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‘THERE’S A REAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY AT THE GIGS’ Hitlist THE BEST ROCK, POP, JAZZ & FOLK*
Julie Doiron
Self-fulfilling prophesy
It’s no secret that Glasgow is a thriving hotbed for underground music, art and activism, but Stewart Smith finds that DIY Festival is the perfect synergy of all three
W ithout wishing to play down the significance of Franz Ferdinand’s commercial breakthrough, arguably the real story of Glasgow rock in the 00s has been the rise of the DIY gig scene. Nuts & Seeds were among those that got the ball rolling by booking weird, noisy and fun bands from Europe and America, all the while nurturing home-grown talent, and a number of DIY promoters have emerged in their wake, maintaining the independent, non-profit ethos. This has culminated in Glasgow’s DIY Festival, a week-long celebration of alternative lifestyle and art practices.
‘The festival is the result of conversations between members of a creative community that exists here in Glasgow,’ explains organiser Liam Casey. ‘We realised that we share similar methods for creating work. Through self-organisation and a DIY approach, we hope to offer sustainable and communal alternatives to dominant forms of culture.’
The music programme of the festival is a glorious stramash of punk rock, indie, noise, folk, electronica and inspired weirdness, taking place over two nights at Yorkshill art space the Studio Warehouse. Fielding Hope of promoters Cry Parrot says, ‘for me, DIY shows that sustainable cultural choices exist in opposition to commercial ones. With a capitalistic approach to arts and culture, morals are thrown away and soulless greed can seep in, affecting everyone involved. DIY not only encourages a more ethical approach, it also brings people together. I hope that with this festival people enjoy all the different activities and events, but also learn something from them and consider them as something they too would
be interested in partaking in.’ Regarding the music programme, Hope adds, ‘Over the two and a half years of being involved in non-profit gigs, I still get a warm feeling, encouraging me to continue what I’m doing. There’s a real sense of community at the gigs.’ Headlining Friday’s show are Upset the Rhythm label’s psychedelic improv troupe Helhesten and Leeds-based post-hardcore duo That Fucking Tank. Heaviness abounds with Vom’s mighty cosmic doom, Hey Enemy’s tuneful hardcore and Ultimate Thrush’s gonzo splatter rock. Nack Insecten and Do-neimage- in’s spaced-out synth drones push proceedings in a more experimental direction. Last, but certainly not least, Animals And War create a patchwork of exotic percussion samples and charming folk. A Canadian double-bill tops Saturday’s event, with Julie Doiron of ’90s Sub Pop favourites Eric’s Trip bringing her gorgeous melancholia, and Construction & Destruction serving up ragged indie rock. Swedish chanteuse Natalie Stern loops her voice into tranced- out folk epics. Then there’s oddball pop from Glasgow DIY super-group Fur Hood, graceful chamber folk from Trees and drone wizard Noma building soundscapes from hairdryers, vibrators, saxophone and whatever else is to hand. The DJs onhand will be krautrock and cosmic disco travellers Huntley & Palmers and Slabs of the Tabernacle spinning their Detroit house, techno and hi-tech soul.
Glasgow DIY Festival runs from Mon 21-Sun 27 Sep. The music events are at the Studio Warehouse, Glasgow, Fri 25–Sat 26 Sep. For more see page 30 and www.diyglasgow.co.uk
✽✽ Speech Debelle two months ago she was just a young London-based singer who had made one of the truly memorable albums of the year . . . now she’s got a Mercury Music Prize so she must be good, right? Believe the hype. Think a female Mike Skinner with real soul. The Arches, Glasgow, Thu 1 Oct. (Rock & Pop) ✽✽ Music Like a Vitamin The Scottish Mental Health Festival kicks off in considerable style with this selection of homegrown delicacies. Emma Pollock, Karine Polwart, James Yorkston, Adrian Crowley and Alisdair Roberts make up a really quite special line-up of songwriting talent. There’s an Edinburgh show of similar standing at the other end of the festival on 21 Oct, and a whole array of other good things in between. See Around Town, page 28 for more. The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Thu 1 Oct. (Rock & Pop) ✽✽ NME Radar Tour Golden Silvers, Marina and the Diamonds, Local Natives and Yes Giantess are the four spanking new acts determined to end up on magazine covers everywhere. Isn’t this what the NME tour in January used to be like? King Tut’s, Glasgow, Thu 1 Oct. (Rock & Pop) ✽✽ Pixies There’s little denying Doolittle as one of the finest albums of the 90s, so it seems wholly fitting that they return to give it an outing it deserves: in its entirety with B-sides, the lot. Also nice that it’s in a venue they never finished a gig in as the stage collapsed three songs in when the played here last in 1991. SECC, Glasgow, Sun 4 Oct. (Rock & Pop) 24 Sep–8 Oct 2009 THE LIST 61