July
By Greg Kane
Jeff Darko
Thursday 9th July 9pm
Poetry Club swg3.tv
Psychedelic Gospel anyone? Jeff Darko is a Ghanaian Electro-Funk soul singer. To my ears his voice is the perfect blend of Sly Stone and Prince Rodgers Nelson but he describes his sound as Psychedelic Gospel. There’s lots of sonic experimentation going on but it is still church inspired R’n’B. There’s lots of spiritualness and even some European mythology references. He’s been making music since 2013 so has experience and smarts. I think this music sits in the Alt R’n’B category. I’m liking it. He is flamboyant too in a George Clinton kinda way. He’s out on a short UK tour promoting his new single.
Choice Track: ‘Make Sense’
Thrum
Monday 13th July 7pm
Cottiers Theatre cottiers.com
Thrum are an indie rock band from Bellshill, North Lanarkshire. They released their San Francisco recorded debut album Rifferama in 1992 to widespread critical acclaim. Thrum’s sound has been described as shimmering pop hooks with driving, fuzz-laden riffs led by the distinctive voice of Monica Queen. They didn’t last long though with them splitting up in 1995. Monica went on to enjoy a successful solo career, guesting on Belle & Sebastian and Snow Patrol records. 2026 sees them reforming to promote their reissued and remastered debut album playing a short UK tour.
Think of Crazy Horse fronted by Tammy Wynette and you’ll be close.
Choice Track: ‘Rifferama’
Suzanne Vega
Tuesday 28th July 6.30pm
Kelvingrove Bandstand and
Amphitheatre glasgowlife.org.uk
Multi award winning singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega is from Santa Monica, California but she made a name for herself in the early 80s performing in the coffee houses of Greenwich Village, New York City. She was a big part of the Fast Folk scene in NY at the time. A collective of folk musicians who collaborated with each other, offered support and advice on music making.
She was spotted by A&M records and her eponymous debut album released in 1985, enjoyed critical and commercial success. Over the last four decades she has sold 10 million records and released 10 albums, the most recent one ‘Flying With Angels’ being released in 2025. The juxtaposition to all this community folkiness is that her biggest hit, ‘Tom’s Diner’ started life in 1982 but was bootlegged and remixed by two likely lads from Bath called DNA. She didn’t push back and eventually let them officially release it on her own record label in 1990. I guess the community spirit is strong with Suzanne.
Choice Track: ‘Luka’
