Glasgow Sessions

Glasgow Sessions Bank Holiday Weekend Takeover, Part 2: 'All Or Nothing' screening at McChuill'sFor night two of our Bank Holiday Weekend takeover, we went to McChuill's in Glasgow for the screening of Jay-Lee CCTV's film, 'All Or Nothing.' The room was packed with artists, poets, musicians and friends who came out to support one of Glasgow's own, and they showed what the city's independent scene is all about.Support the people in the room:Jay-Lee CCTV: download his album on BandcampThe Burn with Ally Robertson: go check it outMacalah Brown's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/4e8903ebdDonald Jenkins: his new album "A Pint Half F*cked" is out around 1st November on Bandcamp at https://donaldjenkins.bandcamp.comBatter In open mic night: The Record Factory, Partick, on the first Wednesday of every month. The next one is Wednesday 7th October.Thanks to Jay-Lee, McChuill's, Mackenzie Scottish Rap, Cat Cochrane, Ambar Dhesi Music and Events, Donald Jenkins, Shifty Beef Rhymes, Michelah Desnai, Rebecca Radical, Ally Robertson, and Jam Harvie.CONTENT WARNINGS for themes of homelessness, addiction and suicide.Please note this episode also has explicit language in it.Glasgow Sessions is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Follow, subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.Follow us on Instagram to keep up with the Glasgow scene.

The Glasgow Sessions Bank Holiday Weekend Takeover begins at The Poetry Club, SWG3, with Rewired Culture Presents - a night bringing independent artists, different sounds and Glasgow’s music community together in one room 🎙️🔥Richard Lee is there to capture the live performances and the atmosphere as Rewired Culture puts the spotlight on artists making music across the Scottish scene.Featuring performances from Rave Makes Glasgow, Owen Ess, The Next Gimmick, Dariusz Sicario, Barz Fury, Tribal John, Savona Music, Paprika Lee, G Spartan and The Real Genesis, this episode takes you into the first night of the takeover. Expect a mix of voices and styles, the energy of a live crowd, and a celebration of the people creating opportunities for independent music 🎶🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿It’s about more than a line-up: it’s about artists sharing a stage in one continuous chain, audiences discovering new music, and a community showing up for its own.Please note this episode has explicit content in it.Next up in the Bank Holiday Weekend Takeover: ALL OR NOTHING: THE SCREENING with JAy-Lee CCTV 🎬Follow Glasgow Sessions on Podbean, Spotify, Amazon Music or Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss the next episode.

In this episode of Glasgow Sessions, Richard Lee welcomes Newcastle-based poet, rapper, educator, community artist, activist and long-time promoter Don Jenkins for a candid, generous and often hilarious conversation about creativity, community, regional identity and the courage to keep making work at any age.Born in Glasgow but raised in Newcastle, Don reflects on the character, history and cultural energy of the North East. He talks about the legacy of coal mining, shipbuilding and working-class communities, and how those histories still shape the region’s music, poetry and politics. At the centre of that discussion is language: Don makes a passionate case for artists retaining their own accents in their writing and performance, rather than copying American rap cadences or defaulting to a generic London sound. For him, a Geordie, Glaswegian, Scouse or Mancunian voice is not a limitation—it carries its own rhythm, humour, emotional weight and possibilities for rhyme.Richard and Don explore the world of spoken-word performance and poetry slams, including Don’s experience of winning the Great Geet Muckle Slam in 2018 and subsequently becoming its host. He explains the intensity of having only three minutes to perform a poem in front of a live audience and judges, the nerves of forgetting lines or freezing on stage, and the strange unpredictability of competitive poetry. Don also considers the difference between writing for the page and writing for performance, describing how form, rhythm, rhyme, metre and audience response all shape the work in different ways. He discusses National Poetry Writing Month, his practice of writing a poem every day in April, and his belief that writing poetry, rap, journalism and criticism all feed into one another and make him a more versatile writer.The episode also hears Don speak openly about becoming a rapper in his forties. He describes himself as a late bloomer, but sees age as a source of perspective rather than a barrier. Having written raps as a teenager, experimented with jungle MCing and spent years supporting other artists through events and promotion, Don eventually realised that he had work of his own to make. He talks about learning rap technique later in life—the breath control, cadence, musicality and songwriting discipline involved—and about accepting the awkwardness of being a beginner again. The conversation is ultimately an encouraging one for anyone who feels they have missed their chance: Don’s view is that if you have something to say and the commitment to develop your craft, there is no age at which creativity is closed to you.A particularly moving part of the interview focuses on Stories of the Stones, Don’s community-led poetry project about people buried in St John’s and Westgate Hill cemeteries in Newcastle’s West End. Inspired by years of walking his dog through the cemetery and wondering about the names on the gravestones, Don began researching local lives, listening to residents and turning their memories into poems. He discusses forgotten family histories, working-class lives, local characters, acts of quiet heroism and the importance of documenting people whose stories may never otherwise enter official history.Don performs a powerful poem about alcoholism, family breakdown, anger, sobriety and reconciliation. Based on the account of a local man’s relationship with his father, it follows the emotional aftermath of addiction while allowing space for the difficult, imperfect possibility of change. Don also shares extraordinary historical connections uncovered through the project, from a local story around the origins of kippers to an unexpected Newcastle link involving the Bond family motto “The World Is Not Enough,” Sir Thomas Bond and the mythology around James Bond. He also discusses the forthcoming continuation of the project, More Stories of the Stones.Richard and Don also delve into Don’s work as a community poet, youth worker and educator. Don talks about his experience as an English teacher and his earlier community and youth work, which helped him rediscover a love of language and eventually led him to undertake a master’s degree in creative writing. He explains why he describes himself as a community poet: he is less interested in treating poetry as an isolated literary pursuit than in using it to bring people together, give communities a way to tell their stories and create opportunities for people to find confidence in their own voices.They discuss Slam Fresh, the community-interest company Don runs with Rowan McCabe, the Door-to-Door Poet. Through workshops in secondary schools, Slam Fresh gives young people a platform for spoken-word writing and performance, helping them develop confidence, communication skills and the ability to articulate experiences that may otherwise stay unspoken. Don reflects on the joy of seeing young people who begin a project convinced they cannot perform go on to stand in front of a crowd and “boss it,” including a pupil with a stutter who grew in confidence and received recognition for their work.The conversation also addresses race, hip-hop and artistic responsibility. Don speaks frankly about hip-hop as a Black musical form and about the importance of being self-aware as a white regional rapper. He discusses his own musical education through blues, rock and roll, rave culture and hip-hop, and acknowledges the deep Black roots of many of the musical forms he loves. He reflects on hearing artists such as Public Enemy, N.W.A., The Notorious B.I.G., Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Little Richard, and on how listening to music can expose people to lives, histories and experiences far beyond their own.Don and Richard talk about racism, privilege, political disengagement and the role of rap as social commentary. Don argues that mainstream hip-hop has often been pulled towards commercialism, status and image, but he believes the genre still has room for artists who write with political consciousness, complexity and humour. He discusses the importance of not turning politics into a lecture, and of making work that can carry anger, insight, playfulness and human contradiction at the same time. He also shares why retaining regional dialect matters in UK rap, celebrating artists from Newcastle, Glasgow and other cities who sound unmistakably like where they come from.There is also plenty of discussion of Don’s theatrical work, especially his solo show Still Raving in Your 40s. Developed through a residency at Alphabetti Theatre and performed as part of the Newcastle Fringe Festival, the show grew from an original book idea into a full hour-long narrative woven from poetry, memory and rave culture. Don describes how working in theatre allowed him to move beyond the short slots of open-mic and spoken-word nights, giving him space to tell a fuller story with a beginning, middle and end. The show is for people who once danced until sunrise, as well as those who still feel the urge to do so.Rave culture, free parties and music promotion run throughout the episode. Richard and Don share memories of finding secret locations through telephone numbers, dancing in rural landscapes and experiencing the communal atmosphere of underground events in Derbyshire, Northumberland, Wales and beyond. Don explains that his years of putting on raves, club nights and arts events taught him that a successful night is about more than booking performers: it is about hospitality, trust, friendship, variety and making people feel that they belong.That idea of building a welcoming scene continues in Don’s reflections on Born Lippy, the long-running Newcastle creative night he has run for nearly nine years. He explains why he is stepping back from producing it as a regular event: after decades of promoting others, he wants to create more space for his own poetry and music. However, he remains committed to curation, collaboration and bringing different art forms together. He argues that great events should be eclectic, allowing audiences to encounter music, poetry, rap, singing and performance they may not initially think is for them.The episode explores the Poetry Exchange project, which brought writers from Newcastle’s Born Lippy scene together with London’s Spoken Creative community. Don considers what art can realistically achieve socially and politically. He is cautious about claiming that a poem can instantly change someone’s beliefs, but he believes it can help people hear experiences outside their own and create meaningful encounters between people with different backgrounds and perspectives. He recalls collaborative work produced during the COVID period, including an argument poem created with someone whose views on COVID restrictions and conspiracy theories differed sharply from his own. For Don, the value was not in forcing agreement, but in finding a way to make art together across disagreement.Towards the end of the conversation, Don looks ahead to a new chapter. He discusses touring Still Raving in Your 40s, developing his first full-length album and working on new material that reflects the progress he has made as a rapper and songwriter. He and J Lee also join the conversation to discuss “Voice of Reason,” a track inspired by a frightening incident on the Newcastle Metro, when they tried to help a man who had collapsed and stopped breathing. The experience became the basis for a song about conscience, care, addiction, danger and the voice inside us that tries to guide us—or keep us alive.Finally, Richard, Don and Jay-Lee CCTV celebrate the cultural connection between Glasgow and Newcastle. They discuss a North East takeover night in Glasgow, featuring artists from both cities alongside international guests, and the wider importance of creating opportunities for people, scenes and regions to meet. It is a fitting conclusion to an episode that is ultimately about connection: between cities, art forms, generations, communities, histories and voices.This is an episode for anyone interested in spoken word, rap, poetry, local history, community arts, regional identity, grassroots events, rave culture or simply the process of finding your creative direction later in life. Donald Jenkins brings insight, humour, honesty and a fierce belief in the power of ordinary people’s stories.

In this episode, recorded spontaneously on the train from Dumbarton to Glasgow Central after Glasgow’s Kiltwalk, Richard Lee speaks with singer, songwriter and live performer Mar Charav about building a working life in music.Originally from Italy and raised in Spain, Mar moved to Glasgow in 2023 after friends encouraged him to experience the city’s music scene. He reflects on taking that leap, trying London first, returning to Spain to save money, then arriving in Glasgow without fully knowing what to expect. From there, he began busking, approaching pubs, showing venues his work through social media, and steadily developing himself as a self-employed performer.Mar speaks honestly about the realities behind the dream. Working in music brings freedom, but it also means uncertainty: no fixed contracts, changing venues, lost gigs, constant networking and the need to keep putting yourself forward. He explains why he is proud to earn through regular live work, playing pubs and events several times a week, even while he continues to develop his own original material.The conversation explores why Glasgow has become such an important place for him. Mar talks about the city’s welcoming music community, the usefulness of jam sessions, busking culture, social media support, and the value of building a loyal local audience rather than only playing to passing tourists. He also discusses the help he received from the Busker of Glasgow community, and the importance of doing the practical work yourself - asking for gigs, emailing venues and taking opportunities when they appear.Richard and Mar also discuss:Mar’s early experiences of classical music, piano, guitar and violinThe possibility of returning to the violin in the futureHow meeting other musicians has organically expanded his repertoire and shaped his musical directionWhy songwriting and studio production are among the most rewarding parts of being an artistPerforming at King Tut’s with a full bandCreating accessible headline shows and keeping ticket prices affordableThe difference between being an entertainer, musician and songwriterWhy Mar currently prioritises getting people to hear and connect with his original music over making money from itHow TikTok Live and social media can bring real listeners into real venuesStage nerves, adrenaline, mindset and giving the same energy whether the room holds 10 people or 10,000Why technical perfection is not everything when an artist performs with genuine feelingThe importance of patience, humility, resilience and continuing to learnMar’s message is one of courage and consistency: do not be afraid to be seen, do not wait for permission, keep making work, keep learning and keep showing up. For him, a meaningful music career is not only about fame - it is about being able to perform regularly, build a community, create original songs and connect with people through them.The episode also includes three tracks from Mar:“Stories and Lies”“Living Memories”“A New Place To Call Home”This episode also features the release celebration for Rum Doxy’s album Begone, recorded on the 24th August 2026, at the Old Hairdressers beside Glasgow Central. Big love to Rum Doxy and the Old Hairdressers for being part of another brilliant Glasgow music moment.Follow Mar Charev on Instagram: @marcharavmusicFollow Rum Doxy: @_rum.doxy_Follow The Old Hairdressers: @theoldhairdressers

In this powerful Glasgow Sessions conversation, Richard Lee is joined by three voices helping to shape a new chapter for Scottish music: G Spartan, The Real Genesis, and The Next Gimmick (TNG).Recorded at Glasgow University, this episode explores the ambition, creativity and community behind Rewired Culture and Urban Region - a growing artist-development platform built to give emerging musicians more than just a release. It is about building real opportunities: performance spaces, studio support, collaboration, media visibility, creative development and a genuine pathway for artists trying to turn their work into something sustainable.Spartan shares the story behind Urban Region’s beginnings, including its roots in recovery, transformation and the belief that music can help people find purpose, confidence and a voice. Genesis opens up about the connection between music, mental health and honest storytelling, while Gimmick brings his experience as an artist, mentor, promoter and champion of the wider Scottish hip-hop community.Together, they discuss why Scotland’s rap scene has its own identity - gritty, direct, poetic and unafraid to speak from lived experience. They explore the importance of rapping in your own accent, finding your own voice rather than copying someone else’s sound, and respecting the generations of Scottish artists who built the culture before them.This is also a conversation about practical action. The guests talk about the barriers facing independent artists, from studio costs and access to gigs to the challenge of being talented online but never being given a stage. They explain why open mics, small shows, networking and collaboration remain essential training grounds for any performer.We also speak about the first Rewired Culture Presents showcase on the 30th August 2026 at The Poetry Club: an ambitious live event designed not as a standard gig with support acts and a headline slot, but as a continuous, immersive show. With multiple artists, collaborations, blended transitions and no traditional headliner, the aim is to spotlight the depth of talent in the Scottish scene and make the audience experience the entire movement, not just one performer.Other topics include:The evolution of Rewired Culture from a recovery-focused music label into a wider creative platformWhy Scottish hip-hop, rap and grime deserve more consistent space in Glasgow’s music cultureThe value of mentorship, constructive criticism and being surrounded by artists who make you betterGimmick’s work with Tartan Lyrics and his forthcoming multi-genre project, SplitThe collaborative new track “Look at Me Now” from Spartan, Genesis and GimmickBuilding an in-house production and artist-development systemRewired Culture TV, music videos, livestreams, podcasts and affordable content creationCommunity performance spaces, open mics and the Clutha Bar sceneSobriety, recovery, mental health, abuse, resilience and turning life experience into artScottish storytelling, poetry, Gaelic culture and the idea of rappers as modern-day bardsRichard sharing some of his own writing and getting real-time encouragement from the guestsExpect stories, laughter, honest advice, plenty of Glasgow shout-outs, and a real sense of the energy building around independent music in Scotland.If you are an artist, writer, producer, performer, promoter or simply someone interested in the future of Scottish hip-hop, this episode is for you.Follow Glasgow Sessions for more conversations with the musicians, writers, cultural figures and creative voices making things happen across Glasgow and beyond.

Irish-born, Gibraltar-raised and Glasgow-based singer-songwriter Colm O’Sullivan joins Richard Lee for an open, heartfelt conversation recorded live at Blue Dog Glasgow.Colm reflects on finding his own voice, moving from piano bars and open mics into original songwriting, and the reality of building an independent music career one gig, one song and one opportunity at a time. He talks about his debut single Sunrise - later featured on BBC Radio Scotland - the stories behind upcoming tracks including Caroline and Little John, and why music can say what ordinary conversation cannot.The episode also explores the turning points that shaped his journey: the missed opportunity with Damien Rice that taught him not to hold back, being invited to sing with Tom Odell in front of thousands, and the extraordinary experience of busking outside Glen Hansard’s Barrowland show before being invited onstage. Colm shares what those moments taught him about courage, instinct, live performance and making your own luck.Recorded on 27 May 2026, this conversation also stands as a moving reflection on the positive influence the late Glen Hansard had on Colm’s life and artistic path.In this episode:Finding a true singing voice rather than copying influencesThe piano as a “therapist” and songwriting as painting picturesSunrise, hope, and writing a song on a train in 15 minutesGlasgow’s grassroots scene, piano bars and earning a room’s attentionThe creative and financial realities of independent musicianshipTom Odell, Damien Rice, Glen Hansard and learning to take chancesWhat success means beyond fame: making music that reaches and helps peopleFollow Colm on Instagram: @colmosullivanmusic Listen to Sunrise and visit his official merch store: colmosullivan.com/merchRecorded at Blue Dog Glasgow. With thanks to David Johnstone for making the venue available, Imposter Promotions for their continued support of grassroots music, and Robbie Tranter at Tranter Studios for editing the songs from the session.

In this episode of Glasgow Sessions, host Richard Lee sits down with Glasgow rapper, DJ, promoter and community builder Raj Mahal.Born in Rutherglen and raised in Giffnock, Raj discusses growing up with mixed Punjabi Sikh and Scottish heritage, navigating identity and belonging, and finding hip-hop as a vital source of expression. He reflects on family history, the challenges of building an independent career, and the role music has played in turning difficult experiences into connection.Raj also speaks about his work across the Glasgow music scene - from solo rap and DJ sets to Raj Against the Machine, his six-piece jazz-rap collective, and inclusive events including Drum and Bars and Steer Queer. Together, Richard and Raj explore grassroots venues, the importance of local community, creative collaboration, burnout, live performance, and why showing up consistently matters.Featuring four live performances recorded in the Glasgow Sessions Studio, this is an open, energetic and inspiring conversation with one of Glasgow’s most hardworking independent artists.Follow Raj Mahal on Instagram: @rajmahalmusicListen on Amazon Music, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.#GlasgowSessions #RajMahal #GlasgowMusic #ScottishHipHop #IndependentMusic #LiveMusic #Podcast

In this episode of Glasgow Sessions, host Richard Lee shines a light on some of the brilliant artists he has had the privilege of recording and sharing through the podcast.Featuring original music from AJ Davies, May Terra, Colm O’Sullivan, The Girl Upstairs, James Low, Archie Spencer, and Maddie Nisbet, this episode is a celebration of the talent, character and creativity coming out of the Glasgow music scene 🎶Each artist brings something unique - and it has been an absolute honour to record their work, help introduce their music to new listeners, and support the independent artists making things happen across the city.The aim of Glasgow Sessions is simple: to give great local artists another platform, help them reach wider audiences, and get more people listening to the music being made right here in Glasgow. These are artists who deserve recognition - and some of them have featured on BBC Introducing 📻✨Please support the artists featured: follow them, stream their music, catch them live, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear what Glasgow has to offer.

In this episode, Richard Lee is joined by the incredible Kaz Sharply - @wittyandsharp / @kazsharply - for a conversation that has been well worth the wait.Kaz brings warmth, quick wit and real honesty as we explore her history, the experiences that have shaped her, and the inspirations behind her creative voice. Along the way, we share plenty of funny stories, unexpected tangents and big laughs - but we also make space for a candid, heartfelt conversation about mental health and the importance of speaking openly.It’s a funny, fearless and deeply human episode, full of creativity, reflection and connection.You can listen to Glasgow Sessions on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and Spotify. Follow @glasgowsessions for new episodes, behind-the-scenes moments and more from Glasgow’s creative community.

Out at Mugdock Country Park for some quiet nature and ambiance recordings on a warm Sunday afternoon, host Richard Lee stumbled into something completely unexpected: the Dunbartonshire Wind Ensemble in full flow.What started as a field-recording trip turned into an impromptu live session with a multigenerational community band whose youngest member is 12 and whose oldest is in their 80s. After a chat, they kindly agreed to let him hit record – and this episode is the result.This is exactly what Richard loves about Glasgow and the surrounding areas: you go out for one thing and end up discovering something beautiful happening in a corner of a park.The next full Glasgow Sessions episode is with Kaz Sharply, but this little moment from today jumped the queue and he wanted to share it while it’s still fresh.Enjoy this spontaneous session with the Dunbartonshire Wind Ensemble. If you like what you hear, give them a follow, support your local music community, and look them up on Facebook to see what they’re up to next. You can also find out more on their website:https://dunbartonshirewindensemble.co.uk/And if you’d like to keep up with Glasgow Sessions, you can follow the show on Instagram at @glasgowsessions, and listen on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.