The Backline Newsletter - Issue 44

The Backline Newsletter
Issue 44 - Thursday, 2nd April 2026

Editorial

There is a strange calm around Easter weekend. Fewer emails. Fewer announcements. A short pause before the run into a packed spring calendar.

But live music does not really slow down. It just tightens up.

April is where the year starts to show its hand. The bands who put the graft in over winter start stepping into bigger rooms. The crowds come out of hibernation. Outdoor posters start appearing. Festival talk gets louder.

So no Artist Q and A this week. We are giving bands the weekend off to hunt for eggs and recharge. Instead, this issue is about atmosphere. Texture. The kind of detail that separates a good live set from one that lingers with you on the walk home.

Because as rooms get busier over the next few months, the bands who stand out will not just be loud. They will be memorable.

Essential Gear

Short Description
An analogue chorus pedal famous for its thick, watery modulation and unmistakable alternative edge. Simple controls, huge personality. The Small Clone does not shimmer politely. It moves air.

Why We Love It
Some pedals decorate your tone. This one defines it.
The Small Clone became a staple of grunge and alternative because it adds depth without sounding pristine. It is slightly imperfect in the best way. Clean chords become immersive. Arpeggios turn dreamy. Even basic progressions feel more emotional.
In a live setting it can transform a thin guitar sound into something wide and enveloping without needing more volume.

What It Does
The Rate knob controls the speed of the modulation, while the Depth switch toggles between subtle movement and full, seasick swirl. At low rate settings you get a gentle thickening that feels almost like double tracking. Push the depth and it becomes bold and unmistakable.
Because it is analogue, the modulation feels organic rather than clinical.

Best For
Indie, alternative and dream pop bands chasing texture over brute force. Guitarists who rely on clean or lightly driven tones. Players who want one pedal that instantly adds atmosphere to both live sets and recordings.

Bonus Tip
Keep the rate lower than you think. The magic is often in restraint. Let it widen your sound rather than dominate it. Stack it with a mild overdrive and you will hit that classic 90s wall of emotion without drowning in gain.

Gig of the Week

Brooke Combe, King Tuts, Glasgow, 6th April

Brooke Combe has a presence that feels bigger than the room she is in. Soulful but modern. Confident without forcing it. King Tuts is the perfect setting for this one. Close enough to feel the nuance in the vocal. Loud enough for the grooves to properly land.

This is the kind of show where musicians in the crowd quietly take notes. Tone, control, dynamics. If you care about craft as much as energy, be there.

Best of the Rest

James, P and J Live Aberdeen, 7th April and OVO Hydro Glasgow, 8th April

Few bands carry longevity like James. Decades of songs that still hit. P and J will give the north east a proper singalong moment, while the Hydro show brings scale and spectacle. These are not nostalgia gigs. They are reminders of how powerful big choruses and belief can be when delivered with conviction.

Lo Fidelity All Stars, King Tuts, Glasgow, 5th April

Lo Fidelity All Stars bring groove and grit back into the room. Full of swagger and volume. Expect a crowd that moves rather than sways. King Tuts will feel tight and ‘electro’ for this one. If you like your live music with a pulse and a bit of attitude, this is your night.

Wrap Up

Spring is building.

Rooms are filling again. Posters are going up. Bands are stepping forward with fresh singles and sharper sets.

If you are playing, focus on the details. Texture. Tone. The small things that make someone stop mid conversation and look at the stage.

If you are going to gigs, show up early. Stay late. Support the rooms that keep Scotland’s music moving.

April is where momentum starts to show.

See you down the front.

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.

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