The Beltanes

The Beltanes were a Glasgow, Scotland-based band, active from around 1987 to 1992. They were regular performers on the Glasgow live music scene, but also travelling and playing in various locations in Scotland, from Greenock to Aberdeen. They wrote all of their own material, adding some classic covers for their live performances. They also made a number of studio recordings, and a promotional video.
Recordings
The two significant recording sessions were held at CaVa Studios in Glasgow and The Warehouse in Coatbridge. The Warehouse recordings were produced by Ted Blakeway, who now runs The Foundry Music Lab with Graeme Duffin (Guitarist with Wet Wet Wet) and Sandy Jones. Seven songs in total were recorded, but as the band were never signed to a record label the songs were never released. However, some of the tracks were given airplay on Glasgow-based radio stations. The promotional video, made by film students known to the band, was shot in numerous locations in and around Glasgow including the Winter Gardens at The .
Record label interest and competitions
The four songs from The Warehouse session were used to attract record label interest, which included discussions with Alan McGee at Creation Records, and were also used as the band's entry into a competition for unsigned bands run by Evening Times, where the prize on offer was a management deal with London-based Artist Connection. The band won the competition but the proposed management deal was refused by the band following protracted negotiations. Attempts to attach punitive contract terms similar to those eventually overturned against Silvertone Records and Zomba Music by The Stone Roses with the support of Geffen Records, left the band unwilling to sign.
Influences
The Beltanes music drew on many influences, from the classic Blues of artists like Robert Johnson, through Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Cream, to the Manchester music scene also known as Madchester from which bands such as The Stone Roses and The Happy Mondays emerged.
Press coverage
In addition to the press coverage in The Evening Times generated by the competition win, the band received press coverage notably in M8 Magazine, who referred to them as 'an icon for the 90's'.
Band members
Two of the band members, Marc (drums) and Mark (guitars, vocals, flute), had originally been brought together musically whilst at school, where one of their early projects was performing in a band with other local bands to raise significant charity funds for the Live Aid appeal, under the name of "She Said".
As their music matured and developed, they were joined by Mark's brother Paul (guitars, vocals), along with friends Michael (guitars, accordion) and Ian Mowbray (bass guitar), to form the original line-up as The Beltanes. Ian left in 1991 and was replaced by Nigel.
The band never officially split up, but they have not played together since 1992. Marc is now a business consultant, Mark is now studying to be a lawyer, Paul is now a doctor, Michael is now a teacher, Ian is now a clinical research associate, and Nigel is now a lecturer. All of them still live in Glasgow with the exception of Ian, who lives in West Lothian and Nigel, who lives in New Zealand.
Their contribution to Glasgow's rich musical culture of the time is not to be underestimated, developing and popularising many talents and music venues which continue to make a valuable contribution today.

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