BRITPOPONREPEAT
MUSIC NEVER DIED.. A string of artists and bands who were hugely influential during one of the most successful eras of British music are ready to return to the spotlight and lift up a nation divided by Brexit
LAST night, Ocean Colour Scene played a joyous gig at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.
While they’ve never been away, and have constantly toured, the size of the venue shows their music is as popular as ever.
Meanwhile, Dodgy will play the QMU in Glasgow on February 9. The trio will play their 1994 Homegrown album in its entirety.
Also making a return are Scots Britpopers Bis. The trio will release a new album, Slight Disconnects, in February and play a series of gigs across the country. BY RICK FULTON r.fulton@dailyrecord.co.uk RUMOURS about its return have been rumbling for ages but 2019 looks like being the Year of Britpop 2.
Back in the 90s, the term was used to lump disparate bands together to create the last proper musical movement which had started with rock’n’roll and had included disco, punk and New Romantics.
Britpop was bands like Suede and Blur’s kick against America’s grunge.
Britpop 2 will see the bands who flew the flag of Britishness that followed them reforming and playing live – as the UK says goodbye to Europe with Brexit.
Leaving Europe could also trigger a general election and see the Labour back in power – just like Tony Blair’s party in the 90s.
As well as bands such as Sleeper, Dodgy, Cast and Space returning, we will see 90s-themed festivals like Star Shaped and one-off club nights up and down the country and see the comeback of other Cool Britannia-era groups like the Spice Girls.
There is also a growing rumour of an Oasis reunion as Glastonbury
headliners. Next year, it will be 10 years since the kings of Britpop split and for fans, it’s the right time for warring brothers Noel and Liam to patch up their differences.
Noel has already said he’d love to play in 2019 and already has live dates booked. Liam also has a pre-Glastonbury event lined up. On rumours about a possible Oasis reunion, he told a fan: “I’m up for it any time. The other fella’s Mrs [Scots publicist Sara MacDonald] won’t let him as it’s too rowdy for her. She’s posh.”
While the Oasis v Blur battle is long over, with Noel and Damon Albarn best buds now, the Britpop 2 battle could be Liam and Noel.
However, Bluetones lead singer Mark Morriss doesn’t think there’s an appetite for guitar bands – with young wannabes now using computers in their bedrooms or wanting to be on shows like The X Factor. He said: “Instead of wanting to be creative and interactive, they just want to be famous for singing someone else’s song. They don’t care, they just want to have their picture taken.” But 2019 could still be a big year for fans who were Mad for It in the 90s.