The festive season is vibrant in Glasgow, with Santa hats adorning the crowds as people line up outside the iconic Barrowland Ballroom for the opening night of Callum Beattie’s three-show run. The atmosphere is electric, as attendees of all ages eagerly anticipate Callum Beattie’s performance at the renowned Glasgow venue.
As the audience filled the venue, everything was ready for the inaugural night of a three-show series. Opening for the evening was Pistol Daisys. This three-piece band truly knew how to electrify the venue during their first performance there. From the very first song, they captivated the audience with their catchy tunes and impressive sound, infusing the atmosphere with emotion and energy. Promoting their latest EP, *Saint Glasgow*, the girls garnered a host of new fans as they wrapped up their set to a fantastic reception from the Glasgow crowd before leaving the stage.
As the lights dimmed and the intro music began, the audience buzzed with anticipation for Callum Beattie’s arrival on stage. The energy in the venue was palpable as the Glasgow crowd eagerly awaited his performance. When Callum stepped onto the stage, he kicked off the set with the fantastic “Salamander Street,” igniting the party atmosphere and prompting the audience to sing along enthusiastically.
Callum captivated the audience as he moved around the stage, especially charming those in the front rows. Some of the standout moments included “War on the Streets,” “Bonfires,” and the fantastic “Daddy’s Eyes,” which featured a brief rendition of Abba’s “Dancing Queen”—a song he used to perform in various small pubs in Edinburgh during his early career. The venue erupted in song, creating an atmosphere of one big celebration.
The audience was lively, belting out tunes like “Dead Man Walking” and “Pins and Needles,” before joining in to dance and sing along to the Starship hit “We Built This City.” Following that, Callum shared insights about the charities he supports and discussed the impact of mental health on many people, after which he performed his latest single, “Something in My Eye.” He then treated the crowd to a fan favourite about his time living in Easter Road, Edinburgh, which had everyone singing at the top of their lungs.
The title track from his latest album, “Vandals,” was succeeded by a memorable moment when Callum invited the Pistol Daisys to join him on stage for a performance of the classic Fleetwood Mac song “Dreams.” The harmonies between Callum and the girls were incredible, highlighting their remarkable talent.
As the girls exited the stage, Callum remained with his guitar, singing the first verse of the Frankie Goes to Hollywood classic “Power of Love,” before the band joined in for the second verse. It was truly a special moment, and the emotion Callum infused into the song was remarkable. Next up was Callum’s biggest hit to date, “Heart Stops Beating,” which nearly brought the roof down as the audience and Callum harmonized in perfect unison.
Callum didn’t require any encores; he simply remained on stage to perform his new song, “Lantern,” as white balloons floated up to the venue’s ceiling. It was a magical moment shared between him and the audience as he showcased his beautiful new track to the crowd in Glasgow. After experiencing this, we’re all eagerly anticipating the release of his new album in 2025.
Tonight was truly memorable as Callum delivered an outstanding performance, captivating the renowned Barrowland audience with a mix of new and classic songs. In the midst of the set, Billy Coyle took to the stage to honour Callum with an induction into the Barrowland Hall of Fame. If you have the opportunity to see Callum Beattie live, be sure not to miss it; his incredible performance will have you dancing and singing along. From start to finish, Callum completely owned the Barrowland.
Review by Karen Edmond
Photographs by James Edmond Photography
