Your New Favourite Band's Favourite Gig Venues

The Skinny Zap has levelled up! Every month, as well as the usual weekly events round-ups, we'll be sending out a subscriber-exclusive essay or interview. This month, it's an Independent Venue Week special – ahead of the annual celebration of your friendly neighbourhood gig space which kicks off on Monday, we caught up with some of the artists playing IVW shows across Scotland to talk about some of their favourite places to play and most memorable gigs.

Scroll on for our chat with Midnight Ambulance, Scorpio Leisure, Both Hands, Town Centre and Roller Disco Death Party, and head to independentvenueweek.com/uk for the full programme of IVW gigs across the UK, and click here to sign up for The Skinny Zap and get more of this kind of thing direct to your inbox...

Bowling Clubs, Bad Days and Big Tops: Remembering Their First Gigs

"The first venue we played is actually one of our all-time favourites! In early 2022 we played at Queens Park Bowling Club in the southside of Glasgow. Bowling clubs are unsung heroes when it comes to independent venues! It was not only our first gig, but it was also the first gig ever run by Events Research Programme who put on incredible experimental events, funded by its members." [Nathan Smith and Rose Manson, Town Centre]

"We were very lucky, our first gig was supporting the iconic Lydia Lunch at The Caves in Edinburgh. I had a horrendous day [but] against all odds, it happened, I made it on stage. I remembered the magic – it takes over. You can forget reality for a bit.” [Hettie Noir, Scorpio Leisure]

"Our first gig as a band was actually just last May at Tenement TV’s Houses festival. We played the warehouse at SWG3 – we got the opportunity to see what the set would look like with a full lighting show thanks to it being a well-established venue." [Amelia Boyle and Neal McHarg, Roller Disco Death Party]

"The first show we played was in the Big Top tent at Fringe By the Sea in North Berwick. Absolutely huge venue, so very much thrown in at the deep end, but we had a blast!" [Amelia Stokes, Midnight Ambulance]

"Well we've come full circle, because it was Leith Depot and we're very happy to be heading back for Independent Venue Week. When we first played we didn't have a band name so we played as "Hailey Beavis & Brian Pokora". It feels like Leith Depot has become the main hub for stuff in Edinburgh at the minute and for good reason." [Hailey Beavis and Brian Pokora, Both Hands]

Memorable Shows and Magical Venues 

Pip Blom at The Caves, Edinburgh. Photo by Kate Johnston

"For me personally, the smaller gigs have been super fun. The Vitamin C gig at Leith Depot was ace. Small stage, sell out. Everyone at the same height, more or less, so kinda personal. We had a gig the night before, so maybe the lack of sleep, or the fact I had just done a gig, made it flow. So comfortable, like I was 100% supposed to be there. Zen. [Hettie Noir, Scorpio Leisure]

"For Hailey's most recent art exhibition at Sett Studios we pulled together an entire setup where Brian provided the vibes for the first few hours with some DJing and live ambience before we ended the night with a set of our own. Sett really was a blank canvas, and venues which allow the combination of ideas between visuals, art, live stuff and DJing work well for us. Big shout out to our faves over at Leith Depot and Safari Lounge who also provide the sort of freedom." [Both Hands]

"Our favourite show has to be our debut EP launch at The Caves. It’s a magically haunting venue and we were overwhelmed with how many new and familiar faces were there to see us. A night at Sneaky Pete’s is always special, though, and it’s really nice to play a more intimate venue." [Amelia Stokes, Midnight Ambulance]

"We played at Spin for Fine Times in Aberdeen, that was a crazy venue made even more amazing by getting to go through the thousands of records stored above the venue next day." [Town Centre]

"We just recently played at Nice n Sleazy’s as a part of the second No A Mean City show. They were using the show to fundraise for Refuweegee. It was amazing to play a very small part in the night and it was great to hear the founder of the charity Selina Hales speak on the night. That whole night just made you proud of the music scene in general so definitely stands out." [Roller Disco Death Party]

Sprung Floors, Club Vibes and All-Time Favourite Venues

Jenny Hval on stage at Summerhall, Edinburgh. Photo by Ian Schofield

"As a Scottish musician, the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow will always hold a special place for me. Not only did I work my first gig there as a guitar tech, but my grandparents actually met there when it was a dance hall in the 1940s. It has so much history, and some of the most legendary concerts in Scottish music have taken place there. The idiosyncratic curved roof, sprung floor and star adorned green room have played a huge part in shaping the Scottish music landscape, and the infamous ‘Barras Local Crew’ are internationally renowned as some of the best in the world. A truly special place." [Fraser Fulton, Midnight Ambulance]

"Summerhall! Save Summerhall, obviously. Over the years before we started working together we both played there often and it has always been a favourite. As Both Hands we played at a Microsteria show there in 2024 and it was an incredibly fun and eventful night – for our set in particular we had the opportunity to work with pole dancer Nicole Tait (Pickle Moves) and visual artist Jayson Turner (FIZZYPOP!) for a sensory overload of a set." [Both Hands]

"This will be only our fourth show so we’ve not got to choose from, but we do love a tight venue where you create a club vibe from the show. That's one of the reasons we’re really excited to play McChuills as part of Independent Venue Week. The fact the venue space has the nickname “The Acid Arch”, it’s actually what we love." [Roller Disco Death Party]

"Well I would love to play some festivals, it’s nice when you get consumed in the environment; often responsibilities get in the way. I really enjoyed playing The Nightjar in Dunbar. They are doing it for all the right reasons. Our pizza rider softened the blow of getting there on the worst night of the year weather-wise. Hats off! [Hettie Noir, Scorpio Leisure]

"Our favourite venue is The Glad Cafe, because it’s our local and the pizzas are 10/10. You can't underestimate the value of a hyperlocal venue: Nathan went all out and bought a trolley so we can walk our guitar amp to and from the venue. Shout out to Stevie for being the best sound engineer! Honourable mention also goes to Platform in Easterhouse, extra points go to any venue that also has a swimming pool! We had a great time playing there a year or two ago at a day festival of local acts." [Town Centre]

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Scorpio Leisure play Leith Depot, Edinburgh, 30 Jan – tickets
Both Hands and Town Centre play Leith Depot, Edinburgh, 31 Jan – tickets
Midnight Ambulance play MacArts, Galashiels, 31 Jan – tickets
Roller Disco Death Party play Let’s Go Back’s Sunday Soundclash at McChuill's, Glasgow, 2 Feb – tickets

For the full Independent Venue Week programme, visit independentvenueweek.com