They have supported Blondie and the B52s, received praise from Madonna and even have album sleeve notes penned by Ian Rankin, so it’s no wonder A Band Called Quinn is set to bring some sunshine to the Pearce Institute in Govan tomorrow night.
The Glasgow-based indie electropop band – singer Louise Quinn, drummer Bal Cooke, bassist Steven Westwater, multi-instrumentalist Robert Henderson and new guitarist Ally Macrae – are known for their theatrical shows and unique music.
The band has described their sound to being “like putting your head in a tumble dryer at a psychedelic launderette” and their performances have even included cabaret dancers and 6ft gorilla.
The band have just finished a tour with Vanishing Point theatre company’s updated version of John Gay’s play The Beggars Opera, something which influenced the band’s live shows.
In January, they headlined a gig at King Tut’s, while music from their new album is to feature on up-and-coming drama Lip Service on BBC3.
But it’s tomorrow’s fundraising gig for community radio station Sunny Govan Radio which is getting them in a spin.
Frontwoman Louise said: “We played at a gig for Sunny Govan last year and the response was amazing, the people were amazing and we are looking forward to recreating that and more this year.
“Sunny Govan have always supported local bands, something that is a vital part of broadcasting and that many national stations miss out on. It’s a great place with a great atmosphere and we are proud they play our work.”
The fundraising concert is set to be bigger and better than last year’s event and the band’s support means more now than ever to the station.
Recent council cuts have led to the training and development budget of £60,000 being taken away from the station.
Station manager Heather McMillan said: “We are thrilled that A Band Called Quinn is coming back to play this year and they are a fantastic example of what the radio station is all about. Sunny Govan is 10% radio and 90% community – we give a voice to those people in groups who are seldom heard.”
The band are more than happy to help out as Sunny Govan is one of the very few places in Glasgow which aims to help people get heard, not only local bands but people with learning disabilities.
The station runs courses including guitar skills, songwriting and radio techniques, which are free to the unemployed in the area.
Louise said: “Everyone is made welcome at Sunny Govan, the atmosphere is great and everything they do is really relevant to what is going on in the city.”
Tomorrow night’s gig is not only a fundraiser to keep the station’s successful programmes going strong but also a celebration of its third year of broadcasting in Glasgow and showcasing the wealth of local talent.
Supporting the band will be an array of Glasgow performers, including Swing Guitars, The Party, Carlton Jug Band, Vivian Scotson and Patrick Bullen.
Some of the Sunny Govan DJs will also take to the decks to give the crowd a taste of what the station has to offer, ranging from reggae to R&B and from African beats to Polish pop, all infused with local talent.
Louise is excited at the prospect of showcasing her band’s new material. She said: “I can’t wait to let the crowd experience the theatrical side to our music. With regards to an appearance from the gorilla – well, you never know.”
- Tomorrow’s gig is from 7pm to 11.30pm at the Pearce Institute, Govan Road. Tickets, at £7.50, are available from Sunny Govan Station at 249 Govan Road or on 0141 419 0040. Donations can be made to the station via the website www.sunnygovancommunitymedia.org
