HARRI is a leading light of Glasgow’s house music scene and has been a resident DJ at Sub Club for the last two decades. Bobby Bluebell is a founding member of The Bluebells, a guitarist who has made a lasting impression on this city through songwriting.

Last Sunday the two pals got together to play some records for a tiny audience. It was a low-key event that felt like a simple yet profound breakthrough.

Songs of Praise will be a Sunday series of socially-distanced events, hosted by Harri and Bobby, held at The Berkeley Suite and adhering to current Covid regulations.

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The downstairs venue beside Chinaski’s will operate at 15% capacity for now.

What was once a pulsating crucible of beats when international and local DJs would entertain sweaty dancing crowds has taken on the appearance of an elegant Berlin speakeasy for its revised incarnation.

There are two sittings, 6-8pm and 8.30-10.30pm for 11 tables of four to order wine, beer and cocktails with a backing track of vinyl tracks, exchanging knowing nods when a familiar hook drops into proceedings.

The music, and the event itself, move through different genres. The hosts know how to bring people together. The two-hour sitting feels more like floating along an easy river rather than surfing the waves of a full-on Sunday session.

Considering the closest North Street bars have come to musical entertainment this year has been the syncopated rhythms of the motorway out front, nobody is complaining. That’s what we are here for. It’s a fun vibe.

We need people to make level two restrictions work and we also need to put songs back into the city.

It was a return of the camaraderie found in listening to music together, the chats that are provoked by an instantly recognisable bassline – something that’s a defining characteristic of the Glasgow social experience. I’m glad I was there at the start, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next. You can book your tables for future events at tickettailor.com/events/songsofpraise.

Euro Eats

THE rescheduled kick-off for Euro 2020 takes place tomorrow with Glasgow set to experience the muted thrill of being a host city during a pandemic.

Alongside the matches taking place at Hampden Park, football fans can fully immerse themselves in the European life by coordinating their dinner bookings to match the teams playing during the month-long tournament.

The Stadio Olimpico in Rome hosts the opening match between Italy and Turkey, so that’s Coia’s in Dennistoun, La Lanterna on Great Western Road, Baffo across from Kelvingrove Art Gallery and nearby Meze Meze represented straight away. Russian football fans can look to Café Cossachok, just off Trongate for borscht, blinis and chilled shots of flavoured vodka.

If you are supporting Poland, book a table at U Jarka on Parkgrove Terrace. A pint in The Amsterdam for Netherlands matches.

There’s Belgian and Swiss flavours on the menu at Brel with moules frites and raclette.

France can be followed from Le Petit Cochon, Chardon d’Or, Wee Paree or La Bonne Auberge.

Glasgow Times: Le Petit CochonLe Petit Cochon

When Spain are playing there is Elena’s, Rioja, Café Andaluz and The Spanish Butcher.

Look to West Brewery for Glasgow-German beer and bratwurst or Bier Halle for a whole roster of European beers.

 

Football Anthems

YES Sir, I Can Boogie is the Tartan Army’s anthem for Scotland’s return to the European stage this summer – choose from the cover version by The Fratellis or George Bowie’s GBX remix of the Baccara original.

The LaFontaines have joined the party with their fun new single Scotland, Bonnie Scotland which samples the song.

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The band team up with Scotland goalkeeping hero David Marshall for the video which also features football stars Charlie Mulgrew, Chris Burke, Gary Caldwell, Kenny Miller, Suzanne Grant and Kris Boyd, with Grado, Storm Huntley and Jonathan Watson also making an appearance.

The LaFontaine’s frontman Kerr Okan told me: “The reaction to the song has been hilarious to see. Remember, this was just written as a laugh on a podcast the night we qualified, none of this is meant to be taken seriously – but, everyone from David Marshall to Eilidh Barbour lending their names to it has just taken it further than we thought possible.

“At this point, I reckon we just double down and see how far it goes. Next stop bamming up the English at Wembley telling them how our tap water is the best.”