Interview - Lynne and Dave Girdwood

Way, way back in the early 90's I attended Carluke High School and by the time I reached the common rooms of 5th and 6th year I was heavily into music. Delving into my parents record collection, starting my own and becoming involved in a little mixtape culture with other teenagers who were developing obsessions.

There was a metal crowd that worshipped Metallica, Guns n Roses, Iron Maiden and things like that, the indie crowd where the Roses, Fanclub, Nirvana, Inspirals and Charlatans featured heavily (and the Frank and Walters!) and then there were a few cool kids who were embracing house music.

Lynne McGilvary was one of these cool kids and I distinctly remember her cutting about in flares and kickers! She always had a lovely smile and was one of the few people who could easily cut about between the various groups/cliques that the common room held.

I would see Lynne out and about in the years after high school in clubs and at gigs and then we connected through Facebook. Lynne was living in Amsterdam with her boyfriend and hey - she had a couple of spare tickets for one of the first Stone Roses comeback shows in 2012!!! A quick phone call to my wife and a check of Easyjet flights and I was off to catch up with Lynne in Amsterdam.

My wife Lynn and I met Lynne and her (then) boyfriend Dave and went back to their super cool flat to listen to tunes and catch up over rooftop beers ahead of the Roses. Dave was clearly mad for music and also had a healthy obsession with desert boots which I always take to be a good sign! In our short time together it was clear that the two of them were mad for each other and music.

Lynne and Dave are now happily married, back in Scotland and have taken their passion for music to new levels through building a collection (and knowledge) of rare records and super cool tunes, dj-ing across the country and making great friendships along the way.

I always enjoy their social media posts about tunes and records they have discovered, tracked down and played to great reactions and also their little jokes with each other.

In May they get to do something that makes me insanely jealous but also very pleased for them. They get to DJ at the Barrowland Ballroom as part of the annual Barraloadasoul night!

Lynn and I went in 2015 and 2016 and we're in the process of organising babysitters to ensure we can go again. It will be quite something to dance on the hallowed ballroom sprung floor to tunes being spun by two friends.

Ahead of this, I pinged some questions to Dave and Lynne. I hope you enjoy reading their answers as much as I did. See below.

Tickets for Barraloadasoul are available HERE and you can keep up to dates via their Facebook page.

Here is my blog from the 2015 event







INTERVIEW - Lynne and Dave Girdwood

1. Music clearly plays a large part in your lives, is this what brought you together?

Dave - Pretty much, we used to sit opposite each other at work and already had a few mutual friends, the main one being Gav Wallace from the Scuffers (Lynne grew up with him and I worked beside him for 10-years), so we used to chat music all the time. I remember Lynne giving me a loan of a CD that I already had but said I hadn't heard it before, as I fancied her! When Lynne was living in Amsterdam and I was still in the UK we used to send each other tunes all the time. So as you can see music is pretty much brought us together and really is our life nowadays.

Lynne - I remember getting lots of lync messages telling me how much Dave was enjoying the tunes I was listening to on my iPod as I had the volume up so loud! We weren't even sitting opposite each other at that point, I had moved to a different part of the office! Haha!

2. Who had the best record collection when you first met? Do you share collections now? Does it always have to be original vinyl?

Dave - We both had pretty decent collections when we first met and both were quite different, mine consisted of predominately hip-hop, funk and soul, while Lynne's was house music and indie orientated. We mostly buy our records independently but if an expensive one comes up that we can't afford on our own, we'll buy it together. For the music and venues we play it has to be original vinyl and we pretty much dedicate most of our waking hours to sourcing records from all over the world, some would call us nerds or purists but we just like to do things properly.

Lynne - Obviously my collection is the best! (only joking!)

3. How have you influenced each others taste? 

Dave - We still have our own individual taste in records. Lynne will tell me pretty bluntly if she thinks something I've bought is shite (and I''m not shy either). We're always trying to outdo each other with new records, we've spent many an hour playing new stuff to each other before buying or just buying and watching the other one's face when it's put on the decks for the first time. We're also pretty good at finding records for each other, so if I come across something that I know Lynne would like I'll pass it on to her (unless I like it more) and vice versa.

4. Can you remember the first northern soul night you went to together? Any memories?

Dave - First soul night would've been the old Amsterdam Soul Club at De Badcuyp, we also got engaged there and it was the place we visited the night after we got married (also the only soul club tattoo I have). Amsterdam is a pretty special place for us and we go back each year, we're fortunate enough to also DJ there as well.

Lynne - Yes Amsterdam Soul Club! I landed a job over in Holland and moved over to Amsterdam. Dave moved over to live with me not long after we got together. Amsterdam Soul Club was on a monthly basis and we went as often as possible. Brilliant venue, great crowd of punters and amazing hosts that we are lucky to call friends now.


5. Was Dave first to DJ? When did you start dj-ing together?

Dave - I used to DJ at the student union in Dundee when I was living there, then stopped for a god few years before being asked to double deck with someone in Aberdeen at a soul night and I've been playing regularly since then. Lynne also got her start in Aberdeen at a different night and has also been playing regularly since. We've actually only DJ's together a handful of times, it's fun as you can bounce off each other as we have different tastes and styles.

Lynne - I still have to pinch myself that I'm getting asked to play the records I love out at soul clubs. It's amazing! We're both very thankful to get the opportunity to do it and are loving every minute of it.

6. And you DJ regularly all over. What have been your highlights so far?

Both - Dave playing at the last ever Amsterdam Soul Club night, was a great honour to be asked, as the place and the people mean a lot to us. SSW and MSFB - the crowd are amazing and I love how Yogi trusts us to play what we want. If you haven't visited MFSB yet, sort it out! Afternoon clubbing is the future! Being asked to play the notorious Different Strokes New Year's Eve parties, Manchester Soul Weekender and Aberdeen Soul Collective. Being asked to be residents at True Soul alongside some amazing DJ's. Every time we get asked to play somewhere is a highlight and we really mean it as we love playing music to people.

7. Barraloadasoul is still a relatively new annual event. What has it meant for the scene in Scotland and beyond?

Dave - It's one of the biggest soul events in Scotland, it's great to see somewhere that you normally associate with concerts, full of people dancing and having a great time. A major for me is how close it is, normally the weekends mean a lot of travel but this is only 40-minutes away by train for a change.

Lynne  - It's a massive event which is a great thing for the scene up in Scotland as it attracts people who have been into the music for years, but also people new to the scene.

8. What does it mean to the two of you to be dj-ing again at the famous Barrowland Ballroom?

Dave - I think it's still pretty mental! I remember being on stage last year before anyone was in and thinking to myself that the Barras  was way bigger from up on the stage than it looks from the floor. Really appreciate Geraldine asking us back again as we thoroughly enjoyed playing there last time and really look forward to this year again.

Lynne - I have been to the Barras so many times over the years and seen my favourite bands on that stage, so it's unreal that we get to DJ on the same stage as them! Delighted that Geraldine asked us, means a lot.

9. Who are your favourite DJ's?

Dave - For me it has to be Butch, he's always pushing the rare soul scene forward with new discoveries. Henning Borg from Switzerland is another, he's passionate about what he plays and he shows that when playing. Any DJ that shows passion whilst playing their music is a winner. Lastly Mark Linton, who unfortunately is no longer with us, he always told me to play what I wanted and believed in me.

Lynne - It's hard to pick favourite DJ's as there are so many with amazing records who can put together unbelievable sets! Big love for Markie too and very sad that he's no longer the life and soul of the party.

10. Lastly, could you each list your 5 favourite northern soul tunes?

5 from Dave's collection, not necessarily Northern, but definitely soulful;

1. Emmitt Long - Call Me (Donoyia)
2. Paramount Four - You Don't Know (Southern City)
3. New World - We're Gonna Make It (Polydor)
4. Delreys Incorporated - Destination Unknown (Tampete)
5. Sir Guy - I Need You Baby (DPG)

5 from Lynne's collection, again, not all northern, but soulful nonetheless! Oh...and this list could have literally hundreds of tunes on it - picking 5 is very tricky.

1. Brothers of Soul - Dream (Shock)
2. Cookie Scott and the Chevelles - I Don't Care (Orr)
3. Rising Sun - Good Loving (Kingston)
4. Kelly Brothers - Crying Days Are Over (Sims)
5. Johnny McCall - I Need You (Alteen)

Baby I Need Your Loving

Motown Monthly #2

How good a song is this? The urgency is immediate, you get a sense of it from the title alone. This isn't someone dreaming, wishing, wanting or longing for a love. This is someone needing it, someone who has got to have it all.

I've always loved this song but it took on a whole new meaning for me when I heard it at the Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom at the annual Barraloadasoul event a couple of years ago. It came blasting out of the speakers in mid-evening after an impassioned intro from the DJ. He raised his hands in the air singing a-long and the crowd responded accordingly.

Research has just told me that this is in fact the debut single by The Four Tops. In that case it is surely one of the best debut singles of all time!

It is a Holland-Dozier-Holland special and the group formed a special affinity with the master songwriters thanks to their love of lead singer Levi Stubbs incredible vocal range. They deliberately wrote for him to push his vocals to the extreme and between 1964-1967 they crafted gems like Reach Out I'll Be There, Bernadette and Standing In The Shadows Of Love.

In under 3-minutes H-D-H create the ultimate plea for love. This song has everything, the musicianship is impeccable and it turns out that H-D-H had the music before the words. And oh what words, simple but devastatingly effective. And oh with those lead vocals and the sensational backing vocals.... the impact is quite incredible.

Just listen to the oooh backing vocals during the last verse that then change to i need you and i want you baby. And when the four voices combine it just sounds so soulful and sublime.

Lonely nights echo your name

Oh sometimes I wonder

Will I ever be the same

You know things have gotten worse

Any smile you might see has all been rehearsed

Darling I can't go on without you

This emptiness won't let me live without you

This loneliness inside darling

Makes me feel half alive

Baby I need your lovin'

Got to have all your lovin'

16 things - Scottish Music in 2016

Here are 16 things that I am looking forward to relating to Scottish music in 2016. Starting with albums/shows/activity from some of my favourite bands.

1. A new Teenage Fanclub album

It was number 1 in my 15 things for 2015 blog and it didn't happen, but it will definitely happen in 2016...won't it? I'm pretty sure it will and Norman Blake has tweeted that the album is ready and Gerry Love has said it should be ready for the summer in a recent interview on Finlay MacDonald's Alternative Folk Show (13th December). A Fanclub album in time for summer would be perfect.

I was lucky enough to hear Norman's songs from the album when I gave him a lift home from Edinburgh back in May - classic Fanclub. I look forward to the album and some long awaited live shows. 

2. Belle and Sebastian celebrate 20-years together

Belle and Sebastian have announced (and SOLD OUT) 2 very special shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London next June to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band. The first night will see the band play their celebrated debut Tigermilk and the second will be about all things If You're Feeling Sinister.

Surely the band are going to do something special in Glasgow or Scotland? Keep an eye on their Social Media pages if you are a fan of the band.

3. BMX Bandits 30th anniversary

BMX Bandits formed in the summer of 1985 and released their debut single in the summer of 1986, so they are stretching their 30th anniversary celebrations over 2-years. They eased in gently in 2015 with a handful of headline shows, an appearance at Wickerman and a great support slot with The Charlatans. The band are in fine form - expect much more in 2016 - potentially activity relating to their back catalogue but also possibly some new material.

The BMX Bandits will play a special 30th anniversary show at the CCA on 14th May. See you there.

It was 30-years ago today....

4. Primal Scream - album and shows

Speaking of Pledge Music, Primal Scream have decided to go down that route for Chaosmosis - their new album due for release in March. They follow that up with 4 'intimate' shows including the Aberdeen Ballroom and the ABC in Glasgow.

The fire still burns in Bobby Gillespie and I look forward to seeing what he and his band have been working on.

5. The Pastels archive project
I recently re-read the magnificent My Magpie Eyes Are Hungry For The Prize book on Creation Records and it caused me to delve into the labels extensive back catalogue. Despite being a fan of The Pastels for over 20-years, I hadn't really dug into their very early releases, I guess because 20-years ago you couldn't really get a hold of them, now you can get a hold of pretty much anything on YouTube.

Somethings's Going On by The Pastels was one of the very first releases on Creation Records, away back in the day, closely followed by Million Tears which I totally fell in love with on first listen and kicked myself for not discovering it before!

Million Tears is guitar pop perfection, flowing superbly from the very start with a great upbeat instrumental intro before bursting into a short verse and then chorus.

Oh if I can't have you I don't want nobody else

And if I can't have you I won't take nobody else

I'd tear myself apart

And cry a million tears

Break down the walls of pain

And fall into the heartache scene

Stephen has confirmed that The Pastels will be working on an 'archive project' throughout 2016 and will be collecting tapes from various sources over the weeks and months to come. Expect some shows later in the year, it would be amazing to hear Million Tears and some of the really early stuff live.

6. The SAY Award

The SAY Award goes from strength to strength. I thought the move to the ABC in 2015 was a great choice (as much as I love the Barras). The longlist highlighted how eclectic and strong the Scottish music scene, the shortlist emphasised it with many surprised by the likes of the Twilight Sad and Mogwai not making the cut. 

The SAY Award introduced many (myself included) to the talent of Kathryn Joseph and Happy Meals. I look forward to seeing what the long and short lists bring up next year.

Happy Meals

7. T in the Park and the Stone Roses

I've got tickets to see the Roses in Manchester and I may well venture up to Strathallan Castle to catch the Roses on Scottish soil. The Roses stir incredible passion from within their Scottish fans and they will be bang on form following their 4 shows in Manchester.

2016 is set to be a crucial year for T in the Park after a deluge of complaints from last summer relating to the new site - the size, set-up, facilities, stewarding and access all came in for heavy criticism.

CEO Geoff Ellis issued a very honest and transparent apology and statement regarding the problems that many fans faced last year. Ellis confirmed there has been a full assessment and a strategy is in place to ensure that things will be up to scratch in 2016.

T in the Park is very important to Scotland, we need a strong flagship festival and the thirst for live music within the country demands it. I look forward to seeing what acts are announced over the months to come.

Strathallan Castle

8. Brew At The Bog
I have yet to venture up to Brew At The Bog. I have also yet to hear a bad word about it.

A large percentage of the line-up for 2016 has already been announced.....and it may well mean that I make the journey north! Add in a stunning setting at Bogbain Farm in Inverness, craft beer gin, cider, whisky, rum and prosecco bars and a ticket price of £59 and it looks like a winner.

Kloe and White have been signed to major labels and could be in line for a breakthrough in 2016, C Duncan was nominated for the Mercury Prize, Best Girl Athlete released one of my albums of 2015, Roman Nose are incredible live, Adam Holmes can produce moments of beauty and Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 are going from strength to strength.

9. Wickerman

I always have an absolute ball at the Wickerman Festival, the location, atmosphere and eclectic line-up always ensure a good weekend. No acts have been confirmed for the 2016 festival as yet and sources indicate that Synergy Concerts will not be booking for this years festival. So there will be changes, I look forward to hearing the first acts being announced in the near future.

I'd really like to take our 2 kids to Wickerman 2016. It will make for a completely different weekend but Wickerman has that kind of family friendly vibe. If not 2016, then they will definitely be ready in 2017.

10. Bands and artists developing
See my blog on 16 bands/artists that will be developing through 2016 HERE.

Neon Waltz - one to watch in 2016

11. Celtic Connections
A quiet January? We don't do quiet in Glasgow, there is always something going on, always some excuse to get out for a drink, a catch-up and some music, art or entertainment.

Celtic Connections is set to deliver another incredible few weeks in Glasgow with Scottish alternative acts including;

 Rachel Sermanni supporting John Grant, Admiral Fallow, Bwani Junction performing Paul Simon's Graceland album, Errors, TeenCanteen, the return of De Rosa, Siobhan Wilson, Duglas T Stewart and the Glad Cafe community choir performing the songs of Ivor Cutler, Kathryn Joseph, Linden and JJ Gilmour, James Yorkston, The Pictish Trail and Withered Hand (the last 3 all on one bill), Emma Pollok, JR Green and Roddy Hart and the Lonesome Fire hold their annual Roaming Roots Revue with Krist Kristofferson and Mathew E White among the guests.

As well as the John Grant show mentioned above, They Might Be Giants family matinee show and an evening for Bert Jansch catch the eye.

Skint? Well get yourself along to the BBC or some of the free workshops on offer. Also check out the amazing late night festival club to test your endurance or the new Late Night Sessions at the Drygate Brewery compered by Finlay Napier.

12. King Tut's New Year Revolution
Now in the hands of young Chris Beltran, KTNYR showcases some of the many up and coming acts from around Scotland in one of my favourite places in the world.

I am especially looking forward to the night on Saturday 23rd January as I'll be DJ-ing between the bands Enemies of the State, November Lights, Lemonhaze and the Freelance Liars. The Van T's are special late night guests in the bar after the fun upstairs is over.

November Lights feature in my blog on 16 artists to watch develop in 2016.

13. Scottish labels
Tiny labels like Hits The Fan Records (Kathryn Joseph and JR Green) and Night School Records (Happy Meals) (Molly Nilsson) are releasing some incredible music. I've also been really impressed with the cassette label Fuzzkill Records who have been prolific with their output over the last year or so featuring bands like my faves Catholic Action.

Stephen Pastel's Geographic Music are already planning a single release for Spinning Coin who previously released with Fuzzkill Records, Olive Grove Records will be releasing the debut album by Ette (my sisters solo project) and Lost Map will be releasing the hotly anticipated album by Tuff Love.

Phew - that is not to mention Bloc Music, Song by Toad Records, and Chemikal Underground and Mogwai's Rock Action Records!

As I said in my previous blog, the Scottish music scene is in good health and a rich vein of form and a lot of that goes down to the taste and energy of those running the labels mentioned above.

Happy Meals vinyl

14. Barraloadasoul

One of the best nights I had in 2015 was getting dressed up and heading into the Barrowland Ballroom to dance on a talcum powdered floor to some incredible music with family and friends. It was like a scene out of a film with people dressed to impress and busting some serious moves on the dancefloor. The moment one of the DJ's dropped Jackie Wilson (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher was like being in my dream disco, hand in the air, smiles on faces, good times.

The third annual Barraloadasoul takes place on Saturday 21st May from 2pm-midnight.

Barraloadasoul 2015

15. Digging deep
Kind of linked to the Scottish labels section in number 13, but what about the bands/artists that don't have labels? What about the bands/artists that are really and truly only doing it for the pure love of music? How do you find them? If you dig deep you might strike gold.

There is an element of luck from just scanning the internet and stumbling across something. Fortunately I know 2 people who have been in bands in the past and will be in bands in the future, but who also create incredible music in the comfort of their own homes.

Listen to Brittle by Broken By Rock, it is like a fragile New Order

I am brittle, in many, many ways

A broken heart, I cannot stay

A sign this song, for you I pray

My broken heart

Check it on SOUNDCLOUD

Then there is Stephen Solo who has recorded an album on his iPhone. The results are amazing. Check out Crying Because - a raw gem, absolutely beautiful. Stephen also made a brilliant homemade video on his iPhone as well.

Wanting to feel the wind

Crying because it blows everything away

Everything away

Wanting to feel love

Crying because love, love is sad most of the time

Most of the time

16. Record Store Day
I totally get the arguments that Record Store Day is a bit corporate these days and I understand the frustration from artists and fans about the people who buy a rarity and stick it up on ebay immediately. However it is still fun and a celebration of record shops across the world. Taking a trip to Monorail in Glasgow is a semi-regular occurrence for me, but going with my friend Dave, drinking beer and catching some bands while we are there is not something that happens very often unfortunately. So for that reason alone I am looking forward to Record Store Day.

Saturday 16th April is the date for your diary.

Barraloadasoul

It was a like a scene from a film; beautiful, widescreen, everyone was ready; looking good, feeling good, dressed to impress...lights.....camera....action...

Last night at the world famous Barrowland Ballroom was an absolute joy; listening to and dancing to some incredible tunes on the talc dusted dancefloor with good friends. The atmosphere was exceptionally positive and friendly. Good vibes spread from the dancefloor to the DJ's and back again.

People looked amazing, the age range was vast and everyone was there to have a good time. Early on we watched enthralled as a young guy in huge flares kicked and spun with his girlfriend who was just as good as him.

The tunes were superb - a few we knew, loads we didn't. We ventured to the bar downstairs a few times through the night where DJ's were also playing and I fell in love with a new song - Tyrone Barkley's Man of Value. What a tune, I had to find out what it was and the DJ obliged.

Back up the stairs people had loosened up and the dancefloor was busy. There were some incredible dancers but most people, myself included, were there to have a good time and dance our hearts out to some great songs - the best tunes at the best venue.

The DJ's all had 30-45 minutes to spin their tunes and show their taste, skills and collections. There were some slow burners, some floaters and many a stomper - DJ's wanted people dancing.

Jackie Wilson's (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher was euphoric. People had their hands in the air, punching the sky in delight as they danced and sung along.

What a night! This was the second annual Barraloadasoul - roll on next year.