Category: Gig

Sugar – Live in Barrowland – Love You Even Still tour

June 3, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

I don’t often venture out to “bigger” gigs that often these days preferring to spent my hard earned bucks going to several small gigs rather than one big splurge. However, there are those gigs that come along that are a no-brainer and so I found myself in the Barrowland for the first time in an age having set my alarm to buy tickets for Sugar the moment they went on sale. I wasn’t missing this one for anyone…

If I thought the Hug and Pint was a sweat box on Sunday, it had nothing on the Barrowland, and that was even before Sugar made an appearance, I already had lines of perspiration running down my back and things were just going to get hotter in every way imaginable as Bob, David and Malcolm took to the stage and launched into The Act We Act the wall of sound created by the powerful trio hitting like a piledriver from the very first moment.  From… Read the rest

Keeley – The Hug and Pint w/The Martial Arts

June 1, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

The end of the weekend loomed but there was one last hurrah to enjoy after the shenanigans of The Termites the night before, this time in the company of the inimitable trio Keeley and their long awaited Glasgow headline show where they treated the gathered throng to their uniquely cinematic soundtrack in celebration of the short life of German backpacker on her ultimately tragic trip through Europe to Ireland. 

Before Keeley it was the turn of another trio, this time led by local stalwart of the indie scene, Paul Kelly and his power pop band The Martial Arts, he was joined on stage by other luminaries of the Scottish music scene Ian Cronin (The Supernaturals) on drums and Simon Shaw of Dragged Up (and a host of others) on bass.… Read the rest

The Termites – live in Audio with Gallowgate Murders and Aftrshocks

May 31, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

There aren’t many guarantees in life, especially in these fucked up dystopian times when Trump does whatever the fuck his perverse addled brain tells him and fuck the consequences while over here Starmer continues to look like a rabbit in the headlights without a clue what he is doing, ultimately both of them acting as the  puppets of Netanyahu…

One thing in life that is guaranteed however is that when you see a gig being put on by Shrunken Head Promotions you just know there will be a party atmosphere from the off, with a vibe that says everyone is welcome and no one is left behind.… Read the rest

The Countess of Fife – Live in The Glad Cafe

May 24, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

Photos courtesy of Stephen Brown

The Countess of Fife recently released her second album, New Phone, New Car, New Man, so for the Glasgow half of her album launch gigs, having already played Edinburgh’s Voodoo Rooms earlier in the week, it was fitting for her to return to the scene of previous victories, a local gig for me at The Glad Cafe.

It was a very civilised affair in the intimate surroundings of the room in the Southside venue, and as I took my seat, I was anticipating a highly entertaining night packed with jocose quips from the inimitable Countess herself punctuating a set of rabble-rousing alt-country anthems.… Read the rest

Warmduscher & San Jose – live in the Classic Grand

May 19, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

This was a bit of a last minute one, I’d seen the Warmduscher gig advertised but it was only in the last week or so that I noticed San Jose were to be the support, that sealed the deal for me.

Anytime I’ve seen San Jose before, the gig descends into near riot with stage invasions, beer flying, raucous pits, athletic moves and incursions into the crowd from their rambunctious frontman Calum as well as disrobing by the band, well particularly guitarist Cean. Despite the early set time and the fact it was a Tuesday night, pretty much everything was there apart from the stage invasion for the finale, a boisterous and life affirming multi faceted anthem through one of my favourite singles of last year, Dirty Linen.… Read the rest

Thrum Thirty – La Chunky Studio, The Hidden Lane

May 16, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

Say the names Johnny Smillie and Monica Queen to any music fans of a certain vintage in Glasgow and they will probably nod knowingly with the pair having been a ubiquitous part of the Glasgow music scene for as long as I can remember going to gigs. I’ve seen them live in various incarnations over the years, I believe the first time may have been when they were playing as Moni and supporting Horse in the Barrowland Ballroom? Anyway, this year, in their Thrum incarnation, their classic album Rifferama is getting a long overdue re-release to celebrate thirty years since it received its first outing and in support of this they will be playing several dates across the UK including dates in Edinburgh in the Wee Red Bar and Cottiers in Glasgow.… Read the rest

Middle Class Guilt – Their King of Comedy – album launch gig – Nice ‘n’ Sleazy

May 9, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

There is a strange dichotomy that exists when I’m dealing with my mental health that means when I get overwhelmed with anxiety and depression, the first things that fall off the radar are the things that bring me joy, keep me grounded and give me a focus. I end up fixating all my energy on negativity, overthinking and becoming selfishly insular and uncommunicative, and I start to spiral and break before I realise what is going on. I’ve really struggled to keep on top of things for probably the last 2 years now, but with some support from therapy which, along the way, opened up some raw wounds but also allowed me to have some closure, I really believe that I’m starting to feel as if for the first time in a long time, I finally recognise who I am and can take back control again.… Read the rest

Awful Eyes, Oedipus and the Mamas Boys, Citizen Head & Vacant Pavements – live in King Tuts

January 16, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

All Photos courtesy of Dale Harvey

What should have been my third gig of 2026 turned out to be my first one, and it was a belter with four very different bands all ploughing their own furrow in their chosen genre, or indeed just by ploughing their own furrow full stop and in doing so defying pigeonholing…

The first band on the bill were a case in point, when I previously saw Vacant Pavements supporting Tanzana in McChuills I was late to the venue and only caught the last song of their set, which was more than enough to whet the appetite for more, I’m disappointed in myself that it’s taken until now to fix that.… Read the rest

Count the Days Backs Against the Wall EP cover

The New Sound of Scotland – Count the Days – Backs Against the Wall – EP Review

January 7, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

The first feature for one of the bands appearing on the You Are Here – The New Sound of Scotland CD coming out shortly is an EP review for Count the Days and their debut Backs Against the Wall. This review comes on the eve of their headline performance as part of King Tuts New Years Revolution alongside Comfort Girl, Dalmatic & The Noise Club, a tasty line up if ever there was one.

The five track EP includes their 3 singles to date Above You, Springbank Road and Get Up! alongside new song Kings and Queens, and an acoustic version of Springbank Road.… Read the rest

Looking Back… Junk Pups

December 30, 2025 By neilho27@sky.com

Junk Pups recently bowed out playing their last gig as part of the Palestine Red Crescent Benefit gig in the Hug and Pint in December. Here is every appearance in these pages from 2022 to that last gig…

2022

Singles Round Up 2022 – Part 4…

Junk Pups – Front Garden Flamigo

In the time its taken me to eventually getting round to publishing this, Junk Pups have another single out in the shape of Miss Behave, but lets take some time to bask in the glory of the angular post punk guitars and laidback funky groove of Front Garden Flamingo.… Read the rest