FOLK POP

With all the hype-hungry types currently clogging up the industry, modern pop can seem pretty contrived at times. A refreshing alternative, however, is this Glasgow-based trio who cater in catchy melodies, scratchy riffs and compellingly honest lyrics about ‘heartache, blood donation and fucking’. Yet, if it hadn’t been for frontman, guitarist and band founder Scott Hutchison becoming tired of drawing after an illustration course at Glasgow School of Art, the world might never have been introduced to the beguiling ways of Frightened Rabbit. ‘It all kind of happened by accident,’ the politely spoken chap explains. ‘I’ve been playing the guitar since I was 15 but only started writing songs when I finished my degree. I was really inspired by The Delgados, Idlewild and Mogwai, bands that take folk music into new territory I guess, and just didn’t want to draw for a while.’

The illustration world’s loss is music’s gain as, despite forming less than a year ago, the three-piece have already put out stunning debut Sing The Greys, a collection of songs initially intended to be a set of demos but which have garnered so much interest that they’re set for a tidy up and re-release on a larger scale. This is pencilled in for early 2007, but before then Frightened Rabbit have some festive treats planned for their first headlining gig at King Tut’s. ‘We’ve learned a couple of Christmas songs for the show and we’ll get other bands involved as well as the usual lights and stuff. We would also love people to bring instruments and play along with us,’ Hutchison adds. The band line-up is far from finished, so anyone can be in it if they want.’ Spontaneity has served them well thus far so why stop now . . .