Liverpool-hailing indie-rockers Circa Waves returned to perform to the highest standards following a previous sold-out UK tour. When they landed in Glasgow on February 16th, they performed in the stunning and energetic Barrowland Ballroom to what was possibly their loudest audience to date. Compared to their last performance in Glasgow, which took place at the little Saint Luke’s in February of last year, this was already bound to be a much livelier show.
Circa Waves @ Barrowland Ballroom
Circa Waves are celebrating another sold-out tour, and this Glasgow event is the only one in Scotland and the third in the UK. The group has a vast discography that devoted fans have come to appreciate, and they have released five studio albums. In January 2023, the indie rock group published their fifth album, Never Going Under which included the hugely successful songs Do You Wanna Talk and Living In The Grey. Since then, they have not released another album.
Joel Smith (vocals), Ben Henderson (bass & vocals), Jack Taylor (guitar), and James Fawcett (drums) make up the upbeat Manchester indie band Corella. They took the Barrowland stage by storm as the first act of the night. The indie quartet band’s short onstage support performance included an amazing set list that featured just original songs. This included Drifting as an opener with Bloom and Barcelona Girl. Also making the setlist was an unreleased song called Rewire which sparked a mosh pit among the fans. Lead singer, Joel Smith, leaped off stage and joined in, finishing the remainder of the song in the middle of the mob.
The Manchester born singer’s strong voice and the alluring instrumental parts that accompanied him filled the hall with each song. Before long, the audience was singing and dancing along to their unforgettable tunes and infectious choruses. Their distinctive yet recognisable sound and charismatic presence captivated the already energetic audience.
Next up was the English indie rock group Peace. The band’s current members are brothers Harry and Sam Koisser on guitar and bass, Douglas Castle who is lead guitarist and Dominic Boyce on the drums.
Regretfully, Peace performed without a bassist for the Glasgow crowd owing to unanticipated circumstances. This didn’t stop them, because they had Harry Koisser play guitar and vocals while controlling a computer that played the bass notes. Very impressive, in my opinion. From the very beginning, the performance was forceful and engaging, combining rock music with a dance-infused element. Being a member down made the evening a little odd, but it didn’t affect the set because the audience were treated to an incredible show. The audience were fully involved, dancing and singing along to the set despite the lineup changes.
Throughout their performance, the audience was captivated by their catchy rock tunes. Peace’s tracks had a more rock and head bang vibe, but Corella’s sound was more indie dance influenced. The rock band kept the Barrowlands dancing and cheering along with their set, which included only original songs. These fan favourites included, among others, Intro, Bloodshake, and Lovesick. Although I wouldn’t often listen to the music that Peace produces, they were a lot of fun to see live and they had the audience dancing all night.
Headliners Circa Waves had a monumental set when they eventually took to the stage. Since their formation in Liverpool back in 2013, the four-piece band have experienced tremendous success in both supporting and headlining roles. Frontman Kieran Shudall followed guitarist Joe Falconer, bassist Sam Rourke, and drummer Colin Jones on stage.
Shudall said he was thrilled to be returning to Glasgow, a place they all like coming back to. With a number of new songs, including Like You Did Before, Let’s Leave Together, and We Made It, the band put on an astonishing performance. Along with these new songs, they also played a number of fan favourites, which erupted the auditorium into lively dancing and excitable singing. All of the band members could be seen well thanks to the stage setup, and the fans who were able to get a front row spot were giddy with excitement.
A birthday cake and a beautiful version of Happy Birthday, for someone who I was unable to ascertain due to the large number of screams that filled the hall, were among the exciting and unforgettable events that filled the evening. The primary vocalist was outstanding, leading the vocals and often interacting with the crowd. And while it wasn’t necessary, he asked them to join in on the singing, dancing, and jumping, only encouraging them further.
Movies, Jaqueline, and Stuck In My Teeth were a few of the most notable moments. Despite the 18 song setlist, the evening went by so quickly, the audience captivated by every moment.
The evening concluded with a two-song encore, during which the Glasgow audience sang along to every word. The first was the outstanding Be Your Drug, followed by T-Shirt Weather, which, to be honest, perfectly encapsulated the mood that pervaded the hall. It was evident that the band and their fans had the same level of intensity, and it was undoubtedly a night to truly be remembered.
If there is an opportunity to see this tour, you will not want to miss it. Be sure to keep an eye out for both support from tonight, Corella and Peace. There are bright things coming for both these bands. Circa Waves put on an exceptional show at the iconic venue and I cannot wait for them to return.
Review and Photography of Circa Waves at Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow on 16th February 2025 by Chloe McLelland.
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