GLAS-GOES POP

I very rarely plug things through the blog, but this is a deserving exception. And besides, if you get to the end of things, you’ll discover a chance to get along to this upcoming festival for free.

Without further ado, here’s the press release from the organisers:-

Glas-Goes Pop is a new boutique indie music festival taking place 5-6 August at the Glasgow University Union Debate Chambers in the city’s West End.

The weekend is the result of wishful conversations between two transplanted Californians now living here who were desperately missing live music over the pandemic. The inaugural Glas-Goes Pop focuses on a genre of indie pop born in 80s Britain that still has a loyal fanbase to this day. Known varyingly as C86, twee, indie pop, or anorak pop, the movement was embraced by an audience brought up on The Smiths and REM, with a natural affinity for the earnest jangle of guitars. Sam Knee’s coffee table book, A Scene In Between, documents the 60s-via-Oxfam style of the original era.

All of the bands playing Glas-Goes Pop include a major player from the time. Amelia Fletcher of original scenesters and figureheads Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, and Tender Trap (amongst others), appears here with both The Catenary Wires and Swansea Sound.

Phil Wilson still leads The June Brides, while Pete Astor from early Creation Records artists, The Loft and The Weather Prophets, plays under his own name nowadays.

California-girl-gone-Brit Beth Arzy of Sarah Records‘ Aberdeen and later Trembling Blue Stars appears with Jetstream Pony, who also feature Shaun Charman, an original member of The Wedding Present. Rachel Love pre-dates the scene by a few years, but her post punk all-girl outfit Dolly Mixture is held in high regard by the fanbase. Headlining the fest will be Mozart Estate, the latest project from indie icon Lawrence of Felt/Denim/Go-Kart Mozart fame. The list goes on! As we like to say in our promo, all killer, no filler!

Several of the bands are making their Glasgow debut – Davey Woodward & the Winter Orphans, Papernut Cambridge, Jetstream Pony, Swansea Sound and Rachel Love. Mozart Estate and The June Brides last played Glasgow in 2013, while David Christian last played here with his punk/pop/soul outfit Comet Gain in 2010.

As the festival is based in Scotland, considered by many to be a ground zero for the scene, our own Close Lobsters top the bill on Friday night, playing alongside original Sarah Records favourites and fellow Scottish popsters, The Orchids.

Saturday will get started with an early screening of a documentary by Paul Kelly (Lawrence of Belgravia) – Take Three Girls: The Dolly Mixture Story, as a wee warm up to Rachel Love playing later that evening.

Filling in the gaps over both days and ending each night with a dance party, we have a superb group of DJs – Chris Geddes from Belle and Sebastian, Gerry Love from Lightships/former Teenage Fanclub, Andrew Williams from Track & Field (London)/editor of Boaty Weekender fanzine Deck 7 and Robert Winning from Glasgow’s own Simply Thrilled Scottish-pop-themed club night.

The festival is located at the beautiful Debate Chambers in the historical Glasgow University Union. Guests will also have access to the adjacent Reading Room, so a comfortable experience should be had by all. For those who don’t want to miss any of the bands, the option to pre-order a simple evening vegan/vegetarian meal is also available when buying either weekend or single day tickets.

As a separate event from the festival, the organisers are hosting a Pop Fest Brunch with Duglas T. Stewart from the legendary BMX Bandits on the Sunday afternoon at the Thornwood Bar in Partick – a way to unwind with fellow pop music fans after two days of music and fun. Duglas will be hosting a pub quiz to close the weekend with a smile.

It’s something of an honour that Simply Thrilled, the club night I’ve been part of for a while, is involved in the festival, and Robert will undoubtedly do a great job in among those other, perhaps better-known, DJs whose names are alongside his on the flyer.

There’s a range of ticketing options available for Glas-Goes Pop, with the option of going along on either or both days.  Click here for more details.

Myself and Aldo have already got our tickets for the weekend, and have been looking forward to it for months.

Another great friend of the blog, flimflamfan, also has a ticket, but unfortunately is now going to be otherwise engaged over the weekend, and so is now offering the chance for a TVV reader to make free use of it.  It is a two-day ticket, but without the pre-booked food option, and has a face value of £48.

All you have to do is make use of the comments section by leaving behind the words ‘Glas-Goes Pop Ticket? – Yes, Please!’ and your name will go in the hat.  The only thing is, you’ll need to do so by the end of this week, Friday 29 July, to allow myself and flimflanfan enough time to sort everything out.

mp3: Close Lobsters – What Is There To Smile About?

Plenty, if you ask me.

JC