January 2025

Happy new year! Welcome to the first edition of 2025. As ever, we have a brilliant line up for Celtic Connections with way too many eye-catching events for the precious free time we have to attend gigs. I have chosen not to include any Celtic Connections listings in this newsletter as it would triple this edition in length, but please do check out all the listings for the festival here. Top picks include corto.alto's Made in Glasgow gig at Barrowland on 18/01, which features a handful of exciting artists across jazz, rap, indie and more. If you're looking for more festivals to attend beyond Celtic Connections, do check out Emergence Festival at RCS, which highlights the theatre and screen performance work going on in the local scene.

In terms of jam news, the Sunday night Non Stop Bop series taking place at Bloc+ has unfortunately run its course. It will be replaced by a monthly jam at the same venue under the name of Never Ender, with details still to be announced. However, if you're still craving your weekly jam fix at Bloc+, the Monday evening Raspberry Jam is still taking place, which caters to all and any music genres under the sun.

Gigs

• 03/01: First Footing: Angus Mtizwa @ The Hug and Pint, 19:30

• 05/01: Jazz Sundays @ Bossa, 15:00

• 12/01: Jazz Sundays @ Bossa, 15:00

• 13/01: Blue Mondays: Kevin MacKenzie plays Joe Henderson @  RCS, 19:30

• 14/01: Jazz at the Glad Presents Tarn @ The Glad Café, 19:30

• 19/01: Jazz Sundays @ Bossa, 15:00

• 20/01: Daydream Nation #5 @ The Rum Shack, 19:00

• 22/01: Sound Thought @ The Old Hairdressers, 19:00

• 25/01: RudeBeard @ McChuills, 19:00

• 25/01: Vocal or Version Presents Studio 1 Special @ The Rum Shack, 21:00

• 26/01: Micky Deans Jazz Band @ The Three Judges, 15:00

• 26/01: Jazz Sundays @ Bossa, 15:00

• 28/01: LayLow Presents MATTERS UNKNOWN @ The Rum Shack, 19:30

Jams

• 03/01: Fusion Friday @ Basement Jazz Café, 21:00-00:00

• 04/01: Merchant City Jazz @ Avant Garde, 14:00-17:00

• 04/01: Straight Ahead Saturday @ Basement Jazz Café, 21:00-00:00

• 08/01: Jazz @ The Butterfly and Pig, 21:00-23:30

• 09/01: Jazz @ University of Glasgow, 19:00-21:00

• 09/01: Rhythm & Brews @ The Maverick, 20:00

• 09/01: Duo/open sessions @ Basement Jazz Café, 21:00-00:00

• 10/01: Fusion Friday @ Basement Jazz Café, 21:00-00:00

• 10/01: Merchant City Jazz @ Avant Garde, 14:00-17:00

• 11/01: Straight Ahead Saturday @ Basement Jazz Café, 21:00-00:00

• 13/01: GIOdynamics @ online, 20:00

• 14/01: Jazz @ Queen Margaret Union, 19:00

• 15/01: Jazz @ The Butterfly and Pig, 21:00-23:30

• 16/01: Jazz @ University of Glasgow, 19:00-21:00

• 16/01: Rhythm & Brews @ The Maverick, 20:00

• 16/01: Duo/open sessions @ Basement Jazz Café, 21:00-00:00

• 17/01: Fusion Friday @ Basement Jazz Café, 21:00-00:00

• 18/01: Merchant City Jazz @ Avant Garde, 14:00-17:00

• 21/01: GIOdynamics @ The Glad Café, 19:30

• 22/01: Jazz @ The Butterfly and Pig, 21:00-23:30  

• 23/01: Jazz @ University of Glasgow, 19:00-21:00 

• 23/01: Rhythm & Brews @ The Maverick, 20:00    

• 23/01: Duo/open sessions @ Basement Jazz Café, 21:00-00:00      

• 24/01: Fusion Friday @ Basement Jazz Café, 21:00-00:00              

• 25/01: Merchant City Jazz @ Avant Garde, 14:00-17:00

• 25/01: Straight Ahead Saturday @ Basement Jazz Café, 21:00-00:00    

• 28/01: Jazz @ Queen Margaret Union, 19:00

• 29/01: Jazz @ The Butterfly and Pig, 21:00-23:30

• 30/01: Jazz @ University of Glasgow, 19:00-21:00

• 30/01: Rhythm & Brews @ The Maverick, 20:00

• 30/01: Duo/open sessions @ Basement Jazz Café, 21:00-00:00

• 31/01: Fusion Friday @ Basement Jazz Café, 21:00-00:00

Honourable mentions

• 10/01: Rock and Rage on Renfrew Street @ RCS, 18:00

• 15/01: Baked Beans on the Doorstep @ The Old Hairdressers, @ 19:30

• 15-16/01: Emergence Festival @ RCS

• 31/01: World’s Evolution @ Platform, 19:00