Culture Archives - The Glasgow Guardian



Review: Thirty Seconds to Mars at the Hydro

25th June 2024

What happens when a fully involved act meets a half empty arena? Entering the Hydro on a mild Thursday night, it’s a far cry from the usual concert fanfare. The out-of-bounds upper bowl seating and slack standing crowd juxtapose the towering pyramid stage. The house lights soon go down and a three-sided spotlight intensifies on ...


What does it mean to “sell out”?

22nd May 2024

What’s in a label? In 1965 Bob Dylan invoked musical Armageddon with the strum of a Fender Stratocaster—the feedback resonating like a Judas Kiss on the cheeks of orthodox folkies across America. It was a betrayal of his acoustic roots, of the dispossessed and repressed, of Woody Guthrie, of the anti-war movement, of the American ...


A retrospective for SOPHIE

22nd May 2024

There are a lot of people like Sophie Xeon, but there has also never been anyone like SOPHIE. I have a theory that only two albums in the past ten years have really mattered. Yes, I know, your favourite band is very influential, sure, but when it comes down to it – the landscape is ...


TikTok stole my favourite song

22nd May 2024

The influence of Tiktok is here to stay, and if you think you’re getting away from it, well, I will prove you wrong. “It’s murder on the dancefloor! If you think you’re getting away”… well, you know how it goes. Sophie Ellis-Baxtor’s hit single has re-rocketed to the top of the charts over twenty years ...


Review: Olivia Rodrigo at the Hydro

22nd May 2024

A rising star stops off in Glasgow on their hotly anticipated first arena tour – not a bad idea, right? As candles spelling out GUTS slowly wither on a stretching LED screen, anticipation is in the air. It is this type of audience expectation, alongside a prevailing assumption of being a one album wonder, that ...


Review: Vanderlye at St. Luke’s

22nd May 2024

Vanderlye’s careful curation and slick live performance highlight their position as a growing force in Glasgow’s music scene. For Glasgow-based guitar outfit Vanderlye, May 4 was a hugely significant date in the calendar. Not because it was Star Wars Day, but because it saw them play one of the East End’s elite music venues, St ...


Review: Yard Act at the O2 Academy

22nd April 2024

One of the best bands in the world meets one of the best crowds in the world – what could possibly be better than that? Two years on from their Mercury Prize-nominated debut, The Overload: a record that shines through its raw instrumentals and witty lyrics that satirised post-Brexit Britain, Yard Act continue to surprise. ...


Essential Valentine’s Day Films

11th March 2024

Love, passion, romance: the romantic film holds true and strong year round. Now that everyone’s least favourite greeting card holiday has long passed, it seems like a suitable time to reflect on some romantic films. Whether you spent the Valentine’s alone or with someone(s) special, I have gathered the following three films as personal favourites ...


The simplicity of the everyday: a Perfect Days review

11th March 2024

Wim Wenders’ introspective feature was nominated for Best International feature film at the Oscars this year. How many bad days have you had? Probably quite a lot. You’re probably thinking about a recent bad day right now. Okay, on the reverse of that – how many good days have you had? And going even further, ...


Big City: big excitement in the lead up to Glasgow’s newest festival

7th March 2024

A curated experience showcasing independent talent – Glasgow’s newest festival is simply unmissable.  Taking place this summer, Big City is the freshest festival due to hit Glasgow’s music scene. Highly anticipated by gig goers across the country, a special day-long, music-packed spectacle will take place at Queen’s Park in the Southside on Saturday 29 June. ...