The Hour

Usually when a band takes over a year to produce an album it is a sign that something isn’t quite right. For Glasgow band There Will Be Fireworks the prolonged recording wasn’t due to musical differences or indecision but down to the fact that all four members were completing their final year at university. With degrees in law, English literature, production design and maths under their belt it is no surprise that their eponymous album is smart, literate and well-produced, adding up to an impressive debut.

Law graduate Nicky McManus (lead guitar and vocals) says that although the band only formed in February 2008 they have known each other for a lot longer.

“I’ve known Gib since I was about 4 or 5, since primary school and I’ve known the others since secondary school. In fifth and sixth year we were all in bands, there was maybe a group of about 10 of us,” he explained: “We just practised but we never played any gigs, probably because we were pretty dire.”

Though the boys were all previously in different bands, they came together as a four-piece when bassist David returned from St Andrews but still needed a name. There Will Be Fireworks may stick in the memory of new fans but the source of their unique moniker remains something of a mystery.

“To be honest I don’t know where it came from,” laughs Gibran: “Somehow we all went out for the night and when we woke up the next morning we all had that saved on our phones.

“There must have been some sort of group conversation! We like to think it’s a good myth now.”

You may think that such a well-educated group of young men would avoid some of the daft accidents that befall many young bands on the road but you would be wrong.

“We were going to Edinburgh in a van, a really rubbish van. There was one of these height restriction things that was 2.2 metres high,” said Nicky: “The van was a tad over that and the roof was shaved off.” In true “show must go on” fashion, and with a little ingenuity applied, the setback wasn’t allowed to have an effect. Nicky revealed: “We continued though, we drove up to Aberdeen, we just got a big sheet of tarpaulin and covered it.”

Having recently graduated, the usual plans of stardom and touring have been put on the back burner as the band explore career options. However, they remain convinced the band can continue as they have overcome obstacles before.

Nicky said: “We’ve managed to do what we have so far whilst being in our final year at uni so as long as we can find enough time maybe once or twice a week to practice then hopefully we can continue doing what we have been doing.

“The good thing is that it’s the summer holidays just now so we have plenty of time to gig and we’re starting writing a new album.”

There Will Be Fireworks and they will be worth watching.