Citizens Theatre launch Citz Sessions gigs

Frightened Rabbit’s Scott Hutchison, Claire Grogan, Withered Hand, Frances McKee of The Vaselines and Kathleen MacIness headline a weekend of gigs at the iconic Citizens Theatre

Feature by The Skinny | 15 Sep 2016

The Citizens Theatre has announced news of the Citz Sessions, a series of specially-curated, exclusive gigs to be held at the much-loved theatre in the Gorbals, Glasgow. As well as bringing together some of the best of Scotland's established and new music acts – who’ll each perform intimate, stripped-back, acoustic sets – the Citz Sessions will also help the theatre to continue to raise funds for its £20.8 million redevelopment.

For the Citz Sessions first weekend of events, Citizens Theatre has enlisted a trio of sharp guest curators to shape the three evenings, with each embracing the diverse sonic landscape Scotland's music scene.

Ann Donald of influential indie pop band The Shop Assistants takes the reigns of the first Citz Session (14 Oct), curating an evening celebrating some of the best female musicians working in the independent circuit in Scotland. Donald’s guests include Clare Grogan, Frances McKee of The Vaselines and Mairi Fenella, with more to be announced.

The next night, DJ and music-nut Vic Galloway is at the helm. His night’s focus will be Scottish-bred indie rock, and he’s assembled a cracking lineup, which will include performances by Frightened Rabbit’s Scott Hutchison, Withered Hand, Rick Redbeard and Jacob Yates and the Pearly Gate Lock Pickers. All will be accompanied by The Rogue Orchestra.

Rounding off the weekend on Sunday 16 Oct, the Citizens Theatre will be filled with the peat-smoked voice of Gaelic songstress Kathleen MacIness, who’s bringing together various artists for a piece called ‘Displacement’, which will look at how Gaels and travellers have congregated in Glasgow, making it a beacon for Gaelic, Folk, Scots, Trad and Americana.

“I’m delighted to see the inaugural Citz Sessions announced with a fantastic lineup of bands and artists involved,” says Dominic Hill, the artistic director of Citizens Theatre. “Audiences often comment on the unique atmosphere of our auditorium and I am excited to see it used for this type of performance.”


Tickets for each performance cost £20. For more details, go to www.citz.co.uk and keep an eye of theskinny.co.uk/music for more announcements