Radio 1’s Big Weekend adds to a great week of music in Glasgow

Ooft! What a great week it has been for live music in Glasgow.

US rockers Nine Inch Nails ripped the Hydro apart on Tuesday and Wednesday saw me jamming with Alice Cooper’s guitarist Roxie in Gleddoch House after a charity golf match for Nordoff Robbins.

On Thursday I partied like it was 1999 when rock royalty Prince turned the Hydro purple.

On Friday Radio 1’s Big Weekend in George Square kicked off, with the happy hordes looking forward to performances from some of the world’s biggest names in rock and pop, from One Direction and Coldplay to Kings of Leon and Paulo Nutini to name but a few.

Glasgow is definitely alive and kicking with the sound of music which is music to the ears to those who love a gig, and there’s still plenty more to see, hear and enjoy at various events over the coming months.

Then there is the opening and closing ceremonies of The Commonwealth Games to enjoy if they can secure a decent line-up that is, as well as the September opening ceremony of the Ryder Cup and the global MTV Awards in November.

And that’s even before you consider the hundreds of smaller shows that will take place in pubs, clubs and world renowned venues like The Barrowland, The Garage, The Cathouse, King Tuts and ABC.

It goes without saying that Glasgow is now fully deserving of the UNESCO award City Of Music!

I say finally because since the award was granted in 2008 precious little has been done to recognise or live up to that proud status.

Quite what the accolade meant at the time seemed to go right over the heads of many in the city. There was no real pomp or ceremony, no bunting, no flag waving, no parades, no “taps aff” and party!

It seemed we were only too glad to accept the award if only for the fact that the UN had finally figured out where on the map Glasgow was! But not for what it actually meant.

Still, that was then and this is now and in this the historic year of the Commonwealth Games Glasgow is not only recognised for its rich musical heritage but as one of the top music cities in the world.

Can this high level of promotion be sustained? Will those larger pocket-emptying events put further financial pressure on the city’s ailing night-time economy?

Well only time will tell, but if Glasgow’s Marketing Bureau commit to giving local businesses the ones that give the city a pulse seven days a week, 365 days of the year an equal amount of financial support and promotional help then I’m sure its status, cultural heritage and standing in the world of music will be further enhanced. And that can only be a good thing for everyone.

In the meantime I suggest you go out and enjoy what is quite simply one of the best live music programmes the city has had in years.

I already have if my aching bones, rasping throat and pounding hangovers are anything to go by!