@ Glad Cafe, Glasgow, 27 July 2015

The Glad Cafe in the Shawlands area of Glasgow is proving to be a hub for brilliant live music, and is the perfect place to hear uplifting indie pop. On the bill this evening are Martha Ffion and Colleen Green, and if you close your eyes real tight their music could effortlessly float you away to sun-kissed California, despite the July Glasgow rain.

Martha  Ffion is an Irish born, now Glasgow based, singer songwriter. Earlier this year she released a couple of tracks as part of the  Lost Map Records Postcard series (you buy a postcard and receive a download code for the music). Martha and her four piece band play bright and breezy infectious pop music. Tonight is only their second gig as a band, but this is not apparent in their performance which comes across with confidence and passion.

Colleen Green is touring after the release of her new record I Want To Grow Up on Hardly Art Records. It is the performer’s third album, and also her best. Buzzing guitars and sharp riffs are evident, along with heartbreaking slice-of-life lyrics and catchy melodies.

Colleen is a solo performer and takes to the stage armed only with her guitar, with the backing tracks to her songs coming from an ipad. She prepares the ipad before each tune, and even though the live set up is so minimal, a loud and powerful sound rings around the Glad Cafe, each track an example of beautiful and poignant song writing.

A cool performer, Colleen wears dark shades and has a relaxed and informal attitude towards the audience. The crowd laps it up and nods along to every tune. Her songs make references to legendary punk bands The Ramones and The Descendents, and like those bands, Colleen understands that the short punk song is the perfect medium to present heartfelt and forlorn tidings on love.

It can only be hoped that this prolific performer (who seems to be constantly on tour) will be back in the UK soon. The Glad Cafe once again proves itself to be the ideal venue for D.I.Y indie music, and is a perfect fit for an engaging  and independent performer, such as the captivating and brilliant Colleen Green .