Friday night, having just left work for the day. I walk down the road to King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, I’ve never been to King Tut’s before, but I’ve been invited by some friends to a gig and I feel like there are much worse ways to spend a Friday night.
I had also never heard of Summer Nights before. The chalkboard inside lists all the different rock, indie and pop bands – all up-and-coming. I’ve heard of only one of the bands, but I like seeing live music, so I’m always intrigued.
Tickets were cheap, £13 for the chance to see the three bands. A special on drinks too? Yeah, you heard right. Spirit and mixer for £4. Another win for the night.
When you climb the stairs, the names of famous artists and bands are in clear view, a reminder that this is a venue with plenty of history. Each step you were standing on Biffy Clyro, Paulo Nutini and Belle and Sebastian. So when you go to see smaller artists, you can never be sure if they will be the next big thing…
The first band was Lupercalia; they brought the energy and atmosphere. An electric start to the night. Undeniably dynamic, I couldn’t help but bop my head along. I’m not a good dancer in the slightest, so I probably looked as if I was nodding excessively, but if you can’t embrace some movement at a gig, then what can you do?
Discola were on next; the crowd were bouncing. They had also shared that their new song, Whiteout, was playing that night on BBC Music Introducing. Your typical indie rock band but with a bit of Glasgow humour. They had fun on stage, and you could tell that. When that’s the case, I feel it’s easier for the crowd to relax and enjoy it too. When I was in the bathroom between their act and the last, I overheard two girls saying that they were really good. We all know in the toilets that the truth is spoken.
Closing the night was Allsorts; their setlist brought the night to a close with a bang. Good thing the venue provided ear protection. They had another excellent crowd, and it was palpable that people were enjoying the vibes. By this point, I was leaving to get food (Taco Bell if you must know), but I could hear them and the crowd from outside – so definitely the sign of a good night.
Reporting on gigs isn’t something I’ve done much of during my time at the Telegraph, but I forgot how important the Glasgow music scene truly is. Summer Sessions are vital for smaller bands like these. It might not be an artist you’ve ever heard of before or listen to the genre very often, but as I’ve written about before, you have to engage with art and artists. So, if you take anything away from this, it’s to never say no to a gig.
Editor’s Note – In the Freshers Print, the title is Summer Sessions. This has been changed in the online version of this article.
Hi, I’m Erin. I’m currently studying English and History. She/her
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