| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Leader: | |
| When: | Varies, particularly for outings to concerts/gigs |
| Venue: | Various |
| Cost: | Event Tickets to be purchased by Members. No baseline costs as yet |
The Music Appreciation Group is a relatively new group which is still “finding its way”. Some members have been to a few gigs, especially during Celtic Connections, but we are also considering meeting up somewhere for “music and lunch”, listening to and discussing music and gigs/concerts/ performances we remember. NOT restricted to any genre, we can embrace other forms of music, in listening, discussing or experiencing live.
The group has changed its approach and is now concentrating on discussing and reminiscing about music. We can also play bits of music courtesy of Bungo Den’s Wi-Fi and Messrs Bluetooth and Spotify.
Future meetings
Much of our planned discussion will be carried forward to the next meeting on Monday 18th May, 10:15-12:00 at the Stag and Thistle, Pollokshaws Road. We did, however, mark the recent deaths of two revered Irish singers, Dolores Keane and Moyà Brennan, and also Chip Taylor, songwriter of “Wild Thing” amongst many others.
So far - 2026
April’s meeting featured a memorable presentation from David Wiseman, a member of GSS u3A. David wearing The Scarf
David had been at school in London with three members of The Who, though a little behind them. He found himself “roadying” for the band in its early days through to their eventual breakthrough and beyond.
David had quite a few tales and also brought along a memento from these times: his scarf, worn by Pete Townsend on the cover of the first Who album, “My Generation”.
We did also mark the recent deaths of two revered Irish singers, Dolores Keane and Moyà Brennan, and also Chip Taylor, songwriter of “Wild Thing” amongst many others.
Pete Townsend (and friends) in The Scarf
March - We had an enjoyable exploration of many areas of music, ranged from the Bothy Ballads at Rutherglen Academy, Scottish singers with accents, our favourite Tchaikovsky Symphony (No. 6, as it turned out), Ayrshire music connections and making a beginning to our discussions on Irish music.
February - we, as usual, covered massive swathes of territory in our discussions. Pachelbel’s Canon was one of the main topics, and the derivation from it of chord sequences found in many popular songs by the likes of Green Day, The Farm, Chrissie and the Queens, Maroon 5, Procol Harum, Ralph McTell, the Beatles and many moreJanuary - a wideranging musical discussion
Members had a great mental workout in our October session at the Stag and Thistle, trying to keep up with discussion of all the recently departed “legends” and much more beyond.
We covered John Lodge (Moody Blues), Danny Thompson (bassist with Pentangle etc etc) and Sonny Curtis, a Cricket, who wrote “Walk Right Back” for the Everly Brothers. As well as the still-living Al Stewart, Divine Comedy and East Kilbride legends, the Jesus and Mary Chain plus Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera. And many more obscure and not-so-obscure artists with “stories”.
Not forgetting, Gilbert and Sullivan, as sung by that Poor Wandering One, Linda Ronstadt.
Homework was set for next month’s major examination of Laurel Canyon, LA, in the sixties/seventies.
September
The group paid its second visit to its maybe temporary home in the Stag & Thistle. We had a more private space this time and were well received by staff.
Much discussion and screen animation followed, covering elements of “Where do you go to my lovely?” Including the singer, Peter Sarstedt, and his brother, Robin, AKA Eden Kane and of Star Trek fame.
Also a favourite Beethoven piece, “Is this Music”, a local newsletter/cd of the noughties, Bobby Elliot of the Hollies and discussion/footage of recent gigs…Karine Polwart and PP Arnold….and much more!
For October(20th, a.m.), a discussion about life in Laurel Canyon, L.A., is on the menu.
Our last meeting, we reconvened in the Stag and Thistle . We’ve had a couple of great sessions over the summer, talking about and playing music. We’ve covered Giuseppe Verdi, Kathleen Ferrier from the classical side, while some legends dying, e.g. Brian Wilson, Ozzy Os-borne, Cleo Laine and Connie Francis, have also given us much to talk about. Highlight was the 1980s pic of one of our members with Ozzy!
Our meeting in February focused on the current Bob Dylan film, “A Complete Unknown” and our views on it and our memories and stories either about him or his live performances.
A few of us checked in to St Luke’s to see Altered Images, with Clare Grogan, a well-kent 1980s icon from “Gregory’s Girl” days.
