Explore Glasgow’s rich music history both past and present on this two hour tour run by Glasgow Music City Tours. The tour includes visits to some of Glasgow’s most iconic venues and is brought to you by a guide with a wealth of knowledge about the city’s music scene. Glasgow is renowned for its thriving scene and was honoured with UNESCO city of music status so you will not be disappointed. Discover what makes Glasgow special – its independent venues with character that have not given in to the commercialised world of the music industry.
The tour begins at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall where you are given a flavour of what this beautiful venue did for the city when it opened its doors in 1990 and explores the origins of popular festival Celtic Connections. Next we take to the streets to learn about some wonderful venues such as The Apollo and The Empire which sadly are no more. They were host to big name acts such as David Bowie and Frank Sinatra and are remembered fondly by those who attended.
A short walk away is Glasgow School of Art (GSA) which has many famous alumni that were influential in Glasgow. These include Fran Healy of Travis and Bob Hardy of Franz Ferdinand. The student union at GSA, ‘The Vic’ is host to many gigs and is a great place to see new and upcoming bands.
Next stop is outside popular venue the 02 ABC which was formerly a cinema. This venue sees a range of rock and pop acts every week. As we move further up Sauchiehall Street, there are many music venues all in close proximity. The tour visits musician’s hangout Nice n’ Sleazy where we stop for a quick drink and chat about the venues in the area. You might even be lucky enough to see a famous face. The bustling bar has a laid back atmosphere and you can feel the vibrations from the gig taking place downstairs.
On route to the final destination we pass The Kings Theatre which has saw acts such as The Jackson five grace its stage. Then we cross over to St. Vincent Street the home of King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut which is an excellent example of how Glasgow supports grass roots music. Here we discover the true story of how Oasis were scouted and the beginnings of Blur. The tour even includes a photo opportunity on the stage of King Tut’s where many musical icons have stood. A twenty five percent off food discount voucher is also included so make the most of it and grab some delicious food in the world famous venue.
This tour is a great opportunity for students to explore Glasgow’s rich music heritage. The guides are very friendly and will answer any questions you may have. It is a wonderful and informative afternoon out and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is at all interested in music.
The Music Mile Walking Tour runs every Saturday from 2-4pm. In association with Student Tours Scotland a student friendly tour is running on the 8th November costing only £5. Don’t miss out! Book your tickets here.
By Cailin McKie
