Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GLASGOW
AFTER DARK
Some say that it is Glasgow—not Edinburgh—that is
the center of contemporary culture in Scotland. It is
an arguable, not to say locally controversial, point of
view. But there is no doubt that Glasgow has seen the most
progress since the middle of the 20th century, when the
shipping boom went bust, giving way to an image of pro-
found decline that began to reverse in the 1980s. Its local
arts scene was always alive, however.
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Although the Scottish capital to the east hosts a world-famous festival
and is home to the country's national art galleries and museums, Glasgow
is where the respected and accomplished Scottish Opera and Scottish
Ballet companies—as well as the Scottish National Orchestra —are
based. It is also the city where young talent is nurtured at the Royal
Scottish Academy of Music & Drama. There are several theaters,
including two that rank highly in the U.K. for staging ground-breaking
drama: The Citizens and the Tron. Even more experimental perfor-
mances can be seen at the Arches.
But for all this “high art,” Glasgow has the reputation for being an
unsurpassed spawning ground in Scotland for diverse pop and rock
groups, such as Primal Scream, Paolo Nutini, Franz Ferdinand, Snow
Patrol, and Belle and Sebastian. Barrowland, a former ballroom, has to
be one of the best venues (that is, sweaty and vibrating) in all of Britain
for seeing live contemporary music. Additionally, there is the Academy
on the city's Southside and in the city center, ABC, a former cinema that
was redeveloped into an excellent mid-size music venue in 2005. There
are also at least four bars-- King Tut's Wah Wah Hut (where the band
Oasis was apparently “discovered”), Nice 'n' Sleazy , the 13th Note,
and Stereo --that provide Glasgow with smaller dedicated performance
spaces. They attract rising bands and acts preferring cozy confines.
Then, of course, there are the city's many other pubs and bars, the best
of which are listed toward the end of this chapter. They are friendly
places, and don't be surprised if the locals strike up a conversation.
Remember, all indoor public places, including bars, are completely non-
smoking. For a complete rundown of what is happening in Glasgow, pick
 
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