As the boss of Glasgow record label Electric Honey, Ken McCluskey has helped the likes of Biffy Clyro, Snow Patrol and Belle & Sebastian start their careers.

And the former Bluebells singer reckons the current Scottish scene has never been so diverse.

The label, run by students at Glasgow Kelvin College, is presenting a jam-packed show this Friday at the Kelvingrove Bandstand, featuring the likes of hip hop act Hector Bizerk, good time rockers Colonel Mustard and the Dijon Five and a host of others.

Ken believes the growing number of hip hop and rap bands in Scotland is a good thing.

“I think hip hop has been a bit underground in in the past in Scotland, and Glasgow in particular,” he says.

“It’s more indie bands that have flourished in this area, but what you’re seeing now is people that are using different mixes of music, from a spot of indie to rock to rap, all sorts of different things. Friday is a good window on what’s happening and shows people’s tastes are more eclectic, and moving away from just the guitar band with a beard idea.

“I think before if you were a punk then you were just a punk, or if you were a heavy metal guy then you were just a heavy metal guy. Nowadays people don’t listen to albums the same way they used to, they cherry-pick songs because they’re the downloading generation and they’ll pick a wee bit of folk, jazz, hip hop whatever. So the way people listen to music is different and you’re starting to see that reflected in bands like Hector Bizerk.”

Friday’s line-up also features Dundee singer Be Charlotte, Glasgow noise-makers Pronto Mama, rowdy party machine the Mickey 9’s and electro-indie band the Claramassa. It’s a showcase picked by students from Glasgow Kelvin College’s music business course.

Over the years the label has released many singles and albums by bands who went on to big things, including Belle & Sebastian’s debut album Tigermilk, Snow Patrol single Starfighter Pilot and Bify Clyro’s debut EP Thekidswhopoptodaywillrocktomorrow.

In recent years they’ve expanded into showcase gigs, with a yearly show at Oran Mor now joined by the Bandstand gig.

“We get the students to use whoever’s on the roster, and then we look for bands that might have an association with the label, like Louie from Hector Bizerk, who used to be a student at the college,” explains Ken.

“Then we ask the guys to put forward other bands they’ve seen or been impressed with lately, and we try to keep it local.”

A show like the Bandstand gig, which takes place in-between Summer Nights shows by Primal Scream and Eddi Reader at the venue, offers a great opportunity for the college’s students, too.

“What’s good is that we’re working with Regular Music, who’ll give us the same production to use that Van Morrison or Primal Scream will have there,” adds Ken.

“It’s a good experience for the students, because it’s hands-on and they’re working with industry professionals. All the production is there and they can be anything from the stage manager to artist liaison – it’s all very well being theoretical about it in the classroom but this is the practical part of the course and it’s invaluable if you’re going to work in the music industry.”

Topping the bill will be Hector Bizerk, in what’s going to be one of their final Glasgow gigs, after they announced they will break up by the end of the year. Along with Colonel Mustard, they represent a wave of acts who’ve done things their own way over the years, without big record company support.

“My background’s in punk rock, that’s where I started making music,” adds Ken.

“So taking that Joe Strummer quote about getting three chords and starting a band, that’s what I did in 1977 and I’ve always kept that idea. It’s good to see the likes of Hector doing that too.”

He also believes the rest of the bill is packed with potential.

“I think Charlotte Brimner is a real talent to look out for,” he concludes.

“She’s a student at the college and is on the label. I saw the Mickey 9’s lately, and they were a really good live band. The Claramassa have a new EP out, which is their first release, so a gig like this is a great opportunity for them, too.”

Electric Honey Sessions, Kelvingrove Bandstand, Friday, £15, 3pm