WebMayJun2019

www.westendermagazine.com | 17
by Greg Kane
June
Billie Marten
Thursday 6th June 7pm
SWG3 Poetry Club, swg3.tv
Billie Marten is a 19 year old singer/
songwriter from North Yorkshire. This
delicate little English Rose looks far
too young and innocent to be messing
around in the cut throat world of
music. But her voice has just about the
perfect balance of vulnerability and
skill: her tuning is near pitch perfect,
she’s a nice guitarist and has a clutch
of good tunes which put together
should give her a fighting chance.
But there are unfortunately some
minuses. Her visuals’ water obsession,
– especially the one where she’s lying
in a bath eating pink grapefruits.
And pseudonyms have always irked me,
Billie Marten is not her real name,
it’s Sophie Tweddle.
Anyhow, comparisons to Kate Bush and
Laura Marling are accurate.
Choice track:
Billie Marten 'Live'
Doves
Saturday 8th June 6pm
Galvanisers Yard, swg3.tv
Brothers Jez and Andy Williams,
joined by friend Jimi Goodwin make up
the band Doves who had their moment
in the sun back in the 'Madforit' early
noughties. I remember them being
synonymous with the indie singer/
songwriter Badly Drawn Boy as they
acted as his backing band during
his early successes (most notably
writing the music for the 2002 film
'About A Boy'). But I also remember
being coaxed onto the dancefloor in
the early 90s by a brilliant latin
groove dance track from the act Sub
Sub called 'Ain’t No Love (Ain’t No
Use)'. Wouldn’t seem to be connected…
but Sub Sub and Doves are one and the
same, but 10 years apart. At the end
of 2018 the band members announced a
series of gigs for 2019 and a tentative
plan to explore new music together.
Hurrah.
Choice Track: Doves
'There Goes The Fear'
Glasgow International Jazz Festival
Weds 19th June – Sun 23rd June
Various venues
Now in its’ 33rd year the Glasgow
International Jazz Festival plays
host to the world’s finest Jazziteers
for five days in June at various
venues across the city. With Glasgow’s
Royal Conservatoire Of Scotland
consolidating its’ place in the 'Top
10 in the World Music Conservatories'
over the last few years, the standard
of jazz musicianship in Glasgow has
never been higher. Being in my 50’s I
fondly remember the early, heady days
of our Jazz Fest and some of the best
nights are to be had at the infamous
after show Late Night Jazz Club, which
this year will be held in the Blue
Arrow on Sauchiehall Street each
night from 10pm till late.
My choice gig in the West End is Jazz
duo LUNIR featuring the beautiful
Becky Sikasa on vocals, keys, guitar
and looping at The Hug & Pint on
Sunday 23rd June.
See website for all listings:
jazzfest.co.uk
Choice track: LUNIR ' Wadidi'