The Glasgow Summer Sessions came to a triumphant close tonight at the stunning Bellahouston Park, with the city basking in a rare – and much welcomed – evening of sunshine.
Yes, you read that right… sun in Glasgow!
After the cold and rain that soaked the Simple Minds gig earlier in the week, tonight felt like a gift. The crowd, clearly determined to make the most of it, turned up in force for a closing night to remember.
And what a way to sign off: Stereophonics, the pride of Wales, shunning Glastonbury to play in Glasgow instead. Whether or not that’s strictly true doesn’t really matter – the cheer it got when frontman Kelly Jones mentioned it suggests no one cared. Glasgow was honoured and already bouncing.
Opening the night was Finn Forster, a Teesside talent on the rise. Already familiar to many in attendance thanks to his previous tour with the ‘Phonics, Finn looked right at home on this massive outdoor stage.
He and his band didn’t hold back, delivering a confident set of modern rock with a synth-driven twist. The tight vocal harmonies – aided by an excellent backing singer – and catchy hooks made it clear why he’s one to watch.
Finn returns to Glasgow on 29th July at Nice & Sleazy on Sauchiehall Street – and after tonight, that intimate show might just sell out.
The crowd swelled further in the golden circle, sun still high and beer flowing freely from the refreshment vans that seemed to be doing record business. The relaxed pace between sets let people soak up the festival vibes.
Blossoms were next up – and were greeted like headliners.
Their 12-song set was a glorious journey through immaculately crafted indie-pop, dripping in synth textures and stage flair. Tom Ogden, ever the showman, slithered and posed his way across the stage, cajoling the Glasgow crowd into full participation.
The stage setup was pure theatre – adorned with bongos, vintage phones, and even a reel-to-reel recorder – and it worked.
Standout track? It’s tough to choose, but ‘There’s a Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)’ might just take the gold.
Then, as the sun began to dip but the heat still hung in the air, it was time.
Straight into ‘The Bartender and the Thief’ with full pyrotechnics, the ‘Phonics made it clear they weren’t here to mess about. The energy surged from the first chord and didn’t let up for 22 storming tracks.
Kelly Jones was on point – cool, commanding, and vocally flawless. The band delivered a masterclass in festival rock.
With a back catalogue as rich as theirs, this could easily have been a greatest hits show – and in many ways, it was. ‘Have a Nice Day,’ ‘Pick a Part That’s New,’ ‘Local Boy in the Photograph,’ and the now-anthemic ‘Dakota’ had Bellahouston Park singing, swaying, and losing themselves in the music.
Even the wind – which occasionally disrupted the sound, especially toward the back of the arena – couldn’t dampen the mood. The crowd’s voices often overpowered the PA anyway.
As ‘Dakota’ closed the set and the band took their bows, Glasgow roared its approval. It was a euphoric end to a spectacular night – and to a memorable run of Summer Sessions shows.
DF Concerts deserve credit for another superb week of programming.
We’ve had sun, wind, and rain – sometimes all at once – but above all, we’ve had some of the best live music the city has seen this summer.
Now, as Bellahouston Park breathes a sigh of relief and the staff gears up for the trip across the city to TRNSMT, local residents can enjoy a few weeks of quiet before the football season starts – Ibrox Stadium is but a short walk through Bellahouston Park… they’re a hardy bunch in these here parts you know!
Thank you, Summer Sessions.
We’ll see you next year – and we already can’t wait.
Review and Photographs by John brown Photography
