It all started in 2006 with a quasi houseconcert with Kevin Montgomery at Anniesland Bowling Club. It seemed to go well, as he came back twice more that year, culminating in a great sold out gig with his new band, including the fabulous Al Perkins in December. Also that year I put on the Hazey Janes, who also came back and did another gig in January this year. The first year of promotions also saw crackin gigs by Martin Stephenson, Roddy Hart, Duncan Walters and a host of great support acts including Finniston, Monica Queen, Scott MacDonald, Paul Napier, Michael Troy and Kieran Docherty.
Others who have played include, Kieran Docherty and the Dead Beat Club, the Endrick Brothers with support from Vinnie James, Kevin Montgomery again, this time with the legendry Tommy Allsup and the Hazzies came back for third show.
In addition to the above Vic Godard and the Subway Sect played in both Edinburgh with TV21 and Bricolage in Glasgow and Robert Fisher of the Willard Grant Conspiracy played an in-the-round gig with Michael Weston King and Jackie Leven plus support the Doghouse Roses.
The very final gig at Woodend took place on the 8th of September to a packed audience. Martin Stephenson plus Helen McCookerybook and the Endrick Brothers played an absolutely fabulous gig creating one last very special night in the old hall. Now that is gone the Accies Club will be the focus for forthcoming gigs.
Sounds in the Suburbs gigs are somewhat different as the venues used are old halls in sports clubs in the west end of Glasgow, such as Woodend, the Accies Club and Hughenden. All the venues are convenient for public transport, with Anniesland, Hyndland and Jordanhill Stations only a few minutes walk away.
The venues work really well, as families can come as a group, creating a very relaxed atmosphere. It is a great listening audience and the performers are really appreciated. They are a step up from "House Concerts" perhaps "Neighbourhood Concerts" would be a better description.
The musical choices are eclectic but the quality of the perfomers and the music brings a degree of consistency to the gigs. The first three concerts I ever attended, way back in the late 70's early 80's, were Steelye Span, Ian Dury and UFO, that variety kind of set the tone for my varied musical taste!!
Some great gigs coming up in 2008, the Fiddles and Beer night with Bramax, Lyra Celtica, Scott MacDonald and others got us off to a great start. The calendar below lists some of the future dates with more to follow.
There have been some truely great nights at Sounds in the Suburbs gigs and here is what some of the performers have said!!
"Thanks for organising a fun show! I can recommend Sounds In The Suburbs/The Accies club to everyone and anyone"
FRANCIS MACDONALD (Teenage Fan Club) and Nice Man!!
'From our experience 'Sounds In The Suburbs' is a welcomed alternative to the standard gig. A place for genuine music fans. Warm, receptive audience in a unique setting.'
The HAZEY JANES.
"Off the beaten path, 'Sounds in the Suburbs' offers something a little different: a great, community led gig with an always enthusiastic crowd"
RODDY HART
Many thanks for having the Bramax at the Fiddles and beer Festival. We had a great time and thought that the audience and organisation was first class. We'd be delighted to be asked back in the future.
All the best from the BRAMAX.
Thanks for having us at the club. It was the best start to the best tour ever...so far!
Thanks again
JOHN MILLER AND THE COUNTRY CASUALS
'Alan - just to let you know - a charming venue, a warm relaxed audience, first class sound and a genuine sense of occasion combined to bring out a performance in me that i didn't know was in there waiting to escape - can i come back please?'
JACKIE LEVEN
I highly recommend Sounds in the Suburbs......lovely crowd.....listened well......don't miss it!!
KEVIN MONTGOMERY
'The night that Jackie Leven, Michael Weston King and myself played the Sounds gig was a warm and welcoming respite from the drizzling weather outside. If I played gigs in my living room, I would hope that it would have the same welcoming and intimate feel as this show had."
ROBERT FISHER
"Had a great time with Sounds in the Suburbs and can't wait for a return invite. All the best."
VIC GODARD
The last time I was in a tennis club I was being chased off the main court by an irrate groundsman and the fuming club secretary for sneaking onto their beloved bit of grass, with a scruffy friend, and smashing balls at each other with our cheap raquets, in the style of John McEnroe and Roscoe Tanner.
So it was nice to go back to a club and be warmly recieved, plied with good food and beer, and play to an enthusiastic, intelligent and listening audience, who clapped and laughed in all the right places, bought my cd's, and seemed to enoy the evening as much as I did........and not a middle class. "tennis Nazi" in sight.
I look forward to my next Sound in The Suburbs gig, and wherever Alan books me ,I will go....... even if it is a golf club!
MICHAEL WESTON KING
I liked the name of "Sounds in the suburbs", reminding me randomly of The Members, Subway Sect (don't know why this came up), The Clash, the key to understanding Australian cities (which is knowing its suburbs), and a poem I had written called 'The sound of no helicopters". Arranged by email and myspace, I liked or knew and liked the previous people who had played, and eventually rolled in one sunny west end early evening in May.
The cricket match was just finishing and the only noise to be heard was a fine earsplitting pre-soundcheck buzz coming through the expensive-looking PA. I love a good PA problem. It's by fixing this kind of sound system meltdown that you really fall in love with a gig and the people who run it. Or not. Sorts out the panickers from those who can make it happen whatever the problem (because you can always make it happen). Alan and his team (that is himself, his mobile phone, and his friend on the other end of his mobile phone) and I made it happen.
It's exciting to be in a room in Glasgow with everyone listening, where you could hear a pin drop and probably also work out the size of the pin and which football team it supported before it dropped (there was a soccer match on - but then there's always a soccer match on). The support artist Yvonne was genuinely great, and the whole evening went very well - emotional, funny, calling up voices from the past and the future. Beautiful buzz-free sound too.
The coolest kids in Scotland, with the nicest collection of footwear, were present that night. Wombats fans all and I have the photos to prove it. All I have to say is that if you're anywhere near Glasgow please pay them a visit - you won't find a better listening gig in town, and it is in town. Don't be frightened by the suburbs 'S' word, it's just 10 minutes from Byers Road. Which is the key to understanding Australian cities. Know your suburb!
ANDY WHITE x
"A great music lovers gig in the most friendly relaxed atmosphere, if you dont play it you shall regret it!!!!!!!"
The ENDRICK BROTHERS
'Sounds of the Suburbs' apart from being my fave song by the Members is rapidly becoming a major force around Glasgow specializing in promoting concerts in unusual venues. Their fetish seems to be Sports Centres and old Social Clubs which are steeped with character. I find SOS main driving force Alan Hendry a delightful man to deal with and percieve him as a friend rather than someone who is doing business. Nevertheless, Alan does business very well getting bums on seats and choosing excellent and compatible rosters. The man puts his heart and soul into events and you feel it when you are there! I could quite happilly work with Alan anyday of the week as he does things well and with flair!!
MARTIN STEPHENSON
On Martin Stephenson at Woodend, Feb 24th "It was just a fantastically, friendly, care-free atmosphere." and "it turned out to be a gig like no other I've ever been to in all my 43 years on this planet!!!"
The VINYL VILLAIN
So if you like good music in unusual settings then come along to a future gig, you will enjoy it!!