THE BARROWLANDS is synonymous with boisterousness, screaming loud music and lager in plastic glasses being thrown in the air.
But tonight, the iconic venue is to play home to the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, fronted by local guitar band, Travis.
Frontman Fran Healy grins as he admits the idea of the soft rock outfit appearing at the Barrowlands with a 50 piece orchestra is, well, unusual.
“It’s definitely different,” he says, grinning of the concert which will be broadcast live tonight on BBC Radio Scotland.
“It’s a real cultural mix, the musical equivalent of the traffic cone on top of the statue.
“But that’s why the idea is so great because it’s so Glasgow. And to be honest, this idea sums me up.”
Bass player Dougie Payne agrees; “When you put high and low culture together you create interesting things and combine two very worlds.”
The event is part of BBC Music Day, a UK-wide annual celebration of music which aims to unite communities across different generations.
The build for BBC Music Day begins with Bryan Burnett at 6.30pm featuring Fran Healy in conversation.
BBC Radio Scotland’s special evening will also feature Scottish music talents, Amy MacDonald, Eddi Reader and other songwriters.
However, the highlight of Music Days Travis’s appearance with an orchestra.
Fran Healy admits the very idea of the concept to be daunting.
“These guys are professionals, they all turn up on time, know what they’re doing and can read music,” he says smiling of the BBC Symphony.
“And that’s unlike us who are semi-professional. And of course it’s intimidating. But it’s also fantastic for us.
“We get to play with professional musicians who are as slick as German transport.”
The Travis boys are going to have to tone down their act, which will feature material from their new album, Everything At Once.
“We’re going to have to turn our sound down a bit so we can hear the orchestra,” says Fran.
“The drums will probably be a bit too loud. But we’ll do that happily and the sound will be so fantastic.
“In fact, I want to hear this show. I want to enjoy it at and at some point I’m going to come off the stage, during an instrumental, and get into the audience just so I can feel it for myself.”
The Travis/BBC Symphony is most certainly a one-off.
“This is a hugely expensive thing to pull off,” says Fran.
“We could never have afforded to do it on our own and for that reason it will never happen again.”
Dougie adds; “For that reason, we’re going to enjoy every minute of this show.”
Fran Healy admits this occasion will bring a special tension.
“We’ll all be nervous,” he says, “but it will be a nice nerves, the sort that really gives the performance an edge.”
• Travis, with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Radio Scotland, 8pm.
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