Rudebeard at The Bungalow in Paisley.

The first gig to kick us off on this adventure was ……

Date Saturday 27 January 2024

5 Shuttle St, Paisley PA1 1YD

Capacity at The Bungalow is just under 300.

**The Bungalow is a community interest company and re-invests its profits to subsidise grassroots arts events and improve event programs.**

The Bungalow legacy began in the late seventies on Renfrew Road (*the original premises*) with artists such as; The Fall, The Skids, The Tourists, Orange juice, Roddy Frame, Alan McGee, The Buzzcocks, Echo, and the Bunnymen, The Alarm, The Jam, The Teardrop Explodes, The Clash **and many many more rolled** through the doors to perform to a packed Paisley crowd every night! To the disappointment of many, The Bungalow closed its doors in the early eighties.

**In 2008, The Bungalow revival was born** opening up in its current residency of Shuttle Street with a mission to bring the upcoming and the legends into Paisley as the music home of Danny Kyle, Jerry Rafferty, Paolo Nutini, Jukebox, and many more with the likes of The Rezillos, The Quireboys, Kyle Falconer, Frightened Rabbit, Toploader, The Christians, China Crisis and The Blockheads already making their way back through our doors and inspiring up and coming bands to fulfill their musical talents and dreams (We have a big dream here and everyone is part of that). For more…..

A first time for everything

I’ve always like ska music as played by the likes of Madness, the Specials and The Beat, back in the day.

However, thanks to a pal of mine, Adam Lawson, I was attracted to my first out and out Ska gig, Rudebeard with drummer Adam, supporting Esperanza at The Bungalow, another first visit to this great we venue tucked less than 10 miles from me.

The obvious question to as is why it took so long to come here?

It would be fair to say that neither band took themselves too seriously, and the gig was all the better for that.

We’re here to have a party seemed to be the mantra for the night.

The addition of a brass section to the standard, guitar, bass, vocals and drums is what makes ska music so enjoyable. This is all my own opinion here remember!

Rudebeard themselves treated us to 13 songs which, to the untrained musician in me, sounded great and had the audience bopping away.

My own favourite was Smack in the Pus, or maybe that’s just a memory from days gone by!

They thoroughly deserved their ovation at the end of the set. There was even time for vocalist Rod Drysdale to share his stage drink with a couple of the audience. Not very often you’ll get the chance to share a swig of Buckie!!

The audience were of a certain maturity too and had a great time with many dressed to kill, with Fred Perry the label of choice too. The venue staff all seemed very friendly too which is always a bonus, especially om your first visit.

Another bonus, if you’re attending a gig at The Bungalow, is the stage camera which feeds to two TVs in and around the bar area. Apart from making sure you don’t miss anything if you go for a drink or three, you get a clear view of the band throughout the show.

And with 13 songs in the set, Rudebeard were the perfect launch pad for our A to Z tour. A couple of wee stand out tunes along the way like this, Bitter Pill.