Spotlight On... Wide Days 2026
Ahead of tonight's Talent Development showcase at Wide Days, we get to know the four artists in question – Lacuna, San Jose, Lo Rays and Roller Disco Death Party
Since 2010, Scotland's Music Convention Wide Days has been bringing the music industry together each spring for a packed music industry conference programme, with the evenings a space to showcase the best of Scottish homegrown talent. An important stepping stone for artists looking to take the next step in their career, this year's music programme is packed with showcases taking place across Sneaky Pete's, The Bongo Club and La Belle Angele on Thursday 30 April and Friday 1 May.
Part of the scheduling includes this year's Talent Development cohort – San Jose, Lacuna, Roller Disco Death Party and LoRays. Four completely different acts that span alt-folk, electroclash, metal and psychedelic cabaret, we catch up with all four ahead of their showcases tonight.
Image: Lacuna by Rosie Sco
Lacuna
Lacuna are a six-piece alt-folk band based in Glasgow. We catch up with Olivia Thom and Will Taylor from the band to find out more.
How did the band meet and what inspired you to start making music together as Lacuna?
From high school then through the local scene and bars. The band has evolved over the years both in number and in inspirations for making music that now represents the six of us, where the collective love of songwriting and performing inspire each other.
Who are some of the other artists that influence your music-making?
R.E.M, Big Thief, All About Eve, Julia Jacklin, Ethel Cain and Fleetwood Mac to name a few. These artists showcase the variety of sounds and styles in the band whilst not sticking to one genre.
For someone who’s never heard you before or come across your music, how would you describe your sound?
Lacuna soundtrack your breakups, train journeys, forest walks, and milestones. We champion our ability to write songs of various genres, from the dark and gothic Nest to whimsical Shelley.
What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about a member of Lacuna?
Sean [Choon] was in Peru recently, Amie [Huckstep] is close to knitting an entire wardrobe, and Will [Taylor] has just completed a Masters in history. We love music but also our nerdy hobbies.
Why should people come see Lacuna at Wide Days?
Variety is the spice of life. Lacuna is a band of six friends who love to head bang and dance around together, and we want to share that joy and whimsy with the crowd.
After Wide Days, what’s next for Lacuna?
We are preparing a single release for summer. We also have our first London headline on 21 May, followed by TRNSMT, Kelburn Garden Party and Belladrum Festival. Also, we have our first non-UK show in Rotterdam at the Left of the Dial festival.
Lacuna play La Belle Angele, Edinburgh, 30 April at 7.40pm; Follow Lacuna on IG @lacuna.music
Image: San Jose by Mariana De Souza
San Jose
San Jose are a Glasgow-based six-piece, originally from East Ayrshire. We catch up with vocalist Calum Grant to find out more.
How did the band meet and what inspired you to start making music together as San Jose?
The band have been in each other's orbit/periphery since the sunny years of 2012, I think we all share similar grievances for the mundanity of a lot of music in both studio and live performance. I suppose this has galvanised us!
Who are some of the other artists that influence your music-making?
We're inspired by a whole range of artists! King Gizzard and Zappa for their sheer work ethic and output, The Beatles and Pink Floyd for their commitment to progressing music and bands like black midi and Fat White Family for their cultural impact.
For someone who’s never heard you before or come across your music, how would you describe your sound?
An eclectic mix of genres coming together to form a psychedelic cabaret.
What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about a member of San Jose?
Cean [Gracie, guitarist] doesn't know how to jump.
Why should people come see San Jose at Wide Days?
We want to make a lasting impression. We're quite content with our marmite reputation, so we're eager to have an impact. If there is one thing we can guarantee, it’s that the lines between stage and audience will be blurred.
After Wide Days, what’s next for San Jose?
After the showcase we have plans for writing and recording an EP titled An Aviary. As well as this we have been busy planning and writing a musical too! Gig-wise, on 19 May we’ll be supporting Warmduscher at the Classic Grand in Glasgow and we have a few unannounced shows that we’re currently gearing up for.
San Jose play La Belle Angele, Edinburgh at 8.40pm; Follow San Jose on IG @san.jose.band
Image: Lo Rays by Victoria Sykes
Lo Rays
Lo Rays are a Glasgow-based pop-metal band. We catch up with guitarist Scott Bathgate to get the lowdown on the band.
How did the band meet and what inspired you to start making music together as Lo Rays?
Our singer Laura moved here from Finland to make music with the intention of following in the footsteps of her heroes Biffy Clyro. She formed the first iteration of the band in 2017, joined shortly by bassist Jonesy. It wasn’t until I and Murray, our drummer, joined the band in 2022 that the sound of the band started to go into the heavier alt-metal direction that it is now. Me and Murray supported the older version of Lo Rays in Aberdeen in 2018 with an old project of ours and since then I kept in contact with Laura. We started to collaborate and write together in lockdown and that's where we found we had a really good writing and musical chemistry.
Who are some of the other artists that influence your music-making?
Me and Laura have always had an affinity for industrial artists like Nine Inch Nails, Health and Poppy. We also love alt-metal like Bad Omens, Bring Me the Horizon, Deftones and Loathe. We wanted to marry those with our mutual love for hyperpop artists like Grimes, Sophie and A.G. Cook.
For someone who’s never heard you before or come across your music, how would you describe your sound?
We have always described it as “post-apocalyptic pop metal for the end times”. We combine glitchy synths with catchy pop hooks and heavy riffs. We try to marry that with the world building Laura has created around our music and try to make our music more concept-driven while fitting our own personal perspectives and struggles in the songs through the lens of that world.
What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about a member of Lo Rays?
One of our members auditioned to be in the West End production of Billy Elliot… can you guess who? (It's our drummer, Murray).
Why should people come see Lo Rays at Wide Days?
We have such an exciting plan for our showcase! We have two dancers with us (Melissa Heywood and Becca Duke) who will be joining us for a couple of tracks. We are also bringing our trademark theatrics as well as high energy, big riffs and a whole world we hope to invite the audience into. We also plan on showcasing our brand new EP RE:BIRTH SEQUENCE which includes what we think is our strongest material to date! Not to be missed!
After Wide Days, what’s next for Lo Rays?
We hope to focus on writing some new material and do some more shows in the UK and Europe. Next Scottish show we are supporting the one and only Alt Blk Era in Glasgow (24 May), which we are super excited about. We are playing SXSW London in June and a few other surprises we can't quite reveal yet. Stay tuned!
Lo Rays play La Belle Angele, Edinburgh, 30 April at 9.40pm; follow Lo Rays on IG @loraysmusic
Image: Roller Disco Death Party by Victoria Sykes
Roller Disco Death Party
Roller Disco Death Party are a dance duo from Glasgow. We catch up with the pairing of Neal McHarg and Amelia Briggs Haldane ahead of their performance tonight.
How did the band meet and what inspired you to start making music together as Roller Disco Death Party?
We felt the world is challenging enough to survive at the moment and if we could create music that allowed for people to escape for that moment in time, we’d be happy. That really helped with the direction of the writing, we know what we liked and how going to a club for a dance makes us feel.
Who are some of the other artists that influence your music-making?
Chemical Brothers, Justice, Soulwax, Erol Alkan. People that really push electronic music to feel like rock'n'roll but for the dance world.
For someone who’s never heard you before or come across your music, how would you describe your sound?
Big beats, live drums and it's music to sweat to, think 00s electroclash/dance punk.
What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about a member of RDDP?
Neither of us know how to roller skate.
Why should people come see RDDP at Wide Days; what’s the plan for your showcase?
We plan to bring a club vibe to a live show setting and hopefully get people dancing and moving.
After Wide Days, what’s next for RDDP?
After Wide Days, we got a run of shows over the summer with Deershed Festival and Edinburgh Psych Fest announced so far. More to come too, with plans to get back into the studio start recording again.
Roller Disco Death Party play La Belle Angele, Edinburgh, 30 April at 10.30pm; Follow Roller Disco Death Party on IG @rollerdiscodeathparty
Wide Days takes place across various venues in Edinburgh, 30 April & 1 May; find more info at widedays.com and listen to a playlist featuring all of this year's showcase artists here