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Pick Three Chords - Episode 17 (2026)

Episode 17 - after a wee break we're back! Our new season of tunes and chat for 2026 starts now. Plus the show is broadcasting on Open House Radio, London.

The Mirror Trap   

A Painting of a Building on Fire

Back in 2011, episode 1 kicked off with a track from The Mirror Trap, so it felt fitting to revive the show with one of their new tracks. They've had a new burst of life this year, releasing a new EP and touring with Placebo. They told me this song was born from a sound recording at a protest in Dundee's city square - people were hitting pots and pans, making a hypnotic noise. A loop of these sound formed the rhythmic basis of the track. The lyrics come from "a wee rambling monologue type thing I wrote about my fear of memory loss. The fear that I've tried to start over and reinvent myself so many times that I'm getting like a worn out old tape. Stretched and glitchy."

Released: Aug 26
From: Dundee
Heard: Live
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Theo Bleak   

John

From the Bargaining mixtape, which features a very interesting collection of songs, loops, sounds, thoughts.

Released: Dec 25
From: Dundee
Heard: Live
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Connor Liam Byrne   

Glorious, Glamorous

I recently saw Connor and the Bad Kissers play yet another a great show, and I hear more new music is coming . . . Connor wrote this when he was 19, about platonic love, and it's the most streamed track yet!!

Released: Feb 25
From: Dundee
Heard: Live
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Cruise Elroy   

One Slip

This one raises the volume a bit, and brings a smile to my face, was great to see them play live too.

Released: Sep 25
From: Dundee
Heard: Live
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Do You Like Butter?   

DYLB Theme

DYLB? released their debut album last month, this is the first track from a very characterful collection of tunes. It started as a drum demo, then they realised all the riffs from their EP worked over the chords, hence the name DYLB Theme. Listen closely at the end for their "Live Turkey" riff played on synth.

Released: Sep 26
From: Dundee
Heard: Live
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Andrew Baird   

Bluebells

Andrew appeared at the Dundee Fringe last month, with a delicate acoustic show exploring nature and the seasons. This song was one of those featured, and he says "Bluebells is a nostalgic song about waiting for spring to come around again. It's the story of two people who keep meeting in the same place, but are a little different each time."

Released: May 26
From: Dundee
Heard: Live
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Roseanne Reid   

Mama

I saw Roseanne play across the Tay at a Big Rock Newport show, and really love this new pair of songs. Delighted to host her at the next Songwriters Night in November. There's also a new album coming from Roseanne later this year.

Released: Aug 26
From: Dundee
Heard: Live
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Lambda Miners   

Stardust

Edwin featured on the previous episode of pick 3 chords, and this is from the new album, a great juxtaposition of everyday and wonder. He says the track was inspired by a comment on social media, along the lines of "Do you ever think about the fact that we're basically sentient stardust, and yet we still have to put up with all this nonsense?" - "So I thought it would be interesting to try to contrast the everyday and mundane with the astronomical and think about the ways that we are all essentially the same."

Released: Aug 26
From: Dundee
Heard: Live
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Abby Lou   

Follow The Trail

From Abby's debut release earlier this year, also spotted singing in band Our Dearest Apologies. She says this song "revolves around the idea of being determined enough to find the light at the end of the tunnel. It's a song to remind that when life is particularly challenging, you will make it through to the other side, and everything happens for a reason. I wrote it to remind myself that things will get better, and they absolutely did."

Released: May 26
From: Perth
Heard: Online
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