Live music coming back to town soon
I took a walk around town last week and there is definitely a more positive buzz going around which has been missing for around a year now.
Sitting in a café talking to your friends and drinking a beer (outside) is a thing again.
If all goes according to plan, live music will be back with us again very soon, so please help support your local venues by popping in and buying a drink or get online and buy a ticket for an upcoming gig.
Here is my pick of what is coming up in Paisley, starting with The Bungalow.
● August 6 – Skaledonia, a ninepiece East Kilbride based Ska and 2Tone Tribute band, with special guests psychobilly act The Bikini Bottoms
● August 28 – If you are an Elvis fan, this gig is not to be missed. Simon Patrick is one of the best Elvis tributes around. Take a journey with the King’s music from his early days to his Las Vegas shows.
● September 11 – A Kick up the 90s. The very best of live music from the 1990s, A Kick Up The 90s bring you hits from Oasis, Blur, Pulp, The Stone Roses, as well as from acts across the pond like Nirvana and Green Day.
● September 24 – Esperanza, the hottest ska band on the scene with special guests Rudebeard
● September 25 – The Complete Stone Roses. One of the UK’s most wellknown, most seen and most successful tribute bands. Selling out venues across the UK and Ireland regularly, it has helped to carry on the music of one of the UK’s most influential bands - The Stone Roses.
● October 16 - Beast Decoys is Europe’s number one tribute to Beastie Boys. The Beast Decoys’ members all hail from Blackpool, and have over 20 years’ experience within the hip-hop scene. DJ Scott Rogan provides the platform for the performance and is a turntable veteran and hip-hop purist. His knowledge has been key to keeping the performance on point and his attention to detail is the backbone to the Beast Decoys’ stage show.
● October 23 - The UK’s top Rage Against the Machine tribute. The band – called The Machine Rages On – has a setlist that includes all the classic RATM songs from four studio albums.
● October 29 - Daft Punk tribute act Daft Funk Live is heading to Paisley. The band recreates the sound and atmosphere of a Daft Punk live experience and meticulously crafted stage productions feature authentic costumes and synchronised custom light shows.
Keep checking in with Callum’s Cavern, The Swan, The Anchor, The Cave, The Keg and Harvie’s to see what is coming up
Finally, a gig about gigs at The Bungalow will be held at the famous Shuttle Street venue on Thursday, June 3 at 7.30pm.
It is the official launch of the longawaited book, ‘ The Bungalow Bar – Stories from The Venue and Those Who Played There’, written by journalist, agent and publicist, Loudon Temple, who booked all of the bands into the original venue at the height of the punk and new wave explosion from 1979 to 1981.
Loudon will give a short talk and be on hand to sign copies of the book, with £5 from each copy sold going to provide vital support for the homeless.
BBC Radio Scotland presenter Billy Sloan said: “A book that tells the inside story of a legendary venue.”
It’s free, so get your ticket soon.