Tenement Trail 2026 preview

Tenement Trail 2026 could easily be the best yet. Headliners Brogeal are riding that 'word of mouth' wave that even the best marketing teams can't buy, while old Glasgow favourites Baby Strange are set to reunite for the 10th anniversary of their debut album Want It Need It.

I love how the area around The Barrowland Ballroom has developed over time. It's still got that gritty edge, but there are now super cool pubs and additional music and arts venues that have created a fantastic vibe and buzz. It's a super cool area to hang out. Joining The Barrowland to host bands and artists for Tenement Trail 2026 are; Barras Art and Design, Saint Lukes, McChuills, Van Winkle and 226 Gallowgate. There might even be some secret shows elsewhere if previous years are anything to go by.

Read on for my 5 Top Tenement Trail Tips and 10 acts to look out for.

TTTT Top Tenement Trail Tips

1. Go early

In recent years I've caught Kerr Mercer playing first on the bill. Kerr has since gone on to release a string of singles and tour with ... well loads of people, including huge shows with Lewis Capaldi. It's just a matter of time before this young Scottish singer-songwriter breaks through. Kerr's voice is extraordinary. Super soulful.

I'd especially recommend looking out for last minute additions to the bill. They are likely to be on early and be bands/artists that are generating a new buzz and that industry types are keen to see. Tenement Trail attracts labels and agents, it's a great festival for young acts to play.

2. Plan for food

Last year my friend Joe and I parked up at the Guinness BBQ outside Saint Luke's for delicious burgers and pints of the black stuff. The previous year we had street food from the wonderful Ho Lee Fook. This year - well we might head in for lunch, but we want to book a table so I'll keep the venue quiet until my review so we can get a space! The area is awash with funky bars, cafes and stalls to cater for your needs. 

3. Research

Not my strong point! Thankfully my friend Joe is bang into researching the acts playing and last year led us to Van Winkle for Madra Salach (pictured above) who absolutely blew us away. They have gone on to great things and are growing from strength to strength. So check out all the acts online in advance - or get a friend to help!

NOTE - My research has improved for this year, as evidenced below!

4. Pace yourself!

I need to take my own recommendation. Last year I was home for 10pm! I had a fantastic day though and caught some brilliant acts. For me, the best part of the festival is ducking and diving between venues to catch lots of bands I haven't seen before. So, if I'm in for the kick off, I'm usually pretty knackered by 8 or 9pm. This year, I am intending to stay sober ... but if the outdoor Guinness bar at Saint Luke's is on again, that will be put to the test!

5. Keep your eyes and ears open

Who will be the secret midnight headline act at McChuills? Will there be an secret acoustic sets in The Gate? Regardless, I'd recommend a visit to this gem of a pub across the road from the Barrowland. 

10 acts to look out for

I'm hoping that the Tenement Trail schedule is kind to me and allows me to zip around the Gallowgate to catch the following bands and artists. Hopefully there are no clashes!

Fatale

My favourite new band are riding the buzz of releasing their debut vinyl only EP, radio airplay and a string of cool support shows. Fatale's development over the last year or so has been really exciting to witness. Christopher Jollie's songs naturally find hooks and choruses, while Ben Robertson has really found his voice on record and come into his own on stage through lots of live shows and regular rehearsals. Euan Corrigan's lead guitar gels effortlessly with Christopher's rhythm, while Oscar Tighe on bass and James Lindsay on drums create beautifully tight but loose grooves to keep it all going. Fatale love playing live and if you like a lot of the music I write about in this blog, I think you'll love Fatale.

Paulie Swan

20-year old Edinburgh singer-songwriter. Cameron Winters vibes. Stoned. Strings. Crooning. Soulful. Could be pretty special. Swan released his beautiful, near 7-minute, debut single Me vs. Mothra back in January and then followed it with his 4-track Swans Today EP in the summer. Instagram

Ferguson Hi-Fi

 

Ferguson Hi-Fi released their outrageously catchy debut single Get Over It in the summer and it immediately caught the attention of Steve Lamaq and 6Music. No wonder. This is high energy garage guitar punk pop. The verses immediately command attention, singer-songwriter Pete Ferguson screams the bridge to the chorus, then rams the chorus home time and time again. There is a gorgeous breakdown with Pete just letting out an ooh as if in love with the sound of the guitar riff, then it's back into the chorus one final time. Look out for a future introducing blog on this band.

Supersun

Supersun have had a super productive 2026, releasing a limited edition 7-inch flexi single Shine On for Record Store Day and playing regularly in all the right places across Glasgow. Mono for RSD, Old Hairdressers for Freakender, headlining McChuills and also running their own night The Cabbage. Oh and they produce a fanzine! Two twelve string guitars are central to their melodic sound. Supersun play 3-dates with The Bluetones later in October and should win plenty of new fans. 

Maicin

Imagine the lovechild of Billy Bragg and Jarvis Cocker ... now get your head out of the gutter and picture Maicin - so says the bands Bandcamp page. Maicin (pronounced Mackeen) are playing some dates with The Pogues later this year. Hailing from Cork in Ireland, their name comes from the nickname bestowed on frontman Matt by his Nan. Maicin means 'little man'. Described as punk with dirt under its nails and poetry in its back pocket - I'm planning to check them out.

Angelface

Despite blogging about Angelface back in January, I have yet to see them live. I can't wait to experience their glorious harmonies in person. Describing themselves as indie-folk / dream-pop, they've posted a series of cover versions and originals on their social channels, generating a lot of interest as a result.

The Paris Match

I caught The Paris Match playing McChuills last year. Their Libertines-y guitar pop and high energy antics won a lot of fans that day. I expect many of them will be heading out to see them again and this time they will bring their pals. Instagram

Tom A Smith

I heard about this young guy via Rowetta from Happy Mondays Instagram after she guested on vocals at one of Tom’s live shows. Hailing from Sunderland, Smith has already released his debut album. it's a mix of beats, grooves and kind of Baxter Dury / Yard Act style vocals. Check I Don't Blame You - all kinds of edgy catchy cool. Instagram

The Orielles

Signed to Heavenly Recordings, I was shocked to learn that The Orielles released their 4th album earlier this year! So I've not been keeping up with them! I got Silver Dollar Moment, their debut, back in 2018 and caught them in Mono around that time. The Orielles are fiercely independent and are capable of finding cool grooves and having fun with them, while having a pop mindset.

Oedipus & The Mamas Boys

Edinburgh 8-piece who have released 3 singles to date. They are quite eclectic. Bleed isn't really my thing, it's a bit too heavy. But Stretched/Kitchen is tender and lush, building to a dramatic conclusion, while A Daisy for You, John reminds me of a whole mix of bands like Admiral Fallow and Idlewild. Instruments include saxaphone, violin and trumpet. Website

Tenement Trail 2025 - preview

The air in Glasgow has a beautifully fresh autumnal chill, the leaves in the parks are turning all kinds of glorious colours and there is the unmistakable buzz of a city preparing for one of its best days on the music calendar: Tenement Trail. 

On Saturday October 11th, the area around The Barrowland, will be transformed into a sprawling, multi-venue festival, and if you're a fan of discovering your new favourite band, this is where you need to be.

Five things about the Tenement Trail;

• This will be the 11th Tenement Trail.
• It is named after the very platform that spawned it - the beloved Tenement TV sessions filmed in a flat. The website still highlights and supports new music on a regular basis.
• The festival used to run up on Sauchiehall Street and take in Sleazys, Broadcast, the ABC and ABC2 plus other venues. I think the new 'arts district' in the East End really suits it.
• Lewis Capaldi, Sam Fender and Yungblud all passed through the "Trail" at the beginning of their careers.
• McChuills holds a special 'midnight slot' for those with any energy left!

Dead Pony - Photo by Josephine Best for Clunk Magazine

The legendary Barrowland Ballroom itself will host the headliners Dead Pony who I blogged on HERE back in 2021, but the real magic of the Trail is found in the surrounding venues. Places like Saint Luke’s, BAaD (Barras Art and Design), The Winged Ox and Van Winkle will open their doors to a staggering number of bands, creating a dense, under cover, walkable festival experience that's second to none. The journey between venues is part of the fun, as the streets around the Gallowgate pulse with the energy of thousands of music fans. Check out Ho Lee Fook for amazing street food!

But what truly sets Tenement Trail apart is its commitment to championing new and emerging talent, both from Glasgow and further afield. The lineup for 2025 is a carefully curated mix of breakout artists and underground heroes. It's a platform for local bands to play to bigger audiences and for touring acts to get a taste of Glasgow's famously electric crowds.

Last year my friend Joe and I particularly enjoyed YesAndMaybe (below) playing an early afternoon set in Barrowland 2 - I described them as a cross between The Strokes and Phoenix. Shortly after we caught Dallas Love Field (pictured further below) in BAaD. I described their set as a glorious shoegaze psychedelic racket with some dreamy lead vocals. 2024 blog

The previous year (2023) I'd caught Kerr Mercer open the festival at Saint Luke's. The young singer songwriter has since gone on to support all kinds of artists to hone and tone his live performances and road test the dozens of songs he has been writing. Make that hundreds. Kerr's soulful voice has been making real connections and I look forward to his first release.

So a top tip is to get there early to spot up and coming artists who maybe haven't quite got the profile of those playing later on.

One of the most talked-about slots each year is the "midnight slot" at McChuills, a tiny, intimate venue that hosts a buzz band for a lucky crowd of a hundred or so that still have the stamina to keep going. 

Whether you're looking to catch a jaw-dropping headline set or simply wander the Gallowgate and stumble upon your next obsession, Tenement Trail is the place to be. It's a celebration of live music, a showcase of new talent, and a reminder of what a day (and night) Glasgow can put on.

Based on research and what we have heard to date (largely based on band names we like!), here are five bands/artists Joe and I are hoping to catch;

Five acts to check

• Fatale - my current favourite band. Teenagers from Lanarkshire who love Eugenius, Teenage Fanclub and BMX Bandits - right up my street! Check my introducing blog HERE. Fatale haven't even played a handful of gigs - get into them nice and early. Check their demo Moves You and cover of The Velvets Femme Fatale on their soundcloud. 

• Chloe Slater - a young singer-songwriter based in Manchester who I have heard on 6music. Her song Harriet has a brilliant video that has her singing (as Marianne) in scenes from Normal People.

• Jelly - Surely there must have been a band called Jelly before? Anyway, I haven't bothered to google. I like the name, checked the artist and found out that Tenement TV has tipped them as one of their ten to watch in 2025. It turns out that Joshua (Jelly) has worked with Youth - which sounds quite interesting. His website claims that he draws inspiration from a diverse range of artists ranging from David Gray, MGMT and The Streets. Summer single Forever Has A Feeling isn't really like an of those acts, although with some synths behind it the chorus could have an MGMT vibe. 

• Cloud House - Again, I checked Cloud House based on their name. Right from the off, you can tell they are going for big anthemic songs that could fill arenas. So it will be interesting to check them out in a small venue and see if they get the reaction that they are going for.

• Girls.Speak.French - One of the first bands I checked based on their name. They have a single called Britpop Genius, that sounds more in tune with American indie guitar bands from that time. Do I hear a tinge of Idlewild in there? Sounds promising and I'll be going to check them out.

Tenement Trail 2024

Last October, on a particularly wet, windy and stormy day, I ventured into Tenement Trail to catch Kerr Mercer opening the day at Saint Lukes. I was quite taken by the buzz around the area as fans and bands headed to BAaD to pick up wristbands and to check in.

I couldn't hang around due to a family engagement, but I vowed to return in 2024.

Return I did. My friend Joe and I headed toward the Barrowland, BAaD and Saint Luke's for just after 1pm and literally as we picked up our wristbands the heavens opened and the blue skies turned to grey. The rain battered it down, so we opted to head to stay exactly where we were and grab a beer and some lunch in the BAaD courtyard - thankfully covered! 

Hanging outside BAaD

There was sunshine after the rain though and we headed round to the Barrowland for our first bands of the day. Peach Crumb opened proceedings in the downstairs (Barrowland 2) bar with a short 25-minute set, ending with their two singles NBDY and Keeping Busy. The third song in their set stood out for me though. Singer Becca ditched her acoustic guitar to strut, dance and pull shapes to a more energetic style and sound in comparison to the rest of the quite dreamy set. 

yesandmaybe 

Yesandmaybe were on next and they absolutely blew me away. I can't recall seeing a band so perfectly formed at such an early stage since .... probably Chvrches. Joe and I caught them line checking and they had quite the set up. It turns out that yesandmaybe are a Scottish/French duo who met online and worked up an album that way. Live, they were amplified by an ace drummer (Craig who was formerly in Twin Atlantic), bass and additional guitars/synths.

Think The Strokes crossed with Phoenix. Gigi (I think) from France is an exceptionally inventive guitarist, while the singer (I didn't catch his name) played soaring stadium synth riffs and sang with a similar cool distorted effect on his vocals like Julian Casablancas. 

Every song sounded like a potential single. Train To Nowhere is apparently the title of their forthcoming debut album (they already have that in the bag, despite this being their second gig) and thr title track sounded impeccable. Songs like God Isn't Real and Bloody Madness also sounded sublime. Dressed in sharp black suits, the band looked as sharp and cool as their songs. 100% ones to watch.

DEFINITELY YES - yesandmaybe in Barrowland 2

While tempted to stay in the Barrowland 2, Joe and I opted for some fresh air and a walk round to BAaD to see a band called Dallas Love Field, simply because we liked the name. We enjoyed the band too! The four piece created a glorious shoegaze, psychedelic racket with some dreamy lead vocals. Some of the lead guitar work was reminiscent of the sounds Nick McCabe would create on the first Verve singles and album.  I'd definitely go and catch them live again. There is little information about them online at present, but it sounds like they made their live debut at BLOC in March 2023 and are now working with Jason Shaw who has previously worked with Ride. Sounds like a good match! I can imagine them releasing on the Sonic Cathedral label that Andy Bell is involved with.

Dallas Love Field in BAaD

After catching up with a couple of friends, a further walk led us to The Gate, a beautiful speakeasy style pub across the road from The Barrowland. We arrived in time for most of a secret acoustic set by Slix, a band from Greenock that my friend Joe (a native of that part of the world) had his eye on. We somehow managed to get a seat at the far side of the bar and enjoyed the few songs we heard, that included a cover of Digsy's Dinner by Oasis. Slightly odd choice of cover, but hey.

Exiting on to the Gallowgate we decided that more food was in order, handy as we were right outside Ho Lee Fook, a super cool Thai street food 'hole in the wall' type place that is becoming an Instagram hit. Having sampled their food before, I was delighted to go back. They were in demand, so Joe and I had 20-25 minutes to kill, so we opted for a nearby Celtic bar for a quick beer.

TTSSFU

We then took our food back to BAaD for TTSSFU from Manchester. More cool shoegazey sounds from the 4-piece who looked super delighted to be up in Glasgow and playing in such a large venue to a packed crowd.

That is one thing Tenement Trail has going for it, the festival puts (often) fledgling bands on big stages to crowds way bigger than they would normally play to. It's a little sink or swim, definitely an incredible opportunity.

Last up for me, as I had yet another prior family engagement, was a trip back to the Barrowland to see Greenock boys Slix on the main stage. They pulled a sizeable crowd and seem to be on the up as they have announced a headline show at The Garage in April. 

We didn't catch all of their set as I was getting picked up and Joe decided to head to Saint Luke's where he caught some of Imogen and the Knife, Parliamo and then headliners Neon Waltz who he particularly enjoyed.

Congratulations to Tenement Trail on a fantastic 10th anniversary festival. I remember when it started up at the top of Sauchiehall Street. It is amazing to see how it has grown to become an absolute staple in the Scottish music calendar. I hope to attend next year.

Crash Club at King Tuts

New music in November

Crash Club - live review and interview

Guest review by Gordon Reid

Over the last year or so there has been a lot of talk about Crash Club . A spot at T in the park in the summer , closely followed by winning the best electronic act at the SAMA`s in early October put them in the spotlight and they continue to pick up fans every time they gig . I first came across them at an Everything Shakes event in the Admiral bar at the start of October although I`d heard Murray and a few others talking about them previously. Last Friday they played This Feeling at Tuts along with Our Future Glory , The Trend and The Insomniac Project and at a £5 for 4 bands it is superb value for money. 

Our Future Glory ( Dundee based trio ) were first on and set the tone for the night with a high energy performance. The Trend were decent but looked out of place as a guitar band amongst many synthesisers, not their fault and they still gave it their all . I`d like to see them again in their own show to judge them better. 

The Insomnia Project are relatively new on the scene in terms of playing live as far as I know, last time I spoke to Murray about them he reckoned they hadn`t played more than a handful of gigs but thats twice I`ve seen them in a month and both times they have blown me away. If you were a fan of Johny and the Giro`s ( I was ) then you`ll know a few faces in the band and the addition of Deborah on vocals was a masterstroke. Having watched them in the Admiral last month I had said that I`d like to see them in a bigger venue as her voice would be suited to it. I`m glad to say I was right on this and they had the crowd going wild for the whole of their set. The strobe light added to the atmosphere, sadly they overran and couldn`t get their last song in but it didn`t dampen the spirit in the crowd.

Crowd video from Tut's - Sphinx by The Insomniac Project

To the main event and the trio from Kilwinning didn`t disappoint. The job of lighting the stage was pretty easy as they once again turned the strobe on and let it go from there . Pulsing beats taken to highs and allowed to come back down, just as you thought the tunes were over a roll of the drums and they were off again taking the crowd with them. They hardly stopped bouncing the whole time. Joined by Ian McKinnon of Medicine Men for the epic and euphoric Recondition and by Charotte Brimner (Be Charlotte) for another tune I didn't catch the name of. They ended with Last Dance and smashed it out the park. If you haven't seen them yet then grab the chance with both hands. They are well worth it.

Crowd video from Tut's - Last Dance by Crash Club

Crash Club have smashed everything put in their path through 2015, so I caught up with Neal Mcharg, the energetic bassist and all round good guy - the Glasgow Mani - to see what he was saying to it.

1) It's been quite a year - what have been the highlights for you?

Yeah it's been a proper good year to be fair, loads of different highlights. Festival season with T, Belladrum and Electric Fields is up there and supporting The View was good exposure to a crowd that would never have heard of us. Playing and winning an award at the SAMA's was also great exposure.

Personal highlight for me though is the fact that people have responded positively to what we have been trying to do at the live shows with lights, visuals and guest vocalists.

2) Ian MacKinnon has added a new dimension to your live performances, how did he become involved?

We all love Medicine Men and big Ian's a really good mate so we asked him to to do Recondition and from then on Ian has basically been at every show working the crowd up. Look at theTenement Trail video, I don't think I've ever seen a crowd go as wild at being called mother***kers in my life before!

At one point the bar staff were on the bar raving and big Gino from Vigo Thieves and others were up on shoulders. It was pretty much carnage, trying to get on and off the stage was interesting, never mind the gig itself.

'it was pretty much carnage' - Recondition at Flat 0/1 for the Tenement Trail

3) How much confidence do you and the rest of the band gain from that kind of reaction?

Loads - the stage show definitely gets better when you see a crowd like that, it's hard not to get into it a lot more. Aran even moved a wee bit more than usual!

4) I believe you have some more guest vocalists lined up for future releases?

Yeah, Be Charlotte has been smashing it live as well. We can;t wait to get her into the studio.

5) How far off is an album?

We're recording the EP in Rocket Science studios just now. It is sounding massive, Ross and Michael (producers) have worked wonders on it. The drum and bass sounds are pretty much inspired by the New York scene - LCD, The Rapture, Gossip!, Holy Ghost, but with synth tones of Justice, Chemical Brothers and New Order.

6) Sammy has an incredible ear for a tune. Does he bring the songs fully formed to the band, or do you each add something?

No, basically what happens is Sammy will come up with an idea, recording different sounds based round the same theme. Aran and me will go down, hear all the new noises and start writing parts with Sammy on the synths and then the fun and games of structuring the track begins for us in the hut. So all that has to happen before we even think about what we're going to out down guitar, bass or drum wise. Once we've got all that done then we pick the right singer to collaborate with.

7) Anything left before the end of the year? And what do you hope to achieve in 2016?

We might be doing something else before the end of the year, but can;t say too much for now.

It's probably a bigger year next year for us because I think more will be expected. We'll step it up a level with the live shows, get the EP out. If the demand is there we'll go in and do an album by the end of the year. But as we have seen with 2015, we can plan things, but things you don't expect to happen, happen and your year is completely different.

Tenement Trail and the Scottish Alternative Music Awards 2015

The start of October will see two increasingly important events in the Glasgow/Scottish music calendar take place. Both highlight the incredible talent and diversity of the Scottish indie/DIY/laternative music scene, both have been born from grassroots entrepreneurial spirit and both have been warmly embraced by music fans.

Saturday 3rd October will see The Tenement Trail take place in Glasgow - using venues on or around Sauchiehall Street - Broadcast, Flat 0/1, Nice 'n' Sleazys, ABC2, the Art School and King Tut's will feature a whole hosts of bands and artists that include the likes of White, Neon Waltz and Atom Tree who all featured in my recent blog HERE

The urban festival starts at 2pm and lasts (at least in some venues) all the way through until 3am. Tickets are only £15, available in advance from the website or Tickets Scotland, or you should be able to pick up some on the day if you are quick.

Tenement Trail is the brainchild of the team behind the brilliant Tenement TV which, like the festival, grows from strength to strength with every year.

Here is the line-up and times.

Then next Thursday 8th October it is time to get a little glitzy with the 6th year of the Scottish Alternative Music Awards (the SAMA's), taking place at The Garage.

Richy Muirhead is the bright young spark behind the awards and has grown the event into a highlight of the Scottish Music calendar, gathering increasing support and exposure.

Voting for this years awards has closed and over 20,000 votes have been cast - fantastic stuff.

The amazing Crash Club are playing live, along with special guest performances from previous winners and Holy Esque who have been on the verge of breaking through for a few years.

Richy said;  "The shortlist is extremely strong this year, with nominees from every corner of Scotland. There is a huge surge in nominations for new bands which goes to show that Scotland is forever churning out new and exciting talent. It's our sixth birthday, so we've got a few surprises and crowd-pleasers up our sleeves."

The nominees for 2015 are;

BEST ROCK/ALTERNATIVE sponsored by EmuBands

Monogram
Wecamefromwolves
Catholic Action
Dear John
SchnarffSchnarff
Huxtable

BEST NEWCOMER sponsored by UWS Creative
MARTHA FFION
WHITE BAER
MAN OF MOON
ALPHAS
BELLA & THE BEAR
LIONEL

BEST HIP HOP sponsored by Splitter Scotland

MOG
Delighted Peoples
DJ YEMSTER & HEXTASY
THE ILL COLLECTIVE
BIGG TAJ & SPEESIXNINE
SPRING BREAK

BEST ELECTRONIC sponsored by Eventbrite

BDY PRTS
SEQUEL
OUR FUTURE GLORY
LOCKAH
CRASH CLUB
CLYDE ROUGE

BEST ACOUSTIC sponsored by CitizenM

C DUNCAN
THE JELLYMAN’S DAUGHTER
STELLA REILLY
BEST GIRL ATHLETE
SEAN C KENNEDY
DR WOOK

BEST LIVE ACT sponsored by Bar Bloc

ERRORS
DED RABBIT
COPPER LUNGS
KATHRYN JOSEPH
COLONEL MUSTARD & THE DIJON 5
NEON WALTZ

BEST METAL sponsored by Cathouse Glasgow

MOUNTAINS UNDER OCEANS
THE AMORETTES
DIVIDESHOLY MOUNTAIN
SEED OF SORROW
BLACKENED RITUAL

Tickets for this year’s Scottish Alternative Music Awards are available now via EventBrite. Prices start from £10.  VIP packages available.

You can stay up to date online: http://officialsama.co.uk
Twitter: @officialsama #SAMA2015 Facebook: www.facebook.com/OfficialSAMA

For more information, please contact: officialsama@outlook.com