THE Scottish music scene is buzzing this weekend.
Between the Summer Nights at the Kelvingrove Bandstand, Belladrum Festival and Playground Festival, music lovers are swamped for choice.
Tonight, The Human League are taking to the Kelvingrove Bandstand amidst a line-up of seriously good talent. Patti Smith and Father John Misty have played this week, and next week The National will take to the stand.
Over in Rouken Glen park in the South Side of Glasgow, Playground Festival is boasting one of the best line-ups seen at a boutique festival in recent years. Friendly Fires and Groove Armada warmed up the crowds on Friday, whilst last night Lauryn Hill headlined. Today, the festival will close with a bang as Hot Chip take to the stage, after Honne, Maribou State and Django Django.
Hot Chip are indeed hot stuff, touring off the back of the release of their new album, A Bath Full of Ecstasy. Acts themselves are gearing up to see Hot Chip’s set as they headline. Johnny Lynch, aka Pictish Trail said:
“I’m excited to play some of our new stuff, and to be dancing to some of my favourite bands as well. Hot Chip and the Django’s, man, it’s going to be so good.”
Dave from Django Django, who play before Maribou State on Sunday, was equally excited for the Hot Chip headliner slot. “I’m really excited – we haven’t played Glasgow or Scotland in a while”, David said. “We’ve been in album writing mode and taking time to get back in the swing of it. We’re all excited to play, and really excited to see Hot Chip. “The new album will be out this year, at some point. We turned down a lot this summer to get it finished, but we didn’t want to turn this down because the lineup looked so good. “
Groove Armada headlined on Friday night, with many raving about how good their set was. Although celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2018, Groove Armada’s Tom told The Sunday National that their performance is still their main concern:
“We feel like elder statesmen of the scene a bit” said Tom. “I’m more relaxed about our place in it now: five years ago, you felt you were more aware of your contemporaries. There’s a clubbing and warehouse music scene that is strong. I don’t feel affiliated anymore to that. It’s the way that we perform dance music that is unique, and our role is to keep that way of playing alive.”
The good tunes continue up North at the 16th Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival opened in the Belladrum Estate. Headline acts included Elbow, Chvrches and Tom Odell.
Closing today is Jess Glynn and Lewis Capaldi, the man of the moment on Scotland’s music scene.
Capaldi has been making headlines after his Chewbacca mask worn at TRNSMT to poke fun at the Noel Gallagher feud was purchased by Paolo Nutini for £10,000 in aid of Tiny Changes, the mental health charity set up in memory of Frightened Rabbit’s front man Scott Hutchison, who took his own life last year.
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