WITH a line-up that covers a whole range of genres and styles from the innovative to the stripped back to the downright eccentric, this year’s Tenement Trail has been curated with a whole spectrum of music fans in mind. At the very heart of it though, lies an appreciation for good old fashioned rock & roll.

With the UK currently bursting at the seams with exhilarating guitar bands, it would only be right to shine a light on some of the best rock music the nation has to offer. Watching it come alive in a sweaty packed-out venue full of like-minded passionate individuals and a rip-roarious atmosphere, it doesn’t take long to be reminded of what made the genre such an indomitable force in the first place. With that in mind, we’ve highlighted some of the best guitar bands that are worth checking out at our inner-city festival on 30th September.

Get your Tenement Trail tickets here. 

THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT

This year’s star attraction will be none other than world-renowned blues-rockers The Temperance Movement. Raw, boisterous, thrillingly unkempt and the very embodiment of true rock & roll spirit; it’s hard to think of an outfit more appropriate to top this year’s Tenement Trail.  Spearheaded by Glasgow born vocalist Phil Campbell and his famous whisky-soaked drawl, it has been the band’s ability to draw from classic outfits such as the Small Faces, Sticky Fingers-era Stones and The Black Crowes while crafting their own signature style that has stood them head and shoulders above their counterparts. With their place already secure in the upper echelons of Glasgow’s rich musical heritage, it is sure to be a night to remember for all involved when they take to the O2 ABC stage on Saturday 30th September.

LOUIS BERRY

Widely regarded as one the UK’s hottest up and coming talents, Louis Berry is all about taking rock & roll back to its roots. Bringing a gritty, contemporary edge to a vintage rock sound, Berry’s dedication to his craft is all consuming with a debut album said to be on the way next year. Having revealed to us earlier this year that Scotland is his favourite place to play, his charming persona, husky vocals and catchy tunes are sure to go down a storm at Tenement Trail.

NEON WALTZ

Following years of hype and anticipation, Caithness six-piece Neon Waltz finally unveiled their fantastic debut album Strange Hymns to the masses last month. A record defined by starry-eyed optimism and fearless ambition, the band delivered a striking footprint of their insatiable talents over ten sublime tracks. Brimming with sweeping anthems, dreamy, swirling compositions and delicate harmonies, the six-piece have crafted a sound that is as warmly familiar as it is refreshingly distinctive; and their eyes are set firmly on the big stages.

CATHOLIC ACTION

Having seized our attention from the very moment they burst onto the scene with a limited series of cassette tapes, it wouldn’t be too presumptuous to describe Catholic Action as Glasgow’s next big success story. Driven by the unparalleled songwriting abilities of the multi-talented Chris McCrory, the four-piece have amassed an impressive following all over the UK thanks to a remarkable repertoire full of glam-rock tinged anthems and finely crafted pop melodies. Now ready to fulfil the wishes of fans all over the country, the band are preparing for the release of their long awaited debut album In Memory Of on 20th October. With that in mind, Tenement Trail will be a great opportunity to see them before they achieve the level of greatness they’ve teased for so long.

RASCALTON

The buzziest band to come out of Glasgow in quite some time, Rascalton are in the form of their lives. From opening Tenement Trail just 12 months ago, the four-piece return as one of the most sought-after acts on the line-up and with a hugely exciting future ahead. Bursting with the punk bravado and frenzied energy of indie heroes gone by, they are known to incite chaos wherever they turn thanks to blistering punk rock tunes such as ‘Lust’ and ‘This Is It’. A band destined for big things, Tenement Trail is sure to mark another landmark moment for Rascalton in their inevitable rise to the top.

DEAD PRETTIES

Raw, unfiltered and utterly relentless, Dead Pretties are a band with something to say and they want you to know about it. A thrilling product of the same burgeoning punk rock scene that has produced the likes of Shame, Goat Girl and HMLTD, the young outfit are known to unleash savage chaos wherever they turn. A vital addition to the bill at this year’s Trail, the band instil their deviant rock & roll with a sharp social commentary that pulls absolutely no punches in its delivery. Everything goes at a Dead Pretties show and if their notorious live reputation is anything to go by, you don’t want to miss these guys.

LIFE

Defiant, gritty, intelligent and politically astute; Hull four-piece LIFE are ready to make an incendiary impact at this year’s Tenement Trail. Armed with a completely infectious and inflammatory brand of punk-rock, their debut album Popular Music balanced blind rage with thoughtful, thought-provoking observations on society and its many characters. Set to headline the Public Records stage at the infamous Priory on Sauchiehall Street, the site of some of the city’s most legendary gigs in recent years, their set is surely going to be another one to remember.

STATIC UNION

A regular presence on the local live circuit since their formation in 2014, Static Union seized our attention with the ambitious ‘Turn Out The Lights’ earlier this year. Since then, the release of ‘Accelerator’ and ‘Finally’ have highlighted them as a young band beginning to come in to their own; bursting with thrilling riffwork, dynamic percussion and stirring lead vocals. Tenement Trail will be a chance for the band to make their mark amongst an array of the nation’s most exciting musical talent.

DECLAN WELSH & THE DECADENT WEST

Fresh from a triumphant showing on the TTV Discover Stage at Electric Fields, Declan Welsh & the Decadent West are sure to make a similarly seismic impact at this year’s Tenement Trail. An artist who continues broaden his musical horizons while using his platform as a powerful force of good, Welsh is known to evoke all kinds of emotions in his audiences; whether through punchy social commentary, frenetic indie anthems or poignant, thought-provoking poetics. Having grown in stature as a performer throughout 2017, his rise to the forefront of the Scottish music scene has been nothing short of thrilling to witness; and Tenement Trail should mark another huge moment in his compelling journey so far.

THE DUNTS

A relatively new addition to the Glasgow music scene, The Dunts’ rise to prominence over the past 12 months has been as refreshing as it has been unexpected. Following in the footsteps of indie-rock heroes such as Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes and The Libertines, their hedonistic tales of weekend revelry and youthful rebellion have thrust them into the hearts of music fans all over the country; while their unkempt, high octane brand of indie-rock has been a breath of fresh air in the face of the overproduced. Looking to capitalise on their growing reputation, the band are almost ready to reveal a brand new single called ‘Coalition of Chaos’; a track we believe will take them to the next level.

VOODOOS

After an incendiary Club Sabbath debut last year, Voodoos will return to the Priory on Sauchiehall Street as part of a hugely exciting line-up curated by local label Public Records. Displaying a remarkably sharp and accomplished sound for a band who have only been together for a year, the group have been earmarked as ones to watch thanks to massive tunes like ‘Natalie’ and ‘Careless’. Indie-rock with a menacing edge, their tunes echo the spirit of The Strokes and Palma Violets with every searing guitar riff and catchy chorus.

STRANGE BONES

Strange Bones almost tore the roof off the Priory back in July when they stopped by to play Club Sabbath after making an appearance at Glasgow’s new TRNSMT Festival. Easily one of the most riotous gigs the venue has seen this year, temperatures reached boiling point as the Blackpool trio tore through a distorted mesh of sound full of dirty blues riffs and brilliantly dynamic and twisted anthems. With a powerful frontman in Bobby Bentham, Strange Bones will undoubtedly unleash a powder keg of noise and energy when they return to the Priory for Tenement Trail.

HEAVY RAPIDS

Rising from the ashes of The Telerman, Glasgow band Heavy Rapids are all about fast, immediate rock & roll. With an effortless swagger and the tunes to match, the four-piece amplified their growing reputation as one of the nation’s top new bands when they played the Jack Rocks stage at TRNSMT Festival earlier this summer alongside the cream of the UK’s emerging talent.  A regular presence on the local live circuit, The Priory will be the perfect location for their energetic live show.

RETRO VIDEO CLUB

Another product of Scotland’s infinitely fertile music scene, Edinburgh outfit Retro Video Club will hope to make a significant impression when they journey across the M8 on Saturday 30th September. A band who will appeal to fans of classic indie-rock, they certainly know their way around a catchy, heartfelt guitar tune with a few already stored in their locker; from the upbeat ‘1993’ to the melancholic ‘Noir’. Having spent a bit of time in the studio in the run up to Trail, you can perhaps expect to hear a couple of new tunes alongside an onslaught of foot-stomping rhythms, jangly riffs and singalong refrains.

Check out our recent rundown of the incredible women that will be performing at this year’s Tenement Trail here.