The Backline Newsletter - Issue 42

The Backline Newsletter
Issue 42 - Thursday, 19th March 2026

Editorial

This week is a strong reminder that the Scottish live scene does not belong to one sound, one age group or one gender.

Look at the gig listings below. All female fronted. All different. All bringing their own audience and energy into the room.

That is not a gimmick. That is growth.

For years the narrative around guitar music leaned heavily in one direction. What we are seeing now is balance. Women writing, fronting, producing, selling tickets and commanding stages from the Poetry Club to the Barrowlands.

And if you are serious about this scene, you show up for it.

This week’s Q and A takes us back to Seventies punk roots with The Zips, a band that have lived through multiple eras of music industry chaos and are still standing. There is something grounding about that. Trends change. Platforms change. Algorithms change. Songs and graft remain.

Let’s get into it.

Spotlight Q&A

This Week’s Feature Band: The Zips

1. Who is in the band and what do they play?

Jonzip on lead vocals and rhythm guitar
Phil Volume on bass guitar and backing vocals
Fred X on lead guitar and backing vocals
Buddie Poor on drums

2. Describe your sound in five words or less.

Baby Boomer punk for Zoomers

3. What was your first gig as a band?

The Peel Bar, Drumchapel, 30th March 1978. It should have been the 23rd March, but we had to cancel as Jon got punched in the face and fractured his jaw. Lightweight.

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

All our appearances over the years in The Opera House at Rebellion Punk Festival in Blackpool have been superb, both sound wise and in terms of audience reaction. The amazing merch sales were also a feel good factor, especially our iconic Zipmouth Marilyn Monroe T shirt. The tee has a back story, but there is not enough column space here to expand on that.

5. Which Scottish venue feels like home?

For well over a decade we considered McChuills our Glasgow headquarters, even featuring the crowd singing the opening line to the first song Hear Hear on our third CD album Down With The Zips. However, a change in music policy forced us to look elsewhere and Bar Bloc in Glasgow is shaping up to be a worthy replacement. The manager Chris, a musician himself, knows how to treat a band with respect, which is sadly not always the case. We will be playing there on Thursday 21st May.

6. If someone has never heard of you what song should they start with?

That is a difficult one because we have had two lives, 1977 to 80 and 2002 to now. From the heady days of Seventies punk it would be Do Not Be Pushed Around from our debut The Zips EP. This time around 19 Forevva is always a good singalong, or the just released on Bandcamp 50 Years Of Punk Rock.

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

Stiff Little Fingers. We have come close.

8. What is your relationship with social media like?

It is a constant struggle to keep up with new platforms and upgrades to existing ones. We probably miss ways to promote the band via social media, but although a million likes on one platform would be nice, it is no guarantee of punters through the door. That is where your newsletter works much in the same way that fanzines used to. Readers trusted their judgement and got up off their backsides to see bands. Keep up the good work.

9. What is a mistake you keep repeating?

Writing songs on my acoustic guitar at home, then taking them to rehearsal and discovering that when I try to sing or scream above the maelstrom, I need to change the key. Every time.

10. What is one cover song you secretly wish you could play?

The Magnificent Seven by The Clash, but I would never remember all the words.

Connect with :
Facebook / YouTube / Web

Upcoming gigs:

Falkirk, Rock Bottom, 27th March
Dunfermline, The Monarch, 28th March Love Music Hate Racism all dayer
Aberdeen, Drummonds, 25th April
Glasgow, Bar Bloc, 21st May

Essential Gear

Short Description

A legendary distortion pedal known for its gritty, aggressive character and simple three knob layout. The Rat 2 delivers everything from light overdrive to full blown fuzzed out saturation, all with a raw edge that cuts through a mix.

Why We Love It

Indie guitar tone is not about perfection. It is about attitude. The Rat gives you bite without losing clarity. It can tighten up riffs, thicken choruses and add just enough snarl to make simple chord progressions feel dangerous.

It is also brutally honest. If your playing is sloppy, it will expose you. If you are tight, it will reward you.

What It Does

With Distortion, Filter and Volume controls, the Rat 2 shapes gain in a way that stays articulate even at higher settings. The Filter knob works opposite to a typical tone control, rolling off harsh top end as you turn it clockwise. That makes it easy to dial in a cutting but controlled sound that sits perfectly in a live mix.

Best For

Indie and alternative guitarists who want edge without losing note definition. Bands that need a second gear for choruses. Players chasing that slightly chaotic but controlled festival tone.

Bonus Tip

Try stacking it with a clean boost in front rather than maxing the distortion. You will get more punch and better dynamics without turning your sound into a wall of fizz.

Gig of the Week

Déyyess - 21st March, Poetry Club, SWG3, Glasgow

The Poetry Club is one of those rooms where atmosphere matters. Déyyess brings an alt-pop intensity that has been described as “hopelessly romantic and quietly devastating”. Expect close quarters, immersive lighting and a crowd that is there to feel something rather than just tick a box.

With the room packed and the stage low, it will feel more like a shared experience than a performance from a distance.

Best of the Rest

Sigrid - 24th March, Barrowland, Glasgow

Sigrid stepping onto the Barrowlands stage is a statement. Big pop songs, confident vocals and a band tight enough to handle a room that famous. The Barras does not hand out easy wins. You earn them. Expect huge choruses and a crowd ready to give it back.

SLAG - 26th March, McChuills, Glasgow

McChuills remains one of the city’s most honest rooms. SLAG brings bite, attitude and the crazy guitar riffs to a venue where the crowd is almost on top of you. No hiding. No autopilot. Just raw performance.

Wrap Up

Three gigs. Three female led nights. Three completely different sounds.

That is what a healthy scene looks like.

Support the artists who are building something. Support the venues that take chances. And if you are in a band, make sure your second gear actually hits when you step on it.

See you down the front.

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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