Under the radar - Scotland's underground music

Published on Thursday 25 September 2008 19:40

WE FIRST heard Lewis’s Dotjr play at the goNorth stage at Rockness in June and were taken by the pop sensibility of frontman James Reeve’s songs. Usually he plays bass guitar for rock act Our Lunar Activities, but we believe that this young songwriter is one to watch in his own right.

As the video goes really well with the song, we thought we’d put that on the Under the Radar microsite instead of the usual Track of the Month MP3.

Benbecula Records ( www.benbecula.com) supremo Steve McConnell emerges from his hermetically sealed den in Fife to present another showcase evening of acts on his label. Due to be held in Edinburgh’s Voodoo Rooms tomorrow, the free night has an eclectic line-up including the label’s stalwart Christ, Melvitronica, Araya and the unusual vocal compositions of Wounded Knee.

Another Benbecula signing, Alec Cheer ( www.myspace.com/mecheer), performs his beautiful folk-infused soundscapes at Glasgow’s 13th Note as part of the Merchant City Festival the following night. The event also features the wonderful songwriting talents of Muddy Face, ( www.myspace.com/muddyfaceparty) who performs at The Vic Bar (Tron Theatre) this evening. The festival also caters for other forms of the creative arts. View the full listings online at www.merchantcityfestival.com

Edinburgh’s Wee Red Bar hosts a tribute night to photographer and former My Electric Love Affair manager Stevie Edgar on 3 October. Check out Shellsuit Massacre ( www.myspace.com/theshellsuitmassacremusic), fronted by Leith poet Rodney Relax. Other acts include Dave Courtney, The Loons, Avenging Force and Un-Americans. Proceeds will go towards producing a book of Stevie’s photographs.

The Tennents Mutual initiative (where music fans democratically select which acts are booked, the place they perform and the price of tickets) has a series of gigs across the country. Glasgow’s mighty We Were Promised Jetpacks are set to perform with Teenage Fanclub at Fat Sam’s in Dundee on 27 October, followed by Aberdeen’s The Little Kicks, who have landed a slot with one of the most talked-about Scottish bands around, Glasvegas, in Dumfries on 30 October. Full listings from www.tennentsmutual.com

New bands will be relieved to hear that Jim Gellatly is to begin producing podcasts via Glasgow’s Radio Magnetic and will also co-host a Friday evening show on BBC Radio Scotland. This follows the news that Xfm Scotland is to be re-branded as Galaxy Scotland, part of the network of dance stations. Those who enjoyed hearing a daytime diet of Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Coldplay and Razorlight will no doubt be crying into their copies of Q Magazine. We wonder if this will mean a return to the days of Xfm’s previous incarnation as Beat 106, when schemie rave was the order of the day and Ian Van Dahl was played at least once an hour.

Ziggy Campbell, Simon Kirby and Tommy Perman from Edinburgh electro-pioneers Found have won the Alt W award from New Media Scotland to create a robot band. The Cybraphon is an interactive version of a mechanical band in a box. The robot musicians will play instruments using mechanical arms and will also be emotional (just like a human band) and will react to online opinion and comments posted about the band. Both positive and negative opinion will stir a musical reaction. Find out more by visiting www.mediascot.org/alt-w

&#149 Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run Born To Be Wide ( myspace.com/borntobewide), a social night where bands and people involved in the music/arts scene are invited to play their favourite records, unless they are by The Smiths or Joy Division. The next takes place on 2 October at The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, with a seminar on how to get a gig from Solen Collet (Cabaret Voltaire), Tam Coyle (Barfly), Jonathan Dawson (The Doghouse) and David Lawson (Henry’s Cellar Bar and The Ark) followed by DJ sets.

&#149 To listen to Olaf and Derick’s previous Track of the Month choices, visit Scotsman.com/undertheradar