What not to miss, as Westender’s Greg Kane gives his top tips for April’s best gigs in Glasgow this April.
By Greg Kane
April
Daniel Avery
Thursday 2nd April 7pm
QMU qmunion.org.uk
Daniel Avery is an English electronic music producer and DJ. His sound is mostly hard-hitting melodic techno, but I like him most when he strays into more ambient, soundscape territory. I think he may use this as a respite from all the power and mayhem of his live sets, to find peace within the chaos even. He’s been around since the late 00s and cites artists like My Bloody Valentine, Trent Reznor and The Cocteau Twins as influences. So this ain’t straight ahead electro techno, this is dark shadowy music. He’s also a lover of vinyl preferring his audience to seek out hardcopy of his work, to hold and to cherish not just to listen to… so you better head to the merch stand at the gig if you know what’s good for you. He’s out on tour promoting his 90s rock, industrial inspired album TREMOR, his sixth studio offering.
Choice Track: ‘A Memory Wrapped In Paper And Smoke’
Sam Grassie
Saturday 11th April 7.30pm
The Hug & Pint thehugandpint.com
Sam Grassie is a young Glasgow-born, London-based contemporary folk guitarist and singer. He’s renowned for his right hand finger picking dexterity. So much so that in 2019 the Bert Jansch Foundation lent their support and have been instrumental in his career development. I guess this was a big deal for Grassie as he often cites Bert Jansch and his style of guitar playing as a major influence.
There’s lots of unkemptness, well worn denim shirts with wide lapelled separated suit jackets… a big nod to a John Martyn, 1970s way of doing things. I enjoyed listening to him.
Choice Track: ‘Kishor’s’
Olivia Dean
Wed 22nd & Thur 23rd April 6.30pm
OVO Hydro ovohydro.com
Olivia Dean is a multi award winning soul singer/songwriter from London. In just 10 years she has gone from busking on the South Bank in London as a teenager to selling out huge arenas all over the world. She’s worked hard for it though with 2024 really being her breakthrough year and she has capitalised on that with the release of her second album ‘The Art Of Loving’ in 2025. This album has an impressive list of collaborators when you read down the songwriting credits, it takes a lot of faith in an artist to amass such talent to support her. So I was surprised to find out that the album was actually recorded in a house and not in a studio. This throws up many sonic challenges, but I think it adds so much character to the record.
She has an everywoman aura about her which is hard to resist. The girl next door is a huge star.
Choice Track: ‘Nice To Each Other’
