Gigs in Glasgow – DECEMBER
By Greg Kane
Jamiroquai
Wednesday 3rd December 6:30pm
OVO Hydro
Jamiroquai are the vehicle for English singer Jay Kay’s funk adventures. They were formed in 1992 and have gone thru various iterations with the constant being Jay Kay. It’s his band! Over the last 35 years they have sold nearly 30 million records worldwide, won multiple awards and are still selling out huge arenas everywhere they play. Folk still want to funk.
I was fortunate enough to have played with them back in 1993. I was the musical director on a Scottish Cultural TV show called ‘Talking Loud’ presented by Stewart Cosgrove. Stewart’s love for funk and soul is well known and he was instrumental in booking a new artist called “Jamie Roquai” for the show. Turns out Jamie wasn’t his christian name and Roquai was not his last name.
He arrived up in Perth (where we were filming the show) dressed in First Nation American Indian garb, with head gear and pelt clothing, espousing all sorts of climate concerns… he was ahead of his time. It was his first TV appearance (he was 23 years old). I liked him, the audience loved him, he was a funky wee dude I thought and it was fun to play with him. It’s turned out well for Jay Kay and his band, his fight for environmental justice and his funky head gear.
Choice track: ‘Virtual Insanity’
Sudan Archives
Saturday 6th December 7pm
Queen Margaret Union (QMU)
I’d never heard of the genre ’avant-garde R’n’B’ before. Seemingly it’s music that combines the soulful, rhythmic elements of R&B with experimental, innovative, and often boundary-pushing sounds and production techniques. OK then. Brittney Denise Parks, aka Sudan Archives, is an American violinist, singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. When watching an interview with her, I found myself mesmerised when she demonstrated how all her music is originated on the violin. She has a special midi violin that can communicate with all sorts of electronic instruments… she is quite unique. Her sound is minimalist, but it still has enough to make it groove. I now count avant-garde R’n’B as one of my fav genres.
Choice track: ‘DEAD’
Jacob Alon
Saturday 6th December 7pm
Mackintosh Church, Queen’s Cross
They say that the peacocks have the freedom of Dunfermline, but in reality they rarely leave the Glen. This Dunfermline peacock has most definitely left the Glen and is making a huge splash all over the place. His debut album, “In Limerence” is nominated for the Mercury Music Prize 2025 and The SAY Award 2025. Jacob Alon is a joyful alt/folk guitar virtuoso singer songwriter from Dunfermline, Scotland. His songs are heartfelt stories of upbringing and surroundings, but he presents himself as fun and flamboyant. There will be the obvious Jeff Buckley comparisons, but I hope these will be to his benefit and not to his detriment. A new star is born.
Choice track: ‘Confession’
