Paisley Music Roundup 05 by Tommy McGrory

Welcome to Tommy McGrory’s Paisley Music Roundup 05, looking ahead at gigs in the town from Friday.

Five bands have made it through to the final of the first Battle of the Bands at The Bungalow on Friday night. The finalists are: The Sankaras, Escher, Northern Holiday, Ivory Saints and The Ribena Boys.

Judges had no prior knowledge of the bands involved and a wide range of styles were chosen and said they were highly impressed by every one of the bands, but there could only be five taking part in the final. The winners will get studio time with highly acclaimed music producer Jamie McGrory at JJ Recordings in Paisley.

Alan McEwan of The Bungalow said. “We can’t wait to see how all the bands involved continue to progress. I encourage you to check them out if you get the chance. I have a feeling you will see more of all the finalists performing at more local events in due course. Doors at 7pm.

It is Pride Day at The Bungalow on Saturday. Join in for some Drag Bingo, hosted by Paisley Queen Lola Fierce in the afternoon. Doors are at 1pm, bingo begins at 2pm. In the evening the entertainment continues with host Erin Hephzibah introducing a fantastic line up of acts performing drag, comedy, music and singing including: Lola Fierce, CJ Banks, Ziggi Battles, Poppa Joint, Dorian T Fisk, Markee de Saw, Amelia Bayler, Ewan McPherson, Ellie McCamley, Just the Brave and Joan Sapian. Tickets on the door.

Here is what to expect from some of the acts. Joan Sapien is rarely let out of the house after giving the world I Sang The Body Electric and The Abstract Dancers. Her incessant electronic bleeping can often be heard in and around central Paisley.

Amelia Bayler does a fun mixture of stand up and musical comedy. She won best newcomer at the Scottish Comedy Awards, ‘Up-and-comer’ – The List, ‘Queen of gesticulations, queen of the millennial aesthetic, queen of the emotional guy punch, Amelia Bayler’s star is truly on the rise.’ – ScotsGay.

Markee de Saw is an international cabaret performer, classically trained singer, and highly skilled musical saw player, whose roots lie in Hollywood. Their powerful operatic voice has wowed audiences across the U.K. and Europe and has earned Markee a sterling reputation as one of Scotland’s top variety performers. This ‘saw’cy performer brings some ‘sharp’ and ‘edgy’ sass to the stage.

The open stage is on Sunday from 2pm and doors are 1pm. Entry is free. Thursday’s Introducing Night is all about Empowering Female Musicians featuring Jodie Rae, Sasha Kaloheris and Subtopian Planning Board. Doors are 7pm and tickets are £5/3 students.

There are so many empowering female artists and I’m going to share five of them with you. Music has the power to move people. It can inspire and make you feel better and in this case get more young women into music. Here is a list of five of my top female artists I love. Debbie Harry, Tina Turner, Lady Gaga, Pink and Janis Joplin. How about you?

Coming up this weekend at The Cave is Blackout on Friday at 8pm, Saturday Blue Horizon at 6pm followed by Start at 9pm and on Sunday from 6pm it is Rumours.

Campbell Sproat is at The Old Swan on Friday from 7pm. Dirty Works are playing Saturday from 4pm followed by Emma Nailen and special guests. Clyde is playing in their regular slot at 5pm on Monday and Lee James will be singing for you on Tuesday and Thursday at 3pm both days.

The Keg’s weekend offering this week is Anton O’Donnell on Friday at 9pm and Saturday night it is the turn of Bad Boy Boogie. Sunday live sessions are on at Kennedy’s from 3pm and at The Anchor from 4.30pm.

This week’s Open Mic sessions are: Abbey Bar on Monday with Dunky Hunter at 8pm, Jason Flood is hosting at Gantry on Tuesday from 9pm, Johnny Barr will be at The Keg from 8.30pm. Have a great week and Keep Music Live.