Category: Gig reviews

The Jesus and Mary Chain & The Hollywood Vampires – Live review

August 18, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

The first day back at work after two weeks off ended with a trip to the Hydro to see the hard rock supergroup Hollywood Vampires whose concept/gimmick is similar to that of Belfast postman The King whose albums were made up of covers of songs by deceased rocks stars. The key difference being his twist was that he sang them all in the style of Elvis, while the group of undead from Tinseltown mixed their set of covers with songs released by two of its core members, Alice Cooper and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry along with a smattering of original songs. 

I’d enjoyed Hollywood Vampires before on one of their previous visits to Glasgow and as such I may not have bought a ticket this time around, but having seen who was announced as support I couldn’t resist it.… Read the rest

The Courettes  – live in Stereo

August 9, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

It feels like The Courettes have a bucket list aiming to play every venue in Glasgow. Having seen them in a whole host of places over the years, I have to say that this set in Stereo was up there with the best.

Support came from The Lotts who supported The Courettes when they played Room 2 in 2024. The band appear to have come on in leaps and bounds since that gig, their raucous serving of 1960s influenced garage punk songs was played with such a ferocious energy it would have blistered paint off the walls of Stereo if indeed there had been any left.… Read the rest

Lemon Drink – live in Glasgow with Maz and the Phantasms, Osmara and Needle Green

August 1, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

Another absolutely bangin’ four band bill to enjoy with even more reason to celebrate as gig day was my last day of work before two weeks annual leave… what better way to start a holiday than with some live music to help shake off the shackles of work and let loose.

As is my tradition, I arrived in plenty of time to grab a good vantage point for the first band. Having read various reports of unacceptable toilet habits at gigs I should point out that despite finding a spot at the barrier, I still know where the toilets are…nuff said.… Read the rest

Hen Hoose & Friends – The Old Fruitmarket

July 28, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

The Old Fruitmarket is a wonderful venue, not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but the acoustics are tremendous and this was a wonderful musical occasion in association with the Commonwealth Games and the Merchant City Festival. Talking of the Merchant City Festival I’m also buzzing for this Friday’s indie music showcase featuring 4 Outta 5, Radhika, f.o. machete, Youth of America, and Lungleg, having taken a day’s annual leave to go. Unfortunately, personal circumstances changed and I now won’t be there for the first two bands, hopefully arriving in time for f.o. machete. This really disappointed me as I’d been trying to see Radhika live for ages, but the planets have just never aligned, so it was just as well she was opening proceedings at this very special gig…

Radhika was the first of three supports on this wonderfully varied and eclectic bill, playing her indie dream pop solo and acoustically ahead of the County & Western stylings of Riley and the acoustic folk of the delightfully engaging duo of Carol Laula and Yvonne Lyon.… Read the rest

Fog Bandits & Alcatraz – Live in SWG3

July 25, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

Friday night, well, late afternoon in Glasgow’s SWG3, and it was a lovely evening… this gig was supposed to be in the outdoor arena, but a couple of days before, the promoters moved it to the Galvanisers Yard due to “weather.” For weather read poor ticket sales. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve seen ticket price reduce to £10 then freebies on offer… and that is no slight on the bands I was there to see. I hadn’t bought tickets originally as I couldn’t go all night, and no offence to Kyle Falconer but I’m not sure he was ever a big enough draw to fill the venue… I heard rumours of 300 tickets sold in total…

Anyway, not my concern as I was there bright and early for the two opening acts.… Read the rest

King Tuts Summer Nights – Limerence with So Boring, Bed and Late Night Getaway Drivers

July 20, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

My third gig of this years Summer Night season (if you count the pre-Summer Nights warm up up with Alcatraz, Awful Eyes & Leisureland) and all bands on the bill were a first for me, buying a ticket having heard great things about so boring. live gigs and being addicted to Limerence’s debut single She Bites since its release.

As always with these gigs… well pretty much any gig… I was in position ready for the first band. That’s one of the things I love about these multi band bills, half hour sets with a quick turnaround between so there’s no hanging around for ages.… Read the rest

King Tuts Summer Nights – Close Control with Corrine, Brittle and Bite the Bullet

July 11, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

My first time experiencing the 2026 Summer Nights series of gigs (bar the brilliant opening party last week with Leisureland, Awful Eyes and Alcatraz) was for one of Scotland’s hottest properties right now, Close Control, who captured my imagination earlier this year with their edifying debut single, Proximity, one of 2026 tracks of the year for sure.

As always with Summer Nights, the bill features an eclectic mix of bands ahead of the headliners with Brittle opening the night playing a fierce set of earnest alternative post-hardcore rock with shades of nu-metal influences set, my highlights being Be Mine and an ironically bruising Delicate If you’re heading to Belladrum this year, be sure to seek them out.… Read the rest

Summer Nights Warm Up – Alcatraz, Awful Eyes & Leisureland

July 4, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I was fortunate to be invited to a secret gig in King Tut’s last night ahead of the start of their Summer Nights series of gigs. This annual showcase features a whole host of the best of new and emerging Scottish bands and the warm up event featured three bands who have headlined at either Summer Nights or New Years Revolution, Leisureland, Awful Eyes and Alcatraz.

The venue was packed with invited members of bands who are performing at this years event, many for the first time and as such, one of the Summer Nights promoters, Meg hosted a Q&A before the bands played their sets with all three acts giving some insight and the benefits of their experience.… Read the rest

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – live in Glasgow

July 3, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I don’t use the word icon lightly, with a period in recent years where the word was ubiquitous, utterly overused, everything seemed to be described as “iconic,” almost as much misused as another of my most hated words, literally… literally, everything was iconic… ha ha.

Anyway, when it comes to Joan Jett, the word fits her as perfectly as her tight leather breeks did last night. Hers was a performance of understated cool NYC nonchalance, cutting a suave figure of effortless style, and an air of unhurried consummate professionalism, having the hyper-hyped crowd eating out of her hands from the get go.… Read the rest

5 Years of Crowded Flat – Gig review

June 15, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

All photographs courtesy of Dale Harvey

It’s always nice to go to a birthday party, and when that birthday party is to celebrate the vibrant Scottish DIY scene marking 5 years of the brilliant Crowded Flat, with a high calibre line up of bands to help get the party rocking, it makes it all the sweeter. The independent music scene in Scotland is so strong just now, every week there seems to be a new band on the scene, with new singles dropping every few days, what a time to be alive…

I had a stressful time on my drive to the venue, living within almost Kenny McLean shooting from the halfway line distance of the national stadium I was held up as horde of pink cowboy hat bedecked middle aged women descended on the Southside to witness a bunch of washed up millionaires topping up their pension funds.… Read the rest