King Tut's Revolution 2017: Meet the line-up

Now in its sixth year, King Tut’s New Year’s Revolution returns this January to brighten the winter gloom with a slew of acts representing Scotland’s best musical talent.

Tut's will host over 80 artists across 15 days from 4-21 January, with each show featuring a headline act supported by three bands, plus guest DJs and aftershow parties in Tut's main bar.

Ahead of the mega-festival, The Skinny caught up with Chris Beltran, Assistant Booker at DF Concerts and programmer for this year’s New Year’s Revolution line-up, to chat about what makes this year’s event extra special.

“I think the ethos that links the bands together this year is the same ethos that links the bands together every year the festival has run,” he explains. “There’s a real sense of community spirit and togetherness, with everyone pushing the festival as a whole as well as their own individual shows.

"This year’s event, in my opinion, is the festival’s most diverse line-up yet. Fans who purchase the Golden Ticket, which gets you access to all the shows across the festival, will be able to experience a wide range of amazing Scottish music.”

With so many quality acts taking to the King Tut’s stage this year, we’ve put together a list of some of the most exciting names on the bill, to give you an idea of the diversity you can expect from this year's festival. Read on and get to know the bands at the vanguard of the latest Revolution.

Break The Butterfly

Fife-based Break The Butterfly are a folk-rock five-piece led by frontman Cameron Barnes and his unashamedly Celtic twang. Their live shows have been known to incorporate bagpipes, and they’ve even got a celebrity endorsement under their belt – comedian and pseudo-revolutionary Russell Brand described the group on Twitter as "a proper tartan band that embrace Scottish freedom.”

In short: Feel-good folk music with true Scottish heart.

Civic Pride

Civic Pride are the live band project of Glasgow-based singer-songwriter Peter Ross. If you like a carefully crafted blend of indie, Britpop and alt rock that conjures up the spirits of Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, Civic Pride are a safe bet.

In short: Heartfelt, strummed introspections on love and life.

Elle Exxe

Crowned Best Female Solo Act at the 2016 Unsigned Music Awards, Elle Exxe makes self-described ‘dirty pop’ with riff-driven compositions in the vein of Sleigh Bells. The Edinburgh talent is now based in London, and her debut album Love Fuelled Hate showcases her distinctive electro-clash aesthetic.

In short: Fuzzy, bombastic hand-clap pop with added grit.

Heavy Smoke

Self-described ‘weird hard rock band’ from Glasgow, though there’s nothing unpalatable about the quartet’s hefty mix of psych, funk and sharp guitar solos. If you like it loud, these boys are definitely the ones for you.

In short: Bring your earplugs and get ready to rock out.

The Insomniac Project

Disco-pop confections are The Insomniac Project’s jam. The sextet from Glasgow combine live instruments with slick electronic production – check out their single Vacillation for a dose of frontwoman Deborah Lang’s expansive diva vox, with plenty of cowbell for good measure.

In short: Guilty pleasure indie-disco with polish.

Lucia Fontaine

Singer-songwriter Lucia Fontaine makes an instant impression with her husky, gravel-drenched vocals and insouciant, noir-rock'n'roll compositions. She played T in the Park last year and has supported acts as diverse as Honeyblood, The Bay City Rollers and Maxïmo Park.

In short: Cool-girl indie rock that demands repeat listens.

Megalomatic

This hirsute three-piece from Glasgow have been kicking about for a few years now, and have garnered a solid fan base on the back of their explosive live shows. Think powerful riffs, heavy bass lines and a general eardrum-bursting experience.

In short: What Mastodon would sound like if they were Scottish.

Mt. Doubt

Named by BBC Scotland's Vic Galloway as one of his Top 25 Scottish Artists to Watch in 2016, Mt. Doubt is the project of Edinburgh-based musician Leo Bargery. Anyone who has caught the outfit live will attest that Bargery is a leonine presence onstage, and the group are masters of distinctive, brooding melodies and unexpected waves of euphoria.

In short: Peerless songwriting cloaked in unique, addictive indie-pop.

NOAH NOAH

The fledgling NOAH NOAH only formed in March 2016, but they’ve generated quite a buzz with their synth-laden single Champion, and have already supported the likes of Scottish legends Idlewild, as well as Model Aeroplanes, 100 Fables, Start Static, Kirsten Adamson and more.

In short: Expansive indie synth-rock in nice shirts.

Quiche

Founded in January 2015, this freshly baked band from Glasgow specialise in summery, winsome guitar pop. Check out their languid, dreamy debut single Lying In The Sun, which will have you wishing you were doing just that.

In short: A perfect soundtrack when you’re wishing you were somewhere else.

The Ranzas

Formerly known as The Shires, this rock'n'roll five piece from Ayrshire draw on influences as diverse as The Clash, The Strokes, Milburn, Oasis, The Pixies, The View and Paolo Nutini to create their own ballsy blend of rock'n'roll. Any band game enough to cover Tainted Love onstage is worth a look, in our book.

In short: Punk-laced rock'n'roll from the west coast.

Sergeant

Hands up who remembers Sergeant's jangle-pop hit Counting Down The Days? After bursting onto the scene in 2007 to critical and commercial acclaim, things went very quiet for the four-piece from Fife. Once hailed as the saviours of Scottish music, they make a welcome return after a rather long hiatus.

In short: Ten-year-old memories wrapped in impeccable indie-rock.

Stillhound

Formerly known as Discopolis, the Edinburgh-based three-piece rebranded as Stillhound in 2015. They cite Foals, Tame Impala, Interpol and Death Cab For Cutie as primary influences, and their atmospheric debut Bury Everything is out now.

In short: Smooth synth-rock for warming the cold January nights.

The Van T’s

Sure to be one of the most popular acts on this year’s Revolution rota, The Van T’s hardly need any introduction.  Their summery, scuzzy indie rock lays on the fuzz, and the group, led by twin sisters Hannah and Chloe Van Thompson, embrace 90s grunge vignettes, as evinced by their recently released Laguna Babe EP.

In short: Upbeat, scuzzy indie rock with stick-in-your head melodies.

Wuh Oh

Peter Ferguson – aka Glasgow-based electronic composer Wuh Oh – can count a support slot for DJ Shadow among his career highlights to date. The talented multi-instrumentalist Ferguson has been playing, composing and alchemising tunes since childhood, and he’s built up a cult following with his eclectic, sample-heavy productions.

In short: One to catch now so you can boast, “I saw him before he was famous!”