Oran Mor has turned 10 this June and to celebrate they have programmed a month of events including live music, theatre and comedy to showcase the fact that over the last 10 years Oran Mor has become one of the biggest cultural hubs in the country.
This includes bringing back some favourites that we have had down the years as well as some new faces.
Kelvinside Parish Church became Oran Mor in June 2004 after being left derelict for years, it is the brainchild of Colin Beattie who wanted to create an arts centre that would be like Mayfest all year round.
The centrepiece of the building is the upstairs Auditorium; gazing down from atop the pillars are the eleven heads, carved by William Mossman for the original church, of Wycliffe, Luther, Melanchthon, Tyndale, Erasmus, Calvin, Knox, Zwingli, Chalmers, Melville, and Henderson.
Above these grim faced patriarchs of the Reformation cavorted the figures of the signs of the Zodiac, painted by Alasdair Gray for the new incarnation of the building; Gray’s stunning mural in the Auditorium is in fact one of the largest pieces of public art in Scotland
The basement venue hosts the majority of live music, comedy and its famous lunchtime theatre “A Play, A Pie & A Pint”.
Over the years Oran Mor has played host to some of Scotland’s rising acts in each field as well as more established acts from around the World.
Oran Mor has played host to thousands of live music events over the years, averaging over 200 per year with an average attendance of 53 800 people per year over those shows, and has built a reputation over the years for playing host to some world renowned musicians on their way up to the top as well as some who are already there and looking for a more intimate venue to play.
Such acts include Amy Winehouse, Maceo Parker, Teenage Fanclub, Edwyn Collins, The Charlatans, Deacon Blue, Patti Smith, Doves, Ash, Bombay Bicycle Club, Eddi Reader, Lana Del Rey, Emeli Sande, Justin Currie and Martha Reeves.
Oran Mor is also very proud to have put on early shows from many Scottish acts who have went on to bigger things such as Frightened Rabbit, Admiral Fallow and The Twilight Sad to name a few.
To support Scottish unsigned acts Oran Mor runs The Billy Kelly Songwriting Award which offers a prize worth £5000 including recording and promotion.
Below the programme of events across June:
6 – The View Seven Year Unplugged
7 – The View Seven Year Unplugged
8 – The View Seven Year Unplugged
12 – Eddi Reader
13 – Electric Honey Records 21st Anniversary Show
14 – The Pierces
15 – Edwyn Collins
15 – Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox (Auditorium Show)
16 – Aries Spears
17 – Cherry Ghost
19 – Meursault / Three Blind Wolves
20 – The Declines
21 – Justin Currie
22 – Justin Currie
23-24 – The Great Yes, No, Don’t Know 5 Minute Theatre Show
24 – Scarlet Shift ‘Sparks’ Single Launch
26 – Terry Neason “Celtic Kisses, Slaps ‘n’ Tickles”
27 – We Were Promised Jetpacks
28 – Dumb Instrument “The Silent Beard” Album Launch
29 – West End Festival All Dayer feat Admiral Fallow, The Vaselines, Hector Bizerk, Holy Esque, United Fruit, Laura St Jude and many more
