Blog.

Here you can find Artist Showcases, Reviews, recommendations, News and Journals.

Cala, 23/01/25 - Òran Mór, Glasgow.

- Archie Sørensen

On the 23rd of January, as part of the Celtic Connections music festival, Cala took to the stage of Òran Mór in Glasgow. The crowd was an extremely diverse range of people from different age groups and backgrounds, yet they all share the same excitement that created a buzzing atmosphere around the venue. 

 

Both listening to Cala’s music and watching them live is always a breath of fresh air. They never fail to provide a refreshing take on Scottish music and culture. Their music shows us that Scottish culture is thriving amongst young people in a beautiful blend of tradition and almost cinematic electronic influence. The music feels alive. Finlay MacLennan played his fiddle at the centre of the stage, he gave a fantastic performance involving the crowd and providing picturesque and charming melodies. These melodies combined with the outstanding harmonies of Ivan Steele’s whistle was enough to give any of the crowd members goosebumps. Guitar and bass was supplied by the MacQuarrie brothers Ali and Calum. Their chemistry with the rest of the band and use of traditional Scottish motifs such as the scotch snap gave the performance great strength and an exciting vibe. Angus Walker’s drumming is consistently impressive. He takes influence from a huge array of music from jazz, experimental music and hip-hop to indie rock and pop. Angus uses this influence to create extremely diverse and exhilarating grooves. Another striking and impressive addition to the show was the lighting design provided by Zoe Williams, whose use of exciting colour schemes and programming really enhanced the atmosphere in the venue.

 

This was undoubtedly the best show I have ever seen Cala perform. Òran Mór was the perfect venue for the band to play and the Celtic Connections festival the perfect celebration for Cala to attend. This performance showed a mix of highly anticipated new material, old favourites and some inspiring new concepts that assures their audience’s attendance at upcoming gigs.

KuleeAngee, 19/12/24 - Sneaky Petes, Edinburgh.

- Iris Thirlwall

KuleeAngee bounced onstage with the same jaunty energy that defined their whole short yet powerful 55 minute set. The Glaswegian and Edinburgh born duo electrified Sneaky Petes with an eccentric image to accompany an eccentric sound - an eclectic mix of Bad Sounds, Jungle, and Orange Juice-esque grooves.

In a set that could’ve been performed using a drum machine and their decks, KuleeAngee’s live instruments were refreshing and original. The Duo’s self-confident animation and crowd engagement showcased a desire to be anything but one-dimensional performers. These are certainly new-comers to the Scottish music scene who will make it their own.