Glasgow was named a UNESCO City of Music in 2008, the first city in the UK to gain the honour. Glasgow is a vibrant city with a legendary music scene that stretches across the whole spectrum from contemporary and classical, to Celtic and Country. Its venues are equally varied and the city hosts an average 130 music events each week. Scottish Opera and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra make their home in Glasgow alongside other national organisations including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scotland, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) and the Scottish Ensemble.

The events listing on Data Thistle is a good place to see what’s on. This could be anything from the Traditional Scottish music sessions at venues like the Machair and Ben Nevis, through smaller venues like the Glad Cafe, the Hug and Pint, Stereo, Oran Mor, SWG3, the Old Fruitmarket, and St Luke’s, through to bigger hitters like the Hydro, the Clyde Auditorium, The Royal Concert Hall, and the O2 Academy. Not to mention two of Glasgow’s most iconic venues: King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut and the Barrowland Ballroom.

The city has eight venues in the Top 100 list of places to watch gigs, outside of London, including the SSE Hydro, which is ranked in the top five best global arenas, even beating New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden.

Take a tour and learn more Glasgow Music City