THE BARS and restaurants of Glasgow have a symbiotic relationship with the local music scene.

Stages and rehearsal spaces are provided within hospitality venues but the connection is more important than that. Emerging bands constantly tell me that one of the reasons that they live and work in Glasgow is because of the spark of creativity they find from local cafes in the morning through to late-night post-gig diners.

There's a lot of crossover in personnel. Many street food businesses that have started up in recent years got their first start at music festivals. Often a DJ or band will play their way through a first album through getting a bar job. We've got the type of places where you could form a band, have the album artwork organised, book the tour DJ and have the number for the promoter of your first gig, all over the space of a soup and a sandwich. It's a very easy urban network that makes good things happen.  

There's an all-day event - a festival of music discovery - taking place across spaces of all shapes and sizes on Saturday 13 November. The Great Western will be held in more recognisable gig landmarks like Glasgow University Union, Webster's Theatre and Maryhill Community Central Halls. There will also be stages in The Hug and Pint, The Alchemy Experiment on Byres Road and The Doublet.

Arab Strap recently joined the bill - appropriate for this one as Monday at The Hug and Pint is the name of the band's fifth studio album. Singer Aidan Moffat told me recently that the first time he met Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite was at Nice N Sleazy on Sauchiehall Street, somewhere they would go for quiz night and to catch bands playing downstairs.

If Glasgow is going to nurture the next generation of musical talent we need to keep those places for bands to create, to meet and to perform. Remember, be nice to your server in your local hangout, next time you see them they could be headlining The Hydro.

The Great Western will include performances from Anna Meredith, The Ninth Wave, Cloth, The Joy Hotel, Taahliah and Oracle Sisters.

Top Glasgow Places for Music and Food.

King Tut's

Still the stage that holds a level of mystique and history for local bands, you can also enjoy pizza slices and beer in the bar.

Saint Luke's
The east end venue has high profile gigs this month with Damon Albarn and The Libertines among the performers scheduled to appear. Next door in the Winged Ox, you can expect burgers, loaded fries, sandwiches and nachos.

Stereo  
Before local bands take to the stage downstairs, don't be surprised to see them enjoying tapas-style small plates in the cafe bar.

Mono
The vegan cafe is one of the great gathering spots for local musicians. Expect eclectic, spicy, international plates and comfort food to sustain the writing process.

Max's Bar
A landmark in Glasgow that previously was the social headquarters of bands like The Bluebells and The Blue Nile. Max's hosts a lively roster of local DJs while serving up chicken wings and hot dogs.

Glad Cafe

Visit to see the headline performance of your favourite local band, then call in for brunch the next day.
Glasgow Green
What happens next for Glasgow food was the topic of discussion for the latest episode of our Glasgow Food Chat Podcast. The local dividend from cop26 events will be measured in how conversations that started here will continue to impact the way we view the city. The hospitality industry has been at the forefront of representing a willingness to embrace new ideas.

Argyle Street in Finnieston has been the main thoroughfare for delegates to the climate change conference hosting off-site sit-downs with lobbyists and business representatives. It's created a buzz in venues like The Crescent and Rioja with a constant rotation of lanyard wearing guests from all over the world.

The New York Times Climate Hub at SWG3 has been another focus, with Five March's Go Sangatsu, the venue's restaurant residency, introducing a special vegan menu. I enjoyed a selection of small plates this week including an eye-catching mix of white cut tofu, charred corn, mint, sweet soy and ginger and a substantial feast of confit garlic panisse, sherry caramel, watermelon and endive.  

After dinner I bumped into Harry Olorunda, one of the drinks industry figures working on the current pop-up at 1126 Argyle Street, There Has To Be.

You've probably heard of Panther Milk, the fashionable mix of oat milk infused with JJ Whitley gin and Rum 66 was a potent and surprisingly versatile drink inspired by a recipe from 1960s Spain. Its emerging sister brand is Liquid Oats, an alcohol oat milk infused with whisky. The Cocktail Collective at the pop up have this mixed into an oat colada cocktail - Liquid Oats, coconut rum, pineapple and coconut milk. Imagine a sunny version of porridge on a Caribbean beach with a whisky chaser. Soon to be spotted a more visible part of Glasgow's diversifying cocktail scene.

Talk of the Town  
A warm welcome to Pulp, the latest addition to the west end's constantly expanding roster of brunch places. You can find them at 31 Gibson Street with speciality blend coffee, cold press
juices and smoothies alongside early morning dishes like scrambled eggs and cheese roll, wild mushrooms on toast or poached eggs, haggis and Hollandaise on toasted sourdough. Meanwhile, Bird & Blend Tea have opened on Byres Road with over 70 individual tea blends.