YOU may recall Summer 2014, Scotland drenched in sun, the streets alive with culture as the Commonwealth Games resided itself in the city’s bold cultural programme. Bringing with it people from around the globe, superstars in the making and an idea for a pop-up in one of Glasgow’s most famous fish plaices.
Jazz, celebrities and really brilliant lobster dogs followed, as the Fish Plaice sold out of fish almost daily thanks to the people of Glasgow and beyond, who couldn’t get enough of its pop-up electric vibe. Fast forward a year and the team behind that very fish joint only went and done it again, this time a stones throw away from Trongate in Tontine Lane, a derelict, grey, industrial and almost dull plot of land in the heart of Glasgow’s Merchant City. For two weeks only, Brian Traynor and Ricky Scoular offered the people of Glasgow a place to unwind, chill, eat, drink, laugh and immerse themselves in what makes Glasgow such a special place, held fondly in hearts around the world.
Take Saturday for example, as DJs provided the ambient background noise, Tontine Lane let the people do the talking and everyone from groups of 20-something friends, to crowds with babies in tow and even a 58-year-old man joined together in the little pop-up world. The man in question was Tom, who had met his friend for a pint earlier that day but didn’t want to end his day on the 57 bus without letting the music “move within me, these DJs know how to lay it down and I love it whether I am here alone or not.” Flap cap and all, he danced to the beats and I smiled as I felt proud to know people who create for the city and it’s love of really good music and the best times.
But what really keeps these nuggets alive? The fear that they won’t be around forever, it seems. Just as The Sub Hub done earlier on this year, Tontine Lane brought together music at the heart of an idea, transforming ideas into huge success stories for the creative industry in Scotland.
Tontine Lane, the heavenly hub that proved all good things must come to an end, now we will just need to eagerly wait for the next one.
