cu Tre _
~ left: ldlewild, Mogwai, and Sharam Jay
Liuid gold
‘OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH BANDS ARE STILL REALLY ST RONG'
While so many venues have struggled in the capital, the Liquid Room has thrived. Doug Johnstone reports on the top line-up for their tenth birthday celebrations
venue can make or break a great night out when
it comes to live music or a club night. There‘s
simply no comparison between seeing your favourite band or DJ struggling in a soulless. breezy cowshed of a place and seeing them whip up a storm in your local throbbing sweatbox.
So when we get a decent venue for music. we should celebrate it. especially these days. when commercial pressures are seeing more and more places closing down (RIP The Venue).
So let's hear it for the Liquid Room. which celebrates ten years of fantastic live shows and classic clubs in May. Emerging from the ashes of The Music Box a decade ago. on a labyrinthine Old Town site on Victoria Street. the venue has consistently provided a great platform for local talent. touring bands and DJs alike.
The SOD-capacity space makes for the perfect stepping stone for acts on their way up the industry
ladder. and as such it has seen a remarkable array of
now world-famous acts take to the stage. (‘oldplay. Travis, Moby. Smashing Pumpkins. Public linemy. Kaiser Chiefs. Keane. Snow Patrol. KT Tunstall — and on and on the list goes.
To celebrate ten years as one of the country's lincst venues, they‘re taking a trip down memory lane. programming a week of gigs and clubs which will no doubt bring back some line memories.
‘The whole idea of the birthday week was to bring back artists that our customers remember as being among the best gigs they’ve seen.‘ says events manager Kathrin Gee. ‘The line-up is full of artists that supported us in the early days. guys who helped make
60 THE LIST 10—24 May 200/
the Liquid Room what it is today.‘
None more so than Mogwai. who kick off:
proceedings on Sunday l3 May.
‘lt was important to get Mogwai. because they were the first ever band to play the Liquid Roomf says Gee. ‘The fact that they agreed to launch the birthday week. and that all the other acts agreed to take part. indicates that our relationships with bands are still really strong.’
The following seven days see everything from the legendary reggae of Prince Buster to the jazz. maestro Roy Ayres. the blistering indie of ldlewild to the anthemic hip hop of (‘oolio. another artist who appeared very early in the Liquid Room‘s history.
lilsewhere there are club nights involving the (‘uban Brothers and Trevor Nelson. and a very special indie club night with Gary Lightbody and Tom Simpson from Snow Patrol manning the decks.
‘Snow Patrol played here to 50 people when they were nobodies. really.’ says Gee. "l‘hey always loved a good drink and a party. and you never knew what to expect from them. but you always got a laugh. and that” be the same at this event. Gary said he was really excited about coming back — he reckons that he's played the Liquid Room more than any other venue.‘
With a big refurbishment planned and an ever- growing list of quality bands and clubs. the Liquid Room could easily manage another ten years.
‘livery year we do more and more shows.. says Gee. ‘And we're in a position now where we can select stuff. and just put really good quality events on.‘
Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sun 13-Sun 20 May.
1}" Patti Smith More than 30 years after her debut ‘Piss Factory’ helped ignite the flames of punk, Smith is older, wiser but her passion live remains unabated. The intimate poetry shindig she hosted last year was just a taster for this, a full band show. ABC, Glasgow, Tue 22 May. (Rock8Pop)
iii:- Grizzly Bear Yes, we include them not just because they have by far the best band name of the fortnight (take a leaf out of their book Be Be See!) but because their deftness with an infectious melody and how they manage to make banjos sound cool. Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow, Thu 77 May. (Rock&Pop) 1990s See preview, right. Mono, Glasgow, Sun 13 May. (Rock&Pop)
i = Travis This will be the ninth visit to the Barras for Fran and friends, and this one finds them invigorated and sounding more beguiling than ever. See feature, page 14. Barrow/and, Glasgow, Thu 17 May. (RockaPop)
‘ » Battles See preview, right. ABC, Glasgow, Wed 23 May. (Rock8Pop)
1 i Beardstock Embrace the experimental magic of the inaugural Beardstock, with James Blackshaw, Kylie Minoise, PuMaJaW and more providing the soundtrack to your dreams and nightmares, often at the same time. Arches, Glasgow, Sat 19 May. (Rock8Pop)
- 1 Emma Pollock See preview, right. Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Mon 74 May; Barfly, Glasgow, Tue 75 May. (Rock8Pop)
1 1' Liquid Room 10th Birthday See preview, left. Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sun 13—Sun 20 May (Rock&Pop) Glasgow Americana Festival Mary Gauthier kicks off this baby tribute to Big Big Country curator Billy Kelly who died last year with a selection of dusty alt.country deities from both sides of the Atlantic. Various venues, Glasgow, Thu 24--Mon 27 May. (Folk)