The National Pop League Archive
A digitisation and oral history project documenting the celebrated Glasgow club night
Want to know all about National Pop League? It’s probably best to avoid this feature that ran in The Scottish Sun in July 2008. Spot the mistakes… Go!
And while we’re on the subject of huge errors of judgement, does anybody know what became of Brigade?
While the NiPpLe badge set tongues a-wagging at the evening’s start, the night ended with a room of dancing arms and legs. Relive the superb playlist while we wait patiently to see whether a certain follower reveals themselves (again) as being the bearer of bad nudes.
Songs missing from Spotify
Song #4: Daniel Johnston – Casper
Song #12: The Would Be’s – I’m Hardly Ever Wrong
Song #16: BMX Bandits – Strawberry Sundae
Song #18: The Left Banke – Pretty Ballerina
Song #19: My Bloody Valentine – Soft As Snow (But Warm Inside)
Song #39: De La Soul – The Magic Number
Song #42: Tindersticks – A Marriage Made In Heaven
Song #73: Happy Mondays – WFL
In 2002: National Pop League 7
Seventeen years ago, National Pop League brings the noise, the (white) heat and the now notorious NiPpLe badge.
The NPL 7 badge is often cited as being the least favourite of Pop League’s 80 among Woodside regulars. Do you agree?
The sixth National Pop League took place just hours after the 2002 World Cup had begun in South Korea and Japan. Here’s our action replay of that date, live on Spotify.
Songs missing from Spotify
Song #20: Groovy Little Numbers – Windy
Song #22: The Bodines – God Bless
Song #24: Prolapse – Killing The Bland
Song #29: Tindersticks – Can We Start Again?
Song #33: The Delgados – Monica Webster
Song #34: Ballboy – Donald In The Bushes With A Bag Of Glue
Song #40: Life Without Buildings – Is Is & The IRS
Song #45: Primal Scream – Crystal Crescent
Song #54: My Bloody Valentine – Soon
In 2002: National Pop League 6
As the World Cup kicks off in South Korea with Senegal shocking France, NPL 6 kicks off with The Beautiful South and ends with God Save The Queen “synchronised to a cacophony of popping balloons.”
“And, as far as I can see, National Pop League could never take place outside of Glasgow.”
John Hunt
May 10, 2004
Enjoy the National Pop League 5 playlist. Let’s make this precious!
Songs missing from Spotify
Song #7: Blake Babies – I’m Not Your Mother
Song #9: Drugstore – Fader
Song #14: Go Sailor – Ray Of Sunshine
Song #15: The Siddeleys – Bedlam On The Mezzanine
Song #17: All Girl Summer Fun Band – It’s There
Song #23: The Aislers Set – Hey Lover
Song #24: De La Soul – Eye Know
Song #30: Folk Implosion – Natural One
Song #35: The Von Bondies – No Sugar Mama
Song #42: James – What’s The World
In 2002: National Pop League 5
“It IS about baring your heart and cleansing your soul… well, for a few hours once a month at least.”
John Hunt
April 26, 2002
“Sometimes the only place you can wear your heart is on your sleeve.”
John Hunt
April 4, 2002
“It was during Transmission by Joy Division…and I peered around the speakers and had a look at the dance floor…and saw people just dancing on their own. Completely oblivious to everything, in little pockets, eyes shut and arms flailing…it was just music and movement and hearts beating.”
John Hunt
March 4, 2003
The National Pop League Archive 
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