Big in 2024

Gig No.8 on our A to Z musical adventure was ……

5 acts as part of the This Feeling Big in 2024 series of events at Broadcast in Glasgow.

So we had a 5 acts all hoping to get the lucky break that will see them get onto the net few rungs of the musical ladder.

Clockwise – Bride, DOVV, Theta, The Rampants and Strange Dimensions.

This Feeling Background

This Feeling’s annual ‘Big In‘ series has hosted early year gigs since 2014 (The Struts and Trampolene played the first ever ‘Big in’ show 10 years ago) and each series is complemented by the release of a limited edition vinyl compilation album that raises money for the Teenage Cancer Trust that equals a vinyl debut for many of the acts featured.

With their ears to the ground when it comes to discovering new bands and then giving them a chance to shine, This Feeling is a great place to hear the best new indie bands first with 350+ gigs a year, the majority of them packing out grassroots venues all over the UK and new band stages at IoW, Truck, Y Not, The Great Escape and more! 

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As anyone who has been to gigs with me will tell you, I like to get to the venue early to pick a spot where I can see and hear the bands but away from any mosh pits that may develop, or overly keen fans who just need to be stage front.

There’s also the more important reason of not wanting to miss the support acts and then second-guess for some if they’ll make it onto the bigger stages before too long.

And so it was I headed to Broadcast for what I’d describe as a showcase gig with 5 Scottish bands picked by This Feeling to rattle through a few songs each and hopefully keep all the fans of the different acts happy.

And so to the gig. Did they succeed? Let’s find out.

The Rampants

So I arrive early, maybe too early, nobody else around other than the barmaid. However just before the official kick off of 7pm, there is the flutter of activity on the stage. No roadies, no time for a quick soundcheck. It’s 7pm. Are you ready? The clock is ticking.

And the Rampants blast off with their new single 1 in the 99. And what a punk rocker it is too. The rest of the set flew by with a series of rapid songs, fine guitar playing and a fair bit of gallusness from the Killie boys.

There are obvious punk references across their recorded output and for me there was a lot of similarity with Glasgow’s Girobabies, which in my book is no bad thing.

And at 7.25pm, they were cordially cut off. 25 minute set finished. The clock had run it’s course. I kind of hope the clock keeps running for a while yet.

DOVV

In 1979, I celebrated my 21st birthday and was delighted to be given Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf as a pressie. It would be unfair of me to label DOVV as a Meatloaf sound alike, maybe they would be quite happy if that was the case, however, having listened to a dynamic set on Saturday night, that was the overriding impression I came away with.

It was also evident they were more experienced than the other four bands on the show, with a togetherness that comes from what appears years of practice together or with other bands. David Stevens can fair belt out a tune and has the charisma to work the crowd. It’s a sound that has American Rock written all over it. If that’s your thing then give them a listen. I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

Theta

The one thing I can never criticise bands for is their ability to pull a tune together, the beat of the drums and bass, lead and rhythm guitars with maybe keyboards too all coming together as one.

I’d give a lot to be any part of that formation with my own musical ability measured in the range of zero to 0.1 and that’s being generous.

That said, it’s not possible to be taken by everything you hear. Theta are a good proposition for people who like their music closer to the mainstream than the indie sounds I prefer. Beth Simpson and the rest of the band may just be the act that goes from strength to strength and I’d have no problem with that. I reckon they’re more radio friendly than the other sounds on the night too. Time will tell

Bride

It was pretty obvious that the band had brought a bit of a following with them on the night. Hailing from ‘Inverclyde’, you could see why the young fanbase had decided upon a night at Broadcast in the big city.

Caragh Power, was possibly the most accomplished of the lead singers of the five bands and had the personality to make sure the fanbase was well entertained during the 20 minute slot.

In trying to find a link between the present and the past, I thought they sounded a bit like The Cranberries with their recent single, Paralysis, standing out as a signature tune for me and the fans.

Strange Dimensions

I’m not sure what the selection process for the order the bands played was on the night, but the audience who stayed the course to watch Strange Dimensions, were treated to the most polished set list by this Greenock based 5 piece band. All the songs were pretty tight and, although the vocalists on the night were somehow drowned out by the instruments, Paul Leslie overcame any such difficulties with a measured performance. There are a lot of similarities between them and bands like The Snuts so hopefully they’ll go on to the same level of success in the near future.

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So there we have it. 5 bands. 25 minutes each. Similar in a desire to get noticed by many more than those who braved the February rain in Glasgow.

I have my favourites of course, but that counts for nothing as music is all personal taste and to some, my tastes are abstract to say the least.

Best of luck to all the bands tonight. I had a ball and thanks to This Feeling for pulling the show together.

About the venue

Broadcast definitely has an intimate feel to it. Downstairs, small(ish) dark basement but with a real feel good vibe to it. Certainly a chance for the ‘fans’ to get up close and personal with the band members.

It hosts a lot of late night clubs too, so chances are the gigs are finished early. Also means that they start early too, so don’t dally when heading there to see anyone, especially the support acts.