The Backline Newsletter - Issue 36

The Backline Newsletter – Issue 36
Thursday, 5th February 2026

Editorial

February always feels like the month the year properly starts moving. January’s easing-in period is over, diaries are filling up again, and the gig calendar suddenly looks busy. New singles are landing, bands are locking in their first proper shows of the year, and rooms across Scotland are starting to feel loud again.

This week we’re spotlighting SYRENA - a straight-talking, no-frills rock band from Fife who are doing things the right way: writing sharp songs, packing out hometown venues, and building momentum one show at a time. No gimmicks, just volume and conviction. Exactly how it should be.

We’ve also got an essential (and very unsexy but crucial) bit of gear that can quietly fix half your rig problems, plus another strong run of gigs to get you out the house this week.

Spotlight Q&A

This Week’s Feature Band: Syrena

1. Who’s in the band, and what do they play?

Sean Hamilton – singer and lead guitar,

Thom Keary – bass

Callum Bissett – rhythm guitar

Jack Hamilton – drums.

2. Describe your sound in 5 words or less.

In your face unapologetic rock.

3. What was your first gig as a band?

Our first gig as a band was supporting the Bracknall at SLAY in Glasgow.

4. Biggest show so far and how did it feel?

Our biggest show so far was a sold out King Tut’s Summer Nights Festival.

5. Which Scottish venue feels like home?

We are from Kirkcaldy in Fife and played our first sold out headliner at the Kings Theatre in our hometown so it would have to be there.

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

Our debut single “Chained to the Mast”

7. One band or artist you’d love to open for?

Ice Spice.

8. Ever had a song idea (or cover) that totally flopped live?

We have a song called “You Know You Want Me To” which is like marmite with our fans cause it’s a bit different, either love it or hate it.

9. Is the Scottish scene more competitive or supportive?

We’d have to say in Fife the music scene is really good and everyone is really supportive, overall in Scotland it’s good but we could all be doing more to help each other out and putting Scottish bands more on the map.

10. What kind of music do you listen to which is completely different from your band sound?

Sean loves rap especially Tyler The Creator and Kanye, our drummer Jack thinks he’s a farmer and plays a mandolin and thinks he’s the harmonica messiah. Callum and Thom love their indie rock and Britpop.

Catch them Syrena at PJ Molloys on the 21st of February supporting Panhead Sharps, and at their sold out headliner at Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh on the 13th March.

Connect with : Serena
Instagram / Facebook / YouTube 

Essential Gear

Cioks DC7 Power Supply

Short Description

A slim, ultra-quiet, professional pedalboard power supply built to deliver clean, isolated power to every pedal on your board. The Cioks DC7 packs serious output, flexible voltages, and tour-grade reliability into one of the smallest footprints on the market.

Why We Love It

Bad power is the hidden cause of most pedalboard headaches — hiss, hum, digital whine, random dropouts, or pedals behaving strangely mid-set. The DC7 quietly eliminates all of that. It’s dependable, silent, and built like a tank. Plug it in and everything just works, which is exactly what you want from something this unglamorous but essential.

What It Does

The DC7 provides seven fully isolated outputs with switchable voltages (9V, 12V, 15V, and 18V), plenty of current for modern digital pedals, and expandable connections for larger boards. Its high-efficiency design keeps noise low and headroom high, while the ultra-slim housing mounts easily under almost any pedalboard. In short, it powers complex rigs cleanly and consistently without adding noise to your signal chain.

Best For

Gigging guitarists, bassists, and multi-pedal players running mixed analogue and digital setups. Especially useful for crowded boards with Strymon, Eventide, or other high-current pedals that cheaper supplies struggle to handle.

Bonus Tip

Mount the DC7 underneath your board and run the shortest power cables possible. Shorter runs reduce clutter and potential interference, keeping your setup quieter and making troubleshooting much easier on dark stages.

Gig of the Week

Kula Shaker - Wednesday 11th February, Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow

A rare chance to catch a cult favourite in an intimate room. Expect psych-tinged rock, big hooks, and the kind of atmosphere the Fruitmarket does best - sweaty, loud, and right in your face rather than miles from the stage.

Best of the Rest

Helicon - Saturday 7th February, The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh

A homecoming-feeling headline from one of Scotland’s most expansive live bands. Sitar, synths, and huge psychedelic builds in a venue that suits immersive, late-night sets perfectly.

Florence + The Machine - Monday 9th February, OVO Hydro, Glasgow

Big-stage drama done properly. Massive production, bigger choruses, and one of the strongest live voices around. If you want spectacle this week, this is it.

Get Involved

That’s it for this week.

Massive thanks to SYRENA for taking the time to chat and for flying the flag for loud, honest Scottish rock done properly. If you haven’t caught them live yet, fix that soon.

If your rig’s been noisy, unreliable, or just a bit chaotic, take the hint and sort your power out. It’s not glamorous, but neither is troubleshooting hum at soundcheck.

More bands, more gigs, and more practical gear coming next week.

Same time Thursday.

If you’re playing, releasing, or packing out rooms anywhere in Scotland, hit reply — this newsletter only works because the scene talks to itself.

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