September
Lowkey
SWG3
Wednesday 3rd September 6pm
I like hip hop. I like rappers. But all too often the cool grooves and skilfully finessed samples their producers present them with are corrupted with inane lyrical flailings. It can become a tad irritating. But not with English/Iraqi Kareem Dennis (aka Lowkey). He’s a preacher, with powerful and thoughtful messages. He started releasing mix tapes in 2003 and to date has over 40 commercial releases to his name. He is also a contributor to the excellent George Monbiot led online news channel, Double Down News. Some might not align with his message, but he is a committed and engaging performer… who doesn’t spoil the grooves.
Choice track: Lowkey ‘Voice of the Voiceless’
Blondshell
QMU
Saturday 6th September 6pm
Sabrina Mae Teitelbaum, better known as Blondshell, is an American indie rock singer, songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Following an early pop-leaning career under the name BAUM, Teitelbaum debuted Blondshell in June 2022 with the single “Olympus”. To these ears it’s kinda guitar driven doom pop, ‘Del Ray has a lot to answer for, but this gig has been upgraded from Oran Mor to the QMU (double the capacity) so she’s on the right trajectory. Expect a packed venue full of miserable youth celebrating regretful, angsty, guitar picked, swampy indie rock. What’s not to love.
Choice track: Blondshell ‘Two Times’
Zoe Graham
Hug And Pint
Friday 19th Sept 7:30pm
Zoe Graham is an electro/pop/folk artist from Glasgow. She’s from a family of creatives, mother actress, father artist, brother conductor… I suppose resistance was futile for our Zoe growing up. She’s been at this music game for over 7 years now, producing high level quality content throughout, culminating in ‘Tent’, her debut album released this year.
I really love her deadpan vocal deliveries and her incredibly inventive musicality. She sounds very honed. I also hear lots of ‘Wendy & Lisa’ (they of 80’s Prince fame) in what she does, folk/pop/funk, I like.
Choice track: Zoe Graham ‘Evilin’
