"People got this idea that ultimately what mattered was the quality of what you were doing and how much importance you gave to it, regardless of how widespread it became or how many records it sold." - Our Band Could Be Your Life, Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991.
As requested, I've transferred this info over from the old board.
Please feel free to add updated or new info to this forum for the benefit of other bands. Thanks!
Booking gigs
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In the beginning it was extremely difficult to break out of our local scene and get gigs out-of-town. The increasing use of the internet means that now bands can find each other easily on the web, gig-swap, and reach new audiences. Gig-swapping is probably the best way to play around Scotland and msgboards like
www.jockrock.org,
www.praguecandy.co.uk,
www.aberdeen-music.co.uk,
www.undergroundscene.co.uk are great for finding other like-minded people. Also, follow a band site’s links to other bands who you think you might like and get in touch with. All very obvious points I know but the more networking you can do in the underground, the less likely it is that you’ll have to go through promoters to get gigs. Always try to get gigs through other bands that you get on with as opposed to promoters - when you're starting out at least.
I started out with a list of venues around Scotland where unsigned bands could play and every Monday afternoon I’d ring them all in the search of gigs out of town. Most places weren’t interested at first and it was very disheartening.
Then one Monday I rang King Tuts in Glasgow and for a change they were actually glad I called! A band had pulled out at short notice and they needed someone to fill up the bill. We took the gig and everything went well. The following week I rang up the venues again, this time mentioning the fact that we’d just played Tuts and hey presto, the other small venues around Scotland started giving us shows. And through a combination of gig-swapping, fanzine gigs and just getting to know various local promoters we started gigging more and more. In hindsight, the hardest part is making that initial break out of your home scene but if you persevere eventually the gigs will come.
There’s a list of useful venue contacts below.
Don’t be a dick!
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Ok then let’s assume that you’re not out to be a star and you genuinely care about music and being in a band. Don’t be a dick! Some bands refuse to share contacts, probably because they’re scared that the other band will use them to get signed and go off and become rich and famous or something. Wise up! If you don’t have the confidence in your own music to be able to share your info / advice / experience with others then your band probably isn’t worth hearing anyway. When we were trying to book our first UK tour, Jetplane Landing were kind enough to give us a huge list of UK venues - and we weren’t the only band they gave the list to. The underground can only grow stronger if we work together. Through the likes of the jockrock msgboard and Is This Music? Magazine there already exists a Scots indie network which some people are quite envious of down in England.
Share your contacts.
Scottish Promoters / Places to play
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DUNDEE Venues / Promoter / Contact details
DROUTHY NEEBORS > 01382 202187. Ideal for new bands, vocal PA, no requirement to sell tix, small venue opposite Dundee Uni. Have cut back recently on bookings.
READING ROOMS / WESTPORT BAR > John Cruickshank > John promotes touring band shows with opening slots for local bands in Dundee.
CruickshanksJohn@aol.com
The WESTPORT BAR > 01382 200008 > popular dundee venue.
DIY Promoters in Dundee
Revolt > Put on Metal, Punk, Rock gigs in various venues. Go to
www.undergroundscene.co.uk and follow link for revolt.
Undergroundscene > Punk collective that organise gigs: go to
www.undergroundscene.co.uk
Promoting your gig in Dundee
Postering > Call John MacDonald on 01382 224405. John is a really good guy who will answer any postering related Qs.
A4 posters are put up for free by Dundee City Council, you just have to hand them into their office on Tay Square in the City Centre, beside the Caird Hall.
John handles anything larger and there are reasonable fees per poster site. He’s a keen supporter of the local scene.
Press & Radio > Contact Alan wilson @ The Courier Newspaper,
alanwilson@dcthomson.co.uk
Alan writes a weekly music page in the local paper (on Thursdays). Also contact
sbell@dcthomson.co.uk, Steve writes for the Evening Telegraph (Wednesdays) and also plugs up-coming gigs.
Flyering > Your best bet is to put flyers in indie record shop Grouchos, in Stage2000 rehearsal rooms as well as flyering Drouthies, the reading rooms and the cotton club on gig nights. If you don’t flyer, don’t expect people to come! You’re not allowed to flyer in the student union but you can as long as security don’t catch you
ABERDEEN Venues / Promoter / Contact details
KEF > Paul Stewart > 01224 648000. Paul promotes touring band shows with opening slots for local bands.
MOSHULU > Ross Morrison. 150 Capacity and 500+ Capacity. Available to hire or inhouse. Venue Tech Sheet available on Request. Contact 01224 572 876.
LEMON TREE > Andy Shearer > venue used mostly for touring bands. Email
music@lemontree.org
ABERDEEN UNI > 01224 647751 (Ents Manager). Address is: Aberdeen University Students Association, Gallowgate, Aberdeen, AB10 1SZ.
DIY Promoters in Aberdeen
Fudge Fanzine > Run by Brian and friends, regularly put gigs on in various venues. Email
fudgefanzine@hotmail.com
Alternatively check out
www.aberdeen-music.co.uk
EDINBURGH venues / promoters
BANNERMANS > 0131 556 3254. Address is: 212 Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1NQ.
HERIOT WATT UNI > Keith Easton (Ents officier) > 0131 4495111 > Address is: Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS.
Studio 24 > 0131 558 3758 > address is: 24 Calton Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8DP.
NEW BONGO CLUB > Contact Ally Hill > 0131 556 5204 >
www.thebongoclub.co.uk
The VENUE > 0131 557 3073 > 17-21 Calton Rd., Edinburgh, EH1 8DL. web:
www.theedinburghvenue.com
eXcellent Edinburgh zine promoters:
www.baby-tiger.net
GLASGOW venues / promoters
BARFLY GLASGOW > 0141 204 5700 > Address is: 260 Clyde Street, Glasgow, G1 4JH.
KING TUTS > Contact Dave McGeechan > 0141 248 5158. > Address is: 272a St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5RL.
NICE N SLEAZYS > Contact Mig > 0141 333 9637 > address is: 421 Sauchiehall St., Glasgow, G2 3LG.
STEREO > 0141 576 5018 > Address is: 12-14 Kelvinhaugh St., Glasgow G3 8NU. Email:
nice_isla@hotmail.com
STRATHCLYDE UNI UNION > contact Ents Manager > 0141 552 1895 > Address is: 90 John Street, Glasgow, G1 1BX.
13TH NOTE > Contact Brendan o Hare > 0141-553-1800 > Address is: 50-60 King Street, Glasgow, G1 5QT. Email:
notebookings@hotmail.com
The CATHOUSE > Contact Mhairi Cowley > 0141 248 6606 > Address is: 15 Union St., Glasgow, G1 3RB. web:
www.cathouseglasgow.co.uk
Other venues
Motherwell > Starka Bar > contact Ian Patton > 01698 276644 > Address is: 348 Brandon St., Motherwell, ML1 1XA.
Perth > Twa Tams > Contact Stuart Hutton > 01738 634500 > address is: 79-81 Scott St., Perth, PH2 8JR.
Kirkcaldy > The Path Tavern > Contact Bobby Tomlinson > 01592 263671 > address is: 7 Mid St., Kirkcaldy, KY1 2PE.
Please feel free to add other venue info to this list so as to help other bands.
