The Backline Newsletter - Issue 26

Issue 26

Author

Allan Watson
November 13, 2025

The Backline Newsletter
Issue 26 - Thursday, 13th November 2025

Editorial

As the year winds down, the Scottish live circuit shows no signs of slowing. November is that sweet spot where the touring acts collide with local favourites, and every venue from Dumfries to Dundee is alive with energy. It’s a reminder of why Scotland’s music scene remains one of the most fiercely independent in the UK, grounded in community, yet constantly pushing forward.

This week’s feature act, Kissing The Flint, embody that spirit perfectly. Rooted in the southwest but unafraid to experiment, their sound stretches from folk and blues to something altogether more cinematic. Add to that our essential gear pick for tone-shapers, and a packed run of gigs across Glasgow and Edinburgh, and you’ve got everything you need to stay plugged into Scotland’s music pulse.

Artist Q&A – Kissing The Flint

1. Who’s in the band, and what do they play?
Leah Chynoweth-Tidy – singer-songwriter, vocalist, acoustic and electric guitar
Adrian Grogan – acoustic and electric guitars
Darren Elliott – bass guitar
Alex Black – drums

2. Describe your sound in 5 words or less.
Steampunk-blues-folk-rock – eclectic!

3. What was your first gig as a band?
Fleshers – a pub in Dumfries – sometime in 2022.

4. Biggest show so far—and how did it feel?
Music at the Multiverse, an outdoor summer festival at the magnificent Crawick Multiverse near Sanquhar. We were absolutely pumped, playing on a big stage line-up alongside Toploader, Tidelines, and The Hoosiers!

5. Which Scottish venue feels like home?
Coach & Horses Inn, Dumfries.

6. If someone’s never heard of you—what song should they start with?
Gunslinger Love.

7. One band or artist you’d love to open for?
Florence & The Machine.

8. What’s a trend in music that needs to die immediately?
Autotune!

9. Most embarrassing moment mid-set?
Not so much embarrassing as surprising. A big lad tripped over our monitors and fell backwards into me, pulling out all the cables mid-song and plunging a packed pub into dead silence. I had to deep-squat and push him off my knees back into the crowd. After plugging everything back in, we finished the song!

10. Ever had a crowd totally turn on you?
No — there are always a few hecklers chasing songs we haven’t rehearsed, but generally, the crowds dig what we do. We’re pretty eclectic, so there’s something for everyone. Like the Scottish weather, wait five minutes and you’ll get something to make you smile.

New single out now: Against The Grain

Essential Gear

EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath V3 Reverb

Why we love it:
The Afterneath isn’t your average reverb pedal. It’s like opening a black hole made of echoes. Each note dissolves into a shimmering cloud of ambience, from haunted cave reflections to interstellar washes of sound. It’s unpredictable, beautiful, and endlessly inspiring.

What it does:
Using cascading delay lines, the Afterneath V3 creates textures that feel almost alive. With the “Drag” control, you can warp your repeats in real time. Stretching, smearing, and bending your sound into something cinematic.

Best for:
Guitarists, synth heads, and sound designers chasing new sonic frontiers. Perfect for post-rock, shoegaze, ambient, or soundtrack work.

Bonus tip:
Put it after your delay or fuzz pedal for ghostly swells or run vocals through it for otherworldly results.

Gig of the Week

Elle Coves - Monday 17th November, SWG3 Poetry Club, Glasgow

Fresh from a summer of breakout festival slots, Elle Coves brings her effortlessly cool blend of indie pop and smoky alt-rock to SWG3. With big hooks, soaring vocals, and a rare mix of edge and heart, this is an artist on the rise. Glasgow might just catch her before the rest of the world does.

Best of the Rest

The Last Dinner Party - Monday 17th November, Corn Exchange, Edinburgh / Tuesday 18th November, Barrowland, Glasgow

Britain’s most talked-about new band continue their rapid ascent. Baroque pop drama, razor-sharp lyrics, and the kind of stage presence that feels halfway between a gig and a fever dream. Two chances to see why everyone’s obsessed.

English Teacher - Wednesday 19th November, Barrowland, Glasgow

The Leeds art rockers return with poetic bite and sharp musicianship, fusing post-punk energy with literary charm. Expect angular guitars, hypnotic grooves, and a band that proves brains and bangers aren’t mutually exclusive.

Ash - Thursday 20th November, SWG3, Glasgow

The Northern Irish legends are back, still firing out melodic, fuzz-drenched anthems that shaped a generation. Nostalgia, chaos, and choruses that will make your throat hurt in the best way possible.

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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