CLR Theory: On the launch of their latest EP & supporting Glad Radio
Local band CLR Theory captivated the listening crowd during intimate performances at the Deep End over the weekend, with two consecutive shows on the Saturday and Sunday evening.
Crowd member records the intimate performance, capturing the audience and band in one tight frame.
Words by Devon McCole | Photos by Karen Gordon
Local band CLR Theory formed in Lockdown as a way of staying connected while creating music at a time when opportunities to connect with others were quite limited. Founding members Gill Higgins and Hannah Jarrett-Scott soon expanded the band as restrictions loosened and performers and musicians were allowed to meet and play again.
Their recent fundraiser performances were for the release of their latest EP, CLR Theory Live at Celtic Connections '24. But 50% of the funds raised will go to Glad Radio, a community podcasting project for the Southside of Glasgow, to support their community outreach work.
In January this year, Glad Radio recorded the band’s Celtic Connections show at the Glad Café. From the recording of that sold out show earlier in the year came CLR Theory’s newest EP, which they performed live in another small and intimate local venue, the Deep End.
Band mate Hannah Jarret-Scott said “we decided as a band to give them [Glad Radio] half of the funds raised for our new EP because they recorded it for free and we wanted to give back to the community. We wanted to sort of show who we are and promote the fact there is local radio here in the area that people could get involved in, we think what they do is great.
“Our first album WAVES was made in Govanhill, myself and Gill live in neighbouring areas, so we wanted the venue to be here. CLR Theory is about community and reaching out, that’s why we started during lockdown, so it felt necessary to us that we release the EP on our doorstep.”
The lighting in the Deep End was moody and colourful, which really added to the intimacy of the performance. The band were surrounded by their audience who were seated in a circle, listening intently, and together the performers played an assortment of instruments live and unplugged, which made for a really interesting and varied sound.
Hannah said “It was a lovely and profound atmosphere in a great venue with a really respectful and listening crowd. So I think it went really well, we sold plenty of merch and plenty of EPs. The next thing for us as a band is to focus on writing new material and maybe celebrating the new release first, we all work different jobs so we’ll be carrying on how we started; DIY style, home produced, slef-released and hopefully gigging about in the community.”
To find out more about CLR Theory and listen to their latest EP, you can visit their profile on Bandcamp and hear some of their live recorded music and their debut album WAVES.