Glasgow, the City of Music

The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, recently named Glasgow a UNESCO City of Music, as part of the Organization’s Creative Cities Network. It joins Bologona in Italy and Seville in Spain, as the only three European Cities of Music. Glasgow was chosen for very good reason; check-out some of the statistics:

-    in an average week, 127 musical events take place in the city
-    123 rock and pop bands are based in the city
-    almost 3,000 people are employed in the music industry in the city

When visiting Glasgow, you might want to try one of these great venues to enjoy the local talent.

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut

It might have a strange name, and the ambiance here has been described as ‘cramped, sweaty, and very loud’, but that shouldn’t put you off. The crowds that descend here regularly will assure you that the talent is raw and worth your attention.

The Flying Duck
With a combination of experimental art, buskers, and themed nights, The Flying Duck is party paradise. This is where Glaswegians go when they’re looking for something different.

Mono

Where else would you go for idie rock than underneath an old unused railway line? Mono has a wonderfully relaxed, casual atmosphere with a glass cupola creating an airy, light space. Comfy sofas, basket chairs, wooden tables and an in-house record shop make you want to stay for hours. The on-site cafe serves up regular and vegetarian-friendly food.

Maggie May’s

Awarded Scotland’s “best music bar” last year, Maggie May’s is pumping out top notch hits from some of the industry’s biggest names, including Ian McColloch and Norman Blake. The interior of the bar reminds one of an old-world coffee bar – the red walls blend nicely with the brown leather furniture, including several comfy high-backed chairs.

ABC

Formerly an art deco cinema, ABC is the ultimate in repurposing a space, having become a space with two music venues and four trendy bars. The stage here is magical, with dazzling lighting equipment and acoustics.

To read more about the City of Music designation, visit the Glasgow City of Music website.