Tonight promises to be a memorable occasion, marking the final night of Gun’s tour and what appears to be the band’s traditional Christmas party. There’s no better setting for this celebration than the iconic venue. We are also thrilled to have two fantastic support acts, Collateral and Kira Mac, joining us for the evening.
Early arrivals congregated outside the venue, with VIP fans getting in ahead of the crowd. The energy in the air was palpable, creating an incredible buzz as everyone geared up for a spectacular party night featuring Glasgow’s own east end boys. As the doors swung open, the eager fans flooded into the venue, ready for an unforgettable experience.
The first act was Collateral, who exploded onto the stage with energy. Frontman Angelo Tristan had a knack for captivating the audience, engaging with those in the front rows while commanding the entire stage. With a brief set, the band aimed to make a strong impression on newcomers, and they succeeded with their intense six-song performance. Standout tracks included the impressive “Glass Sky” and “No Place For Love,” culminating in their closing number, “Mr. Big Shot.” Collateral delivered a dynamic, in-your-face show that is sure to attract new fans. This is a band you won’t want to miss live, showcasing a high-energy rock experience.
A band currently generating quite a buzz is Kira Mac, and I can’t wait to see them perform live. Fronted by the talented Rhiannon Hill, this female-led group delivers an impressive show with captivating vocals. They kicked off their brief set with the beautiful rock blues track “One Way Ticket,” which certainly caught the attention of the audience. Some standout moments included “Chaos Is Calling” and “Play The Game,” where Rhiannon commanded the stage and engaged with those in the front row. Although their set was short, the energy and music made it feel like they had just started playing.
Their 30-minute performance left the crowd wanting more, especially when they announced the last song. To wrap things up, they played “Climb,” during which Rhiannon stepped off the stage to connect with the audience and sing to them directly. The crowd loved it, joyfully singing along as the band rocked out together. At this point, Rhiannon had truly won them over.
As the band prepared to leave the stage for the headliner, Gun, they expressed their eagerness to return to Glasgow in the new year. Judging by the enthusiastic applause they received, it’s clear they gained many new fans. Kira Mac is definitely a band to watch in the future.
As the stage crew prepared for Gun’s performance, the atmosphere in the venue buzzed with excitement. Fans eagerly anticipated the final show of the tour, celebrating a remarkable year for the band following the release of their album “Hombres.” This album propelled them on tours through Spain, Portugal, and Germany, achieving number one status in various countries and across multiple formats. Gun has truly made a splash this year, and tonight serves as the ultimate celebration of their success—set in the iconic Barrowland Ballroom, just a stone’s throw from where the band originated.
As the lights dimmed in the venue, the energy from the Glasgow crowd was electrifying. The intro music sent shivers down the spines of the fellow Glaswegians, featuring the iconic vocals of Alex Harvey with the classic “Delilah” from The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Just as the audience began to sing along, Gun burst onto the stage, with Jools making his first appearance, followed by Dante taking his place. They launched straight into “Lucky Guy,” making the venue come alive from the very start.
The new songs are storming in the set as you could witness from Lucky Guy, there is always time for the classic and no Gun set would be the same with them, these will flow in and out throughout the set. There was a storming version Vicious Heart from the swagger album before Welcome to the Real World.
The moment had arrived for one of the standout tracks from the new album, the incredible “Falling,” which only seems to improve with each live performance. Dante introduced the next song, taken from the album’s deluxe edition, calling it a brilliant piece titled “Pride.” The Glasgow crowd has been energetic from the very start, bouncing, dancing, and singing along to every song as if their lives depended on it.
The band pushed the venue to its limits as they wrapped up their set with an explosive finale, raising the roof with classics like “Word Up” and “Inside Out,” culminating in their final song, “Steal Your Fire.” Afterward, they took a well-deserved short break for both themselves and the audience.
As the band made their way back to the stage, only brothers Joolz and Dante rejoined, with Joolz holding an acoustic guitar. They performed the fantastic “The Only One,” while the Glasgow choir sang along perfectly. Following that, they played the iconic title track from the band’s debut album in an acoustic rendition: “Talking on the World.” The crowd was captivated, as both songs resonated with beauty, feeling as though they were crafted exclusively for this extraordinary occasion.
Donald MacLeod from the Clan Macleod made a special appearance to present the band with the BPI award for surpassing 10,000 sales of their album “Hombres.” Donald was seen wearing a crown and had a reindeer that he misplaced in the crowd. The audience erupted with excitement as the band received their award.
As the full band came back on stage, Dante expressed that nothing could top this moment as they launched into “Better Days.” The energy in the Barrowland soared with fans jumping, dancing, pogoing, and singing passionately along to the incredible “Shame on You.” As the song wrapped up, the band bid farewell and captured a photo with the crowd to commemorate the wonderful memories.
There’s truly nothing quite like a hometown show, but when you combine the final night of a tour with the spirit of Christmas, it becomes an unforgettable celebration. From the very beginning, tonight was electric, featuring two outstanding support bands before Gun took the stage, delivering a thrilling set that felt like an early Christmas gift for the fans.
If you have the opportunity to see any of the bands, you won’t be disappointed. However, experiencing Gun in their hometown is truly unparalleled. there is no place like home.
Review by Karen Edmond
Photographs by James Edmond Photography
