When you think of Falkirk, perhaps an image of two huge metal equines comes to mind. Maybe you picture the Kelpies, the Falkirk Wheel, the gorgeous grounds of Callendar House or the area’s woodland walks.
One would be forgiven for overlooking the town’s lively music scene, let alone its niche subsets. The Falkirk punk scene is stitched together through a close community, home-grown bands and frequent gigs. It has long acted as a hub for punk music, fashion and interests, dating back to before the 1980s.
In the early 1970s, punk’s birth rocked the UK, Australia and the USA. With outlandish styles and a rejection of mainstream sounds, punk quickly found its footing as a notable subculture. It is often considered reactionary, with a strong emphasis on anti-establishment beliefs, the rejection of capitalist values and individualism.
Image Credit: Evgeniy Smersh / Unsplash
It is an attitude, an art, a fashion style and a music genre. This may explain why punk communities often feel tightly bound, with shared beliefs reinforcing their connections.
Falkirk’s punk scene is powered by music. The town has produced many bands that regularly perform in venues such as The Depot and the Dobbie Hall, drawing crowds from across the central belt. Perhaps most notably, The Cocteau Twins formed in nearby Grangemouth, who went on to influence entire genres and attract millions of listeners.
A more recent punk band, A Murder of Crows, has been playing gigs in venues across the Central Belt. Joseph McDermott, who prefers to go by ‘Joe’, is the lead singer and Mandolin player for the band.
He said, “The response from Falkirk music fans has been amazing. They really dig the direction we are going in, mixing the Celtic and Horror punk subgenres, and they give us great feedback after shows.
Image Credit: A Murder of Crows (Via Facebook)
“A good punk show for me will have lots of different sounding bands, and I think Falkirk’s scene has that. When you have a variety of good bands, you will always draw a crowd, even in venues where drinks are ridiculously overpriced!
“The punks will still show up for good, hardworking and passionate bands, which Falkirk always has.”
Another local group, The Media Whores, praises Falkirk for its welcoming and enthusiastic audiences. The band have directly helped in supporting the community, hosting shows that raise money for the Falkirk food bank, mental health services and Strathcarron Hospice.
Ally Gemmel, 54, is the band’s manager and spokesperson. She believes that while crowds remain supportive, the overall scene is declining.
She said, “If you think of the bands that we have played with, they were once in the main top 40 charts. They meant something and sold-out venues such as the Apollo and the Barrowlands. But they are now playing club-sized venues of 100-300 fans!
“It’s good that they are still doing it and still on the road, but their high-point days have passed. Mainstream radio and press do nothing for the punk, alternative and indie genres and not a week goes by without the Music Venue Trust highlighting a grassroots venue closing because the footfall just didn’t make them financially viable.
Gemmel added, “The top end of the business – global acts and major festivals – will all survive, prosper and make money, which, to the business, is what it is all about! But there needs to be a place for grassroots venues and DIY punk bands.
“Every band started out at some point in a grassroots venue or supporting an established band. Where are the punk bands of tomorrow going to be seen and heard, and what venues will there be left to play in?
“A tagline we had was that we are ‘the outsider’s outsider’ – that’s kind of how the punk scene is in Scotland and Falkirk! Shame. Our current tagline is, ‘we gotta keep on keeping on’.”
Image Credit: The Media Whores (Via Facebook)
Musicians in the area point to the cost-of-living crisis and shifting audience habits as major challenges.
“People are watching their pennies. A bugbear of ours, as an original band, is that people are less likely to take a punt on, say, a 3 or 4 band bill of original punk bands, for £5, but would rather go to a Clash/Sex Pistols/Ramones type tribute band gig for £10-£15.” She said.
“Sadly, many venues and promoters prefer that model to original bands. This is a big change and a problem.”
The shortage of suitable venues has contributed to the scene’s decline since the 1970’s, with few mid-sized spaces able to host rock-focused acts. Another shift is demographic. While places like Glasgow and Dunfermline maintain mixed-age scenes, Falkirk’s punk audience is largely over 40. This lends the scene more authenticity but can limit regular attendance, making it harder for bands to sustain momentum.
Younger fans often travel elsewhere for gigs, while fewer visitors travel into Falkirk for local shows. Even so, some young people are keeping the culture alive. William Gilchrist, an 18-year-old punk from the Stirlingshire area, regularly visits Falkirk with friends.
He said, “There is very little going on in the Falkirk Punk Scene now that is appropriate for under 18s, although Depot has put on quite a few good gigs.
“Most young punks are introduced by their fathers and, in our case, close friends. We take it seriously, it’s all very important right down to the colour of the laces in our boots.”
If Falkirk wants to hold onto its esteemed punk identity, greater support for grassroots venues is key. By offering more in the way of stages and under 18 events, Falkirk could keep both artists and audiences local, strengthening a scene that has long been part of the town’s cultural fabric.
