Under the radar: Bowl of Cherries is good enough to eat

Published on Sunday 29 November 2009 19:39

OLAFF Furniss and Derick Mackinnon report on Scotland's underground music scene

WE FIRST heard Elgin's Cuddly Shark on Michael Douglas Galloway's show a couple of weeks ago and were so impressed with Bowl Of Cherries that we immediately searched for it on www.shazam.com (the online music discovery engine) only to find the track wasn't registered.

While it seems obligatory for all heavy guitar acts to mimic Biffy Clyro and/or put on an accent usually heard on the token Scottish ned in a soap opera, this Elgin trio draw their inspiration from further afield. With a hint at 1980s California punk, a smidgen of grunge and the occasional smattering of psychobilly, Cuddly Shark are a breath of fresh air. Bowl Of Cherries is an eccentrically sculpted number, beginning with punk urgency before switching to a minute of foot-tapping instrumental and then ending with a rousing chorus. Check out the band's eponymous album on Armellodie Records or head online to www.myspace.com/cuddlyshark

Right-thinking individuals traumatised by the sonic effluent which passes as Christmas music will be relieved that at least one shop is forgoing Slade. Edinburgh's Avalanche Records has invited a slew of quality Scottish acts to write a listenable festive song for a charity compilation album and hopes other discerning businesses will take copies to sell. Among the contributors are several former Under the Radar track of the month providers including Pictish Trail, Meursault and Broken Records. Also contributing are X-Lion Tamer, Emily Scott, Frightened Rabbit and lots of other quality artistes. To mark the release there will be a party at The Caves in Edinburgh on 3 December, with numerous live acts and exciting activities. And for those from further afield, Avalanche will be providing regular updates on what is happening in the Scottish scene. For details, see www.avalancherecords.blogspot.com

Music charity Live Music Now is holding an open recruitment day on 9 December at the CCA in Glasgow. The charity organises live performances and workshops in unusual settings, such as care homes, prisons and rural communities, actively taking high quality music to people who are unable to get to regular venues. It also offers a source of income to young musicians, as they get a fee for each performance. See www.livemusicnow.org.uk

At this year's Homecoming Scotland Tartan Clef Awards, the annual fundraiser for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, King Creosote won Ticketmaster's Singer/Songwriter of the Year Award and Dundee's The View picked up The Sun Best Live Band Award. www.tartanclef.org.

King Creosote will also help one of Aberdeen's legendary institutions, One Up Records, celebrate their 30th Birthday on 30 December at The Tunnels. One Up is Aberdeen's only independent record store, as well as being a focal point for the city's music community. www.myspace.com/oneuprecords

A smart new music review website based in Edinburgh has come to our attention. Any Decent Music collates album reviews from a number of different media sources (including The Scotsman, obviously) and then summarises the results into an overall average. The site caters for all styles, gives links to every review and also enables you to buy albums. It's the perfect way to decide whether or not you really want to splash out on that latest release. www.anydecent music.com

Come On Gang, the Edinburgh-based purveyors of infectious folk tinged pop, are set to play in Washington DC on 2 December. The trio have enjoyed a brilliant year on the festival circuit and play their last gig of the year at Edinburgh's Sneaky Pete's on 5 December. For details, log on to: www.myspace.com/comeongangmusic

&#149 Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run music scene social night, Born To Be Wide. The next instalment features a seminar titled Music Publishing Explained, supported by Creative & Cultural Skills, the Music Publishers Association, Napier University and the Musicians Union and takes place on 3 December at Edinburgh's Voodoo Rooms. It's Free but ticketed. To book a place e-mail: borntobe_wide @yahoo.com