Latest news with #BelugaLagoon
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
How Scottish band's song became remixed viral TikTok hit
The social media platform often turns little-known songs into multi-million-streamed hits, and this Scottish song has been taken on that journey. The Glen, a song penned by Beluga Lagoon, has been edited into a dance tune that's been called 'banging' by fans online. With over 100,000 videos made on TikTok using the remix as a sound, and millions of views, the song has become a sensation. Who is behind the remix of The Glen? DJ Levi Heron, from the Isle of Lewis, has remixed the song. The Glen (Levi Heron Remix) has shot to fame on the site and generated millions of views and thousands of likes. It's also racked up millions of streams, boasting an impressive 5 million listens on Spotify alone. Speaking about the inspiration behind the remix, the DJ said on the site: "To think I only made this remix for my mum for her Birthday." Who wrote the original song? The Glen was originally written by Scottish folk band Beluga Lagoon. It's the second song on the band's album The Caledonian Fig Tree, which was released in 2019. The Glen is their most listened to tune on Spotify, racking up over 6 million streams to date. Who are Beluga Lagoon? How Scottish band's song became remixed viral TikTok hit (Image: HebCelt) Beluga Lagoon is an eight-piece Scottish folk band. Founded by Scottish wildlife film-maker, Andrew O'Donnell, Beluga Lagoon conjure up music "inspired by the great outdoors." READ MORE: I saw Beluga Lagoon live at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Bandstand They released their first album in 2018 and have seven albums released to date. They've had a prolific couple of years, releasing The Slug's Bunnet in 2024, and The Tombs O' The Faeries earlier this year. They recently played a sold-out show at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Bandstand in June 2025. What's the TikTok trend with The Glen? The remix has sparked various trends on the social media platform, with people dancing to the track or using it over the top of other videos. Couples, families and people on their own have taken on the challenge of coming up with choreography for the catchy tune. What are the lyrics to the song? Beluga Lagoon are known for their expansive sound and self-proclaimed 'weird' lyrics. The chorus of the song which is used as the main hook in the remix has the lyrics: "So hope flies in the eyes again , I think I feel alive again , ohhhhh , goin' slowwwww , Oh the sun she glows , dippin my toes in the Linn." READ NEXT:Glasgow's O2 ABC branded an 'eyesore' as half-demolished site dormant for months What do fans think of the tune? People have flocked to the comments on Levi Heron's videos of the tune. One said: "I am living for beluga lagoon remix at the minute, what an absolute Scottish banger." Another gushed: "my mood instantly changes when I hear this. It just makes me so happy." A third joked: "This song should of entered the Eurovision contest."
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
I saw Beluga Lagoon live at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Bandstand
BELUGA Lagoon brought a party to Kelvongrove Park on Sunday Night. For a band whose music is based in folklore and encapsulates all things wild in Scotland, the Bandstand was a perfect fit. The booming vocals, stunning harmonies and thickly layered instrumentals of the eight-piece band carried through the park as they took the crowd on a journey. Founded by Scottish wildlife film-maker, Andrew O'Donnell, Beluga Lagoon conjure up music "inspired by the great outdoors." And Andrew couldn't look more at home as he beamed at the front of the stage, enveloped in the lush green canopy of the park's trees. I saw Beluga Lagoon live at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Bandstand (Image: Newsquest) He looked to the sky and said: "It's not raining at least, eh? Yet..." The band swelled into life, with Misty Munro FM building up the crowd for a set that would have them dancing all night. READ MORE: Eight incredible pictures from the Hong Kong Markets in Glasgow And before Andrew signalled the start of the raucous Isla, he geeed up the crowd. He joked: "You ready for some dancing, aye? Just watch yourselves on the steps, I don't want anyone phoning Digby Brown on me." And with his battle-cry-esque wailing, the song and the crowd burst into life — people ceilidh dancing and bouncing from the front to the back. Andrew's voice is incredible. He plays several different instruments and goes from guttural, shanty-like wails to sweet, soaring harmonies. His talent is matched by his energy on stage - you can tell how much he and the band are enjoying themselves. (Image: Newsquest) Beluga Lagoon work their way through the sonic landscapes of their songs as each one ebbs and flows like living, breathing creatures. Stopping for a brief intermission after a meander through old and new material, Andrew opens the second half with help from support act Kirsteen Harvey. READ MORE: Can you spot yourself in these 13 brilliant snaps ahead of Robbie Williams' epic gig? Glasgow-based Kirsteen had warmed up the crowd with an angelic, stripped-back acoustic set featuring songs written for family and shaped by her upbringing - she bares her heart on stage as she sings. A highlight from her was a stunning rendition of Billy Connolly's I Wish I Was in Glasgow, which prompted a sing-along. Kirsteen joined Andrew to harmonise on Beluga's track Coping on My Own, adding a delicious bit of depth to the haunting tune. Kirsteen Harvey warmed up the crowd (Image: Newsquest) The whole band then rejoined, and the dancing ensued immediately, both on and off the stage. Andrew joked after having a laugh and a twirl on stage, saying: "We've been practising that choreography for weeks!" The only falter he had the whole show was forgetting some lines in one song, but he recovered well and said: "Sorry, I was struggling there, bloody weird lyrics... wit am a like?!" You could feel the warmth and joy pulsing from the band as they played tune after tune. Andrew's dad, Jim, even stole the limelight at one point, belting out his best Lulu impression. The crowd was a perfect mix for this kind of family fun, and they lapped up the antics while the sky grew darker and the orange hue of the sky added to the ambience. READ MORE: 'This is so unexpected': Famous Scottish baker receives high honour The night's highlight came from the band's biggest hit, The Glen. The crowd cheered and danced while singing every word of the TikTok-famous tune back to them. After a brief walk-off, they retook the stage for the encore, which rounded off the night with fan-favourite Margo & Barry. As the lights faded down and the crowd shuffled out of the park, groups were chanting choruses and basking in the leafy leftovers of a band that is no doubt about to head to bigger stages. But, with a sound so steeped in the essence of Scotland, the Bandstand stage is one they'll always fit like a big green glove.
The National
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Scottish festival celebrating green initiatives and grassroots talent
Founded from the chill out zone in the famed Wickerman Festival, by a local youth counsellor and a bunch of bored teenagers, the Eden Festival launched as its own cultural gathering set within the picturesque Raehills Meadows, Moffat, Dumfriesshire, in 2009. With a key focus on celebrating Scotland's top grassroots artists across a plethora of genres, the Eden Festival has grown into a four-day event, from June 12 to 15, and is packed full of art installations and live music. Hannah Gould, festival director, believes one of the reasons why Eden Festival has become such a popular event is due to its mantra of welcoming everyone regardless of how 'quirky' they may or may not be. READ MORE: 'It's needed now more than ever': Thousands march in support of Scottish independence 'Our aim is to get a space where people can experiment, and audiences can discover something new, and they're not held in by anything,' she said. 'No matter how quirky or unquirky you are, we like to make everybody feel a part of the family, which I think is quite a unique vibe at Eden.' Ahead of this year's festival, organisers have unveiled its much-anticipated theme of space, inviting festival-goers to embody a cosmic experience. This year's headliners include performances from Bob Vylan, Slum Village, Beluga Lagoon, Mungo's Hi-fi, and Tom McGuire & the Brassholes. The 10-stage independent festival's musical offering spans genres, from world music to folk, funk, classical, jungle, dancehall, and everything in between. (Image: Canva) There are also dedicated nature and kids areas where people can either get away from the 'thick of it' or be in the thick of it if they wish. 'We have so many different stages, tents, workshops and installations that everybody's going to find something that they love and everybody's going to find like-minded people as well,' Gould said. Along with providing top performances, the Eden Festival also prides itself on its green initiatives, which include appointing an environmental warden, banning single-use plastics, and running a 'rent a cup' scheme where you pay a small deposit and keep your cup for the event. Gould said the festival has organised shuttle buses for the first time this year as they are encouraging more people to leave their cars at home and take public transport to the event. She added that the festival organisers take care every year when constructing the event space to make sure they rehome any animals which may be nesting within the grounds, which includes a group of ducks which return to the site every year. Gould explained that last year, the ducklings hatched at the start of the festival, so they set up a 'Garden of Eden' where they were blocked off from the public. 'Every year when we do the build, we always discover there's generally birds nesting either on the ground or in some of the buildings that we have, so there's always a big effort to make sure that they're rehomed,' Gould said. (Image: Love Moffat) With the festival being not for profit, Gould said they have rejected any corporate sponsorships, meaning they have been able to keep their creative freedoms. She added that throughout the years, the Eden Festival has built up strong connections with local traders who have helped the event flourish into what it has become today. Gould said: 'We're in a position where we use a lot of local suppliers who have been very good to us because we are a community interest and we're not for profit, you know, so we do call in a fair few favors.' However, Gould said one challenge the festival has faced this year is that due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, people have been unable to snap up their tickets earlier in the year. Gould explained that not having people buy tickets earlier makes it logistically harder to plan the event, but understands that people are finding it harder to pay for things up front when money is tight. She said: 'The biggest trouble this year is people buying tickets later. 'We used to find that people bought tickets more regularly throughout the year and we're finding this year, especially, that people seem to be leaving at the last minute to buy tickets.' Click here to buy your tickets to Eden Festival or to find out more information.
