Legendary DJ and UK music icon Jo Whiley is bringing her new 90s Anthems tour to Glasgow next month - and is looking forward to a return to a city which has created so many memories for her.
This May, at the O2 Academy, one of the authorities on British music over the years, will bring the decade of mayhem, magic and misty memories to the city, showcasing the songs that defined the 90s, from Oasis and Blur to the Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy.
Jo can be considered the definitive voice of fresh, exciting new music, having introduced the world to countless emerging bands and global superstars through her generational Radio 1 show.
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Whiley started out in local radio before landing a job as band booker for infamous TV show The Word, bringing Nirvana and Rage Against The Machine to the UK’s screens for the first time. Jo then made the move to Radio 1 in 1993 and hosted The Evening Session with Steve Lamacq, a weekday role she maintained for 16 years before moving to weekends.
She will forever remain the iconic face and voice of Glastonbury too, fronting coverage on Radio 1, BBC and Channel 4, while she now hosts the 7-9pm weekday slot on Radio 2. Still on the cutting edge of new music, Jo can be considered a national treasure.
And ahead of the May 14 gig, she shared her favourite memories of taking to the decks in Glasgow, and some of the best nights she's had with the stars.
"One night I always remember is the evening when we came to Tramway in Glasgow (just at Britpop had exploded in 1994).
"But more recently, I did the Sport Relief triathlon. I ran with Travis and did the 10k with them and also James from Biffy did the cycling leg. I swam in I think 8 degrees, it was so unbelievably cold, it was so cold!
"I just remember being pulled over by the kindness of people there, people were standing in the parks waiting and shouting encouragement and they were so unbelievably sweet, it helped us get through.
"Fran was giving us the whole tour when we were on the bike cycling like 'oh this is where my grandparents used to stay'. It was quite an emotional journey doing the cycling with him because it was going through all his childhood haunts.
"Another time I came to Glasgow to do I think it was at Simon, James and Ben’s house when I was at Radio 1 and we did the live talk at his place. So I had the Biffy hospitality when we came there! Wonderful time."
Of course over the years, Jo has helped elevate the careers of a number of Scottish bands, such as Travis and Biffy. Many of them spent their early days taking to the famous King Tut's stage, where Jo always has a special place for.
She said: "Tuts is one of the iconic venues in the world isn't it let alone the UK.
"I think for every band it’s really good to have it on your CV. King Tut’s is like a badge of honour to know that you have played there. it is really important that at one point you are on that stage. Every legend has played there. It’s a real accolade to play there.
"It's one of the big legendary, well tiny legendary venues.
"I remember standing in it thinking this is miniscule but going 'out wow this is the place!'"
Jo also talked about her excitement for the upcoming gig, with the Glasgow crowd expected to provide the energy other places just can't seem to replicate.
She added: "I can guarantee whenever I interview bands and ask where are your favourite places to play they say Scotland. The crowd is just one of the most rewarding receptions on stage because the audience goes absolutely crazy and sing along.
"Why is that? I have no answers about how wonderful it is what happens.
"It's become such a cliche because when bands do press here they say this is the best crowd in the world and people don't believe it, but it’s true people genuinely mean it and say it all the time.
"There is just such a raw emotion that comes out in the crowds and the passion for music in Scotland and the impression for all the bands that play there is quite something, it says it all."
Jo's 90's Anthem's night takes place at the O2 Academy on May 14. For tickets to the 90's Anthems event and for more info, you can visit via TicketMaster here.
