The Backline Newsletter - Issue 21

Issue 21

Author

Allan Watson
October 09, 2025

The Backline Newsletter
Issue 21 - Thursday, 9th October 2025

This week’s Backline keeps the van rolling - quite literally. We catch up with Space Van, a Highlands trio blasting through Scotland’s rock scene with volume, humour, and attitude. Plus, we spotlight Helicon’s mind-bending live show, classic heroes Deacon Blue, and Canadian punks Wine Lips. Oh and we shine a light on the gear that keeps small rigs sounding mighty: the humble passive mixer.

Spotlight Q&A

This Week’s Feature Band: Space Van

Responses from bassist and vocalist Steve

Three guys. One van. Endless volume. Space Van have been grinding through Scotland’s rock underbelly with swagger, grit, and humour and they’re not slowing down any time soon.

1. Who’s in the band, and what do they play?
We are Mark on vocals/guitar, Iain on drums/vocals, and myself, Steve, on bass/vocals. Basically, three guys and a van - but not the kind you hire for moving house… well, depending on how much money is on offer.

2. Describe your sound in 5 words or less.
Music for loud rock fans.

3. What was your first gig as a band?
Our first gig was at Nice N Sleazy’s in Glasgow with our pals in Panda Car. Even though we’re based up North, we launched in the central belt figured it was the best place to give the Space Van its maiden voyage. It was some sight: a panda car and a space van parked up on Sauchiehall Street.

4. Biggest show so far and how did it feel?
Supporting Punk Rock Factory at The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen totally sold out. The nerves were massive when we walked onstage, but the second we hit the first note it felt like we’d been strapped to a rocket.

5. Which Scottish venue feels like home?
Not technically a venue, but Belladrum Festival is as close to home turf as it gets. We hadn’t played locally in ages we’d been everywhere from Bradford to London to Newcastle so when we finally did, the tent was rammed, people were fighting to get in, and it was pure chaos. The good kind.

6. If someone’s never heard of you, what song should they start with?
Waste of Time. It’s how we open every gig, and it’s basically the Space Van blueprint: noisy, groovy, and guaranteed to wake up the neighbours.

7. One band or artist you’d love to open for?
If we could reconnect the flux capacitor, we’d take the Space Van back to 1966 and open for Jimi Hendrix. Then probably stay there back when people actually bought records instead of streaming them through a phone speaker on the bus.

8. Are we in a golden age or a dead zone for new music?
Both, really. It’s never been easier to make and release music, but never been harder to find an audience. If we could time-travel back to ’66 after opening for Hendrix, we might not come back at least people actually paid for vinyl then.

9. What would surprise people about how you operate?
We’re literally three guys in a van hurtling through space, occasionally picking up hitchhikers to jam. Basically Star Wars, if Luke, Han, and Chewie ditched the rebellion to form a rock band then never got a record deal because the Empire crushed the creative scene.

10. Ever been heckled with something clever?
Not really we mostly heckle each other onstage. Mark’s got a tattoo across his waist that says “SAVAGE” just his surname so we tell the crowd he’s not a cage fighter. He’s a lover, not a fighter… unless Space Van ever has to battle aliens mid-set.

Connect with : Space Van

Essential Gear

Passive Mixer (Any Brand)

Why we love it
It’s the unsung hero of compact setups a no-power, no-fuss solution for blending multiple sources on the fly.

What it does
Lets you mix synths, drum machines, or multiple instruments without an external power supply. Perfect for live setups, practice spaces, or quick-and-dirty recordings.

Best for
Bands that want control over their stage mix or small rigs without hauling full desks or DI racks.

Try it if you like
Minimal gear, reliable sound, and the satisfaction of running everything through one simple, elegant box.

Friends of the Backline - ‘We’re Not Scared of Robots’

We’re Not Scared of Robots are back the a new lineup, new music, and new energy.

On Drums is Gaz Philp and now on Bass is Dave “Spanky” Pankhurst.

Their New Single: Voodoo is out on 17th October with more new music is already in progress, with releases lined up over the coming months.

Live:
Catch them at Ivory Blacks, Glasgow on 14th November, alongside The Leadhead Collective, Dead Dolphins, Romeoathy and The Broken Ravens. Tickets via Ticket Scotland.

Gig of the Week

Helicon - Saturday 11th October, King Tuts, Glasgow
Psychedelic fuzz merchants Helicon bring their trademark walls of noise, drones, and swirling visuals to Tuts. This will be a heavy trip into the cosmic unknown.

Best of the Rest

Deacon Blue - Thursday 16th October, OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Scottish icons return for another huge night of anthems, nostalgia, and world class musicianship. Still one of the country’s most beloved live acts.

Mass of the Fermenting Dregs - Friday 10 October, Òran Mór, GlasgowJapanese post-hardcore heroes bringing a mix of melodic chaos and explosive energy to Òran Mór. Tight, thunderous, and completely unmissable.

Get Involved

Got a story from the rehearsal room, a feature you would like to see, a gig pick, or a gear review you want to share, or just want to plug some great Scottish music, suggest a band or get featured? Have you attended our gig pick - write a review we may feature it a future issue.

Hit us up at [email protected]

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