A guide to Scotland's best bands and gig venues in 2012

Bands include Hostage, Siobhan Wilson and We Are the Physics

This article is from 2012.

The best venues and promoters in Edinburgh and Glasgow

‘Though she be but little, she is fierce!’ Shakespeare once said. The same is true for Scotland’s music scene. Its live venues range from anthem-rocking stadii (Murrayfield and Hampden have hosted Madonna, Take That and Bruce Springsteen in the past) right down to divey little bars where you can check out art school bands who only formed a few weeks earlier.

Those seeking local, grassroots talent should keep an eye on Electric Circus or the Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh, or King Tut’s, Bloc and Nice’n’Sleazy in Glasgow, while the best of the touring bands tend to stop in at the Queen’s Hall, Usher Hall, Sneaky Pete’s or Liquid Room in the east and the Arches, Barrowland, Stereo, the Berkeley Suite and O2 ABC in the west. As well as players such as DF, Regular and PCL, it’s worth keeping an eye on excellent local promoters Cry Parrot, Braw Gigs, Detour and From A Stolen Sea, who’ve put on gigs in churches, parks, warehouses and even toilet blocks. (CS)

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