It’s not quite a trip to the jungle, it’s not a tour through sparkling snowy waste, but exploring the side streets of Glasgow can be just as much a life-changing experience. It’s the music that does it, as I discovered on trips to the city in the last year. Live music happens in every street; not just in grand concert halls but in basements bars and attic clubs, in ageing art deco cinemas and old variety theatres, in subterranean tunnels where gigs are punctuated by passing trains, in vegan (yes vegan) cafes which would not look out of place in San Francisco. Live music transforms even the most battered parts of the city into an unforgettable experience – O2 Academy stands like a beached liner, a defiant dazzler on Gorbals edgelands. Barrowland is a beacon for rock bands the world over, The Arches and Sub Club rock the city underground and even the Apollo, long gone, absolutely refuses to die. All adding to the gritty, almost industrial strength of Glasgow’s cultural life. No wonder this is the UK’s first UNESCO City of Music. I explored Glasgow with the help of Walking Heads audio tours who have just produced Glasgow Music Tour as a free app.

www.walkingheads.net/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

There's quite a few places to see jazz in Glasgow, these are the ones I'd recommend both for the music and the bars.

Every Saturday 5-7pm The Griffin: 266 Bath Street (just off Sauchiehall St)
Every Sunday 9pm:The 78: 10-14 Kelvinhaugh Street.
Every Wednesday 8pm Mono: 12 Kings Court
Every Thursday 9pm The Beer Cafe: 78 Candleriggs. G1 1NP

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

This music shop has a comprehensive selection of musical instruments, accoutrements and accessories with a very good postal service and large selection of strings for traditional, folk and acoustic music.

22 clarendon place, glasgow g20 7pz www.folkrevolution.co.uk email. enquiries@folkrevolution.co.uk

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

It's a wee shop lurking round the back of St George's Cross in the West End and it's packed with books, instruments and recordings to thrill any folkie. The staff are very friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Magic.

Folk Revolution,
22 Clarendon Place
Glasgow
G20 7PZ

www.folkrevolution.co.uk

Loads of buses and just across the way from St George's Cross subway station.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Monorail is an incredibly cool, independent record shop, with a loads of vinyl alongside the racks of hard-to-find CDs. Especially good for underground Japanese music and European jazz, it stocks a really varied range of music plus magazines/fanzines. The shop is situated within vegan bar/restaurant Mono, which also hosts live music and album launches etc in conjunction with the record shop.

Monorail Music,
12 Kings Court, King Street, Glasgow, G1 5RB, UK
Tel: 0141 552 9458

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Independent music venue, bar & vegetarian & vegan cafe. Chilled out atmosphere, friendly staff, great place to check out new bands. Best jukebox in town, DJs upsatirs at weekends. Food is well tasty and good value for money.

50-60 King Street, Glasgow G1 5QT www.13thnote.co.uk

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Funk, soul, disco & northern soul club hidden away from the neon student filled barns on Sauciehall Street. Always has a fantastic atmosphere with a very diverse clientele and is just the right side of sleazy for a great night, not sure about the tartan carpet mind!

Down Bath Lane (142), just off Bath Street
www.thebuffclub.com
0141 248 1777

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends