GLASGOW is one of the top spots in Scotland to hear traditional music. Our day-by-day guide shows you the best pubs and acts to see throughout the week.
GLASGOW is one of the top spots in the country at the moment for traditional music.
You’ll hear top tunes and songs belted out every night of the week, often by some on the country’s best young musicians, in a variety of pubs right round the city.
So here’s our guide, on a day-by-day basis, with the best pubs to visit and the type of music you’re likely to hear when you’re there.
There is a long-established session in Babbity Bowster in Blackfriars St, one of the first pubs to open nearly thirty years ago as the Merchant City was being redeveloped.
Some of the musicians playing there today have been there since the beginning and the Saturday session is one of the longest established in the city.
There is a definite Irish touch to the music although you are also likely to hear some wonderful Scottish tunes and songs on a selection of pipes, fiddles and whistles.
Sunday Funday takes place across a number of pubs to finish of the weekend in style.
The fun usually kicks of around 3pm in Waxy O’Connor’s on West George St, and this session is run by Suzanne Houston and Rua Macmillan on piano and fiddle, joined by a selection of younger musicians, many of whom are recent graduates of the Traditional Music course at the RCS.
The fun continues from 5.31pm in the Flying Duck on Renfield St, where you can usually hear from Jenn Butterworth and Adam Sutherland on guitar, fiddle and song.
The party then moves on to Argyle St and The Ben Nevis (The Ben to those in the know), another long established Glasgow session featuring a variety of Scotland’s top musicians.
If you can stand the pace there is likely to be late-night music at Bar Bloc on a Sunday from 9pm until 3am. Not exclusively traditional this session features a range of genres, including jazz and there is also an open mic event for budding musicians.
On the second and fourth Monday’s of the month you can hear music from the Blas Collective playing at Bar Bloc in Bath St.
It’s not strictly a session, rather a gathering of pals who paly a few tunes and sing a few songs, but you are likely to hear music from the likes of Jenn Butterworth, Laura-Beth Salter, Euan Barton and Steve Forman amongst others.
There is a regular session at the Lismore on Dumbarton Rd on a Monday and Tuesday evening, usually starting at 8pm on a Monday and 9pm on a Tuesday.
The attendees at these sessions will vary since most of the musicians who play there are working and travelling musicians who enjoy dropping into sessions for a tune with friends when they are at home.
Babbity Bowster hosts a ‘quiet’ session on a Wednesday afternoon when some of the musicians who attend on a Saturday get together for a tune in a bit more peace and quiet than is usually the case at the weekend session.
The Ben Nevis is host to sessions on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Both nights usually start around 9pm but this can vary depending on who is around.
The Ivory hotel on Glasgow’s South side is the venue for Friday’s session. This one has a distinct Irish feel to it and usually features Padraig O’Neill on accordion amongst other prominent Irish musicians active in the Glasgow scene.
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