The Twilight Sad | 5th May 2026 | Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom


The kids are on fire in the ballroom 🙌
 Words won’t come. This one was beyond that. 


I keep coming back to cathartic, and it feels so perfect. The Newcastle show left me spellbound. I needed more.


In the 6.5 years since I last saw them, I managed to miss all of the shows they did. I’d been through my own struggles in the meantime. Long story short, I never thought I’d be able to stand in a photo pit again. I could live with that, but I dearly wanted to see the band that changed my life, please, just once more?! I got two more times and I absolutely lost it. That’s the power of The Twilight Sad, once you see them live, you’re addicted!


Tonight, just over 7 years since I last photographed them in the Barrowland. I’m back and full of nerves. Newcastle was such a wild and somewhat out-of-body experience, I thought to myself. This isn’t real. Was I just swept up in the power of having them back in my hometown?


The blunt answer, I am happy to provide, is fuck no. My anxiety instantly got thrown in the bin when they stormed into Dead Flowers. James made a striking, powerful appearance as he entered the stage and my favourite shots were from this moment as he stalked the stage with some epic blue backlighting. Any pointless thoughts I had were immediately dissipated by the need to smile and ‘dance” while trying to remember that I should be taking photos too. I’m not great with words, and I can’t explain the emotional connection I get. I just need their music, it takes me to places that help me escape things. Hearing that sound at maximum volume with Andy’s amp kicking my head in just like it did for the first time in 2011. It’s pure magic. The Barrowlands is their home, to which fans travel far and wide to visit. This was my 13th time seeing them and 3rd time at the Barras. All of those shows mean so much, this was just pure fire and wonder. I didn’t want it to end. Looking around the crowd, people full of excitement, screaming, shouting, crying, and singing word for word with a Scottish accent (regardless if they are Scottish or not!). 


The set is ultra-tight. The lineup is fucking perfect. I have to say I really like this four-piece lineup. I go into that more in my Newcastle review. But it needs to be said. James, Andy, Cat, Simone. Probably the best I’ve heard them, I need those names on one of those t-shirts, you know the ones!


The setlist is the same as Newcastle (click to view). Carefully curated and powerfully driven. So much build-up. I’ve tried to avoid going into the emotional story of the recent album, it’s such a personal trauma that I can’t begin to imagine. I guess if you've read this far, you already know. But the love, the love is so real, so crushing, and beautiful. I’ve sat and cried through this album on repeated listens since it came out. I adore James for sharing his love and his stories. This is poetry, I just want to give him the most massive hug. Thank you for the music 🥹


Attempt at a Crash Landing gets everyone’s fists in the air with the most satisfying feeling. It's fast becoming a favourite. There's a fabulous mix of material from the band's back catalogue.


The shivers go up my spine as we enter the photo pit for the last 3 songs. Cold Days From the Birdhouse. I can’t help myself, I start singing as 2000 fans scream along behind me. I don’t know what it is about that song, but I lose it every time.

Head up, dear you’re about to be destroyed. And She Would Darken the Memory is up next, ff this isn’t the most perfect song in the world, I don’t know what is. Simone’s bass, just drives the intensity as Andy piles on the layers. Cat perfectly builds and hypes the rhythm. Fucking hell, you’re not human if you don’t scream along with James for HEAD UP DEAR THE RABBIT MIGHT DIIIEEEE!!!!


It’s time to come down. But they need to kick our arses just one more time. TV PEOPLE STILL THROWING TVS AT PEOPLE provides the perfect crescendo to the night. The mic stand goes flying into the pit, and we’re all left in awe. Absolute fucking awe. 


Thank you, Twilight Sad, safe to say from everyone I chatted with this week, we’ve missed you, and we need you more than ever in this current world 💜 



A deeply cathartic experience. I left Glasgow with great sorrow. I just wanted this night to last forever.


Hopefully, my photos will do the performance justice. Here's a very big gallery! 120+ photos, I hope you enjoy. Thank you, Simon for making it happen 🙌