The first gig in a brand new venture from concert organisers "Jazz At The Merchants House". We're branching out to bring you even more exciting and vibrant jazz gigs at venues around the city.
To kick us off, Atlantic Road Trip make a Glasgow stop off as part of their European Tour.
Join us at Blackfriars of Bell Street (Basement) to hear this international group in an intimate setting in the heart of Glasgow's Merchant City.
ATLANTIC ROAD TRIP
"A sophisticated contemporary jazz aesthetic blending disparate musical elements from Scotland, America, and Slovakia" Jim Gilchrist, The Scotsman
Chad McCullough (Trumpet - USA)
Paul Towndrow (Alto Saxophone, Flute, Whistles - Scotland)
Miro Herak (Vibraphone - Slovakia/Holland)
Alyn Cosker (Drums - Scotland)
Conor Murray (Bass - Ireland)
Atlantic Road Trip is an international project combining prominent musical voices from Europe and America, exploring the evolution and fusion of traditional indigenous folk musics from Scotland, Ireland and Slovakia, and their historical coalescence through the medium of contemporary jazz and improvised music.
"Towndrow emphasises the sparkling clarity of traditional Scottish music through cool jazz, while Herak plunges into Slovak waters. he connecting Slovakia with Scotland, through the universal theme of inequality between the rich and poor"
Jan Hocek, Jazzport.cz
The project also draws upon intertwined musical paths of European folk traditions and their historical interplay with music from Africa, South America, and beyond. Co-led by Chad McCullough (USA), Miro Herak (NED), and Paul Towndrow (SCO), the band's international journey began with a virtual concert at the 2021 Glasgow Jazz Festival, and continued with subsequent European tours in 2022 and 2023 with performances in Edinburgh, Glasgow, The Hague, Rotterdam, Leiden and Antwerp.
"This is an international collaboration capable of transcending geographical and cultural boundaries in the process of creating some terrific musicThe standard of writing and playing is exceptional" The Jazz Mann
Their debut album ONE (released internationally on Calligram Records) explores folk traditions filtered through the lens of 21-Century improvising musicians. Recorded in Glasgow during a 2023 tour, the band toured in support of the release with a three week long tour through the United States.
"With this debut album, Atlantic Road Trip have given notice that they are one of the most interesting and inspirational groups on the world jazz stage" London Jazz News
During the US tour, the band also premiered their first large-scale work Over Mountain, Under Sky, featuring Miro, Paul, and Chad with a full jazz band and string orchestra.
Each musician has their own story to tell, both musically and culturally. Compositions, arrangements and improvisation distil into a story-telling musical narrative that reflects and combines music's evolutionary journey and its ability to shine an honest light on the history of humanity as well as the present day human experience As such, Atlantic Road Trip presents a unique, 'multi-angle' take upon historical world events including Colonialism, the Transatlantic Slave Trade, The Highland Clearances, World Wars, and the rise and fall of the Iron Curtain - all of this reflected in the melding of folk music traditions within, and outside of the jazz idiom.
"A very individual sound with the instrumentation featuring traditional whistles and flutes plus the Irish bodhran drum. Paul Towndrow's Celtic routes are face forward on the beautiful Pale Ale with the Scottish low whistle pairing effortlessly with vibes and trumpet" Russell Perry WTJU FM
"Trans-national teamwork, it should be noted, can often lead to an impressive outcome, which is certainly true of ONE, an exemplary debut album by the masterful quintet Atlantic Road Trip." All About Jazz
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Glasgow, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Glasgow? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Definitely Not Goblins is a live Dungeons And Dragons show in the heart of Glasgow. Come join us, for a full length game, where no one knows what will happen!
READ MOREThree or more Top UK Comedians perform in The Comedy Cabaret's back-to-back variety show at Blackfriars Of Bell St on Saturdays!
READ MOREIf you like dating shows like Love is Blind or Married at First Sight, you're going to love Looking For Laughs, a hilarious mash-up of your favorite dating show and Whose Line Is It Anyway?
READ MOREThe Background Sounds bring their unapologetic genius combinations of vintage jazz and perfect pop mash-ups to Blackfriars!
READ MOREJoin Scott Agnew as he marks 25 years in stand up - serving up a mixture of his favourite tales, untold backstage stories and answers questions about a quarter of a century on stage and off it!
READ MORETwo-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Lauren Pattison is back with a brand-new show, catch her live at Blackfriars on Saturday 24th May with Big Girl Pants!
READ MOREAmelia Bayler brings a work-in-progress of her new show 'I am a pop star but I'm working in burger restaurant for research purposes' to Blackfriars Basement on Wednesday 4th June!
READ MOREThe UKs most delightfully disgraceful comedy podcast, Dead Men Talking, is hitting the road in 2025, don't miss it live at Blackfriars on Thursday 18th September!
READ MOREHailing from the rural heart of Northern Ireland, Mark McCarney brings his unmistakable wit, charm, and a dash of countryside chaos to Blackfriars on Thursday 16th October!
READ MOREFollowing the success of his last show, Paddy Raff is hitting the road again in 2025! Don't miss 'Here's One For Ya!' at Blackfriars on Friday 14th November!
READ MORESt Brides beautiful William Hill organ, nearly 160 years old, has been restored to its former glory! Join them for a monthly recital from a selection of experienced and talented organists.
READ MOREKaty Ellis a self obsessed 'Swiftie' with an incredible live band and dancers promises to deliver the most authentic recreation of a Taylor Swift show you will ever see at The Pavilion Theatre!
READ MOREBrought to you by Falasgair their resident Trad band, come along to Nice N Sleazy every Thursday for knee slapping traditional Scottish music!
READ MOREInspired by the open mic nights of Bourbon Street, Old Bohemia and their talented friends take to the stage and cover your favourite country classics at Maggie's Rock N Rodeo!
READ MOREGet ready to go buck wild at Maggies Rock N Rodeo's sellout Cowboy Ceilidh - the wildest country party this side of Texas!
READ MORESloans Famous Friday Ceilidh is back and it's bigger and better than ever... it's a must for everyone visiting Glasgow and any true weegie!
READ MOREJoin The Bobby Deans Big Band on Sunday afternoons at the Paloma Lounge for some great live big band sounds!
READ MOREMusic Bus Glasgow South are bringing their Sunday Sessions, designed with busy families in mind, to The Glad Cafe on selected dates through the year!
READ MOREWhether you strut like Tina Turner, can high kick like the Spice Girls or want belt out your inner Whitney Houston, Arta's Divas Through The Decades Tribute Night is sure to get you dancing!
READ MORE