Tina Sandwich ‘Grit’ 

With various big gigs lined up this month – kicking off with Glasgow and Edinburgh over the weekend there – Tina Sandwich has returned with the brilliant ‘Grit’. Living up to its name, it’s a heavier, gnarly return full of amped up guitars, pummelling drums and brash attitude – ”channelling the exiting yet disorienting feeling of being on the run that touring gives you’. An invigorated return from the singer-songwriter, it’s the kind of track that will throw you full pelt into the day.

The frontwoman said: “A friend of mine said it sounds more grown up. Maybe on the surface, the instrumentation perhaps. But to me it has a kinda childish “F-you! I’m outta here” attitude. Thelma and Louise making their escape. I was labouring over the lyrics, trying to poeticise my feelings, and instead made the chorus a “Hell Yeah” female empowerment, revenge fantasy flick. It might have been about one specific thing when it was written, but since getting the master back, I’ve been sticking it on and using it to summon the strength to overcome even the most mundane struggles. I WILL get on to my letting agent and I WILL get my washing machine fixed.”

Awful Eyes ‘Post Punk Revival’ 

Awful Eyes make their TENEMENT TRAIL debut this Saturday at McChuills – the very bar where they met and decided to form a band. And before they hit the stage, they’ve unveiled a new track called ‘Post Punk Revival’ – a sharp cut down of the music industry and the performative male epidemic. Produced by Dead Pony’s Blair Crichton, their tongue-in-cheek lyrics are set against angular guitars as they channel the likes of Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, Viagra Boys and more – laying down a few post-punk Easter eggs along the way. Despite only being in their very formative stages, the band are already starting to make an impact on the local scene with a series of lively gigs – so catch them on Saturday at McChuills. 

Shay O’Dowd ‘Imagine It’

Following the release of his ‘Growinf Pains’ EP earlier this year, and ‘BACK IN A HEARTBEAT’, Glasgow singer-songwriter has returned with new single ‘Imagine It’. Inspired by the Netflix series ‘One Day’ i, the track fits in nicely with his growing catalogue – rooted in honesty, his heart-on-sleeve lyrics pack an emotional punch while he delivers a trademark singalong chorus.

Inspired by the likes of Sam Fender, Lewis Capaldi, and Noah Kahan, Shay finds writing about other people most interesting. “I am passionate about people and communication; both of which have served me well in the world of songwriting. I value authenticity and honesty as an artist, writing songs that capture the beautiful complexities of life.”

Shay sayd: “I started writing ‘Imagine It’ after watching the heartbreaking series ‘One Day’ on Netflix. It really got me thinking about the whole idea that sometimes we hold off telling people how we really feel until it’s too late. It’s almost as if we think we have endless amounts of time and an abundance of moments with the people in our lives. I wrote this song from the perspective of someone living with the grief of all the unexpressed love, much like in that series I was inspired by”

Art D’Ecco ‘Video Life’

Another artist playing McChuills next Saturday at TRAIL is Art D’ecco. Bold and inventive, the Canadian pop singer is known for borrowing from years of pop history, and channelling them inhis own eccentric guise. He arrives in Glasgow following the release of his acclaimed fourth album ‘Serene Demon’, and last week he shared a pitch-perfec tcover of Chris Spedding’s ‘Video Life’.

Speaking about the cover, Art shares, “I don’t know how this song came into my life but as soon as I learned Chris Spedding played on two of my all time favourite records (Here Come The Warm Jets and Nilsson Schmillson) I had to know more. There’s something quite prophetic about the lyrics in ‘Video Life’, given the state of things in 2025 and the obsession the music industry has with artists creating content (juxtaposed against the ongoing geopolitical darkness that blankets our screens on the hour, every hour). It’s maddening to be sucked into that gravitational pull, and most days I just tune out and pretend the world doesn’t exist outside my little island bubble. Sometimes a song speaks to you so clearly, and this one was on repeat all summer so I felt compelled to shine a little light on it. We recorded the drums at Dream Club Studios in Victoria, BC (Austin Tufts from the band BRAIDS lending his talents there). The rest was done at my home studio with the usual quirky analogue gear and tape obsessions poured into the mix.”

FLETCHR FLETCHR ‘Feel The Same’

On their new single ‘Feel The Same’, Cletchr Fletchr encourage listeners to open up and talk about their problems. Known for their emotion-driven pop-rock tunes – blending deep vocals, gliding harmonies, big guitars and hooks to create their unique. New single ‘Feel The Same’ is full off their trademark urgency, driven by their spirited vocals as they career towards a euphoric finale. Cathartic, anthemic and full of heart, you can catch them at Saint Lukes at 4.15pm.

 

Callum Stewart ‘Bleed’

Appearing at 226 Gallowgate on Saturday, Motherwell singer-songwriter Callum Stewart  excels in crafting big, ambitious pop anthems. His latest release ‘Bleed’ showcases that perfectly – his soulful vocals and heart-on-sleeve lyrics are set against a carefully crafted backdrop that builds to an emotional climax. An artist who continues to show heaps of potential, he’s a voice that we’re to hear a lot more of in the future.

Youth For Sale ‘I Think I’m In Love (live)’

Youth For Sale have gone from strength to strength since their last appearance at TRAIL in 2023. They’ve recalibrated their lineup, refined their sound and brought more influences into the mix – releasing the upbeat and infectious ‘Back To You’ and the moody ballad ‘Dead Famous’ among others. Ahead of the festival on Saturday, they’ve shared a live recording of ‘I Think I’m In Love’, a favourite at their live shows – a shimmering, fast-paced slice of indie-pop, driven by bright synths, zinging guitar lines and a harmony-led chorus. Full of the raw DIY charm of those earlier releases, it’s a bright, exuberant return.

Croíthe ‘I Heard, I Saw’

Irish outfit Croíthe unveiled the dark and brooding ‘I Heard, I Saw’ last week – a track that channels classic post-punk and shoegaze heroes like Joy Division, My Bloody Valentine and more. Brimming with atmosphere, it’s thick with guitars, moody vocals and driving drums – elevated by its melodic choruses.