BBC 6 Music’s festival is coming to Glasgow next month.
The annual shindig will see more than 50 bands play at venues all over the city between March 24, 25 and 26.
Headliners include Depeche Mode, in their first live performance since 2013. They’ll be playing at the Barrowland Ballroom, probably the smallest venue they’ve played at in decades. Other headliners include The Jesus And Mary Chain, Sparks and Belle And Sebastian.
It’s the fourth time the digital radio station has held its festival, and the first time it’s happened outside England.
Lauren Laverne from the station was in the Vic Bar of the Glasgow School of Art yesterday to announce the line-up.
WHO'S ALL PLAYING?
THE festival takes place over three days, with venues throughout the city being used, though most gigs are taking place in the 02 Academy, St Luke’s and the Barrowlands Ballroom. There’s also a festival-by-day programme, including spoken word and interviews, at the Tramway, and a late-night gig at SWG3, the cavernous warehouse turned nightclub a stone’s throw away from the Clyde.
On the Friday the big draw will likely be The Jesus And Mary Chain who’ll take over the Barras, with support from Ride and the Sleaford Mods. It’s the first time in a few years the the East Kilbride-forged group, have performed and new material is expected.
Elsewhere in the city that night Sparks, best known for This Town Aint Big Enough For The Both Of Us, and who recently collaborated with Franz Ferdinand, will be at the 02 with Goldfrapp and Future Islands.
Saturday sees Granddaddy playing their first gig in Glasgow in a very, very long time. They only re-formed last year, recording new material they’ll be playing with the Shins, a band whose work featured in just about every indie movie made in the past 20 years.
At SWG3 Simian Mobile Disco, Happy Meals and local legends, Optimo will be partying late into the night.
On the Sunday, despite sets from Belle And Sebastian, and recent Scottish Album of the Year winner Anna Meredith, all eyes will be on Depeche Mode at the Barras.
At most, you can fit about 2,000 people into that most famous of Glasgow venues. The last time Depeche Mode played in the UK, it was at O2 arena in London, in front of 34,000. And the last time they were at the Barras was in 1984, for the Some Great Reward tour.
The by-day festival includes interviews and acoustic sets from Emma Pollock, Edwyn Collins, King Creosote, Jessica Hoop, Father John Misty and comedy from Fern Brady, Scott Gibson and Limmy. And, intriguingly, the Scottish Women’s Institute.
WHAT DO THEY SAY?
LAVERNE said: “The 6 Music Festival is going further north than ever before.
“I love Glasgow and have so many great memories of the city, and the 6 Music Festival is sure to create some more. The music is going to be awesome.”
Dave Gahan from Depeche Mode said he has good memories of the Barrowlands: “Glasgow has always been one of those gigs that when we’ve played, certainly in the early years, there was always a great crowd.
“It’ll be fun to play there again. I know we’re going to be doing some new stuff, and we’ll do a few old numbers too as well.”
Belle And Sebastian, who also play on the Sunday night, tweeted: “Audible sobbing heard as band made aware of a potential clash of set times with @depechemode #6musicfestival.”
Councillor Frank McAveety, leader of Glasgow City Council, is effusive about the project.
“As the UK’s first ever Unesco City of Music, Glasgow lives and breathes music 365 days a year,” he said.
WHAT'S THE LINE_UP IN FULL?
Friday
Barrowlands: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Ride, Warpaint, Sleaford Mods
O2 Academy: Goldfrapp, Sparks, Future Islands
St Luke’s: Cate Le Bon, Dutch Uncles, Girl Ray, Duds
Saturday by day
Sinkane, Temples, Craig Charles (DJ set), John Lydon in conversation with Mark Radcliffe, Optimo Words and Music with Nemone, Making Music in Glasgow: Paul Buchanan (Blue Nile), Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai), Emma Pollock, Happy Meals, Edwyn Collins in conversation with Stuart Maconie and acoustic session, BBC Radio 5 Live’s Fighting Talk, Comedy with Shaun Keaveny: Fern Brady, Scott Gibson, Limmy,
Saturday by night
Barrowlands: Bonobo, Songhoy Blues, Thundercat, Loyle Carner
O2 Academy: The Shins, Grandaddy, Honeyblood
St Luke’s: Car Seat Headrest, The Lemon Twigs, Haley Bonar, Sacred Paws
SWG3: Optimo, Nightwave, Simian Mobile Disco (DJ Set), Nan Kole (GQOM OH!), Dusky, Jungle (DJ Set), Andy Butler (Hercules & Love Affair - DJ Set), Rebecca Vashmant, Lindstrom, MWX, K4cie, Femme Fresh, Junglehussy
Sunday by day
Father John Misty, The Wedding Present, Baloji, Film Screening: Lost in France and Q&A with Nial McCann, The Pastels in Conversation with Gideon Coe, Anna Meredith in conversation with Mary Anne Hobbs, Spoken Word Sessions - Literary: Ian Rankin with Stuart Maconie, Spoken Word Sessions - Poetry: Murray Lachlan Young, Victoria McNulty, Kevin P Gilday & Cat Hepburn, Kobi Onyame & Ransom FA, Belle & Sebastian in Conversation with Cerys Matthews, Folk at the Festival with Mark Radcliffe: Yorkston, Thorne, Khan, King Creosote, Jesca Hoop, Holly Macve
Sunday by night
Barrowlands: Depeche Mode, James, Lavelle (Unkle) (DJ Set)
O2 Academy: Belle & Sebastian, Whitney, Julia Jacklin
St Luke’s Anna Meredith, Gaika, Forest Swords, Kadhja Bonet
Tickets go on sale on Friday at 10am, with highlights being broadcast on BBC TV and on the radio
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