Oran Mor

The whole festival was excellent with brave rival the icing on the cake. If you get a chance to go to one of their gigs take it as their live show is incredible, and buy at least one of their albums you won’t regret it

Uniquely gifted guitarist. Mike is a genuinely intelligent and witty bloke as well as an exceptional musician who keeps his audience entertained throughout his show. Four stars, as I feel he is still developing the potential of his live repertoire. A superb talent.

First things first, Craig Hill is very, very funny. He lives on the edge with his rapid delivery, audience interaction and constant improvisation. Almost lost in the sheer energy of the show is Craig’s consummate comedy craft as he brings his timing, mimicry, expressiveness, movement and even a bit of singing to create a completely engaging performance that that has you laughing all the way through. A great way to spend an evening.

For starters, what a great venue for a show like this. The support act Marysia Osu, a harpist from Poland(originally), but very good, she was really good along with her Flautist(???)- their music was dreamy and relaxing. And then came Nubya Garcia, WOW!!!, This woman is brilliant with her alto saxophone, her music was captivating, and left you with a great feeling of just wanting the show to go on and on, I love listening to her, she knows how to hold an audience and leave them wanting more and more.

Jan Akkerman was fabulous at Glasgow's Oran Mor and played two sets to an ecstatic audience who lapped it up enthusiastically. His long established band were with him, (Coen Molenaar keys, David De Marez Oyens bass and Marijn van den Berg drums) A fabulous unit who seem to telepathically know where he's going next! All were given their moments to show what they could do individually- and they did- wonderfully, without a hint of self- indulgence. There was obvious delight from the crowd, who welcomed him back to Glasgow with warmth and genuine affection for the man and his music. He didn't disappoint. There was some more recent material alongside old Focus favourites like Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!, Focus 1 and 2 alongside an uproarious long rocking Sylvia which nearly brought the house down. Akkerman finished the evening with an exquisite take on Paul Weller's You do something to me' and got a lengthy loving standing ovation from an adoring crowd . Great to see 'Big Sir' (Knighted in the Netherlands) back in the UK. After the show, he greeted ,signed and took pictures with a long line of fans. What a man! A couple of guys surprised him by presenting him with a Dutch football shirt with Akkerman 14 on the back, in homage to his friend and contemporary genius Johan Cruyff. A wonderful night from one of the world's great guitarists. I think all present would agree 'please come back soon!' Fantastic night David Shannon

Although having been a fan since 1971 this was the first time I had seen Jan with his band, previously it had been him solo, or with Focus. Without doubt he has assembled a team of not only accomplished musicians, but they gel well too. The set was filled with songs new and old coupled with frenetic playing alongside the more nuanced delicate moments that I like so much in his play. I wouldn’t like to guess the average age of the room, but happily it contained many people without grey hair, or indeed hair at all. It was nice to see another generation (s) appreciate such a fine guitarist (and his band too) My wife commented that it must be good to have been cool for over fifty years. Don’t miss the chance to see this man, either solo or with his band, it’s a musical gift

Enjoyed the Jan Akkerman gig tonight in the West End Oran Mor Glasgow. He really is a brilliant guitarist. But I felt he only plays dittos of the Focus tracks like teasers. Whereas Focus still play the full tracks. He also has a keyboard player who resorted to using a piano for the Focus guitar keyboard interludes. Focus use a real Hammond C3 B3 organ. Thus the real force of those excellent tracks was lost. It's the Hammond combined with the guitar that proves the emotional power of the Focus sound. Good concert good musicians....but Focus do Focus better these days......Jan is a great for sure but he needs to understand fans want the tracks played like the album and in their entirety....not snippets mixed in with jazz improvisations.....

A fantastic gig, the guys played a great set, taking their songs and adding great solos along the way. They really showed us their craft, talent and hard work. They are a throwback to great guitar bands like the Allman Brothers, Derek and the Dominoes and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Come back to Scotland soon #thesheepdogs

BEST SHOW EVER OMH, SUPPORTING ACT OF KATIE GREGSON-MACLEOD WAS AMAZING, THE SONG WHERE YOU GUYS SUNG TOGETHER WAS ICONIC AND THE SETLIST FOR THE FULL SHOW WAS AMAZING, THERE WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE THERE WHO WAS SO RESPECTFUL

Second time seeing the full 7 piece band from Toronto here in Scotland. Another fantastic night with superbly talented musicians. The songs take on a new life in their live form and each band member gets to shine at some point during the show with a featured moment during a song. The focal point is the amazing vocals of Meghan Parnell. Absolutely wonderful ❤️ Until next time....💯

The entire show was excellent including the two solo support acts. The staff were very helpful and minimises delays when getting served at the bar and also entering the premises. Sound was brilliant for all the acts and I'm back again for another two gigs and "A Play, Pie and a Pint" over the next four weeks. Raintown were very good and though I hadn't heard much of their music beforehand I enjoyed the show and will go and see them again. All in, a great experience and I'm glad I'm getting back into enjoying music and the arts again especially in Oran Mor.

Tors are a band on the rise. I first discovered them as a support act for Sam Ryder and instantly fell in love with their music, harmonies, energy and personality. This was now the 3rd time seeing them live as they opened their UK headline tour at Oran Mor in Glasgow and they blew the roof off just as they had the previous 2 times. A pre show meet n greet featuring a couple of songs from their back catalogue allowed access to the lads for a chat and photo opportunity before they slipped into the background to allow their support act, Charlotte Jane, to take centre stage with her piano and catchy tunes. Tors returned with a selection of their songs old and new which had the crowd singing along from start to finish. From high tempo anthems to emotional ballads the whole set feels like banger after banger after banger. In some ways I will be sad when they deservedly and inevitably move on to bigger venues and larger crowds as the connection you get with these boys is a true highlight of the smaller venue but their music suits massive stadium crowd singalongs and I will be there supporting and singing my lungs out when they do.

Phenomenal , amazing , from the minute Jackson & his band came on stage it was buzzing Song after song after song OMG i love this man and I hope to see him again & again & again sooner rather than later

He was totally & utterly amazing he was electric from the very beginning to the very end he had us jumping dancing & singing along . I hope he returns to the UK sooner rather than later. He has the voice of someone older than his 22 yrs he will be a force to be reckoned with. He will sell out in minutes if not seconds. I was lucky enough to be right in front Of him he is awesome

Honestly one of my favourite gigs. The band were phenomenal. They were really likeable and funny too. The venue is my new fav gig venue also. Such a beautiful intimate space. 20000% recommend all band and venue. If you get chance to see them

The show was brilliant. One of best I've been to. The energy was amazing. Lead singer Sam Harris did not falter once, his voice was sooo good. The band played so well.

Awesome gig! Tors were an amazing opener, and X Ambassadors had me hooked the whole time. Some great showmanship and dancing from Sam, excellent musicianship from all, fab sound tech and really nicely done lighting!

With Josh Fraser & Ellie Limebear, and John Mark McMillan and his band in support of Martin & Co the night was awesome, the styles and impact of all these artists contrasted beautifully and left a lasting impression. Very impressed. A worshipful experience - praise God.

It was beyond magical to finally see Mari Wilson back in Glasgow after so many years. Her personality is contagious and you can't help but smile from ear to ear when in her company. She delivers songs with such ease and each one is magical. A personal favourite of the evening was Moon & Back which Mari wrote for a long running American tv programme. The evening ended with a stunning version of Cry Me a River and then the audience took to their feet with none other than Miss Beehive's famous Just What You Always Wanted. Haste ye back

Brilliant night . Only thing that was missing was an encore with a couple of the classic tracks . Oran Mor seems to want to get people out and get the night club started which is why I assume there was no encore ?