Glasgow Sessions

Poetry, conversation and live music come together in this episode of Glasgow Sessions, featuring poet, author, performer and University of Glasgow creative writing lecturer Carly Brown.

Originally from Austin, Texas, and now based in Scotland, Carly joins me to discuss identity and belonging, finding your voice, the relationship between page and stage, and the realities of rejection, resilience and building a creative life. The episode also features some of Carly’s poetry.

Since we recorded, Carly’s debut novel has been officially announced and will be published in 2028. Huge congratulations, Carly! Follow her on Instagram at @goodgriefcarlybrown.

Alongside our conversation, hear music recorded in the Glasgow Sessions studio and live at these venues:

• The Poetry Club at SWG3 — @the.poetry.club.glasgow

This episode features new music and performances from:

• Cathal Fitz and his ensemble

Henry Reilly (vocals/guitar), Chatonda Ridley (bass guitar) and Michael McCabe (drums) recreate the 21-song setlist from The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s first live appearance in Great Britain, at the Scotch of St. James in London on 25 October 1966.

If you’re listening in time, catch them at Cabaret Voltaire in Edinburgh on Sunday 8 November, from 7pm. I saw them at Slay in Glasgow, and it was an incredible gig—not one to miss.

We also celebrate the incredible return of BEHR, a five-piece guitar band from Glasgow fronted by brothers Allan and Colin Watson, who refused to let their music dream die.

Their third single, “Only One Of A Kind”, features in this episode. It’s a song about remembering where you came from as you move forward—or, as they put it:

“Don’t forget your old arse, you might have to sit on it again one day.”

A special shout-out to @mortybutnice, who gets a mention in the show.

Huge thanks to Carly, every artist who shared their work and allowed me to record, and all the venues that welcomed me in. Thank you for helping bring Glasgow Sessions to life.

You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

And stay tuned: we’ve got a special announcement coming in the next episode. It’s not one you’ll want to miss.

Poetry, conversation and live music come together in this episode of Glasgow Sessions, featuring poet, author, performer and University of Glasgow creative writing lecturer Carly Brown.

Originally from Austin, Texas, and now based in Scotland, Carly joins me to discuss identity and belonging, finding your voice, the relationship between page and stage, and the realities of rejection, resilience and building a creative life. The episode also features some of Carly’s poetry.

Since we recorded, Carly’s debut novel has been officially announced and will be published in 2028. Huge congratulations, Carly! Follow her on Instagram at @goodgriefcarlybrown.

Alongside our conversation, hear music recorded in the Glasgow Sessions studio and live at these venues:

• The Poetry Club at SWG3 — @the.poetry.club.glasgow

This episode features new music and performances from:

• Cathal Fitz and his ensemble

Henry Reilly (vocals/guitar), Chatonda Ridley (bass guitar) and Michael McCabe (drums) recreate the 21-song setlist from The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s first live appearance in Great Britain, at the Scotch of St. James in London on 25 October 1966.

If you’re listening in time, catch them at Cabaret Voltaire in Edinburgh on Sunday 8 November, from 7pm. I saw them at Slay in Glasgow, and it was an incredible gig—not one to miss.

We also celebrate the incredible return of BEHR, a five-piece guitar band from Glasgow fronted by brothers Allan and Colin Watson, who refused to let their music dream die.

Their third single, “Only One Of A Kind”, features in this episode. It’s a song about remembering where you came from as you move forward—or, as they put it:

“Don’t forget your old arse, you might have to sit on it again one day.”

A special shout-out to @mortybutnice, who gets a mention in the show.

Huge thanks to Carly, every artist who shared their work and allowed me to record, and all the venues that welcomed me in. Thank you for helping bring Glasgow Sessions to life.

You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

And stay tuned: we’ve got a special announcement coming in the next episode. It’s not one you’ll want to miss.

Glasgow Sessions Bank Holiday Weekend Takeover, Part 2: 'All Or Nothing' screening at McChuill's

For 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 Bandcamp

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 violin

Mar’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”

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: @marcharavmusic

Follow 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 platform

Expect 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 influences

Follow Colm on Instagram: @colmosullivanmusic

Listen to Sunrise and visit his official merch store: colmosullivan.com/merch

Recorded 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.

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 influences

Follow Colm on Instagram: @colmosullivanmusic

Listen to Sunrise and visit his official merch store: colmosullivan.com/merch

Recorded 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.

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 influences

Follow Colm on Instagram: @colmosullivanmusic

Listen to Sunrise and visit his official merch store: colmosullivan.com/merch

Recorded 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.