Jazz at the Third Eye & Radical Scotland

My research project begins... plus Ali Robertson on Repeater Radio, Tusk, Counterflows & more!

Baby baby baby, look to the sky…

This week marks the official start of my Creative Scotland funded residency at the CCA Glasgow. I’ll be establishing a digital archive of jazz and improvised music at its previous incarnation, The Third Eye Centre, from 1975 to 1992. Founded by jazz musician, poet, playwright and former International Times editor Tom McGrath, the Third Eye hosted numerous jazz and improv concerts as part of its radical arts programming. An early adopter of video technology, McGrath and his comrades filmed a number of events at the Third Eye, the neighbouring McLellan galleries, and the Scottish Arts Council Gallery on George Square. These were digitised as part of the Glasgow School of Art’s Glasgow Miracle project: check out amazing performances by Derek Bailey, Julius Eastman, Brotherhood of Breath and Keith Tippet, alongside local acts like Birth and the Andy Law Project. There’s also extensive footage of the 1978 Sound and Syntax International Festival of Sound Poetry, organised by the late, great Tom Leonard.

Seeing The Glasgow Miracle exhibition a few years back was a big inspiration - here was a Glasgow institution bringing the international avant-garde to the public, all the while supporting local artists and forging close links with the Garnethill community. I was particularly fascinated by the jazz footage and sought to find out more about the gigs that happened there, as well as the local scene. That led my Wire 430 feature, “Once Upon A Time In Glasgow”, which focused on the activities of McGrath and his circle in the 1970s, and the talk I gave for last year’s Tusk Virtual. 

So now I’m building on that by pulling together the existing archive and gathering new materials. I’m also commissioning new works responding to the archive, which will be presented online across two weekends in October.

I’m making a public call for contributions to be considered for the archive. This can include interviews, anecdotes, audio recordings, video footage, flyers, programmes, press clippings etc. While the project remains open, there are four key themes: the legacy of Tom McGrath, the Glasgow jazz scene, international artists, South African jazz and the anti-apartheid movement. If you have anything to contribute, or know someone who you think might be able to help, please drop me a line at thirdeyejazz@gmail.com

Radical Scotland with Ali Robertson

Listen back to Saturday's Radical Scotland on Repeater Radio, where I discuss the weirdo underground with Usurper, Giant Tank & Sonic Bothy's Ali Robertson. We reminisce on Usurper's Bud Neill-inspired gig in a skip and Nackt Insecten's infamous Glasgow subway performance, and talk about why tough guy posturing sucks and why the Great Gonzo is a role model. The show is accompanied by a mind-melting mix by Ali & our resident turntable genius Mariam Rezaei, featuring free improv, free noise, night bus field recordings and teenage rackets.

Ali Playlist

The Dead C - Max Harris

Prick Decay - Mud Sound For Car Stereos

Albert Ayler - Bells

Volvox - We’ve Got Them

Joseph Spence - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Derek Bailey, Pat Thomas & Steve Noble - Q Here

Opaque - Edgar Blows Up

Dr. Barnes Advocate - Stirling Will Destroy Sonic Youth

Sachiko M - Don’t Touch 

Nackt Insecten - Live on the Glasgow Subway, Instal 2008

Usurper & Sticky Forster - II pt 1

Dead Labour Process - Boris Johnson

Hockyfrilla - Beauty Does Not Fill Your Tummy

Muscletusk - Clan Shaven Mons 

Fordell Research Unit - First Blast Of The Trumpet Against The Monstrous Regiment Of Men

Scrim - Dropped Letters

Unknown public access TV channel artist believed to be from the Tarrytown, NY area - What's Wrong With You? What's Your Problem?

Olivia Furey - Excerpt from Hypermundane

Firas Khnaisser & Ali Robertson - 0.7 Miles 

Sonic Bothy - Three Degrees Kelvin We Drift

Mariam & Ali mix

The same evening, our Geordie comrades The Old Police House took over Repeater Radio. Tune in for three hours of wild sounds from Mariam Rezaei, Adam Denton & Kenosist.

And Mariam returns to Repeater tomorrow evening with the latest episode of These Are The Breaks, her history of turntablism. Her special guest is legendary tablist Mr Switch.

Counterflows At Home

Glasgow’s Counterflows festival has been a big part of my life for the past decade and I was gutted that last year’s event had to be cancelled due to Covid. For this year’s instalment, curators Alasdair Campbell & Fielding Hope have put together an incredible programme which will be available online throughout April. I’m hugely excited to see what everyone has come up with. As always, it’s an honour to be part of the festival - this year I’ve contributed an interview with the brilliant Helena Celle.

It all kicks off tomorrow at 7.30pm tomorrow with Annea Lockwood and Sam Green in conversation with Kate Molleson. Settle in with your pizza crunch and Buckfast cocktails and become one with the Counterflows community.

Tusk TV & Editions

And on Friday, Tusk TV launches - a new free monthly TV show from Gateshead’s Tusk Festival. The lineup is fantastic and I’m honoured to be introducing William Parker’s solo bass performance with an interview with the great man himself. While you’ll be able to watch it at your leisure, I’d recommend tuning in live if you can, and joining the lively chat room - it’s like hanging out at the physical festival with old and new pals.

Tusk is also launching Tusk Editions, a subscription service that offers new music downloads and a magazine every month. Sign up for the new collaborative album from Mariam Rezaei and Stephen Bishop, my epic 5000 word interview with William Parker, and much more!

And finally…

My in depth review of Cisco Bradley’s Universal Tonality: The Life & Music of William Parker for Tribune.

I spoke to the great Pat Thomas about the incredible new album from his Arabic jazz group [Ahmed] for Bandcamp Daily.