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Friday Night Pints with Mad Ferret
March 09, 2018
Mad Ferret. Say that slowly back to yourself for a second. Mad....Ferret.....
"We've still got friends that we've known for six years and we have to explain to them that its actually mad, for it and no the two mad ferrets, its quite good when you see the penny drop"
Chris and Sandy are busy guys, racking up an insane 180+ gigs a year, Super/Unknown caught up with the Edinburgh folk duo at their first gig back in the UK since touring Switzerland, and a bustling crowd at the Cowgate venue Stramash awaits them, as well as the ever looming festival season that awaits them......
We chat about their unique brand of energetic folk mixed with traditional Scottish music, as well as an upcoming live album release, recorded at the same venue as the evenings show.
That's How I Got To Glasgow: A Moment With Karl Blau
March 27, 2018
Karl Blau is a man of many hats. A cult like figure, Blau is known for being tremendously influential with his vast range of musical styles, from country to experimental and pretty much everything in between. Hailing from Anacortes, Washington, Blau has spent the last twenty plus years making music and travelling the world as a soloist or with bands, including a tenure with the doom/stoner forefathers Earth. Releasing several albums through K records (a favourite of Kurt Cobain, who even tattooed the labels logo on his arm) Blau is now back out on the road with a new label and new album.
Currently on tour promoting his 45th (yes, that's right....45th) studio album “Natures Got Away” the American singer/songwriter is not touring in what would be considered the conventional sense. Recently completing a UK tour, Blau opted out of the tour van approach and spent this leg of the tour hopping on and off trains up and down the country to make his appearances, and crashing with friends and fans who may be able to lend a spare room or a sofa for the evening. “This tour is really by the seat of my pants” explains Blau “Ill literally just show up at the station and buy my ticket, I try to google map it the night before”
We swung by the Hug & Pint, a fantastic small venue in Glasgow’s west end, who not only put on amazing gigs but serve delicious vegan meals, to visit Karl. Speaking about his Glasgow show, Blau says “I was so stoked that hug and pint was on the list, because its one of my favourite stops”
Super/Unknown spoke in length about Blau’s music, his new record as well as the breakthrough album “Introducing Karl Blau” released in 2015 that literally did that, introduce this underground icon to a larger audience.
Local Pints with Shotgun City Sunshine
March 27, 2018
Shotgun City Sunshine are a band relatively new on the scene, but you wouldn't think it when meeting them. Formed just over a year ago, the Scottish 4 piece have gone from being an opening act performing in front of five people at Edinburgh’s Sneaky Petes to performing in London to a near 1,000 capacity crowd.
“I’ve been working hard at it” guitar player Gordon says “It’s not just a case of playing gigs and writing songs, you’ve got to play the game”
Its been a long time coming, as Gordon has been convincing frontman Sean to start a band and hit the road for almost a decade now. But now that the wheels are finally turning, it seems that the group wont let anything stand in their way in their mission to reach the top.
Super/Unknown sat down with (most of) the band on a rainy night at their local pub, Drouthy Neebors in Newington to talk misheard lyrics, early accomplishments and future goals.
Inspiring the Rock Stars of Tomorrow with Iain Petrie
April 01, 2018
Iain Petrie is a man who loves the art of music. From his formative days listening to The Beatles and picking up a guitar for the first time, Petrie went on to performing in many bands all over the country over the years, as well as a tenure as a covers artist, playing pubs and clubs to pay the bills and support a young family back home.
Taking break from musicianship to try his hand at real estate, the spell of the musical world pulled Iain back in and lead him to start his own band, The Gypsy Soul Experience. From there, the Edinburgh native (now living in Berwick Upon Tweed) has dedicated his life to music ever since.
We travelled down to Berwick Upon Tweed to talk with Iain about his new project, Inspired! A movement in which he takes young people starting out musically and guides them down the right path with workshops that include everything from vocal exercises to music management law, combing the local musical community for established local acts to come by and drop some words of wisdom on these musical teens.
Now in their third year, Iain and Inspired! have helped numerous kids break out and find a voice of their own, as well as giving them a stage to showcase their talent.
In the video below, we talk Inspired, pub gigs and the right reasons to follow your musical passion