Brògeal - Tuesday Paper Club (2025) Hi-Res

In recent years there has been a real resurgence in music and artists that champion their celtic roots. From Kneecap and The View to Lewis Capaldi and CMAT, now more than ever Celtic heritage, whether it be Scottish or Irish, is at the forefront. Brogeal, five guys from Falkirk, have always been a part of this movement and with their debut album ‘Tuesday Paper Club’, they are more determined than ever to show off just how much fun music that is unabashedly Scottish can be. Having met on buses to and from Celtic games, the band’s journey began as ‘Shiva’, made up of Aidan (banjo/vocals) and Daniel (guitar/vocals). At this point, their sound was distinctly ‘high school punk garbage rock’ and it wasn’t until Sam (accordion) came along that they began to play around with the more traditional influences that you recognise in their stuff today. At that time, embracing tradition hadn’t yet become the cool thing it has grown into now, so for the three of them growing up and gigging in a small town in central Scotland it wasn’t hard to turn heads. They spent the covid years honing their craft on curious older instruments passed down through family, everything self taught and DIY. Once Euan (bass) and Luke (drums) came into the fold and they began gigging at The Vicar Street Social, their sound truly came to life.

The joy of ‘Tuesday Paper Club’ is the way it marries together the new and old. A bubbling cauldron set to boiling point, it seeks to blend together the stories and traditions from Scottish folk with the attitude and determination that drives contemporary indie. A rich tapestry, Brogeal’s distinctive sound comes from their talent as multi instrumentalists. Whether it be the penny whistle, mandolin, accordion or bouzouki, each piece of the puzzle creates a sound that is truly unique to Brogeal. They have a quality that few bands can claim - genuinely having something for everyone. They’ve joked in the past about the audiences they pull in : 14 year old boys with their mums, punk purists, folk and trad aficionados alike. It's testament to their refusal to be boxed in, and finding the joy in playing around and exploring different genres, influences and styles. This album throws in everything and the kitchen sink, a refreshing introduction to a band unafraid to push boundaries and try things that others wouldn’t dream of.

Proceedings begin with the eponymous track ‘Tuesday Paper Club’. Riotous, the way it bursts in all guns blazing can’t help but capture your attention. So much kudos has to be given to drummer Luke, who from the off plays with the presence of a 50 piece pipe band, meaning that by the time Daniel comes in with the vocals, the mosh pit has well and truly kicked off. With energy like this, it's easy to forget that the album was recorded in the remote Black Bay Studio on the Isle of Lewis rather than being lifted directly from a boisterous night out in Glasgow’s McChuills. The spark doesn’t waver for a moment through ‘Vicar Street Days’, a reflection on their debaucherous beginnings playing at The Rialto in Falkirk and ‘Friday on My Mind’, a celebration of falling in love and navigating the whirlwind honeymoon phase of a new relationship.

Things shift into a slightly different gear on ‘Lady Madonna’ whose more classic rock ‘n’ roll instrumentation and style is reminiscent of the 1968 Beatles track of the same name. The harmonies in the chorus have a wonderfully old school feel to them, showcasing the versatility in Daniel and Aidan’s vocal ability. ‘Turn and Walk Away’ is another shift, this time into an energy that is warmer and more laid back. Though it is a feature on all their songs, the way Daniel and Aidan’s Scottish accent bleeds through the vocals is particularly evident here. Though things had begun to slow down, ‘Scarlet Red’ still comes somewhat as a surprise. It's the first instance where we see the boys really start to peel back the layers, the vulnerability clear in both their instrumentation and lyrics. The soft guitar and gentle piano that accompany the gorgeous lilting vocal line create something that, in its simplicity, packs such a punch. It subverts your expectations and any listener who went into ‘Tuesday Paper Club’ with ideas of what a young indie folk rock band from Scotland ‘should’ sound like will be pleasantly surprised by their masterful grasp of light and shade.

Before Sam and his accordion get the chance to shine on ‘One For The Ditch’, there is a brief interlude with ‘Dippin’ n Divin’’. The recording, 30 sweet seconds of raw vocals performed a cappella, acts as a kind of aural palate cleanser at the album’s halfway point. From here, the folk and trad influences really come out to play. The second half sees Aidan take leading vocals, his tone exuding a more lived-in, earthy timbre compared to Daniel’s which is full of boyish fire and buoyancy. ‘Apples and Leaves’ and ‘Go Home Tae Yer Bed’ have a devastating charm to them and are sung in a way that forces you to stop. The latter features a guest verse from Josie Duncan who sings in Gaelic, and the way their voices melt together is simply beautiful. These two tracks personify the feeling at the end of a night out, once most people have gone and your left having deep (and often drunk, but in a way that is sweet and giddy) conversations with the ones you love most. Though the band are known for their rambunctious performances and high energy tracks, I have little doubt these two will emerge as fan favourites.

And so the album comes to its end. Anyone who has been to a Brogeal show will attest to the fact that their gigs epitomise joy. When they are on stage, the passion and love these lads have for what they do oozes off the stage and the energy they share with their audiences is as infectious as it is exhilarating. The culture around concert-going and atmosphere spoken about when it comes to Scottish gigs is second to none and for Brogeal, the chant ‘No Scotland No Party’ couldn’t be more apt. A highlight of their show comes with the bringing out of the pennywhistle, and this is exactly how ‘Tuesday Paper Club’ closes things out. For those familiar with the band, ‘Lonesome Boatman’ is the one we’ve been waiting for. Chaotic, frenzied and inciting a kind of musical madness, this track brings together everything that Brogeal are about. Listening to it on the album is great but it is a song that has to be experienced live. If ending things on a high was the goal, these lads are somewhere in the stratosphere.

Despite the fact that it's all they’ve been doing all year, Brogeal are spending every available remaining moment in 2025 gigging. Folks in the UK have to wait because they’re currently touring around Europe and thus far have played in The Netherlands, France and Germany. From release day though, they have a whopping 18 dates all over the country. Things start back home at a sold out show in Falkirk, then 5 nights around Ireland before they head to tick off as many cities down south as possible. Whilst in England, they’re playing in some gorgeous venues including The Garage in London, Manchester’s Gorilla as well and none other than Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. Things end just as they began back in Scotland with Edinburgh lucky enough to have not one but two dates. As well as their main tour, they’re stopping by and playing sets in 8 record stores which will give an opportunity to hear more acoustic and stripped back versions of their new songs. Any shows that by some miracle haven’t sold out definitely will so take care to get tickets while you still can.