GIVEN their position as a bastion of new music and up-and-coming talents, it’s only natural that King Tut’s dedicate the summer months to promoting the finest upcoming artists emerging from Scotland’s ever prosperous music scene. Featuring a slew of the country’s fastest rising bands alongside other bands that will soon be talked about in such lofty terms, the TTV team will be on hand to help close the festivities with a special after party and will be joined by an as yet to be revealed special guest.
Spanning various genres and niches, here’s a rundown of the acts that you need to acquaint yourself with at Scotland’s most beloved intimate venue.
Rascalton
Primed to take to the stage at our own Tenement Trail, Rascalton have been impressing us ever since they first burst onto the scene. Quickly establishing themselves as the purveyors of raucous punk rock that brims with vibrancy and a delightfully hedonistic edge, their headline set on the festival’s final night will serve as their coronation as one of Glasgow’s best and brightest.
When: 29th July
OTHER HUMANS
Drawing influence from vibrant eighties synth-pop, Other Humans pair their poppy hooks and shimmering melodies with a darker gothic edge. The band released their debut EP Ruined Glitter earlier this year which displayed a knack for creating the kind of arena-ready choruses and crowd-pleasing refrains made famous by huge pop-rock acts like The Killers. Armed with a deeply stirring drawl, frontman Darren Martin is known to be a commanding presence at their live shows.
When: 21st July
FAUVES
A relatively new addition to the Glasgow music scene, every indication so far suggests that Glasgow band Fauves have a very bright future ahead of them. With two brilliantly unorthodox yet impossibly catchy singles to their name already in ‘Afterglow’ and ‘Hit Like This’, the four-piece have displayed an insatiable ear for melody that has not gone unnoticed. A band who continue to excite us with impressive liver performance, this is a chance to catch them in the very formative stages of their career. When: 28th July
AVA LOVE
A band who wear their eighties influences on their sleeves, Edinburgh five-piece Ava Love exude a wildly zealous energy that cannot be contained. They may be inspired by the new wave sounds of the past, but the group boast a decidedly fresh and vibrant sound that has thrust them onto our radar with aplomb. Taking the coveted headline slot on 21st June, you can expect to hear plenty of big pop hooks and disco grooves. When: 21st July
MODEL AEROPLANES
Following the release of their debut EP Something Like Heaven in 2016 via prestigious Island Records, Model Aeroplanes announced their return last month with the bright and infectious ‘Lover’. Indicating an exciting new direction for the four-piece that will appeal to fans of the The 1975 and Passion Pit, it comes as no surprise to hear that the outfit have maintained their knack for sun-kissed indie and uplifting pop hooks. With a fervent fanbase behind them, the Dundee band are sure to attract a strong crowd to their headline show.
When: 28th July
SWAY
Known to incite utter chaos at their thrilling live shows, SWAY are one of the latest outfits to emerge from Glasgow’s thriving music scene. Armed with relentless ambition and an infectiously youthful exuberance, the four-piece released their fantastic debut AA single ‘Planet Earth/Give You It All’ earlier this year to much acclaim; effortlessly combining the swirling dissonance of shoegaze with an indie-pop charm. Showing masses of potential in both songwriting and execution, the band’s rapid rise to prominence shows no sign of slowing down.
When: 29th July
Shredd
Harbouring a thrilling, garage rock sound that is at once melodic but in no way shies away from bouts of antagonism, Shredd are among the most captivating of Glasgow’s crop of modern guitar bands. Exploding onto our radars with their fantastic Everytime We Meet I Want To Die EP, their live show has proven to be equally immersive and it would behoove you to catch it in all of its chaotic glory.
When: 29th July
American Clay
Fronted by none other than Pronto Mama’s Martin Johnson, American Clay are far more than your average side project. Indebted to 90’s alt rock’s finest yet deeply original in their sincere approach to the genre, their debut single ‘Talk’ proved them to be a force that could not be ignored and they’ve continued to go from strength to strength. Having delivered the goods once again on their anthemic Sky Hooks EP back in March, the road ahead looks prosperous and King Tut’s will serve as the perfect venue to fall in love with them.
When- 26th July
