Glasgow and the blues ... If you're a sports fan, you might think first of the Rangers, Glasgow's beloved, blue-clad football club. For those with some knowledge of British history, the poverty, disease and harsh labour conditions endured by Victorian Glasgow's working class comes to mind. Blues indeed. Today's Glasgow is very different - a cultured and affluent city. Perhaps not surprisingly, it is also home to the blues.
Joinery Glasgow So where do we look for the blues in Glasgow? Start downtown at 148 Holland Street, where you'll find The State Bar, in business for 35 years, and known for blues, including regular jam sessions with its respected house band, The Statesboro Blues Band. It also offers comedy acts, Scottish ale selection and a great menu. For acoustic music, including some blues, and a real taste of Scottish history in the decor and memorabilia, try The Clutha Vaults, a traditional Clydeside pub on Stockwell Street. Have a pint in another traditional pub, the Scotia, serving the city for two hundred years, where you'll often find the blues in Glasgow on a Saturday night. The Arches is a bar, arts venue, theatre, live music venue and nightclub in Glasgow, where blues artists are sometimes featured. It first opened in 1991 and is situated in the City Centre under Glasgow Central station. King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, which has been described as quite possibly the finest small venue in the world, is another very popular spot. It wouldn't be described as a blues club, being quite eclectic in its bookings, but the blues does make an appearance from time to time, and the place is legendary for launching the careers of future music stars, so worth experiencing. Downtown Glasgow is also known for cutting-edge fashion, and is considered the best shopping destination in the UK, outside of London, especially Buchanan and Sauchiehall Streets, as well as Princes Square. Beyond the city centre, try one of Glasgow's former churches now turned into pubs, like ÒranMór, at the top of Byres Road, in Glasgow's trendy and cosmopolitan West End. In the same general area you'll find Gallus*, at 80 Dumbarton Road, near Glasgow University. Its live music schedule includes weekly blues jam sessions, with quality performers. The Ferry, (formerly Renfrew Ferry), a floating club situated on the River Clyde to the west of Glasgow at Anderston Quay, is one of the city's most popular venues, and features blues, jazz or rock acts almost every night. The former river ferry, built in 1952, was the last vessel to carry passengers across the Clyde at Renfrew, where there had been a ferry service since the 17th century. Shows feature new talent, as well as legends like Peter Green and Mick Taylor. Glasgow's present-day blues stars include the highly regarded Alan and Stevie Nimmo, of The Nimmo Brothers. You might be lucky enough to catch one or both of them in Glasgow, at a pub jam, although they are usually on the road, doing shows all over Europe. Glasgow's other attractions include its architecture - grand artistic statements from the Victorian era. The buildings and interiors by Charles Rennie Mackintosh are reason enough to visit the city, but don't overlook medieval Glasgow Cathedral. Some of Britain's best museums and art galleries are in Glasgow. The Burrell Collection and the stunning Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum (be sure to see Dali's Crucifixion) are not to be missed. For local history, visit The People's Palace. Later, rest or stroll through Glasgow Green on the Clyde, one of Glasgow's many parks - more per square mile than any other city in Europe. A short drive or bus trip will take you north to the Trossachs hills and Loch Lomond, east to Stirling Castle, west to the coast and islands, or south to Ayrshire, home of the poet, Robert Burns. And Edinburgh is just 45 minutes away, by train. A common adjective used to describe Glasgwegians is *gallus. "It means cheeky and jaunty and mouthy and profoundly unimpressed by rank. In Glasgow you can aspire to be absolutely anything. Except a social mountaineer." (Ruth Wishart TheGlasgowStory) Glasgow and the blues ..... I can't think of a better fit. Under Creative Commons License: Attribution If you were thinking about going on holiday to Glasgow, you may be excited to learn about Glasgow's world famous art collections. Glasgow has some of the best shopping in Europe. There is a Lighthouse, the Gallery of Modern Art of Glasgow and plenty of museums and interesting entertainments. If you were thinking of taking a holiday in the UK, try visiting Glasgow. Places of Interest in Glasgow To get started, let's look at some places of interest that are popular with Glasgow tourists. Glasgow Cathedral - Glasgow Cathedral was built around the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries. During the Reformation period in 1560, it survived the threat of being torn down and is considered to be the only still standing authentic cathedral from that era. Its gothic style structure makes for a wonderful architectural gem to discover on your travels. It is open for viewing through almost any time of the year. The Lighthouse - The Lighthouse in Glasgow is a national centre for architecture and design. It was once a newspaper office for the Glasgow Herald. Over 700,000 people have already visited it since it opened its door. It now contains galleries, shopping, a couple of cafes and a miniaturized version of "Wee People's City". The Gallery of Modern Art - The Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow is one of the most popular modern art galleries in the UK. It houses contemporary artwork, most with the theme of addressing social issues. It is open nearly all year long and children are welcome. Ask for a free-guided tour. Glasgow Tower - For a unique architectural gem, try visiting the Glasgow Tower. It is the first tower ever created that revolved full circle, and not just the top. The entire tower can circle around from the base. There are displays inside about Glasgow's past and displays plans for future developments. From the viewing platform at the top, visitors can see out as far as forty miles. Things to Do in Glasgow Shopping and activities in Glasgow make for an enjoyable time while visiting the city. Check out these can't miss features. Merchant City Area - The area called Merchant City contains all sorts of shops from clothing to books and antiques and more. Not to mention the various restaurants and cafes to stop by for a cuppa.
Joinery Glasgow Clubs in Glasgow - If you are looking for a club for dancing or meeting the locals, try some of the more popular ones. Sub Club is located on Jamaica Street. The Arches is on Argyle Street. The Garage is on Sauchiehall Street. Each one of these clubs offers up unique fun and can be easily found. Pubs in Glasgow - For a collection of authentic United Kingdom pubs, Glasgow offers a variety of them. Looking for real ale or live music? There are a variety of pubs to fit every preference. For example, if you want a more fashionable crowd, head for Bar Soba on Mitchell Lane.
