The Backline Newsletter - Issue 39

The Backline Newsletter
Issue 39 - Thursday, 26th February 2026

Editorial

There is something powerful about distance.

When a band travels hundreds of miles from home and still sells out a headline show, that tells you everything. It tells you the songs connect. It tells you the work behind the scenes is paying off. It tells you this is not luck.

This week’s feature band, Faeda, have built their name from the Highlands outward. From sweaty rooms in Inverness to packed rooms in Glasgow, they are doing it the way every serious band should. Write strong songs. Play hard. Travel. Repeat.

As always, this newsletter exists to spotlight the graft. The miles. The van chats. The rehearsals in freezing rooms. The sacrifices that never make it into the Instagram grid.

Let’s get into it.

Artist Q&A – Faeda

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

Faeda consists of Robbie McNicol on vocals, Sam Cowan on drums, Cole Cummings on bass and Jamie Mackay on lead guitar.

2. Describe your sound in five words or less.

Explosive, melodic, high energy rock.

3. What was your first gig as a band?

Our first gig was in Inverness at a sold out, small and sweaty venue called Upstairs. The energy was incredible.

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

Our biggest show so far was our sold out headline in Glasgow. To feel so much passion and love for your music 300 miles from home is a feeling like no other.

5. Which Scottish venue feels like home?

Skinandi’s in Thurso. We grew up rehearsing there, so any time we play there it has a very special, homelike feel.

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

Look Me In The Eye. Our most recent single really captures our intentions as a band and the reasons why we do what we do. It is the perfect introduction to who we are.

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

Nine Inch Nails.

8. What’s one band that shaped you but no one would expect?

Talking Heads.

9. What makes a band authentic to you?

For us, authenticity is determined by whether a band is doing what is best for themselves and, in turn, for their fans.

10. What’s something fans don’t understand about being in a band?

It is difficult for fans to see what happens outside of the shows and the polished photos on Instagram. Being in a band requires a lot of effort and sacrifice. On the other hand, I do not think anyone who has not done it will ever truly understand how euphoric it feels to gig with your band.

Find out more at faeda.co.uk

Essential Gear – Hercules GS414B Plus Guitar Stand

Short Description

A professional-grade auto-grip guitar stand that locks your instrument securely in place the moment you set it down. Solid, stable, and built for repeated gig use without wobble or drama.

Why We Love It

This is one of those pieces of kit you don’t think about until something goes wrong. A cheap stand tips. A guitar slides. Someone clips it in a dark venue. Suddenly your pride and joy is face down on a sticky stage floor.

The Hercules GS414B Plus removes that risk. The auto-grip yoke closes around the neck as soon as the guitar is placed in the stand, holding it securely without needing to adjust anything. It feels solid, reassuring, and built for real-world stages, not just bedrooms.

Professional bands look organised. Their gear is secure. Nothing leans against amps.

What It Does

The stand features Hercules’ Auto Grip System, which automatically locks the neck in place under its own weight. Specially formulated foam protects the finish, while the wide tripod base keeps everything stable even on uneven venue floors. It folds down neatly for transport but opens into a genuinely sturdy footprint.

Put the guitar in. It locks. Lift it out. It releases. No fiddling. No anxiety.

Best For

Gigging guitarists running multiple instruments on stage, acoustic performers needing quick swaps, or any band tired of balancing guitars against amps and hoping for the best.

Bonus Tip

Set your stands up in a consistent position at every gig. Muscle memory matters. Knowing exactly where your spare guitar sits means quicker changes and fewer panicked scrambles mid-set.

Gig of the Week

The Vaccines

Saturday 28th February
O2 Academy, Glasgow

There are certain bands that soundtrack an era. The Vaccines are one of them. From the early days of If You Wanna through to their newer material, they have built a reputation for tight, punchy live shows that waste no time getting to the hook.

The O2 Academy is the perfect room for them. Big enough to feel electric when it is packed, small enough that you are never far from the front. Expect a set packed with indie staples and a crowd that knows every word.

If you are in a band, go and study the pacing. They understand momentum.

Best of the Rest

CMAT

2nd to 4th March
Barrowlands, Glasgow

Three nights at the Barrowlands tells you everything you need to know. CMAT has grown from cult favourite to serious draw, blending sharp songwriting with big personality and country tinted pop that lands just as well in Glasgow as it does in Nashville.

Barrowlands crowds are honest. They reward artists who commit. Expect big singalongs, sharp humour and the kind of connection that turns casual listeners into long term fans.

TTF

Saturday 28th February
Ayr Pavilion, Ayr

A show with TTF is a nostalgia masterclass. For anyone who grew up in the nineties Scottish dance scene, this is pure time travel. Big beats, big hooks and an audience that comes ready to move.

Different vibe from an indie night in Glasgow, but the same lesson applies. Energy wins.

The common thread this week is connection. Highlands to Glasgow. Indie to country to dance. Different genres, same truth.

If the songs hit and the performance is honest, people show up.

See you at the front.