Category: Live review

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

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

Alcatraz – live on Sauchiehall Street

May 10, 2026 By neilho27@sky.com

A wee bonus gig review for the indominatable Alcatraz who continue to go from strength to strength. The band have been building a head of steam lately with a noteworthy performance early in the day at this years House Guest Fest followed by what looked like an uproariously good night in London where Liv took advantage of her wireless bass to make her way outside mid-song. 

This appearance as part of Sauchiehall Street Music Day was a bonus warm up (maybe the wrong words given Eleanor’s protestations about it being cold onstage…) ahead of their forthcoming headline gig in The Hug and Pint on the 30th,m.… Read the rest