Under the Radar: Mass Consensus an agreeable prospect

By OLAF FURNISS AND DERICK MACKINNON
Published on 02/08/2012 03:07

OLAF Furniss and Derick Mackinnon report 
on Scotland’s underground music scene

IT’S been a while since a band from Dundee provided us with a track of the month and although Mass Consensus have yet to appear on the radar of many people outside their home city, we feel that this is a band far more people should be listening to.

At times hinting at prog-rock, at others the surreal tendencies of Frank Zappa and The Fall, they have made three of their tracks available for free download. We recommend checking them all out, starting with the excellent The Circus. http://massconsensus.bandcamp.com/album/mass-consensus-ep

Unsurprisingly there is plenty going on in Edinburgh this month, kicking off at Summerhall (previously the Dick Vet School on the eastern corner The Meadows) on 4 August with the Independent Label Fair. www.facebook.com/events/461284373890048. This free event sees many of the small record companies behind some of the most exciting acts set up a type of musical equivalent of a farmers’ market, with DJ sets and live sets, including one from Withered Hand.

The day after that, we host our Born To Be Wide Edinburgh Night, which features a snapshot of Scottish artists performing in the capital during August. Taking place at Electric Circus, it will have ten acts playing ten-minute taster sets, with guest DJs who help make the scene playing their favourite four records by Edinburgh bands in between. Live acts include Fatherson, Fat Goth, Plum, Paul Gilbody, Hector Bizerk and Homework. Details of how to get in free can be found at www.borntobewide.co.uk

Video adventurers Detour and Fresh Air FM host their Circa nights each Wednesday at Electric Circus, with a combination of Scottish bands, DJs and label showcases. Acts include former track of the month providers Bwani Junction, Churches, PAWS and Lady North, as well as The LaFontaines, Holy Mountain and We Are The Physics. Visit www.theelectriccircus.biz

Also worth checking out are shows at Sneaky Pete’s, the Acoustic Music Centre shows (taking place at the St Bride’s Centre and the Queen’s Hall) and the various events staged by expat New Yorker, Lach, who was so taken by the Fringe he moved to Edinburgh, visit www.lachtoday.com

Readers of this column will be familiar with literary dynamo Kevin Williamson, whose groundbreaking Rebel Inc magazine helped launch several Scottish authors including Irvine Welsh. For the past two years his Neu! Reekie! arts events have been one of the city’s best-kept secrets but this is set to change with the launch of a record label and a move to a larger venue. Keep up to date with their activity during August at www.facebook.com/pages/Neu-Reekie/110521099017914

Live at Troon, now in its third year, is a locally run festival taking place across multiple venues in Troon, South Ayrshire from 30 August until 2 September. The line-up is extremely varied including reformed bands like The Bluebells headlining shows in Troon Concert Hall with support from emerging acts like Fatherson, The Stagger Rats and Brown Bear and the Bandits. Also performing are Dundee’s The View plus Tommy Reilly, The LaFontaines, Little Fire, The Imagineers, Dumb Instrument and a lot more folk, jazz, emerging acts plus workshops and seminars throughout the town. Visit www.liveattroon.com

The Audio Soup Festival takes place in Garvald, East Lothian from 31 August until 2 September and promises to cater for all ages and tastes in music. Mixing acts like Bombskare, acoustic bands like Myagi, plus DJ sets from Astroboy, Hector Bizerk as well as tribute bands covering Blondie, Rage Against The Machine and Weezer, there is plenty happening. Among the music there are instrument-making workshops and plenty to entertain the kids. Visit www.facebook.com/audiosoupfestival

Doune The Rabbit Hole returns from 24-26 August on the outskirts of Larbert at Duncarron Fort, Carron Valley. With performances from King Creosote, The Phantom Band, Malcolm Middleton, Bwani Junction, Kid Canaveral and Withered Hand as well as DJ sets from JD Twitch (Optimo) the line-up offers some of the more heavyweight acts of the smaller festivals. www.dounetherabbithole.co.uk

• Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon host the regular Born To Be Wide events which include the Edinburgh Night on 5 August and a panel about the future of the music industry taking place as part of the Festival Of Politics on 25 August. For details see www.borntobewide.co.uk