So, You Like Scottish Indie, Do You?
Looking beyond Wrest, There Will Be Fireworks, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Idlewild, Twin Atlantic, and my all time favorite ... Frightened Rabbit
If you’ve been reading for a while, you’re well aware of my penchant FOR Scottish indie rock artists. I don’t try to hide it, and I’m always jazzed when new releases arrive. Like Wrest and Twin Atlantic this month. WOOT!
But it’s been a while since I’ve dug through my ever growing Spotify Liked Songs List to share some of my less known favorites. It seemed a fitting share for a sunny August Sunday.
Some More Scottish Indie For Your Lists (If You’re A Collector Like Me)
Let’s see, what’s first? The list launches with Sons And Daughters. With a female fronting the band and providing lead vocals, this foursome is a bit different from my usual Scots listens. While there’s plenty of guitar, it’s less folk driven than my go-to artists. It’s also more angry than angsty, but there’s nothing wrong with that, is there?
Next up, we’ve got Astrid. Jangly guitars? Check. 60’s inspired? Indeed. Teen angst? Yes, that, too. The band started with the members in high school, which may seem a bit surprising when you consider the 60’s rock influence, but it all comes together into a satisfyingly fun listen.
We make a genre hop with the third band on the list, bis. It’s still angsty and emotional, and we return to dual male and female vocals, but the music is electronically driven. It’s a fun mix of post punk and synth-driven sound.
Gallus comes next, sticking to the post punk sound with driving guitars and loudly delivered vocals. There’s not a lot of available information about the quintet, so you’ll have to focus on the music. Sorry, not sorry. You’re gonna love it!
We round out the list with Retro Video Club. With more ringing guitars and strikingly accented vocals, it’s a return to the Scots sound I’m most known to adore. It’s that Scots accent and the way they deliver certain words and phrases which first drew me to Twin Atlantic and Frightened Rabbit, and it’s no different with these lads.
The Playlists
Listen with Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/so-you-like-scottish-indie-do-you/pl.u-76oNEl6uvX23KaV
Sundays are super for seeking some new listens. Let me know if any of these Scottish artists make it onto one of your playlists. You know I love to chat with you as much as I love to share music!
I saw Gallus at a festival called Tenement Trail a few years ago, good choice! Also on my current Scottish indie playlist are The Snuts and the Shambolics.
I’m very much liking Astrid here. Also, really pleased you included Retro Video Club. I’ve seen them a couple of times now and their live set is great.
There are so many great Scottish bands around at the moment and, as you’ve showcased here, all doing quite different things. A few worth mentioning, which you may well be aware of, are Dead Pony, Former Champ and Dictator. Also loving the Dancer album, 10 Things I Hate About You and their new single Priority Girl.