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The Backline Newsletter - Issue 3

The Backline Newsletter - Issue 3

Issue 3

Allan Watson
June 05, 2025

The Backline Newsletter
Issue 3 - Thursday, 5th June 2025

What’s This All About?

Loud and Local

Every Thursday, we bring you the best of Scotland’s alternative and underground music scene and more, band Q&As, gear talk, gig picks, and raw rehearsal room tales. As we grow, expect deeper dives into the most exciting local talent, venues, and promoters.

This week’s lineup features a Q&A from rising Edinburgh rock outfit Blackfyre Rising, and gigs from Robyn Red, Pulp and Dora Jar.

Spotlight Q&A

This Week’s Feature Band: Blackfyre Rising

Connect with Blackfyre Rising

1. Who’s in the band, and what do they play?
James Brown – Vocals/Guitar
Dave Taylor – Guitar/Backing Vocals
Magnus Tait – Bass/Backing Vocals
Tom Parker – Drums

2. Describe your sound in 5 words or less.
Groovy, catchy, melodic, powerful

3. What was your first gig as a band?
Supporting Holyrude Vault at Bannermans, Edinburgh.

4. Biggest show so far—and how did it feel?
Supporting Kira Mac at G2 in Glasgow was a blast. But playing the 9th Orkney Rock Festival in 2024? That was something special—great crowds, great hospitality.

5. Which Scottish venue feels like home?
Bannermans and The Banshee Labyrinth, both in Edinburgh. Always a good time there.

6. If someone’s never heard of you—what song should they start with?
Try our new single ‘I’m Alright’ (out May 30), or go for ‘Play It Dirty’—it always lands live.

7. One band or artist you’d love to open for?
Black Stone Cherry. No contest.

8. What’s the biggest lie you’ve told a promoter to get a gig?
We don’t lie, but we’ve been generous when asked how many tickets we can shift—especially in cities we’ve never played before.

9. If a sponsor gave you £10K right now—what would you blow it on?
We’d build our own rehearsal space. Somewhere soundproof, sacred, and 100% ours.

10. Ever totally bombed live? What happened?
Not bombed, but we’ve had gigs where the crowd just wasn’t feeling it—probably worn out from the night(s) before. It happens.

Catch Blackfyre Rising Live

6th June - Roots Music Festival, Dundee

6th July - SOS Festival, Manchester

28th August - Bannermans, Edinburg

Essential Gear

You protect your guitars, your pedals, your backline but what about the most important gear you’ve got: your ears.

Ear protection is never an afterthought, and tinnitus is no joke. Whether you're in the rehearsal room or front of house, hearing loss is permanent but thankfully preventable.

I recently invested in some new attenuated earplugs from Zound to replace my well worn alpine pair and I have been impress by the fit, seal and sound. I only paid £24 for them. It doesn’t matter what kind you have or where you get them but its the most important buy you will make.

Gig of the Week

Robyn Red - 7th June, King Tut’s, Glasgow

Award winning Lanarkshire country star known for her solo work is playing an unmissable headline show at Tuts. Showcasing her songwriting talents its Nashville but with a Scottish flair.

Best of the Rest

PULP - 7th June, OVO Hydro, Glasgow

If you can’t get a brief for Robyn Red at King Tuts then check out Britpop Royalty at the Hydro. Fresh from showcasing new tunes on Jools Holland and touring their latests offering “More” they are sure to drop in a few of the 90’s classics.

DORA JAR - 10th June, St Luke’s, Glasgow

“Genre-Bending”, and “Thought-Provoking” seem to crop up often when describing Dora Jar’s music. As for live performances expect physical energy and a unique vibe. Definitely intriguing.

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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