Nick Heyward remains the very embodiment of optimism in pop form. Since his breakthrough in the early 1980s with Haircut One Hundred, he’s had an innate ability to make life feel that little bit brighter simply by pressing play.
Dog died? Put on a Nick Heyward record and the world doesn’t seem quite so bleak. Misplaced your wedding ring? No problem… at least until you get home!
For a generation, Heyward was the poster boy of British pop — the handsome frontman with the sound of summer, adorning countless bedroom walls as Haircut One Hundred’s effervescent hits filled the charts. Four decades on, that same charm still radiates from him, and tonight at Cottiers in Glasgow’s West End, it’s on full display.
The venue — a converted church glowing with moody red light and character — is tailor-made for intimacy, perfectly suited to the Scottish leg of Heyward’s aptly titled ‘Acoustic Expedition’ tour.
Opening the evening is rising country star Isabella Coulstock, whose growing reputation precedes her. Having already supported the likes of Jools Holland and The Who, she commands the stage with easy confidence. Her warm, expressive voice and infectious energy win over the crowd within moments, her solo set an impressive mix of heartfelt storytelling and unpretentious charm.
Then comes Heyward himself — and, unbelievably, he still looks about 15. One suspects there’s a portrait ageing in an attic somewhere, or perhaps he’s stumbled upon the fountain of youth.
Ever engaging, Heyward fills the spaces between songs with a mixture of anecdotes, dry humour, and even a touch of mindfulness. A story about bumping into George Michael in a jacuzzi draws laughter, while his gentle breathing exercises add a strangely soothing intimacy to the evening.
He very nearly puts his foot in it when reminiscing about his previous Scottish show: “I love Greenock — it’s the friendliest place I’ve ever been… except Glasgow, obviously!” Cue laughter and relief from the crowd — he gets away with it, just.
The setlist draws primarily from his solo career, offering rich reminders that Heyward’s melodic gift didn’t stop when he left Haircut One Hundred. Still, nostalgia reigned supreme as ‘Love Plus One’ made its inevitable, joyous appearance, before he saved the big hitters — ‘Fantastic Day’ and ‘Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)’ — for the finale.
By the end, Cottiers’ seated audience is thoroughly won over: smiling, applauding, and basking in the afterglow of an evening that felt both personal and celebratory. And, of course, Heyward couldn’t resist a pun — declaring they’d all had a “fantastic day.”
We’ll forgive him. He’s earned it
Review & Photographs by John Brown Photography
