Sponsorship from The Scottish Sun for the St Andrews Versus Cancer show means that anyone walking into Glasgow’s Carling Academy is instantly aware of the imminent arrival of St Andrews Day as more or less the whole crowd are kitted out in tartan tam o’shanters. After 30 minutes queuing in the cold, it’s revealed that Echo and the Bunnymen are no longer able to play, but the reason is as noble one as any: Ian McCulloch has been called away to spend time with a terminally ill relative, hammering home the charity cause. It’s a small disappointment, and Alphabeat have also had to pull out, but there are still a whole range of homegrown bands left to sample and there’s a fantastic atmosphere with flags being waved and charity messages displayed in a manner that raises awareness of the cause without shoving it in your face. The radio presenters who introduce acts could do with being a little more welcoming though; “Are you proud to be Scottish?” makes me shuffle around at look at my feet a little, being English.

Attic Lights’ Beach Boys lite sound is perfect for the occasion, warming up the large crowd in no time. Their sunny pop bridges the gap between old and young in the varied audience, as no one can resist a happy melody! ‘Dirty Thirst’ sports some jangly riffs and some slightly more cheeky lyrics, while ebullient single, ‘Wendy’ has all the power of a sing a-long.

The Fratellis are quite clearly local heroes from the staggering response as soon as they step onstage; the excitement is simply contagious as the riff to ‘Chelsea Dagger’ kicks in and the whole crowd starts to sway and dance. Yet again, jaunty guitar-led indie pop triumphs as the band deliver each song with swagger and style, throwing in a guitar solo in ‘Ole Black n’Blue Eyes’ and a couple of more rocky tunes for those that way enclined. There’s a real party mood with a significant amount of females enamoured enchanted by the indie kids’ performance, however the connoisseurs’ choice for the evening seems to be Travis, who play for a reasonably long set (presumably due to the missing bands, although one does wonder how they’d have fitted all those acts in in the first place…). They’re on top form and playing to an audience who clearly love them, so there’s no real need to spell out the way the show goes but it’s definitely a good ‘un!

Everyone involved seems to have a good night with plenty of money raised for a great charity. Versus Cancer organise shows up and down the country, so see their site here for more details.