This week's show is packed with interviews from T in the Park as I chatted to Pinact (pictured), Prides, Catholic Action, Monogram and The Van T's. There's also music from Inuit, Phases, Great Cop and Keeping Dirt Clean who play King Tut's Summer Nights this week.
After focusing on the BBC Introducing Stage on last week's show, this week we focus on the artists playing the T Break stage at T in the Park, as well as rounding up the rest of the Scottish artists playing across the weekend including Hector Bizerk, The Twilight Sad and Admiral Fallow.
SEØUEL is added to the playlist, there's a stunning remix of The Great Albatross from Tongues, plus new music from Akela, Nieves and Tetra.
Boots have already trudged the ground, tent pegs and guy ropes put in completely inappropriate places, and cans of Tennents lager cracked open to the cries of "T IN THE PAAAAARK". Yup, Scotland's biggest music festival is about to begin, this year in it's brand new home at Strathallan Castle.
While the site will be new, there's a few things that will stay as loyal fans to the festival have always known. Food and drink will be plentiful, the weather will be unpredictable, and there will be over 100 acts playing across three days and six stages catering to all tastes.
There's some big hitters on the bill this year, but as always here at Scottish Fiction we have our eyes on the home grown talent, and so present to you our top tips of acts not to miss during this year's festivities.
One of the hottest tipped bands about at the moment are Catholic Action. Fronted by former Casual Sex, and current Pinact, member Chris McCrory the band are prolific with recent single The Real World released via Fuzzkill Records. Check them out on Saturday on the T Break Stage.
I was very impressed last month when I caught Edinburgh duo Man of Moon performing at the BBC at the Quay event. Their single The Road is catchy as anything, with chuggy guitars and crashing cymbals creating a steady pulse throughout. The band are playing the BBC Introducing Stage on Sunday.
The Sad of course need no introduction, and are primed to play their fourth T in the Park set to date in King Tut's Tent on Friday afternoon. The band have progressed up through the stages, T-Break to BBC Introducing to King Tut's Tent, and of course this summer's festival appearances come fresh of the back of the critical success of fourth album Nobody Wants To Be Here And Nobody Wants To Leave.
Exciting times surely lie ahead for Stillhound, a Glasgow foursome, who play only their second live gig to date on the BBC Introducing Stage on Saturday. Their brand of artful, electronic pop harks to the soundscapes of Boards of Canada, but is more accessible with instant appeal making them potentially the discovery of the festival for you.
The duo of Corrie Gillies and Chris McCrory released one of our favourite albums of the year back in May via Brooklyn label Kanine Records. With a well-honed, energetic, and passionate live act, plus seriously infectious melodies and a raucous guitar/drum combo, Pinact are a band to lose yourself to. They'll be on the BBC Introducing Stage on Saturday.
Another band with real promise on the T-Break stage are twin sisters Chloe and Hannah, better known as The Van T's. Their grungey, garage rock style twists in surfer-pop, and reverb soaked '90's alternative rock for an altogether enthralling sound. It's completely plausible to see The Van T's follow in the path of Honeyblood or PAWS, and their set on Sunday will be a good marker for that.
Conflicted over whether to see headliners Kasabian or David Guetta? It's not a problem for Hector Bizerk, who were a late addition to the bill and take up headliner duties on the Transmission Stage on Friday evening. Guaranteed to be the top pick here at Scottish Fiction, their set can be guaranteed to be full of energy, sing-a-long raps, and body draining bounce alongs. NOT TO BE MISSED.
Someone call Daft Punk and Pharrell. Miaoux Miaoux has taken the 'sound of summer' mantle from them with his new album School of Velocity. The new LP, out now on Chemikal Underground, was made with sun and good times in mind, and hopefully that's exactly what we'll get from the band's set on Sunday in the BBC Introducing Tent. Prepare to dance, sway and vibe.
Last but not least is Monogram, another electro-pop act from Glasgow who strive to make infectious tunes that extract dancing from listeners. Fronted by Liam Rutherford, and backed with Gordon Skene and Ben Singer, the band have been working hard to bring their polished studio sounds to a live environment. Catch them on Sunday in the BBC Introducing Stage to see how well they've managed it.
Musically speaking this week's Scottish Fiction show is pretty lovely too. I added one half of the new AA single from Kathryn Joseph to the Scottish Fiction Playlist, and there's also new music from The Van T's, Wozniak, Reverieme, TeenCanteen, Bdy_Prts and more!
Drenched in grunge and slacker-rock vibes Growler is the latest track from Paisley twins Chloe and Hannah, better known as The Van T's. Doing exactly what it says on the tin, the kicks off with a deep growling bass line, before reverb heavy guitars chime in. Youthful fun flows at the heart of the track, as the vocals alude to - "I liked you more on a drunken night".
Describing themselves as "all you ever wanted from a '90's dream" it's clear there's heavy influence drawn from that early '90's alt-rock period, but this is far from a throwback sound, with comparisons to The Dum Dum Girls, Wolf Alice and closer to home Honeyblood.
Twins Chloe and Hannah make up The Van T's and '90's alternative drenched songs are their tour de force. The band have started to up the ante in terms of profile, helped by the fact that songs like Fun Garcon and Growler are must listen to tracks.
Hello! How the devil are you?
All is well!
It's the question everyone hates, but could illuminate our readers with a little bit about your music and your influences?
We have a lot of influences. We love bands like Wolf Alice, First Aid Kit, The Pixies, Courtney Barnett and Girlpool. We also live punk-tinged girl bands such as Bleached and The Death Valley Girls.
As well as the obvious grunge comparisons that tracks like 'Growler' will span, to my ear there's a much closer to home sound in your music.
Are Honeyblood an influence and if so does their success inspire?
Yes! We have loved Honeyblood right from the beginning. We are actually huge fan girls. Stina is very talented so I guess it does inspire!
Over the past 6 months to a year, there's an ever growing legion of a DIY and fuzz-rock in Glasgow (bands like Catholic Action, Poor Things, WOMPS, Pinact). Why do you think that early '90's alternative sound is coming back around?
Because it's just an awesome sound! At gigs I think it really stands out. I'm really proud and excited that our band are going for that sort of sound.
What's your song-writing / creative process like?
Our song writing technique can vary! Hannah and I will always write our music first before we add lyrics, that way it's like a blank canvas! Occasionally we will sit down and write a song together seriously, but our favourite thing is just to jam!
How has the band evolved and progressed over the last year?
We have got a lot heavier and more focused on recording, also doing shows with good bands who are friends.
What could we expect to see from a live show?
Most likely grungy riffs, harmonies and some swaying.
Also a lot of playing about with pedal boards... Mostly having fun.
Another week, another dose of Scottish Fiction to serve up. Get some electronica with new tracks from Django Django and Babe, enjoy some folk and singer-songwriter fare with new ones from Lidh and Siobhan Wilson, and dip into more DIY alt-rock with Polarnecks and The Bellybuttons. And more. There's always more. Enjoy!
