BABY Strange have been all over the UK throughout 2016 and ending it on a high next month at the O2 ABC on Sauchiehall street is their way of blowing out the year with a bang.

The trio have played at the venue once before supporting Palma Violets back in 2013 and it was their biggest gig to date.

“At the time, one of the things we were joking about back stage was how it would be amazing to headline there,” says frontman Johnny Madden. “We didn’t think it would actually happen so it’s nice to be at that point now.”

The upcoming Glasgow gig came about when the three-piece where last playing with the band White in England on a co-headline tour.

“We were all sitting about in a park in Oxford and just laughing about doing a gig in Scotland,” says Johnny. “Someone said why not do a gig at the ABC and we thought, well why not. The next week it was booked.

“When it comes to places outside Glasgow our booking agent sorts that out but when it comes to the city we know what venues we like playing at. When we last headlined Stereo, we made sure we got there because we love it.

“We’ve played in loads of Glasgow venues over the years so we have a pretty good idea of where to play and what venues give us a good vibe. The ABC is one of our favourites so we’re pretty excited.

Johnny and bandmate Connaire McCann met at the Glasgow music community group Beatroute when they were teenagers. Beatroute is a place for young people to learn to play instruments and within a few years Johnny and Connaire formed Baby Strange along with Connaire’s brother Aidan.

“We were really bored about what wasn’t going on around us in Glasgow,” says Johnny. “There were no exciting bands around and we wanted to start something that would excite us. It turned out that it excited other people as well and we kept going with it.

When deciding on a name for the group, the group were making up names and came up with Baby Strange without realising its music background.

“We were in the pub just trying to put two words together,” says drummer Aidan. “We came out with Baby Strange but then we Googled it a couple of days later and found out it was a T. Rex song. We thought we’ll stick with that.”

Baby Strange try not to label their music under one specific genre and over the past four years they don’t think their music is evolving as much as they are getting better at making music.

“Our music is loud and energetic,” says Johnny. “We try to steer away from genres. If I have to go with something we’re full throttle.”

“We haven’t changed so much over the last few years that if you listen to one of our first songs compared to our recent ones you wouldn’t think it’s another band.,” explains Aidan. “We just get better and more comfortable at writing and making songs.”

Talking about what is next for the three-piece, they’re already back making another EP just two months after their debut album, Want It Need It was released.

“We didn’t want to waste time so we’re already making another EP,” explains Johnny. “With the album, a lot of the tracks are older songs so we wanted to bring out some fresh stuff.

“Our fans seem to be dyeing for something new from us and because it took so long to bring out the first album people might think it will take another two years before we bring anything else out.”

Baby Strange will be playing at the O2 ABC on December 16.

Danielle Gibson