bands love the atmosphere, the intimacy and the acoustics of the venue. Audiences love being able to be close to artists as well as being able to hear them at their best," he says.

Although known as a platform for classical, folk and jazz music, Catlin believes the venue also has a part to play in Edinburgh's local band scene: "We do have a role supporting all types of musicians - classical music only makes up around 25% of our overall programme. We've previously hosted local events like Battle Of The Bands and Spectrum, which is where Broken Records first played as an unknown band and now can sell out the Queen's Hall [pictured above].

"We do work with literally all types of musicians - indie, jazz, folk, roots, pop, country, blues, classical, world - and would like to do more with young bands. It's about finding the right set-up for them working in a 900-seat venue."

As for the Queen's Hall's future on the capital's notoriously changeable live music circuit (latest casualty reported by Song by Toad here), Catlin says the priority is to secure reliable support from its funders and to "start on £7 million building redevelopment plans which would make the bar a lot nicer and create a small second space that we could use for rehearsals or working with emerging artists."

And as if to prove that a century old former church is perfectly at home in the 21st century, the Queen's Hall is also an avid Twitterer.

Words: Nick Mitchell


A perfomer's memory...

Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison played the venue during the Edge festival in August. The experience defied his expectations.

"I always thought The Queens Hall might be a bit too posh to have us play. What with its rather reverend pew-style seating and the right royal title, I thought it may be too dignified for a band that says 'c***' sometimes and 'f***' a fair bit more.

"Yet the night we played turned out to be one of the most raucous in the history of the band. The place may well have had beautiful acoustics, I just couldn't really hear the specifics over the sheer volume of the audience singing the words back. The whole evening somewhat overwhelmed us, yet there was a homely feel.

"When you travel about a bit and see various venues, it strikes you that most them are pretty shite. 90% of them are just a room with some speakers in them, one blue light, one red, one yellow and that classic aroma of ammonia and bleach. The other 10% is where the Queens Hall sits: stately yet hip, warm, woody and not even a bit wanky. What a f***ing wonderful c*** of a night!"


An UtR writer's memory...

Lisa-Marie Ferla: You know how your favourite music can act as a time machine, transporting you back to some of the most important nights of your life? I might only have been to one gig at the Queen's Hall, but since it was the night my two best friends got together (Ani diFranco with Hammell on Trial, 4th June 2003) it's probably one of the most memorable I've ever attended.

The hall was set out like some old time lounge bar, with us seated at candlelit tables and Ani - smaller than I thought she'd be from her powerful songs that were all I was listening to at the time - mere feet from us.

We stayed at some small hotel I can't remember the name of, and drank red wine from sugar bowls because there weren't enough glasses to go round. My friends have had some tough times lately, but over six years on and they're happier than ever.



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Website: www.thequeenshall.net

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Halls of fame: Barrowland Ballroom

When we were planning this new series celebrating the best Scottish venues, there was only one place we could start. The Barrowland Ballroom (more commonly shortened to 'the Barrowland') in Glasgow's East End is as iconic as many of the bands and artists who have played there.

With its sticky marshmallow-soft floors that bounce with the crowd, to the stars on the roof and the staff in their tabards that seem to have worked there since it was built in the 1930s, the Barrowland has housed many a favourite gig for many a music fan.

It's rough yet reliable and far more enjoyable to visit than its commercial branded sisters.

Mike Bailey from Bailey & the Fault played the Barrowland in 2007, and remembers the occasion well:

"I still remember looking out and seeing friends and peers in the audience, their faces beaming with encouragement and pride – helping me realise, in that moment, exactly what I was accomplishing. It was an incredible night, both for me personally and for the band.

"Every young musician in Glasgow, probably even the whole of Scotland, dreams of playing the Barrowlands. From an early age I watched many of my ‘heroes’ throw it down on that stage – the stars on the ceiling, the sticky, plastic cup covered floor, but most importantly the incredible atmosphere, alive with an indescribable warmth.

"Looking out at the crowd in THAT venue is something truly special, and my memories of that performance will stay with me forever. The crowd give back everything they are given and more. Good people for good music. That’s all any of us could ask for.

A few UtR writers share their Barras memories...

Elaine Liddle: 2005. A roomful of uncharacteristically cheerful gothy people, staring reverently in awe at Trent Reznor. It was the first time Nince Inch Nails had been here for about a decade so the air was almost crackling with excitement and total hero worship.

We were behind an absolute tank of a man who became a legend by helping the entire crowd around him to stay standing. Trent bitched about the fact that not enough people loved The Fragile before 'Starf***ers'. Aaron North from Icarus Line was the guitarist and fired himself off the stage into the crowd at the end, landing on my friend's head.

Lisa-Marie Ferla: My favourite Barrowlands experience was probably the first time I went to a gig on my own - it was to see Ryan Adams, who as anyone who knows me will tell you is my fave (shameless plug), and my sister was meant to be coming with me but because she was ill I punted her ticket to a tout and chatted up some boys to wriggle my way to the front. Ryan was drunk on champagne and walked along the barrier, and somebody threw a Celtic shirt on the stage but security wouldn't let me take a picture. I then had to explain to the band why half the crowd booed when the boys and I waited outside till 1am to meet them.

Aimi Gold: After spending a year travelling solo I returned to Glasgow brimming with nostalgia and looking to party with old friends. Fever to Tell had been the soundtrack to my first year in Glasgow and I was excited to have tickets to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the Barrowlands.

Sitting on my best friend's shoulders singing along to Maps gave me an overwhelming sense of belonging. The venue is comforting, its history and worn furnishings make it like going to your Gran's house for tea and it totally made me glad to be home. Yuck.

Words: Aimi Gold

Where: Barrowland Ballroom, 244 Gallowgate, Glasgow



Website: www.glasgow-barrowland.com/ballroom.htm

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