‘Being Scottish, Scotland and the Scottish music industry is about so much more than wee ditties and Monarch of the bloody Glen.’ Paul Brown, spokesperson for EMERGE Glasgow’s Young Talent, a non-profit social enterprise.
Scotland, and in particular Glasgow, is no stranger to massive musical success stories. It is the birthplace of numerous bands: Simple Minds, Wet Wet Wet, Teenage Fanclub, Del Amitri and Primal Scream. Travis and Texas, two of the UK’s most recent big bands, also come from Glasgow – there is a distinct buzz about the place. A fact that has not gone unnoticed, with Time Magazine comparing Glasgow’s music scene to Detroit’s Motown of the 70s. So, with this rich heritage and with Franz Ferdinand’s recent prize-winning and chart topping success, it seems as if Scottish music has never been so hot. Surely then, punters, public and press should be hankering after the next ‘big thing’ out of Scotland, but are we listening carefully enough to the emerging sounds?
