Blackfriars attracts musicians and artists. This has been true for a very long time. The lively bar in Merchant City provides a compact corner for craft beer and conversation while also offering local bands a stage to develop and entertain.
Blackfriars have five cask ales available at the bar at any one time, a dozen beer taps and over forty international, bottled beers. While that keeps real ale enthusiasts busy, Blackfriar’s maintains its tradition of basement clubs supporting underground music scenes with the venue hosting regular club nights.
We visited for a recent live music night featuring performances from Anchor Lane, Velvet Bomb, Savage Henry, Hookers for Jesus and The Great Cull.
Anchor Lane are a Glasgow four piece hard rock group. The band consists of Conor Gaffney (lead vocalist and guitarist), Jack Nicol (backing vocalist and guitarist), Matthew Quigley (bassist) and Stuart Donnachie (drummer and backing vocalist).
Velvetbomb play King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut later this month.
Savage Henry are: vocals/guitar – Stephen Plunkett, vocals/guitar – Graeme Dickson, bass – Seán Mackenzie
Hookers for Jesus consist of Pat Hanratty, Stevie McGowan, James Smith, Brian Longridge and Mark Donaghy. They play the Rock the Valley festival in June.
The Great Cull are: Jamie Marshall – Lead vocals Ciaran Hanratty – Guitar Joe Hanratty – Bass Jack Tierney – Drums & backing vox
All pictures by Paul Gallagher for Glasgowist