It was an ideal evening in Glasgow, with fans assembling outside SWG3 in the city’s west end, eager to see Nathan Evans and the Saint Phnx band at their sold-out show. Despite the early start, enthusiastic supporters lined up along the street to get into the venue.
The venue was bustling as the opening act, Kirsteen, took the stage. A talented young singer-songwriter, she performed before a packed house. Her voice was stunning, captivating the audience with her original songs which were well-received. She also included several cover songs, such as renditions of “Caledonia” and “Expresso,” which got the Glasgow crowd joining in enthusiastically. Following her performance, the audience at SWG3 gave her an overwhelmingly positive reaction.
As the moment approached for Nathan Evans and the Saint Phnx band to take the stage, the venue was packed to the brim, bustling with a diverse crowd of both young and old. Family members of Nathan, Steve, and Alan Jukes were gathered at the side of the stage, eagerly anticipating the performance. The atmosphere was electric, with the audience in high spirits, singing along to the tunes playing through the PA system during the setup. The air was charged with excitement as everyone eagerly counted down the minutes until Nathan made his appearance on stage.
As the lights dimmed, the intro music of “We Like to Party” by Vengaboys filled the air. As the music gradually subsided, Nathan, Alan, and Steve appeared on stage. They kicked off the event with their popular song “Flowers in the Water,” which had everyone in the venue singing loudly, pure joy evident on Nathan’s face. It was clear that the night was set to be a grand celebration.
Nathan queried the audience about their fondness for country music, receiving a thunderous response. Bolstered by Alan, who lifted his hands in anticipation, the crowd’s enthusiasm soared. Nathan then introduced “Wagon Wheel,” a classic by Old Crow Medicine Show, and the audience joyfully sang and danced along.
Nathan announced to the crowd that he would be performing a new song titled “Perfect Storm.” This upbeat track quickly had the audience dancing along, as all of Nathan’s compositions tend to resonate well with his fans. From the very beginning, he captivated everyone, with the crowd thoroughly enjoying every moment of his music and the performance.
Nathan mentioned he would meet up with them in the crowd, pointing out a large pink cross on the floor as he navigated through the crowd. He introduced a song that delved into themes of being in a dark place and not enjoying life or work. He explained, “Sometimes we find ourselves in a dark place; this song, ‘Paper Planes,’ reflects on that period in my life.” The song, impactful and meaningful, resonated strongly with his expanding fan base.
The band’s performance was electrifying, and the energy in the venue was electric. Nathan discussed his collaboration with the Saint Phnx boys, reflecting on the progress they’ve made together over the past six months. He introduced the next track, “Deadmen,” mentioning it was one of his favourite songs by Saint Phnx. The audience was lively, enthusiastically singing along. Following that, they played the fantastic “100 miles,” keeping the crowd at SWG3 in high spirits as everyone danced and sang together.
Nathan announced that the next song would be the last one of the night, a track by Saint Phnx that needed no introduction. As the familiar intro of the band’s anthem “Happy Place” echoed throughout the venue, the crowd joined in, singing the chorus “Over the Hills and Far Away” with enthusiasm. The evening truly lived up to the song’s title, creating a joyful atmosphere where both the audience and the band enjoyed themselves immensely. The performance ended with thunderous applause from the Glasgow crowd as the band exited the stage.
After a brief intermission, Nathan and the band returned to the stage. Nathan announced that the next song was a popular sing-along, encouraging everyone to join in for “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” The audience enthusiastically sang along at full volume. Between songs, Nathan and the band discussed the upcoming Euros this summer, leading into the chorus of “No Scotland No Party.” They then introduced “Home,” their unofficial anthem for Scotland.
The audience was thoroughly enjoying themselves, and to escalate the excitement, Nathan introduced “Highland Girl,” which brought the energy to new heights. The climax came with their final song, “Heather on the Hill,” the band’s latest single, which nearly blew the roof off the venue.
The band bid farewell and posed for a photograph before exiting the stage. Tonight was a remarkable celebration; it was a grand party where everyone enjoyed singing and dancing at an incredible event.
If you get the opportunity to catch Nathan and the Saint Phnx band live, don’t hesitate – it promises to be an incredible performance. Keep an eye on them as they are likely to bring their dynamic show to larger stages soon.
Review and Photographs by James Edmond Photography