This was TT no. 9 – think BM has been to around 4 of them – and this year it moved from Sauchiehall St environs venues to Barras environs venues, which was very interesting and a bit of a refresh, also good to have several venues which don’t usually host music involved.
The new venues such as Barras Art and Design and St Lukes looked great in the afternoon sunshine, and the event seemed to have sold quite close to capacity judging by most venues. And of course always great to be in the Barrowland Ballroom, especially earlier in the day when you can have a proper look around at the vintage posters and other stuff.
Having said all that, BM did feel there were quite a few bands which just sounded and looked a bit the same, i.e. white boys with guitars playing music heavily influenced by Arctic Monkeys, Libertines and other recent rock acts. For BM there wasn’t quite enough weirdness or eccentricity, but maybe some crucial acts were missed, there were so many after all.
Highlights for BM were Beta Waves, whose slightly warped 80s influences (Yazoo anyone?) and general attitude stirred the BAAD crowded for some dancing in the sunlight, Shredd at the Barras, who really did some guitar-based damage, the Dunts (subbing late on for Dream Wife but clearly adored by the main Barras crowd) and Fatherson, who played a pretty triumphant and ecstatic headline slot at the Barras.
So overall a great showcase for up and coming talent – more variety next time but maybe BM isn’t the best judge of this one…