Music is often divided into two broad spheres: the mainstream and the underground. In Scotland, this is no different, and ‘DIY culture’ as a concept continues to be lauded and promoted in our independent music media. But how inclusive and community-driven is our underground music scene? And what attempts are there to decouple it from the dominant neo-liberal model? Dr Stewart Smith poses these questions in this long read…

This year marks a century since John Maclean returned to Glasgow after suffering imprisonment, force feeding and hard labour at Peterhead Prison. One of the great revolutionaries of the Red Clydeside era, Maclean was revered by Lenin and Trotsky and described as the British Military Intelligence as 'the most dangerous man in Britain’. Henry Bell, whose book 'John Maclean: Hero of Red Clydeside' is out now, writes for Conter about what inspired him to study the iconic figure, and why he believes his message still matters...

On Sunday, Dundee plays host the second annual Leftfest, a one-day festival of political radicalism with music, spoken word, food and drink, and stalls from trade unions, local traders and campaign groups. The Leftfest Dundee Collective write for Conter about the values of such a project, its challenges and why people should come along and learn from it….

An anti-fascist movement is growing in Scotland and culture has become a key weapon in the emerging battleground. A writer with Interregnum, an independent radical online blog run by activist reporters, researchers and dissident writers based in Glasgow, speaks on the importance of building a sense of solidarity in underground scenes and looks ahead to this weekend's major anti-fascist hip hop event...

A recent arts industry report posed the question: where are all the working class people in the visual arts? Reflecting on Glasgow's biggest festival for contemporary art, Hailey Maxwell concludes that, if anything, exploitation and inequality in the world art itself reflect British society as a whole...

Scotland is one of the most exciting places to be whether you're a creator or follower of radical film, with a rich pedigree and numerous ongoing projects and annual exhibitions. In the second of our radical arts guides - the first being our music guide - editor Jonathan Rimmer picks out some key starting points for those looking to delve into the radical side of Scottish film...

Following up on the recent release of 'No Problem Here', Conter is looking to publish articles about racism on the left, issues of racism in Scotland, and hear perspectives from black and POC writers. Poet, writer, artist and playwright Raman Mundair reviews another recent text in this long read: Afua Hirsch's 'Brit(Ish)'. In an age of fast moving identity politics, what does it mean to be British?

Whether it's the International Brigades or the Cuban revolutionaries, music has always played a pivotal role in developing the ideas of any radical political movement. In the first of several radical arts guides, editor Jonathan Rimmer picks out some key artists, labels and projects with an anti-capitalist or anti-fascist ethos...

Rapper and commentator Darren 'Loki' McGarvey's book 'Poverty Safari' has helped reopen essential debates around poverty and class. Editorial board member Ben Wray reviews the book from a socialist perspective, putting the book's key themes and topics into context...