HELP Musicians Scotland and the PRS Foundation have once again teamed up to showcase some of Scotland’s best musical talent. Furthering their incredible track record for helping to advance the work of some of Scotland’s best emerging acts, IGNITE Scotland bring their showcase to Glasgow’s St Luke’s for the third time, bringing with it four acts that perfectly exemplify the strength of creativity and diversity that pulses through Scotland’s thriving music scene.
After the success of Ignite 002 back in February, which boasted a line-up that included The Vegan Leather and Acrylic, the third edition staged in the lively East End boozer is set to treat crowds to a similarly enthralling night of live music and Tenement TV are taking a closer look at the artists taking to the stage on Tuesday 29th of May.
The Dunts
The Dunts are one of the most popular bands in Scotland right now, thanks to a steady stream of strong, catchy singles and raucous live shows that has allowed them to cement themselves firmly as a centrepiece of the DIY scene that is so strong right now. Their sound is very reminiscent of the fast and infectious indie bands that came before them, drawing influence from the key bands that were the backbone of indie music in the 2000s. With the song-writing sensibility of The Strokes and the shambolic-indie nature of The Libertines, clear on tracks such as ‘Birds and the Beez’, it is no surprise the success the band have enjoyed over the last year. Their real strength lies in their ability to command an audience live in a sweaty, loud and enjoyable mess that has the whole room moving.
Freakwave
Freakwave are hotly-tipped to be a strong success in 2018, and the Ignite 003 showcase is an ideal opportunity for them to share their alternative sound with a large audience. Their 2018 single ‘Fool’, which came out earlier this May, was one that struck me immediately from the first listen. Throughout the verses, it mirrors the combination of choppy drums, atmospheric guitars and dreamy vocals that was central to the alternative sound of the late 90s in America, with bands such as American Football paving the way for this shoegazey sound. However, the chorus is pure pop. It is infectious and make you want to dance. Having played a number of gigs already this year, and secured some major support slots, Freakwave are set to see greater success and will no doubt have all of St Lukes moving to their unique sound on Tuesday.
Gus Harrower
As a trained jazz and classical pianist, the talent that Edinburgh’s Gus Harrower boasts is absolutely no secret, and since the release of his 2015 debut EP, Gus has become a recognisable face and sound within Scotland’s music scene. To try to pigeonhole his sound would be a pretty difficult task, as songs drift from soft, piano-based ballads to rap collaborations, the unpredictability of which has been captivating audiences for three years now. Hype around the release of his debut album continues to grow, with news expected later in the year as to when we can expect the release, but be certain it will be one of Scotland’s strongest exports this year.
Anna Sweeney
Having taken time away from music, Anna Sweeney returned in October 2017 and since then has continued to go from strength to strength, performing across the country and the globe and releasing a stellar debut album, ‘Game Face’ in March of this year. Having previously been compared by the giants of female pop such as HAIM and Taylor Swift, the pressure was on ahead of the release, but Anna’s strong talent to drift her songwriting between genre to genre has resulted in an album and live sound that draws influences from, pop, country and rap that is all backed by the classic synth sound that has been so central to popular music over the years. 2018 is undoubtedly going to be a huge year for Anna, and the IGNITE 003 showcase is a huge opportunity for the audience to get an insight into this talented artist.
