Under the Radar: showcasing Scotland's best unsigned bands

Published on Sunday 26 April 2009 20:33

ONE half of UTR was once a stand-in bassist for Action Group, so we admit a familiarity with the band's older compositions.

However, when the track Take It (play on the green button >>>) arrived in our inbox we felt it would only be right to share this taste of the Edinburgh band's forthcoming album by making it our track of the month.

Glasgow, meanwhile, continues to live up to its Unesco City Of Music credentials, with another mini festival, this time at the School of Art, on 8 May. Beepfest will see pillars of the Scottish indie scene performing as part of an all-day extravaganza. Acts include the 60s-sounding Jim Noir, The Beep Seals and The Junipers, as well as Norman Blake, Aberfeldy and BMX Bandit Duglas T Stewart. There will also be DJ sets from members of Belle & Sebastian and Camera Obscura. All this for 12.50.

Over at the Edinburgh College of Art, lovers of edgy pop are set to get a treat with the launch of the Broken Jukebox ( www.myspace.com/thebrokenjukeboxpromos) on 29 April. The debut features live performances by Yoshi ( www.myspace.com/yoshimuzic), the humourous rap of Supersonic Sima ( www.myspace.com/ supersonicsims) and quirky electronic antics of RBRBR www.myspace.com/rbrbr.

This year's Tigerfest will include gigs in Aberdeen, as well as Dunfermline and Edinburgh. In addition to established Scottish acts such as King Creosote the month-long event will feature lesser-known gems such as singer/songwriter Amber Wilson ( www.myspace.com/amberacoustic), electromeisters Cruiser and Edinburgh sensations Meursault ( www.myspace.com/meursaulta701).

Dogs Die In Hot Cars ( www.dogsdieinhotcars.com) are inviting people to download their songs and add instruments, remixes, artwork and even videos until 1 May. Everyone submitting something will receive a free copy of the finished EP, and the winners will also receive a cut of the royalties.

Also benefiting from an international boost are Glasgow four-piece Twin Atlantic ( www.myspace.com/twinatlantic) who are recording in LA and are set to play several Californian dates including the Viper Room on 4 May. Twin Atlantic recently signed to the fledgling label launched by drinks company Red Bull. Expect them at T In The Park with bloodshot eyes, thousand-yard stares and three stone lighter.

Although an official announcement has yet to be made, we've extracted the names of some acts that have been selected for this year' s goNorth ( www.goevents.info). These include Highland artists Abigail Grey ( www.myspace.com/abagailgrey), The Naked Strangers ( www.myspace.com/thenakedstrangers) and former UTR tip Theatre Fall ( www.myspace.com/theatrefall) who have since replaced their frontman with a frontwoman. And in a rare example of a decent beer getting behind a music event, the goNorth stage at Rockness will be hosted by the Black Isle Brewery.

• Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run Born to be Wide ( www.myspace.com/borntobewide) where bands and people involved in the music scene are invited to play their favourite records (but not The Smiths or Joy Division).