Mine is Ayakara, a wee band from Edinburgh, still find myself listening to them daily.
What local band do you think could’ve been really big if they kept making music?
MusicAgreed. Come undone is such a beautiful song.
Eh, I think they got as big as they wanted to. Their reunion gigs sold out, and it's not like they ever wanted stardom.
If I remember correctly the bass player left the band because he was frustrated that they didn’t get the recognition they wanted.
Beta Band
Beta Band were fucking HUGE in some circles. They're specifically called out in the High Fidelity movie, and at the time they were the go-to artist to namedrop in pretty much any English speaking country if you wanted to say you were into cool indie bands.
It's just that they didn't transition to the mainstream, and it was harder to catch on with people back then.
Steve Mason is a bona fide genius. His last album (last year or early this Year I think) was incredible
He is "headlining" Lunarpalooza at Moonwake Brewery in Leith next months. Tickets are very well priced for the weekend.
That’s an incredibly good line up!
Aliens were pretty decent too
Yes - I saw them live and was impressed.
Dogs die in hot cars
The Grim Northern Social
We were promised Jet packs
Saw them supporting Frightened Rabbit! They definitely deserved better, just a shame they arrived a little too late in that wave of indie bands.
Aereogramme
I miss Aerogramme so much.
Spectacular live act.
Underrated comment. Chvrches tho eh?
IDK that Iain has ever explained what happened with Aerogramme but they split up well before CHVRCHES formed but Martin joined them for their last album, Martin and Iain started working on music together that would later become CHVRCHES after Iain discovered Lauren while producing Blue Sky Archives final EP and Campbell also from Aereogramme came on board to manage CHVRCHES and now runs Lunatic Entertainment an artist management company so in a way what was left of Aereogramme kind of became CHVRCHES
Maybe not for the reasons this post intended, but Frightened Rabbit would be festival headlining huge if it didn’t happen
I seen his brothers band, Haver, a few months ago. Pretty good. They played a few Frightened Rabbit songs and a few of their own. Hopefully they find a bit of success.
Thanks for this, I love FR and hadn’t heard Grant had started playing again so really good to hear
It’s Billy Kennedy who is in Haver. Grant is now the drummer for the twilight sad.
Haiver is Billy's band not Grant's. Was that at the Hold Steady show?
FITF came on my playlist on Friday and I had to skip it. I still can’t do it.
American here.... One of my favorite bands. Totally gutted when I heard.
FR have a surprisingly big following in the States to this day. I think sticking to their roots, having Scottish folk influences and singing in their natural accents really worked for them over there.
I still remember hearing them for the first time: I was at work.and I literally had to stop what I was doing to listen to them.
DJ Badboy
He spent too much time oot his chicken to make it
We Are The Physics were awesome. Still play their song Goran Ivanesic from time to time
Great band Slime City are also fantastic
I find a lot of the Scottish bands/musicians that did go big are just forgotten to be Scottish, Cocteau Twins - absolutely revolutionary music that we all forget was born in Grangemouth!
Loved them growing up
Such an underrated guitar player
I feel like that's getting righted recently. They appear on a lot of soundtracks, top 100 lists (usually near the top) and artists cite them frequently as influences.
If you look up top 80s albums on pitchfork, the list published in 2002 has treasure at 98, in 2018 it's 27.
Similarly, the 90s edition from 2003 has heaven or las Vegas at 90, by 2022 it was in the top 20 at 18.
Partly due to shoegaze kinda having a bit of a resurrection but they're getting their dues now.
Real soft spot for Danny Wilson, got a time they were shaping up to be the Scottish Steely Dan
Fratellis
A lot of Canadian hockey bands would use the “do do dooo do do do…” part of ‘Chelsea Dagger’ whenever they would score a goal back in mid-2000s. It was so mocking and hilarious
Thank god they stopped.
Pretty bad live , cd was spot on
The Draymin from Dunfermline were class
They were actually really good.
Should Have Known Better should have been a chart-topping, belt out in the club ANTHEM.
Album was full of catchy tunes. Mirrors still stands up. Wish they’d hung about for a second album.
That's a name I've not thought about in a long time, saw them play in various places around Dunfermline, they were great live!
They’re were great live and had a loyal following. Mad they weren’t more successful. No heard much from the singer but his brother was still putting out indie tunes as Crombie Point. Some great tunes too. He’s in a new band called OPL, no heard their stuff yet though
Trout. They were a ‘95 band in Glasgow.
Penguins kill polar bears.
Pronto mama
Good music but there’s a very good reason they stopped
Oh no =/
Can you share a link? Or shed some light? I looked up their music, they're pretty good, but I couldn't find any info on why they stopped.
Small Enclosed Area.
Dawn of the Replicants
Hipsway. Don’t know why they weren’t more successful.
Same. That first album had some great tunes.
Bombskare are still making music and I reckon just need a wee bit of exposure on larger stages. Ska revival fourth wave could be crest for them!
Saint Jude’s Infirmary. Hell of a band. 3 great singers (1 guy 2 girls, amazing harmonies the girls are cousins) and bass lines to die for. Lyrics are top notch too.
Terra Diablo .
My Latest Novel They releases an album called Wolves and it's a favourite of mine. They should have went onto bigger things.
Drive by argument
In Stewarton, on a blocked up door to the old institute hall there remains still, somehow unfucked by weather, a poster of theirs on the left hand door
That’s impressive haha, must be 15 years old atleast
Chris Gorman made some class music back in the early 2000s. But fell in with a weird promoter guy who didn't help his career at all.
Podboy? My old band had dealings with them back in the day. Chris was a top guy, though.
That's the one. By all accounts the old boy started out with good ambitions but either he didn't have the money or the ambition to carry it through. In the end he literally disappeared without a trace one day. Leaving Chris with a studio and a whole bunch of equipment but also a whole bunch of debt.
Agreed though Chris is a lovely guy. I met him a while ago, he was still working at the sound desk in Box, this was actually a good few year ago now I think about it. Not seen him since then but hopefully he's still making music.
Policechief
There was a group of rappers from East Lothian / Porty / Edinburgh in the late 90's early 00's called The Discipline that were great. Think Wu Tang Clan but white and with longer hair. Saw a few gigs in town.
Swamptrash. Early 90s, vanished without a trace
Black atom, seen them live in Aberdeen who opened for Breed 77, the tie that binds is a stunning album
Capstin Pole
Gary Mcf
The Dykeenies
Stiltskin
Geneva, I really loved their first album
Yeah, came in to say Geneva. Tranquilliser is an absolute tune.
I don't think they are still going, but the Alpachinos were an excellent band.
Aw That Kill Yer Granny Music
You mean SAK?
High Fade are sick and you all should check them out
My local just announced they're playing in August, being supported by a 50's rockabilly band called the Best Bad Influence (who are amazing), you've just reminded me to buy a ticket
They’re tremendous
The Corries
I didn’t realise Roy Williamson was only 54 when he died. I just looked it up because I was 10. I’m sure my dad still has the vhs recording of the bbc tribute show to him.
It still blows my mind that Flower of Scotland was only written in 1966/67
Chrvhes, I remember them being really big, like being used for soundracks for films big, and then they sort of faded out.
I didn't realise they had dropped out of public conversation, I still get them on my release radar every now and again
She went solo but not sure she’s done much.
They were really big. Probably still are.
Maybe not big here but probably blowing up somewhere else.
Their last album was 2021, and even that was rather meh compared to their previous stuff which was filled with bangers.
They had been touring until last year I think until Lauren Mayberry went and did solo stuff - listened to some of it, not for me.
Really hope they do a new album eventually!
chvrches are still together they successfully toured their last album for over two years even opening for coldplay in Brazil, UK and Europe last year.
All 3 members decided it was time to take a break though and try other things for a bit so Lauren is currently working on her solo album which she hopes to release later this year.
Martin has a side project he started with another artist but it hit a snag that has caused him delays.
Iain is the oldest member and already released his project with his buddy in Glasgow but I think he's quite happy to chill and hang out and wait till Lauren and Martin are ready to start the next album which they have confirmed they are signed up with their new label (EMI UK, Island Records US, UMG worldwide) for 2 more albums they left indie labels around the world to sign a year ago with the biggest label in the world so yeah safe to say they don't plan to call it quits anytime soon.
El presidente. It was a sort of side project by a couple of members from gun if I remember correctly.
One more catchy song, or even better promotion of their single “turn this thing around” and they would have been very big.
Their single with Thom Yorke was excellent.
That was Drugstore and the song was called el President.
The band el President were very different. Probably wouldn't have got on with Thom Yorke at all.
I stand corrected.
The stupid idiots
Hip Hop if I'm right?
Spot on
I think I met a guy from The Stupid Idiots who talked about the concept, but before they had done much. Did they go on to do much? This would have been about 2005.
Not sure but both way ahead of the game. And both wee gents
Shock n Awe.
Just going to put out here a band making music now that should be huge - Cloth.
Not really a local band but Nazareth 1971 Exercises 72 Razamataz 73 loud n proud 73 Rampant 74 Hair of the Dog 75 Playin the game 76 and Close enough to Rock n Roll 76 more personal choice than local band.
Katy Bar The Door from Dundee (?). Great songs, I still have one of their CDs that I play all the time. Their album is on Spotify, think they broke up before it got a chance to get any attention.
Muck Savages
Lady North
Foil. Second album wasn't quite what I'd hoped but Never Got Hip is absolutely brilliant.
(there's an excellently inbred Edinburgh supergroup now, Main Primate- Hugh from Foil, the drummer from Degrassi, and Bob Fairfoull out of Idlewild, they play a couple of Foil tracks and they still sound spot on)
Hamish Hawk
Edit!!! Hamish Hawk is still making music, now soberly reading this again, realising I saw him sell out the Barras, have already preordered his new stuff and going to gig on album launch - Hamish is not part of this cohort!!
Sorry man, pissed Reddit response
Going back a bit but Chou Pahrot were the maddest thing ever to come out of Paisley, and that's saying something!! Fifty years on and I still listen to their live album regularly.
Apache Sun were film soundtrack good. Club Beirut were on the verge of being big in Japan, but didn't go on a tour there
Re-Wired from Aberdeen. Good musicians.
Errors and Catholic Action.
Both brilliant, both underrated , and both now defunct :(
The Kilmarnock band The Anteeeks. One very minor hit, "I Don't Want You", with "Ball and Chain" on the flip side. Billy Gray the guitarist went on to be big in Italy.
Watch with mother.(80/90s)
Unicorn kid (not a band but local DJ/producer)
Steel comb(skinhead/punk)
Madhat mcgore (fire in the booth episode is legendary)
This corpse isn’t dead yet, but Everything Brighter. Only have a couple of songs and gigs under their belt, and I was so excited for more things to come, but it’s been quiet for almost a year
Stagger rats
Donut. On the cusp of greatness, they were getting TV attention, and the lead singer suddenly and tragically died from a medical condition, only 19 or 20 years old as well.
The Lost Soul Band.
The Ninth Wave. Still hoping they’ll get back together!
Edinburgh band called Betty & The Bass absolutely had that 'something' live towards the end of their run. They did release some stuff but it was very cleanly produced and didn't really do their sound justice which is unfortunate - only live video i can find was early on too
Another Edinburgh act called Chuchoter - a synth duo. It appears they split during lockdown and pulled all their stuff from spotify which is a great shame, they were really good. I still get their songs in my head pretty often even years later
(Also OP, Probably worth mentioning that one of the guys from Ayakara did some solo stuff which you may be into - Felix & The Sunsets)
Yeah, he’s in a band with his brother if I’m remembering correctly
Sons and Daughters deserved a lot more than they got
Bourgie Bourgie.
I thought I'd have a hunt for Ayakara as I'd never heard of them. I found them on Deemix-gui and listened to a few tracks: they are very good. I'll listen to more now that I have found them. Thanks for mentioning them.
They’re on Apple Music And Spotify too! Bummer they don’t play anymore
Too early in the morning. Read that as “Wolftones” and got mildly confused.
I think you should all listen to “Belgrove” they are from Glasgow. They need to continue to make music. Metalcore band reminds me of a little bit of ETID with some other influences.
Love and Money
There’s a band from Hamilton called wrthless that I really like but they seem to just be focussing on tik toks and instagram. I just want to see them live but there’s no sign of any shows. Hopefully they keep going but the releases feel like they are slowing down.
There’s only so many times you can post a Limmy clip to your music. But I think they are working on releasing music soon.
Runrigg
As in Runrig? The band who were creating music for 46 years...?
Yep
Do they fall into that category? They were at it for 46 years haha and to be fair to them they made appearances on Top of the Pops and they regularly sold out stadium gigs in Germany and Denmark.
They were huge, for a long time. They retired and the second singer passed away a couple of years ago.
Yea Mcdonald was my pe teacher
Deacon Blue
Stereoglow were pretty good
Once Dave the postie left it was all over
He runs a fine props warehouse though
Titan
I really loved Roman Nose.
Still going I think, Chet runs a lot of the Queen’s Park events
Cool, I'll try and look them up then!
Zoey van goey
Life Without Buildings
Mellow Submachine (although that might be an album by them)
Hagana
My brother Max is/was the lead singer of Ayakara. I agree 100%, they shouldn’t have packed it in!!
Awesome!! I photographed a gig for them back in 2017 :)
King of Birds
dananananaykroyd
The Ronelles
Paulo Nuttini & band. Dunno where he went. Could be that every time he was on tv, he was either drunk or high. Shame. Immense talent.
Released an absolute screamer of an album in 2022 and toured Europe and the uk. Including the hydro and headlined TRNSMT and I think the Hogmanay gig in Edinburgh
Oh goood! 👍🏼
He’s very successful in Scotland and the UK and still has a great career. He still tours Europe a lot, just isn’t as commercially successful there which kinda means nothing these days anyway.
He does enjoy the bevvy and drugs a bit too much tho. Yes.
I’m glad they’re having (some) success. Could’ve been bigger though - as in US/worldwide bigger, and I suspect it was the inability to come to interviews sober and head on straight. The drugs & all day booze worry me. He just can’t sustain that. Iron Sky was so phenomenal and watching the video../ the rhythm of his body while singing was just… addicting.
Met him and his band in O'Learys here in Gothenburg on Friday night watching the Scotland game. They played Pustervik on Saturday, was chatting away with them, they are just heading out on a tour of the places they've never played.
Wow! We’re not hearing any of their music in the USA. I’ll do a search. Hope he’s sobering up a bit.
He went onto Jools Holland and remains in that circle of musicians.
Thanks for letting me know. I’m not living in Scotland any more so I don’t see the telly there.
Paolo Nutini who sells out arenas every time he tours? That Paolo Nutini?
Not where I live, he doesn’t. Look at the original question of the post. He could’ve done well worldwide I think. As it is, I hear his music when I’m at the grocery store.
Rams Pocket Radio
is he not from NI?
Fuck I'm stupid
I'm from NI but living in Scotland. Brain did a derp
The Moon Kids from Dunfermline?
Lights Out By Nine, before Al Hughes left and in their main heyday in early 2000s
The Skarsoles
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The Delgados were one album away from greatness. Hate and Universal Audio were more polished and approachable than their earlier productions, so a new collection of songs could have put them on the international stage.