Jack Morris details what to see - and hear - next year in Glasgow.

When it comes to the British music scene, every city tries to lay claim to “the musical capital.” London has more legendary musicians than there are days in the year. Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham all hold credit as the birthplaces of iconic rock and pop legends, and even in Scotland, Edinburgh boasts an impressive musical history. But there’s nowhere quite like Glasgow. From absolute showstoppers at Bellahouston Park and the OVO Hydro, to iconic venues like the Barrowland Ballroom and the ever-mythical King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, the city never sleeps when it comes to musical experiences. So what are the best gigs to keep an eye on in 2025?

Do you want an iconic Glasgow act to perform at the city’s most famous locale? Well, you're in luck, as Franz Ferdinand are headlining the Barrowland Ballroom on 7 March. Famously named after a race horse, and not the deceased archduke, they are best known for their iconic indie rock sound, with hits such as Take Me Out and The Dark of the Matinée, seeing one of the most famous Glaswegian bands of the century play at the city’s truest musical culture hub is a chance you don't want to miss out on.

If you're around in the summer, why not pay a visit to the Queen's Park based Summer Nights on the Southside? With headliners including Echo and The Bunnymen, Del Amitri and The Saw Doctors, and support from Glasvegas, The Lightning Seeds and King Creosote, the 4-night semi-festival on 26-29 June is absolutely worth your time, even if to just enjoy the luxuries of Queen's Park in the summertime.

Are you looking for a mix of garage rock/pop? Check out Hinds at Saint Luke’s on 20 February. The Madrid-born band still have tickets on-the-go, and it's absolutely worth hearing their unique sounds. With some ‘60s influences prominent in their sound, they are still reminiscent of modern contemporaries - The Vaccines come to mind. This gig is definitely not one to miss for fans of femme fronted rock.

Now, here's a bit of a "hear me out" recommendation; King Tut's Summer Nights will most definitely be running again in 2025. No bands are yet known, however based on the 2024 lineup alone, there will be an absurd group of local talents and “one’s to watch.” This year hosted headliners including The Rampants, Foreign2, The Squints, Sara Rae, Honey and Róisin McCartney to name a few highlights, from my personal experience. The support is also fantastic, every night having three or four acts, including bands with some potentially familiar faces for University of Glasgow students. King Tut's Summer Nights is typically a seven week affair, and it is worth seeing at least a couple of shows. This supports up and coming local talents, as well as some established Glasgow bands. As stated, no bands are confirmed yet, but many previous Summer Night's acts may likely return, as well as other underrated talent on the scene. The ever-astonishing Brielle, the absolute mentalists that are known by Bambito's, and other up and comers like The Tranquils and The Martells are just a few of the fantastic acts that I pray to see on the 2025 lineup.

So, there's just a few of the myriad of musical experiences coming to town in 2025, this isn't even mentioning JPEGMAFIA's upcoming O2 show, another absolute highlight of next year's lineup, but that's because when it comes to music in Glasgow? Well, Scotland's cultural capital never sleeps. Not a bloody wink.

Published 24 November 2024