King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
Encyclopedia
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, also known as King Tut's, is a live music venue and bar in on St. Vincent Street, Glasgow
, Scotland
. It is owned and managed by Glasgow-based gig promoters DF Concerts
. With a capacity of only 300, King Tut's intimate atmosphere has helped it win many awards in its relatively short history including the title of "Best Live Venue" in the UK from Radio 1
in 2002. The live music venue also serves food, and features a monthly comedy night which has seen comedians like Phil Kay
, Lynn Ferguson
and Fred MacAulay perform. King Tut's also holds a 1AM license, allowing performances to go on much later than most other music venues in Glasgow, which have earlier licenses.
The Glasgow live music venue takes its name from a club in New York
, which hosted music, comedy and performing arts events in the 80s.
boss Stuart Clumpas, who wanted to create a platform for promoting bands at club level, showcasing them with gigs seven days a week at a reasonable hour, after being unable to find such an establishment in the city centre's nightlife. The venue first opened its doors in February 1990, and has established a reputation for showcasing new talent and hosting many well-known bands' first Scottish appearances. This reputation was acquired early on in 1993 when The Verve
, Radiohead
and Oasis
all played in the Glasgow venue in a two week period and it was in this time when Oasis were discovered and signed by the record label Creation
, while playing their song "Supersonic", which was to become their debut single. According to the venue's manager, Dave McGeachan, the band "bullied their way on stage" when they discovered that Alan McGee, the founder of Creation Records was attending the venue that night. Colin MacIntyre
, the singer-songwriter from the Scottish indie band Mull Historical Society
was reported as claiming "you haven't made it unless you've played Tut's". The appeal and popularity of King Tut's has been credited to "its consistency and dedication to bringing a cross-section of different styles to Glasgow's doorstep"
Others who have played gigs at King Tut's early in their careers include Biffy Clyro
, Coldplay
, Beck
, Blur
, Crowded House
, The Strokes
, Franz Ferdinand
, Skunk Anansie
, The Verve
, Paramore
and Travis
, who played the live music venue regularly under their original name of Glass Onion.
The venue has been acclaimed by pioneers of new music in the UK, such as radio DJ Steve Lamacq
, who praised King Tut's influence on music in Britain by saying "King Tut's has got everything I like about a music venue. It's a good size, with a good crowd, and I've had some really special nights there. I think bands feel comfortable playing there too."
King Tut's have launched King Tut's Recordings and a Your Sound event every month to help support unsigned bands become acquainted with the workers in the local music industry
In 1999 King Tut's decided to branch out with the launch of a monthly comedy night where comedians, including the likes of Phil Kay, Lynn Ferguson and Fred MacAuley have taken to the stage, alongside some of Scotland's rising young comics.
In February 2000, the ten year anniversary of the Glasgow live music venue was celebrated with a series of one-off concerts, parties and surprise guests running over ten days. Due to the success of the event, a £25,000 refurbishment of the upstairs bar was completed.
November 2001 saw King Tut's being named as the 'Licensed Music Pub of the Year' by the Scottish Licensed Trade News and the live music venue has also recently been successful in its application for a 1am license, giving even more bands the chance to play to the King Tut's crowd.
In 2005, King Tut's held "The Best Scottish Bands of All Time" night, which featured acts such as Snow Patrol
, Idlewild
, Eugene Kelly
, and Colin MacIntyre
.
From the 17th to the 21st of December 2008, Idlewild
performed a series of live shows at the venue, playing each of their albums on consecutive nights.
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut will also play host to the Homecoming Scotland 2009
Finale Celebrations, the Glasgow live music venue working in conjunction with the Clyde Auditorium
to provide a weekend of celebration.
's UK Best Live Music Venue award three years in a row. It was also named as the Best Launch Pad Venue in 2000 by Radio 1
, whose listeners voted King Tut's as the "most influential small music venue in Britain". The venue's manager Dave McGeachan said of the award "I think we deserve it, to be honest, as we're good at bringing through the smaller bands. There's a good buzz about the place when it's full and the bands respond to that."
King Tut's also runs a tent, aptly named King Tut's Wah Wah Tent, in Scotland's biggest annual music festival, T in the Park
, hosting many big acts. King Tut's enjoy links with the festival through their founder Stuart Clumpas who now runs the festival. Over the years, acts such as the Manic Street Preachers
, Teenage Fanclub
, Snow Patrol
, Doves, Primal Scream
, Queens Of The Stone Age
, The Futureheads
, The View
, Jamie T
, and the Pet Shop Boys
have all performed on the stage.
Manic Street Preachers
dedicated a song on stage to King Tut's after lead guitarist and vocalist James Dean Bradfield
stated that "King Tut's was the first venue to treat us properly and give us hot food on tour".
The live music venue has also diversified into stand up comedy, with a very popular monthly comedy night. Such acts that have performed on the Glasgow stage include Lynn Ferguson, Phil Kay and Fred MacAuley, alongside other less notable Scottish and Glaswegian comedians.
, Biffy Clyro
, Radiohead
, Blur
, Travis
, Pulp
, The Verve, Crowded House
, Wheatus
and Beck
. Several Performers have also praised King Tut's variety such as Paolo Nutini
who said: "I’ve never actually seen a big band at King Tut’s, you know that? But it’s the kind of place you can see anything. One night they’ll have a really great band playing their ass off and the next there’ll be a nice acoustic thing on. One gig I remember seeing there is Matt Berry, from The Mighty Boosh and Garth Marenghi. That just shows what a range of stuff you can find in Tut’s.".
released an extended live album entitled Tom at Tut's
featuring songs and banter from his gigs on two consecutive nights in November 2004. Two nights at King Tut's has become a feature of McRae's tours due to the intimacy of the venue and the friendly camaraderie of the crowd. The making of the album is described in McRae's blog.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is owned and managed by Glasgow-based gig promoters DF Concerts
DF Concerts
DF Concerts is a Scottish promoter responsible for major events such as T in the Park, The Edge Festival and Connect, as well as the Scottish tour-dates of many international acts at venues around the country....
. With a capacity of only 300, King Tut's intimate atmosphere has helped it win many awards in its relatively short history including the title of "Best Live Venue" in the UK from Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
in 2002. The live music venue also serves food, and features a monthly comedy night which has seen comedians like Phil Kay
Phil Kay
Phil Kay is a Scottish stand-up comedian.-Early career:Kay became known to the public when he won the newcomer's competition, 'So You Think You're Funny', at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1989. He then went on to be nominated for the prestigious Perrier Award in 1993. He also won the award for...
, Lynn Ferguson
Lynn Ferguson
Lynn Ferguson is a Scottish writer, actress, comedienne and presenter. She is the sister of comedian Craig Ferguson and is known for voicing the character of Mac in the animated film, Chicken Run.-Early life:...
and Fred MacAulay perform. King Tut's also holds a 1AM license, allowing performances to go on much later than most other music venues in Glasgow, which have earlier licenses.
The Glasgow live music venue takes its name from a club in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, which hosted music, comedy and performing arts events in the 80s.
History
King Tut's was founded, in the centre of Glasgow, by the DF ConcertsDF Concerts
DF Concerts is a Scottish promoter responsible for major events such as T in the Park, The Edge Festival and Connect, as well as the Scottish tour-dates of many international acts at venues around the country....
boss Stuart Clumpas, who wanted to create a platform for promoting bands at club level, showcasing them with gigs seven days a week at a reasonable hour, after being unable to find such an establishment in the city centre's nightlife. The venue first opened its doors in February 1990, and has established a reputation for showcasing new talent and hosting many well-known bands' first Scottish appearances. This reputation was acquired early on in 1993 when The Verve
The Verve
The Verve were an English rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space...
, Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
and Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
all played in the Glasgow venue in a two week period and it was in this time when Oasis were discovered and signed by the record label Creation
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
, while playing their song "Supersonic", which was to become their debut single. According to the venue's manager, Dave McGeachan, the band "bullied their way on stage" when they discovered that Alan McGee, the founder of Creation Records was attending the venue that night. Colin MacIntyre
Colin MacIntyre
Colin MacIntyre is a Scottish singer, song-writer, multi-instrumentalist and producer. MacIntyre, with the group Mull Historical Society, has released and toured worldwide three albums: Loss , Us and This Is Hope , and has achieved four UK Top 40 Chart hits and two UK Top 20 Chart albums...
, the singer-songwriter from the Scottish indie band Mull Historical Society
Mull Historical Society
Mull Historical Society is a name under which the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Colin MacIntyre performs. After a period of recording and performing under his own name for several years, MacIntyre's 2011 album 'City Awakenings' will be a Mull Historical Society release...
was reported as claiming "you haven't made it unless you've played Tut's". The appeal and popularity of King Tut's has been credited to "its consistency and dedication to bringing a cross-section of different styles to Glasgow's doorstep"
Others who have played gigs at King Tut's early in their careers include Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band from Kilmarnock, comprising Simon Neil , James Johnston and Ben Johnston...
, Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
, Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
, Crowded House
Crowded House
Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia and led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand , Australia and the United States...
, The Strokes
The Strokes
The Strokes are an American indie rock band formed in 1999 in New York City. Consisting of Julian Casablancas , Nick Valensi , Albert Hammond, Jr. , Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti ....
, Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (band)
Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
, Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie is an English rock band whose members include Skin , Cass , Ace and Mark Richardson .Skunk Anansie formed in March 1994, disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2009...
, The Verve
The Verve
The Verve were an English rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space...
, Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
and Travis
Travis (band)
Travis are a post-Britpop band from Glasgow, Scotland, comprising Fran Healy , Dougie Payne , Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose...
, who played the live music venue regularly under their original name of Glass Onion.
The venue has been acclaimed by pioneers of new music in the UK, such as radio DJ Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
, who praised King Tut's influence on music in Britain by saying "King Tut's has got everything I like about a music venue. It's a good size, with a good crowd, and I've had some really special nights there. I think bands feel comfortable playing there too."
King Tut's have launched King Tut's Recordings and a Your Sound event every month to help support unsigned bands become acquainted with the workers in the local music industry
In 1999 King Tut's decided to branch out with the launch of a monthly comedy night where comedians, including the likes of Phil Kay, Lynn Ferguson and Fred MacAuley have taken to the stage, alongside some of Scotland's rising young comics.
In February 2000, the ten year anniversary of the Glasgow live music venue was celebrated with a series of one-off concerts, parties and surprise guests running over ten days. Due to the success of the event, a £25,000 refurbishment of the upstairs bar was completed.
November 2001 saw King Tut's being named as the 'Licensed Music Pub of the Year' by the Scottish Licensed Trade News and the live music venue has also recently been successful in its application for a 1am license, giving even more bands the chance to play to the King Tut's crowd.
In 2005, King Tut's held "The Best Scottish Bands of All Time" night, which featured acts such as Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
, Idlewild
Idlewild (band)
Idlewild are a Scottish rock band, formed in Edinburgh, in 1995, comprising Roddy Woomble , Rod Jones , Colin Newton , Allan Stewart and Gareth Russell...
, Eugene Kelly
Eugene Kelly
Eugene Kelly is a Scottish musician who is a member of the group The Vaselines, a founding member of the now disbanded Eugenius and has had a number of solo releases....
, and Colin MacIntyre
Colin MacIntyre
Colin MacIntyre is a Scottish singer, song-writer, multi-instrumentalist and producer. MacIntyre, with the group Mull Historical Society, has released and toured worldwide three albums: Loss , Us and This Is Hope , and has achieved four UK Top 40 Chart hits and two UK Top 20 Chart albums...
.
From the 17th to the 21st of December 2008, Idlewild
Idlewild (band)
Idlewild are a Scottish rock band, formed in Edinburgh, in 1995, comprising Roddy Woomble , Rod Jones , Colin Newton , Allan Stewart and Gareth Russell...
performed a series of live shows at the venue, playing each of their albums on consecutive nights.
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut will also play host to the Homecoming Scotland 2009
Homecoming Scotland 2009
Homecoming Scotland 2009 was a series of events designed to attract people of Scottish ancestry to visit Scotland. The campaign, organised by EventScotland and VisitScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, and part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, claimed that "for every...
Finale Celebrations, the Glasgow live music venue working in conjunction with the Clyde Auditorium
Clyde Auditorium
The Clyde Auditorium, familiarly known as "The Armadillo", is an iconic concert venue in Glasgow, Scotland. The building sits on the site of the now infilled Queen's Dock on the River Clyde, adjacent to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre....
to provide a weekend of celebration.
Awards
King Tut's is seen by many as one of the best live music venues in the UK, and most certainly the best in Glasgow. It was named as 'Licensed Music Pub Of The Year' by the Scottish Licensed Trade News in November 2001. It has also won BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's UK Best Live Music Venue award three years in a row. It was also named as the Best Launch Pad Venue in 2000 by Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, whose listeners voted King Tut's as the "most influential small music venue in Britain". The venue's manager Dave McGeachan said of the award "I think we deserve it, to be honest, as we're good at bringing through the smaller bands. There's a good buzz about the place when it's full and the bands respond to that."
T in the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
, hosting many big acts. King Tut's enjoy links with the festival through their founder Stuart Clumpas who now runs the festival. Over the years, acts such as the Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
, Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub are an alternative rock band from Bellshill, Scotland. The band is composed of Norman Blake , Raymond McGinley , Gerard Love and Francis MacDonald , with songwriting duties shared equally among Blake, McGinley and Love...
, Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
, Doves, Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
, Queens Of The Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
, The Futureheads
The Futureheads
The Futureheads are an English post-punk band from Sunderland. consisting of Ross Millard , Barry Hyde and David "Jaff" Craig...
, The View
The View (band)
The View are a Scottish indie rock band. They incorporate various styles such as punk, pop, alternative rock, pop punk, powerpop, folk, and acoustic in their music....
, Jamie T
Jamie T
Jamie Alexander Treays , known by his stage name Jamie T, is an English singer/songwriter from Wimbledon, South London.-Early life:Jamie Alexander Treays, was born in Wimbledon, South-West London...
, and the Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
have all performed on the stage.
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
dedicated a song on stage to King Tut's after lead guitarist and vocalist James Dean Bradfield
James Dean Bradfield
James Dean Bradfield is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.- Early life :...
stated that "King Tut's was the first venue to treat us properly and give us hot food on tour".
Comedy
Notable Acts
Many famous acts have performed at King Tut's, including OasisOasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band from Kilmarnock, comprising Simon Neil , James Johnston and Ben Johnston...
, Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
, Travis
Travis (band)
Travis are a post-Britpop band from Glasgow, Scotland, comprising Fran Healy , Dougie Payne , Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose...
, Pulp
Pulp (band)
Pulp are an English alternative rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978. Their lineup consists of Jarvis Cocker , Russell Senior , Candida Doyle , Mark Webber , Steve Mackey and Nick Banks ....
, The Verve, Crowded House
Crowded House
Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia and led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand , Australia and the United States...
, Wheatus
Wheatus
Wheatus are an American rock group from Northport, New York. They are known for their 2000 single "Teenage Dirtbag" which was featured in the movie Loser, as well as in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill.-1995-2002: Formation and Wheatus:...
and Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
. Several Performers have also praised King Tut's variety such as Paolo Nutini
Paolo Nutini
Paolo Giovanni Nutini is a Scottish singer, songwriter and musician from Paisley. His father is of Italian descent, from Barga, Tuscany, although both his parents are Scottish, his family having been in Scotland for three generations....
who said: "I’ve never actually seen a big band at King Tut’s, you know that? But it’s the kind of place you can see anything. One night they’ll have a really great band playing their ass off and the next there’ll be a nice acoustic thing on. One gig I remember seeing there is Matt Berry, from The Mighty Boosh and Garth Marenghi. That just shows what a range of stuff you can find in Tut’s.".
Album
In 2011, singer-songwriter Tom McRaeTom McRae
Tom McRae is an English singer-songwriter.-Career:The son of two Church of England vicars, McRae sang in the church choir and as a teen experimented with his mother's guitar...
released an extended live album entitled Tom at Tut's
Tom at Tut's
Tom at Tut's is the third live album from British singer-songwriter Tom McRae. It was released in 2011 and includes songs and banter from two gigs on consecutive nights - 25th and 26th November 2004 - at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow where McRae performed with a full band. Recorded by Johnny...
featuring songs and banter from his gigs on two consecutive nights in November 2004. Two nights at King Tut's has become a feature of McRae's tours due to the intimacy of the venue and the friendly camaraderie of the crowd. The making of the album is described in McRae's blog.