So many to choose from in both categories

The Gigs Of The Year

2025 was another busy year for gigs, though I didn’t manage to close off #Chapter2 of our #AtoZMusicalTour with the letters U and X still awaiting to be ticked off.

The #RaceAcrossEurope tour which was our #Interrail holiday was even better than 2024 with some great locations and bands, topped off with Nick Cave in the Pompeii Amphitheatre. Musically, The Kills, absolutely killed their set in Zagreb and probably this was my own personal favourite gig of the year.

Glasgow remained the location of choice throughout the year and there are so many venues across the city which deserve a mention. In truth though, the smaller the venue the more intimate the gig and I was never disappointed wherever we ended up.

The LaFontaines called it a day though Glass Cheques have risen from their ashes and hope to see and hear more of them in 2026 especially if their gig at McChuills is anything to go by.

I’ve selected 10 gigs below which stood out across the year, though a few more could easily have been added. Click on the link and it will hopefully lead you to the gig review.

2026 already looking good for more musical experiences with #Interrail tickets already booked.

· 15-Aug, Nice’n’Sleazy, Glasgow The Cathode Ray

· 24-Jul, Amphitheatre of Pompeii, Nick Cave

· 30-Nov, Classic Grand, Glasgow, Dirty Three

· 21-Jul, The KKL, Lucerne, Ezra Collective

· 13-Nov, Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, Heaven 17

· 12-Jul, Tvornica Kulture, Zagreb, The Kills

· 17-Apr, SWG3, Glasgow, The LaFontaines

· 04-Jun, The Rumshack, Glasgow, Tom McGuire and The Brassholes

· 6-Aug, Kelvingrove Bandstand, Public Service Broadcasting

· 25-Sep, SWG3, Glasgow, Red Rum Club

So big end of year shout outs to all the musical acts above

The Albums Of The Year

Selecting 10 top albums released during 2025 was always going to be a difficult process. Most of this list mirrors some of the acts we saw live and the albums were quite often added to the collection to have a foretaste of what the setlist would be. While not a totally eclectic range of music it does mirror the wide selection of music I’ve grown to like over the years.

· Tom McGuire & The Brassholes – A Name For Everything I’ll Ever Be

· The Cathode Ray – Advance Retreat

· Butler, Blake & Grant – Butler, Blake & Grant

· Squid – Cowards

· Avalanche Party – Der Traum über alles

· Vlure – Escalate

· Tropical Fuck Storm – Fairyland Codex

· The Moonlandingz – No Rocket Required

· F.O. Machete – Mother Of A Thousand

· Marconi Union – The Fear Of Never Landing

No order on the above, at certain points of the year they meant something, even if just for a day or so, but they have remained in the memory as albums I’m glad were added to the collection.

And that’s all for 2025. Hope there’s something here that may be of interest to you.