With such a crowded gig calendar, it can be hard choosing which live acts to spend you money on. Maybe you've never heard of the bands playing; maybe you've heard their name, but haven't listened to any songs yet; conversely, maybe their back catalogue is so large you don't know where to start. Luckily for you, Time Out is on the case: what follows are the five best songs from the five best artists gigging in Glasgow this month. Use it to jog your memory, or to get introduced to something completely unfamiliar – you might just find your new favourite band.
Gorgon City – O2 ABC, Thu Feb 5
Following a series of lively try-out club dates last year, club producer duo Kye ‘Foamo’ Gibbon and Matt ‘RackNRuin’ Robson-Scott give their live, full band show its debut proper in Glasgow, and given the success of last year’s debut album ‘Sirens’, we’re going to file this one under ‘hotly anticipated.’ ‘Ready For Your Love’ was the big hit, but we’ve picked the Jennifer Hudson-starring ‘Go All Night’ as the best example of their dancefloor appeal.
Julian Cope – King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Sat Feb 7
Formerly an early ‘80s pop icon as part of The Teardrop Explodes, leathered-up 57-year-old Julian Cope has since reinvented himself as a particular kind of cultural hero – mostly to listeners of a similar age – taking in roles as an activist, autobiographer, music writer, solo artist and friend of Stewart Lee. Here he is getting post-apocalyptic, of special interest to fans of swearing.
Interpol - Barrowlands, Sat Feb 14
Five albums and the best part of a decade into their career, New Yorkers Interpol – a trio since the touring cycle for 2010’s debut album ended – returned last year with ‘El Pintor’, a record which once more combined their spiky, vaguely post-punk guitar chime with an unashamedly arena-grabbing reliance on the song. Here’s a live version of next single ‘Anywhere’ to get you in the mood.
Slaves at NME Awards Tour - Academy, Sun Feb 22
It’s a tradition at NME’s annual procession of will, won’t and bloody well should be new bands that the most daringly exciting and inventive name on the bill goes on first. So it is with the punkish, lo-fi Kent duo Slaves (pictured above), who stand out in the landscape by at least sounding genuine in their anger. Watch this and be converted.
Olafur Arnalds plays ‘Broadchurch’ – O2 ABC, Wed Feb 25
In recent years Glasgow Film Festival has built a strong reputation for its smartly-programmed events which blur the boundaries of film and music. Amidst appearances this year by Paul Merton and British Sea Power, Icelandic electronic/orchestral composer Olafur Arnalds – whose work appeared in ‘The Hunger Games’ – will perform his foreboding score from the ITV series ‘Broadchurch’.
