Music

Dundee has earned a reputation for producing some of the most successful musicians in Britain. The diverse, innovative and spirited culture has created an environment where the most creative have flourished. From chart-topping rock bands to legendary folk artists, the Dundee music scene is a clear reflection of the diversity of Dundonian culture.

Snow Patrol are arguably Dundee's most iconic product, the pinnacle of the city's music scene. Although all the band members are Northern Irish by origin, they all admit to having been deeply influenced by the addictive aura of Dundee. They met at the renowned University of Dundee where the four-times platinum selling indie-rock band set off, playing gigs at the university and some of the local pubs, including Lucifer's Mill.

The View have, in many ways, mirrored Snow Patrol's success. Nominated for the 2007 Mercury Music Prize after their debut album went straight to number one, the former St John's RC High School pupils set up base and wrote a lot of their own material in a back room of The Bayview Pub. On their road to global success, The View started off playing gigs and weddings in and around the Dundee area, including the Centenary Bar, and The Doghouse,

Singer-songwriter KT Tunstall and Ricky Ross of Deacon Blue are former pupils of the reputable High School of Dundee, while Placebo front man Brian Molko also grew up in the city of Discovery.

Other famous Dundonian acts include the 1970s soul-funk outfit Average White Band, the Associates, Spare Snare and Danny Wilson.

Various acts and performances capture the spirit and innovation of Dundee throughout the year. Some of the best places to catch live music include: The Bond; the Doghouse; Westport bar; Balcony Bar; Bank Bar; Reading Rooms, Dexters, Yuppies, Drouthy Neebors; Fat Sams; Alley Katz, Chambers.

At the end of June, Dundee hosts an annual blues festival known as the Dundee Blues Bonanza. Approaching it's 15th anniversary, this event is Britain's biggest blues / roots festival, welcoming  over 12,000 revellers over the weekend of the 26th, 27th and the 28th of June, during which over 120 live performances will take place in 30 city centre venues.

The city also celebrates its heritage in the form of the FestNfurious festival where traditional Scottish and folk music, workshops, talks and ceilidhs entertain guests in early October every year.

http://www.dundeebluesbonanza.co.uk/
http://www.festnfurious.co.uk/