The Backline Newsletter - Issue 37

The Backline Newsletter
Issue 37 - Thursday, 12th February 2025

Editorial

February’s properly in motion now. The calendars are filling up, new singles are dropping every week, and venues across Scotland are starting to feel busy again instead of “just warming up.”

This week’s issue is a bit more back to basics.

We’re waiting on a few Q&As from bands who clearly don’t check their emails as often as they should (naming no names…), so instead we’re doubling down on what matters most great gigs to get out to and one small, unglamorous piece of kit that can quietly save your entire set.

Because sometimes it’s not about the flashy pedals or new guitars. Sometimes it’s just about turning up, plugging in, and everything working exactly how it should.

Spotlight Q&A

Back next week. We’ve got a couple of bands in the pipeline - just chasing replies and locking it in. Normal service resumes soon.

Essential Gear - Radial ProDI Passive DI Box

Short Description
A rugged, no nonsense passive DI box that converts your instrument signal into a clean, balanced feed for the PA. Built like a tank and trusted on stages and in studios worldwide.

Why We Love It
This is one of those bits of gear nobody brags about… until the night they don’t have one.
Buzzing bass? Acoustic sounding thin through the desk? Keys distorting the front of house? Laptop playback noisy as hell? A proper DI quietly fixes all of it.
The Radial ProDI is boring in the best possible way. It just works. Every time. Any venue. Any engineer.

What It Does
It takes your unbalanced signal (bass, acoustic, keys, backing tracks, etc.) and converts it into a balanced, low noise XLR feed that can run long cables straight to the mixing desk without hum or signal loss. The custom transformer keeps your tone intact, while the ground lift kills those nightmare venue buzzes instantly.

Best For
Bass players, acoustic acts, keys players, bands running backing tracks, or anyone who’s sick of mystery hum and inconsistent soundchecks. Honestly, every band should have at least one in their gig bag.

Bonus Tip
Don’t rely on venues to supply one. Throw your own DI in your case and label it. It’s a tiny piece of kit that can save an entire show when house gear is missing or dodgy.

Gig of the Week

DMAs - 16th Feb, O2 Academy, Glasgow
Big choruses, big energy, and the kind of indie rock that feels built for rooms this size. DMAs have always sat somewhere between Britpop heart and modern festival swagger, and the Academy is perfect for it sweaty, loud, and close enough to feel every word shouted back at the stage. If you’re craving a proper singalong night out, this is the one.

Best of the Rest

The Streets - 18th Feb, Corn Exchange, Edinburgh
Mike Skinner live is half gig, half chaos, half group therapy. Filled with the classics, storytelling, and a crowd that knows every line. The Corn Exchange will be a bouncing less polite theatre show, more hands-in-the-air madness.

Kaiser Chiefs - 17th Feb, Livehouse, Dundee & 18th Feb, Barrowland, Glasgow
Indie bangers for days. “I Predict a Riot,” “Ruby,” “Everyday I Love You Less and Less” it’s basically a greatest hits set disguised as a tour. The Barrowland especially is made for this kind of band: sticky floor, loud crowd, zero personal space. Exactly how it should be.

Wrap Up

That’s it for this week.

If you’re out at any of these shows, send us photos, reviews, or setlists — we love featuring what you lot are actually seeing on the ground.

Got a band we should cover, a rehearsal room story, or a bit of gear you swear by?
Hit us at [email protected]

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Same time next week.