Dylan John Thomas at Glasgow’s OVO HYDRO
Dylan John Thomas brought the house down at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on Friday night, marking the final stop of his 2024 tour with a rousing performance that celebrated his meteoric rise from local busker to arena headliner. The East End native, named after Bob Dylan, captivated the sold-out crowd with an energetic set, making his first arena show a night to remember.
Enter Shikari: Live at O2 Academy Birmingham
It was a rather miserable Friday night in Birmingham, on 6th December, when the O2 Academy was set ablaze with the electrifying energy of Enter Shikari. Supported by rising American alt-rock band Teenage Wrist, the atmosphere in the venue was palpable from the second the doors opened.
Sports Team: Live at O2 Forum Kentish Town
On the stormy night of 25th November, English alt-rock band Sports Team brought their amazing headline show to the O2 Forum Kentish Town, for the final date of their brilliant Boys These Days UK Tour.
Shed Seven Ends Scottish Leg of Tour in Style At The O2 Academy in Edinburgh
Yorkshire legends Shed Seven lit up the O2 Academy Edinburgh on Saturday night, closing out the Scottish leg of their 30th Anniversary tour in style. With support from fellow Yorkshiremen The Sherlocks, the evening was a vibrant showcase of northern English talent in the heart of the Scottish capital.
Icelandic Rockers ‘KALEO’ Sold Out Show at Glasgow’s O2 Academy
Icelandic rockers KALEO took to the stage at the O2 Academy Glasgow on 18th November, delivering a powerhouse performance to a sold-out crowd. From the first chord, the band’s signature blend of blues, rock, and folk kept the buzzing audience spellbound.
Miles Kane - ‘One Man Band’ Tour
Miles Kane lit up Glasgow’s iconic King Tut’s on Sunday night with an electric performance, on his “One Man Band” Tour. This gig marked his final Scottish date, following stops in Edinburgh and Aberdeen before heading South, and it was clear from the start that Kane had saved something special for the famous Glasgow crowd.
NOAHFINNCE: Live at XOYO, Birmingham
On November 7th, NOAHFINNCE brought his autumn UK headline tour to Birmingham and the evening proved to be not only an electrifying pop-punk experience, but a celebration of both talent and inclusivity in the music scene, as the show commenced with sensational support from South Arcade and featured special guest Taylor Acorn.
An Evening with They Might Be Giants: “Flood, Book and Beyond” Tour at Belfast’s Mandela Hall
After a few years off touring, They Might Be Giants returned with a vengeance, delivering one of the highest-energy shows I've ever seen. The band was constantly jumping around and improvising different parts of their sets. That's right—"sets." This show consisted of TWO sets with a short intermission between them. Each set lasted around sixty minutes and was entirely new each night. You could follow them for the whole tour and never see the same set twice. With a total of twenty-three studio albums, the band has a vast repertoire to choose from, making each night different and exciting.
Sam Tompkins Brought his “hi, my name is insecure tour.” to SWX, Bristol
On the gloomy autumnal night of 6th November, Sam Tompkins graced Bristol’s SWX with an aura of blessed light, illuminating his audience’s hearts with his heavenly vocals and healing lyricism. Named after his phenomenal debut album, the Brightonian artist’s “hi, my name is insecure tour.” is sizably and vocally his greatest yet, beginning in Manchester, embarking across Europe and eventually culminating in Paris in December. With support from the remarkable Kerr Mercer and the magnificent Martin Luke Brown, Sam’s Bristol show was a stunning celebration of positive masculinity, as the trio of male artists respectively showcased their emotionally rich artistry.
Ice Spice: “Y2K Tour” at Birmingham’s O2 Institute
After briefly postponing the date and switching venues, Ice Spice brought her energetic energy and catchy hits to Birmingham’s O2 Institute on 5th November for the final show on the UK leg of her “Y2K World Tour”. The concert was originally supposed to take place nearby at the O2 Academy but, due to the rapper having to change plans and attend a Fortnite event in her hometown of New York City, the venue was altered. The venue change was not an issue for me personally, as I always appreciate how much character the venue possesses and how grand the interior feels, and the alteration meant I could experience the main room of the O2 Institute after first attending an intimate gig in the venue’s ground floor room earlier this year.