TENEMENT TV is turning four in October and this year will mark the third consecutive Tenement Trail Festival. Created by and for the music fans in Scotland, Tenement Trail is a unique, underground, multi-venue city music festival featuring a mix of fresh, new and exciting bands along with those already selling out venues around Scotland.
TTV recently revealed the second wave of bands that will be taking to the stage on 3rd October 2015 across six different venues throughout Glasgow as part of what’s fast becoming our best line-up yet. Find out all about each of the 17 newly announced additions below.
You can buy tickets for this year’s event at special Early Bird prices via Ticket Web.
NEON WALTZ
Following a summer of festival appearances spanning Britain from Aviemore Stopover to Kendal Calling, including a headline slot on T in the Park’s BBC Introducing stage, Neon Waltz are fast becoming one of Scotland’s most exciting young bands, with the accolade of Caithness’ best already firm within their grasp. The six-piece have crafted a unique niche in the current indie scene, marrying psychedelic organ sounds with unaffected, simple songwriting and the result is pretty special. With a unique style that confidently nods to the influence of the Britpop era as well as bands like The Doors and a deal with the esteemed Atlantic Records, Neon Waltz will be converting more fans in no time.
MAN OF MOON
Man of Moon have come out of nowhere over the last year with an established sound already well and truly theirs. Debut single ‘The Road’ sounds as if Ian Brown has wandered into a Jesus and Mary Chain rehearsal and the results are glorious to hear. Having already supported the likes of We Were Promised Jetpacks and The Phantom Band, the Edinburgh two-piece have gained an enormous amount of experience in a very short space of time. Though their sounds are moody and dark, a support-slot with The Twilight Sad on 12th December along with appearances at Electric Fields and, of course, Tenement Trail suggest that the future is very bright for Man of Moon.
HOLY ESQUE
Sounding as if Future Islands and The Cure have collided in a gloriously distorted mangle of fuzzy guitars, growling vocals and pure noise; these Glasgow boys have been around for a fair while, quietly building up a solid reputation as one of Scotland’s most inventive new bands. Holy Esque possess an attractive shroud of mystery to go hand in hand with their phenomenal, gothic sound and with their recently released Submission EP sounding gravelly, driving and raw, their live show is undoubtedly going to be nothing short of mesmerising.
PRONTO MAMA
They’ve been bouncing around the forefront of the Scottish indie scene for a while now but Pronto Mama’s sound is still as infectious and endearing as ever. The six-piece produce carefully built pop-rock songs that flit through unexpected progressive instrumental sections and it’s safe to say that they aren’t afraid of getting the trumpets out. Their fantastically distinctive sound, complete with Scottish-twang vocals, is playful but absolutely spot on. These boys will definitely go down very, very well when they take the stage at this year’s Tenement Trail.
NIMMO
Nimmo conclude their UK tour at King Tuts as part of TT 2015 and it’s going to be a very special show. The London electro five-piece are on the brink of big things and their latest track ‘Dilute This’ showcases exactly why. Their synth-driven, bluesy electronica, inspired by the likes of Caribou and Nico Jaar, sounds Jungle-esque in its delivery and it seems that seven years of live shows are finally paying off for a band whose live performances apparently have “too much energy”. Nimmo’s expansive pop is going to sound absolutely huge in King Tuts come October.
YOUNG AVIATORS
Fresh from playing with Fatherson and We Were Promised Jetpacks at Magners Summer Nights, self-professed electro-punks Young Aviators have catchy choruses in abundance and a sound like the rebirth of the early noughties; think Maximo Park and you’re halfway there. Lyrically, Young Aviators really flourish, have a listen to ‘Drive-Thru Culture Night’ for a nostalgic glimpse into a misspent youth: “I’ll buy you some Lambrini if you kiss me in the gents”. You can hear the crowd chants already and with songs like these it’s really no surprise.
LAURA ST. JUDE
Brooding and glamorous, Laura St. Jude has created a unique sound steeped in the influence of bygone eras, her smoky vocals summoning up suggestions of artists varying from Lana Del Rey to Nina Simone. 1940’s and 50’s tinged transatlantic sounds are present throughout her carefully woven, elegant and gloomy soundscapes. On tracks like ‘Yours to Destroy’, St. Jude sounds every inch the dark, contemporary sister to Peggy Lee and it makes for some seriously beguiling listening. Laura St. Jude could really be one of the stand out acts of Tenement Trail 2015.
ULTRAS
Guitar drones, electronic percussive beats and a lot of dissatisfaction are the key elements which seem to drive the ULTRAS sound. Their ethos revolves around the meaning behind their name, “a word used by young people throughout Europe to describe their pride in where they’ve come from, their friends, the way that they celebrate their culture, and their solidarity with one another”. ULTRAS have a lot to say and as frontman Prentice sneers ‘What’s for ye won’t go by ye, they’ll tell you this then pin your arms down’ on ‘The Path to Getting Paid’, it feels like they’re far from finished.
MEDICINE MEN
With a sound that owes as much to the psychedelic tendencies of Kevin Parker as it does The Beatles, Medicine Men sound like The Rolling Stones have decided to really embrace the eighties, especially on track ‘Show What You’re Made Of’. Medicine Men sound completely at ease within their sound and with a summer appearance at this year’s Isle of Wight festival and a sell-out show at King Tuts behind them, they’ll be raring for the Tenement Trail. Just what the doctor ordered.
THE RAVELS
Glasgow rockers The Ravels have something of the Ryan Adams about them and it’s not just the harmonica or the blues piano solos on ‘Always Young’ that conjure up the likeness. With a back catalogue packed with arena-sized, blues-inspired rock songs, their lightly distorted vocals and guitar solos are part of a tried and tested formula but its one The Ravels work with ever so well. Having completed a summer of festival appearances and jaunts down to London things look to be taking off for The Ravels and their rousing brand of anthemic rock is sure to be a massive hit at the TT2015.
HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS
Harry and the Hendersons are a seven-piece Americana-inspired folk band from Glasgow with a nostalgic-psychedelic tinge. On ‘Behind the Curve’ the vocals edge towards Jeff Buckley territory while ‘Nowhere to Go’ has harmonies that The Beatles would be proud of. With those harmonies, gang chanting and a soulful, bluesy approach, Harry and the Hendersons have set themselves apart from the chasing pack with their energetic, enticing take on folk-rock. Definitely a band worth seeing in a small venue while you still can.
TRIBAL HIGH
Having supported the likes of Tijuana Bibles and The Merrylees, Tribal High have created their own take on two of the major components of the contemporary Scottish scene; Indie rock and hip hop. Their guitar driven sound is underpinned by frenetic, pulsing drumming but what really sets Tribal High apart is the fusion of their alt-rock sound with rapped verses and elements of hip hop. Tribal High are set to smash it this October with their very unique sound.
WOMPS
They’ve already shared the stage with genre stalwarts Metz, Cloud Nothings, Paws and Honeyblood and it seems that Glasgow duo WOMPS are making friends in all the right places. Their fuzzy, unrelenting lo-fi indie rock could have been lifted straight out of the 90s and that’s no bad thing. As WOMPS frontman Ewan Grant sings “I want to live a little less” through a glorious vocal distortion, the influence of bands like The Lemonheads and Pixies seems pretty clear. Their sound is one that definitely lends itself to live shows and with choruses to go with the energy, crowds will be dancing in no time.
KELVIN
Making a name for themselves alongside big acts in the Scottish scene Baby Strange and Tijuana Bibles, Kelvin are steadily creeping towards much wider recognition. Their track ‘Punching Bag’ was recently XFM’s track of the day while a sell-out show at King Tuts somewhat bolsters their status as an up and coming band to be taken seriously. Kelvin’s slick rock sound is polished and poppy, think radio-friendly Kings of Leon, and with such succinct and confident song writing this four piece will be picking up fans at will when October comes around.
OUR FUTURE GLORY
Recent single ‘Battleheart’ certainly recognises the band’s admiration for the likes of The Killers and Bloc Party but Our Future Glory’s electro-heavy alt-rock leans, at times, into an almost Prodigy-esque intensity. Synth leads and memorable hooks bolster the band’s sound and with a very well received TBreak performance at this year’s T in the Park behind them, there’s every chance the trio could soon follow Scotland’s electro exports Prides and CHVRCHES into the mainstream consciousness.
THE Bar Dogs
With all the right ingredients required to be a great rock band, The Bar Dogs come out punching with growling vocals, memorable choruses and enough swagger for any stage. You get the feeling that with these boys, they could be Glasgow’s favourite sons in no time. Somewhere in the distance it’s not unimaginable that a T in the Park crowd could soon be screaming “Glasgow Saturday night” back at them through the rain. The Bar Dogs may be one of the lesser known acts at TT 2015 but that’s all set to change in rapid fashion.
EVIL EDISON
Citing influences from Radiohead to the 90s Seattle grunge scene, Evil Edison do carry some of that Pearl Jam rock charm with gruff vocals and thick, distorted guitars. The Glasgow four piece’s heavy rock dynamic plays against a backdrop of wonderful noise and effects which nods to the forefathers of Scottish post-rock Mogwai and with a sound this big Evil Edison’s show is doubtless going to be a pretty intense affair.
