XFM Winter Wonderland - The Fratellis / Biffy Clyro / The View / Idlewild / Get Cape Wear Cape Fly

The marketing department at XFM certainly did something right in getting people into the venue early. As I walked into the main hall just gone 7pm I could not believe how busy it was. Thousands of people drinking Carling lager with an air of expectation, humming along to 'This charming man' by The Smiths blasting out over the National XFM airwaves.

Get Cape Wear Cape Fly opened their set with guitar driven mayhem that caused my ears to reverberate. Towards the end their new song 'Damage' set the earlycomers alight with strong vocals and great riffs. This crowd were starting to warm up. By the end of it I even saw some Slayer style three finger salutes and fists punching the air. This place was really heating up.

While Jim Gellaty told us next up is a "wee band from Dundee you might have heard of", out of the blue up popped Idlewild for an unexpected acoustic set to keep the tempo building. As the crowd were enjoying the final few bars of their song Jim reappeared to fire up the crowd, leading the way with the now customary chant of 'The View, The View, The View are on fire!".

Enter The View blasting us from the off, but what's wrong they're not firing on all cylinders. Lead guitarist Pete is franticaly signalling from the sidelines with Crazy Mo on drums doing likewise. Never mind such technical errors, the beers flying (counted at least 20 pints) the chants are deafening and the crowds up for it.

	"After months of non stop hard touring playing every town and city worth playing in every corner of the United Kingdom this band are tighter than ever"

Once they had overcome the lack of 'line check' which caused the early hic cup, their third song 'Wasted little DJ's' had the place in a frenzy. As their early anthem fills the hall with noise I struggled to keep on my feet as the first 20 or so rows are a mix of up and down movements from jumping and giant forward and back surges moving me all over the place. The pace continued through 'The Don' and 'Skag Trendy'; the crowd are loving it, arms punching the air, crowd surfing, beer flying, and its frenzy. Kyle screams out 'Same Jeans' while the bass explodes off all the walls.

The electric continues with the latest hit 'Superstar Tradesman' whipping the crowd even higher (if that's possible). With a fan base that continues to grow let's not forget they were playing wee pubs in Fife less than six months ago. Having come so far in not much time, The View hit Japan next week, then the States in January. After months of non stop hard touring playing every town and city worth playing in every corner of the United Kingdom this band are tighter than ever. Their debut album hits the shop in a matter of weeks. Just watch as the 'on fire' experience continues into 2007.

Judging by the noisy reception that Biffy Clyro got at the Carling I think a lot of fans came here just to see them specifically. Having released three albums within as many years, you might think Biffy Clyro would have set their sights on the bigger things that years of constant touring should bring. On tonight's performance the guys certainly avoided any stereotype and seemed to produce music that they want to hear. Differing from their albums they seem to have a knack of altering the feel of their live experience to keep it fresh for the fans. This was no exception.

Just when you thought you could not get any more for your money Ocean Colour Scene enter for a short acoustic set. Might not have heard them for a while, but you can be sure once good music is embedded into your brain it's not forgotten easily. They still know how to please a crowd. One of the biggest cheers of the evening came after permission was given from XFM's time keepers for a fourth song. Took me back to the last time I saw them but the acoustic rendition of there greats had the crowd in the mix. They loved it.

	"the whole place were up on their feet, dancing, jumping, having a ball - even way up in the rafters above the circle of this old theatre they were digging it"

To top the Bill on come The Fratellis, opening strong as you would expect from the headliners with Mince banging away on the sticks and John F's riffs sending the crowd wild. If truth be told it took a wee bit into the set till 'Henrietta' blasted out that the crowd went into hyperspace. That's when I saw it; the whole place up on their feet, dancing, jumping, having a ball - even way up in the rafters above the circle of this old theatre they were digging it. By the time the 'big big city lyrics' sounded out in 'Whistle for the choir' the crowd continued in the same vein. Quite simply Scotland loves the Fratellis and no one is ashamed to show it. The end came in the form of an earthquake of sound as thousands joined in a mass karaoke style rendition of 'Chelsea Dagger' at full volume. Over the crowds singing John Fratelli led the way, and made the show his own.

I suppose the thing I liked about the night was the total enthusiasm shown for his music by our host, Mr Jim Gellaty. If he was not on stage introducing the bands with genuine passion he was standing in the crowd enjoying the music. This man does as much as one man can to drive forward new music in Scotland. His character is highlighted by nearly the final act of the night. While asking the crowd if they wanted the Fratellis to come back on for an encore some kind over excited soul threw a full pint in a trajectory that hit poor Jim full on. What did he do? Took a bow and brought the Fratellis back on for more. And more it was. They came back for more, but not more of their own. With detonating sound, out blasted Goldfrapp's 'Ooh La la'. With a Fratellis twist. Raised the roof, it certainly ended the night on a high. Roll on the next Winter Wonderland.


This event was held in aid of Shelter, a charity for homeless people. To find out more and how you can help, click here.

FUTURE GIGS