The List

A guide to Edinburgh and Glasgow music venues

The radio DJ and gig promoter Ally McCrae brings you the best of the cities’ music mayhem
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A guide to Edinburgh and Glasgow music venues

The radio DJ and gig promoter Ally McCrae brings you the best of the cities’ music mayhem

OK, so if you’ve chosen to come to Glasgow for four years of solitude, hard study and early nights then that is cool, but be warned, you will be looking a very large musical gift horse in the mouth.

There are too many live venues to list. You’ll no doubt know the big boys – the legendary Barrowlands, the O2 ABC, O2 Academy, SECC and the soon-to-be-opened Hydro Arena are all worth a night out.

Indie and rock music-wise, between the grand looking (and sounding) Òran Mór, King Tut's and Stereo you will always fine a high calibre of local and emerging touring acts. Late-night watering-holes Nice’n’Sleazy, Bar Bloc and Flat 0/1 offer strong local acts.

Glasgow has a long love affair with electronic dance music, The Arches and the Sub Club being the premier spots with big-name nights all year round.

And so to Edinburgh. Some of the best hip hop and bass music parties happen at the legendary Bongo Club near Edinburgh Uni, a huge room with a loyal fanbase and cheap drinks. For live music there are the bigger venues Corn Exchange, Liquid Rooms and The Queen’s Hall, but three of my favourites are Electric Circus, Sneaky Pete’s and the Third Door, which all put on shows with acts at the very cutting-edge of new music, and offer a chance to see acts in a cosy wee venue long before they become mega stars.

Ally runs online music show detour-scotland.com and presents BBC Introducing on BBC Radio 1 Sunday nights 12-2am.

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