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For many, Punk is seen as a movement of two cities – London and New York, both eternally sparring for the title of The Originator. But Scotland had its own distinctive Punk movement which laid the groundwork for a musical ethos that is still alive and well in the scene today. Bands like The Rezillos and Scars created their own punk movement before most of them even knew what a punk movement was. In doing so, they infused the scene with a do it yourself attitude that the next generation of musicians embraced wholeheartedly, taking Scottish pop in a new but still resolutely rebellious direction – New Wave.

The 60s was a crucial decade in pop music history. As it swung into life, bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones began to take over the world. This countercultural revolution was felt in Scotland too, as Beat groups such as The Poets and The Beatstalkers staked their claim on the scene. But it wasn’t just mop-top popsters that Scotland was producing, it also nurtured proto superstars like Lulu and true artistic individuals such as Alex Harvey and John Martyn, who would push the boundaries of pop music in increasingly shouty and psychedelic ways.

The early 1980s was an extraordinarily rich and varied time for pop music. New technology was appearing, pushing the boundaries of what was sonically possible. At the forefront of this technological revolution was the synthesizer. Previously only affordable for the few, by the early 1980s synths were relatively cheap; and Scottish bands were buying. From the pioneering early works of future stadium rockers Simple Minds, through the pop perfection of Altered Images, and into the weird and wonderful world of The Associates Scottish bands forged new ground in the early years of the decade, creating a lasting impression on the UK pop charts. They produced some of the best synth pop songs of all time - from Smalltown Boy to Sweet Dreams - and inspired generations to come. Today Scotland’s synth pop heritage lives on via hugely popular alternative act Chvrches, whose nostalgic but fresh take on the sound sells out stadiums around the world.

Today the Scottish musical landscape is dominated by indie guitar bands. But this vibrant alternative scene would perhaps not exist without the DIY rebellions of a network of friends in Glasgow and its surrounding towns in the 1980s.

This is the story of one of pop music’s most anarchic, perplexing and controversial groups - The KLF.

This is the story of how four friends came together to form Scotland’s most enduring independent label and the bands - from Arab Strap to Mogwai - that they championed.

A look at some of Scotland’s most successful and well loved alternative rock bands - from Idlewild to Franz Ferdinand, and Belle and Sebastian to Frightened Rabbit.

As a coda to Rip It Up Unwrapped, music journalist Lauren Martin guides us through some of Scotland’s best new alternative music, with a particular focus on her home town - Glasgow. Taking in everyone from afro-beat influenced indie kids Sacred Paws and experimental multi-instrumentalist Ela Orleans, to gothic synth pop band The Ninth Wave and cosmic performers Free Love, Lauren explores the rich variety of musical acts who have found a home in the city. She runs through some of her favourite local acts, like Spinning Coin, LAPS, and Lanark Artefax as well as highlighting the key aspects of what makes a Glasgow such a great place for musicians to live and work today - from record shops like Monorail, to distribution hubs like Rubadub, who support many local record labels. Also featuring music from C Duncan, Catholic Action, Walt Disco, Siobhan Wilson, Kathryn Joseph and Young Fathers and contributions from Vic Galloway, Stephen Pastel, Stuart Braithwaite, Alex Kapranos and Richard Chater of Rubadub.