Live Report: Belle & Sebastian Present The Glasgow Weekender
A magnificent indie music feast, The Glasgow Weekender offers distinct curation and brings together some of the most prominent bands and artists from Scotland and further afield.
Taking place in Finnieston, Glasgow, the two day event uses a significant part of the SWG3 venue space and its Galvanizers Yard, the area outside, where the main stage is located.
The Bowlie event has been going from strength to strength. Initially curated by Belle and Sebastian in 1999, at Pontins Camber Sands, in Rye, it became a popular gathering for indie fans with shared taste and passion for bands of a certain ilk.
The community became a yearly event, and each time a different curator (band) was responsible for pulling the lineup together. From 2000 to 2005 it was at Camber Sands, East Sussex, before moving to Butlin’s Minehead in 2006.
Knowing about its inspiring history and past makes Clash want to check it out, curious to see what a 2024 Bowlie Weekender edition is like. There is no disappointment to be had, if the weather is a letdown, the performances make up for it.
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Chilled, friendly vibes are felt everywhere on site. It isn’t just about music here, with street food, an expansive vintage clothing outlet, merch stores and entertainment for kids, there is enough going on to keep adult music fans and their children happy.
A string of concerts are scheduled across the two-day-event, and Belle and Sebastian headline both. Day one offers live shows from Tenementals, experimental rock trio Mary In the Junkyard, seven-piece DIY group The Joy Hotel, glam-pop collective Walt Disco, the jangly Butcher Boy, melodic wonders Camera Obscura and there’s Kiddy Disco in the Poetry Club space.
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Day two, the Saturday, sees singer Monica Queen, The Parsonage (choir), duo The Cords, singer and multi-instrumentalist Callum Easter, alt-rockers The Vaselines, punk-pop Bis and current Mercury Prize nominee, Irish musician CMAT.
With song material for two headline slots to be distributed Belle and Sebastian deliver a compelling blend of ‘best of’, newer tracks and some deep cuts. A delicate activity, where the line is easy to cross, but the band balance both setlists with skilful precision. They have enough quality-driven material to fill a week’s worth of sets and play a different repertoire each night.
The group’s Friday delivery includes the infectious ‘Get Me Away From Here, I’m Dying’, ‘I Want the World to Stop’ and a mesmerising live rendition of ‘Fox In the Snow’. Frontman Stuart Murdoch is talkative, there’s the sense of chatting to a good friend, which he brings into the live setting. He makes it look easy.
With more time for immersion, Saturday starts a bit earlier, and Murdoch hosts a pop (and B&S) quiz in the Poetry Club space. It’s a fun session. Later, in the TV Studio, there are performances from singer Monica Queen and Callum Easter, both contribute to a soothing atmosphere before Bis’ electrifying slot. The punk-pop trio play anthemic crowd pleasers like ‘School Disco’, ‘Kandy Pop’ and ‘Eurodisco’. It’s a fitting reminder of their musical zest.
The raw yet fulfilling nature of alternative-rockers, The Vaselines’ concert is a joy, as tracks like ‘The Day I was A Horse’, ‘Molly’s Lips’ and ‘Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam’ go down a treat. The sun even decides to show face for a few minutes, making it thirty something, very enjoyable minutes.
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Back on the main stage Irish singer-songwriter CMAT wins the crowd with her entertaining show. She gets a number of laughs throughout. A show based on the of idea of taking her music seriously, without taking herself too seriously, is well received. The Dublin musician makes everyone react, burst out in laughs or sing along. Lyrically and vocally, a fair amount of improvisation is on display.
In-between songs the musician decides to sing about what and when she sees something of interest, technical changes and the like, to the delight of her crowd. Songs like ‘I Don’t Really Care For You’, ‘Aw Shoot!’ and ‘I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby!’ shine. It’s an engaging execution.
Unsurprisingly, Belle and Sebastian’s second set compels, too. Comprising of the more rare evergreens ‘Step Into My Office, Baby’, ‘Like Dylan In the Movies’, ‘The Stars of Track and Field’ from ‘If You’re Feeling Sinister’ and ‘Seymour Stein’, the song about the American music exec and entrepreneur, ensure stellar goods are delivered. To wrap things up, the set is firmed up with what’s become a regular part of the gigs. A dance to ‘The Boy With the Arab Strap’, during which members of the crowd get to join in, and dance on stage. It’s light-hearted and inclusive.
A great return for the Bowlie event, there’s a hope of it becoming a regular event again, because it works.
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Words: Susan Hansen
Photography: Michael Cameron Hunter // @michaelc_hunter
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