Back in 2016, Scottish folk/rock four-piece Tide Lines released their debut single, ‘Far Side of the World.’ Now, after ten years of gradually climbing the mountain that is the music industry, the band are set to play their biggest headlining show to date at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro this September. “I don’t think we had any particular expectation,” says frontman Robert Robertson of the band’s progression over the past decade. “We never really got signed by a major label, and we’ve never really had a moment where one thing that we’ve done has really rocketed, so it’s kind of gradually grown.” From their first Glasgow show at The Art School a decade ago, to three sold-out nights at the Glasgow Barrowlands eight years later, the band’s progress has been steady, and the Hydro feels like the natural next step in their journey. “Back when we started we didn’t have any specific one of these [gigs] in mind, but each one of them has felt like a real progression,” Robertson admits, as we sit down to talk all things tenth anniversary, and what has enabled the band to reach this point together. 

Tide Lines did not happen overnight, as is clear from their lengthy hunt for a band name. “We wanted something that reflected where we’re from - the Highlands of Scotland rural and coastal communities. But we couldn’t put our finger on what it was. We had loads of different ideas and we were going back and forth on a WhatsApp group for months.” With their aforementioned debut single ‘Far Side of the World’ already written and recorded, their lack of a name became a lot more pressing, until a lyric from this very song provided the solution. ““In my mind I see her smile / Where the tide lines grace the isle” - Tide lines being that high point on a beach where you see bits of driftwood and things that have been brought in by the ocean. So we went for that. And it was cool at the time because when we announced ourselves on social media we literally had one song, and the name was linked to that song.” 

Just like their name, Tide Lines’ songwriting and sound has always been heavily influenced by their Highland roots. Robertson confesses however that specific inspiration always “varies and depends on what I’m into at the time.” Take their most recent single, ‘Alright,’ for instance - a song that depicts the day-to-day life of a farmer or crofter. It was Robertson’s reading of Irish poetry earlier in the year, specifically the descriptions of poets like Seamus Heaney and Patrick Kavanagh of “the people of the land and working”, that served as his main inspiration when piecing together the lyrics of the song. 

The band’s influences aren’t always rural though. Their most recent album ‘Glasgow Love Story’ is “probably the best example of an album that was inspired by one particular thing” - the iconic Scottish city named in the title, that Robertson moved to for university. The project served as “a highland perspective on the city,” as he called it, with each track showcasing just a small slice of his experience living in Glasgow. “It was inspired by things that I was seeing everyday. ‘Cherry Blossom Sunset’ was about Kelvingrove Park on a sunny night and the sunset reflecting onto the red tenements of Glasgow. ‘By The Quayside,’ it’s more of a factual song about the ship building heritage in the industrial heyday of the city. ‘Leaving Town’ was about Glasgow as a port and people going out to sail the world.’ The record even features more personal moments, like ‘Ashton Lane,’ named for the iconic Glasgow street and chronicling Robertson’s experience selling his first flat in the city. 

It is, however, in Tide Lines’ first live album,‘10,’ released earlier this year, that the inspiration is perhaps clearest to see: they wanted to make a record that truly encapsulated their last ten years as a band. “Most live records I’ve heard from bands I like are one particular gig - like Deacon Blue live at the Barrowlands. They’re all one show, and that’s kind of cool because you feel like you’ve experienced that show.” 

Tide Lines opted for a different route though. Having recorded every concert over the last four years, their approach was to compile a selection of their favourite performances from a variety of different gigs, with the aim of creating something that told “the whole story of Tide Lines.” It took time - between the four bandmates there were about twenty shortlisted concerts, each of which contained twenty songs that had to be diligently sieved through for their standout moments. Eventually, however, the final tracklist was put together. From massive crowd pleasers at sold-out nights in the Barrowlands, to the more stripped-back moments from their acoustic ‘Elements Tour’ shows, there truly couldn’t have been a better way of capturing the full tapestry of moments and emotions that are felt at a Tide Lines gig - a sentiment even Robertson shares. “We’re really, really delighted with it. Unlike a studio album, we don’t feel like we’re being boastful when we say we love it, because the Tide Lines audiences make the tracks. The crowds are singing along and it’s a really beautiful thing.” 

When quizzed on his personal favourite Tide Lines gigs, Robertson struggles to piece together a definitive shortlist. “It’s really difficult to choose three,” he laughs, “on another day I could choose three entirely different gigs probably.” Today however, he highlights the third night of their Glasgow Barrowlands run as a definite standout, alongside a show in London’s iconic Shepherds Bush Empire. “We did two thousand tickets there, which  for us is an as big, if not bigger achievement than doing ten thousand in Glasgow. It’s like wow - I can’t believe we’re doing this in London!” Sneaking in at number three is a gig in Aberdeen Music Hall a couple of years ago. “We’d just that very day got a Scottish number one. It was our second Scottish number one album but the first one had come during lockdown… and I just went out and said “thanks very much for getting us our second Scottish number one,” and the place went absolutely bananas. It was absolute carnage from start to finish and it was just a great gig.” 

As for current standout songs to perform live, he admits that it honestly varies from gig to gig. “Whatever one the crowd react to on any given night is my favourite,’ although the lead single from their last album, ‘Homeward Bound,’ seems to be a real crowd pleaser at the moment. Their inclusion of different covers is also certifiably enjoyable, always helping to freshen up the set. “This year we’ve been doing Tom Petty’s ‘Freefalling.’ So that’s great, at the moment I’ve been enjoying that.” 

These rankings are likely to be shaken up soon though, with the band headlining their first arena show in just under a month. Being based in Glasgow, a city with a serious lack of in-between venues, Tide Lines knew that the Hydro was their only real option if they wanted to step things up for their tenth birthday. “Obviously it’s a dream to play the Hydro, but at the same time we were kind of reticent in case we were biting off more than we could chew. But it didn’t turn out that way at all.” 

After nervously announcing the gig last year, thousands of tickets were snatched up within hours of being on sale - a true relief for the band, who had feared a year of slogging through promotion might have been on the cards. “We have been pushing it to quite a big extent, but we thought this was going to be like touch and go as to whether we were going to get our deposit back. But no, it’s been great.” 

Although the band’s setlist conversations are still ongoing, Robertson revealed we can expect a new cover, and that “if anyone’s been at a Tide Lines gig before, we’re going to pull out all the stops to make this the best ever. And if anyone hasn’t ever been to a Tide Lines gig before, this is the one to come to. It’s just going to be a party.” 

We ended our chat back where we began, discussing not only the roots of the band, but of Robertson’s music career in general. He shares that his upbringing is to blame for shaping him into the musician he is today. Between his Mum’s piano playing and his Dad’s love of folk musicians there was “always music in the house.” Even his performing experience began early - “I was going out as a young kid and singing at ceilidhs and concerts, and eventually started singing a bit of Gaelic and then the accordion. My first accordion teacher is a huge part of why I’m playing music. He used to take me out to the local hotels in Fort William and I would sing a few songs for the tourists… there’s a whole variety of elements that create you as a musician, and I could go on for hours here. But I’m very grateful to all of them.” 

As for the continued growth of the band, however, Robertson states that “it’s the fans that are to blame for that.” After an initial joke about the fan support on the financial side of things, he confesses that “genuinely, the people that have supported us since day one, and the people that have joined us at various points along the last ten years are the reason that we still continue to play.” Every person streaming the music, buying the merchandise, attending the gigs - these are the people Tide Lines get back in the studio for. “In order to create music, we need to know that there’s people who will want to listen to our music. Thankfully there still is. And people who want to come and hear us play live, because when I write a song I think about performing it live. I’m writing a chorus, I’m thinking about how this is going to go down live… so first and foremost the reason we’ve stuck at it is the people who are listening and consuming and enjoying it.”