nathan evans & the saint phnx band // ovo hydro, glasgow
A night of heart, home pride, and unforgettable sing-alongs
⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)
NATHAN EVANS & THE SAINT PHNX BAND PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S OVO HYDRO PHOTOCREDIT - CHLOE MCLELLAND
Even before you stepped inside the Hydro, you could feel the excitement in the cool Glasgow air. Flags, pints, sea-shanty T-shirts, and that unmistakable buzz of a hometown crowd gathering to welcome one of their own.
The evening began with Callum Bowie, a rising Scottish singer-songwriter whose warm, acoustic-driven sound was the perfect ice-breaker. Stripped back and sincere, Bowie’s performance drew the crowd in gently, his lyrics about small-town life and self-discovery landing with authenticity. By the time he finished, the audience was already singing along, and the Hydro felt a little smaller, a little closer.
When the house lights fell and the first chords rang out, the Hydro erupted. Backed by the powerhouse duo Saint PHNX, Evans wasted no time setting the tone, big, bold, and unmistakably Scottish.
He launched into a run of upbeat numbers, blending folk melodies with pop hooks and rock-tinged percussion. The chemistry between Evans and Saint PHNX was obvious, the brothers' thunderous sound filled the arena while Evans' easy stage presence held every eye. Evans didn’t just perform, he turned the OVO Hydro into the biggest pub sing-along in Scotland. You could tell how much this show meant to him. It’s the ultimate Scottish success story, from TikTok videos in his living room to performing in one of the country’s biggest arenas. When the lights dimmed and he struck his first chord, the roar that met him was spine-tingling.
Evans wasted no time setting the tone with a run of lively folk-pop tracks. Backed by Saint PHNX, the sound was tight and joyful, with “Told You So” and “Flowers in the Water” lifting the whole crowd to their feet. The drumming was powerful, the harmonies spot-on, and the atmosphere pure celebration.
Halfway through the set, the mood shifted. Nathan took a seat at the edge of the stage to debut a song about mental health, a brave and tender moment that held the Hydro in total silence. When he finished, the applause rolled through the room like a wave of pride and love.
And then came that song. From the first “Soon may the Wellerman come,” the entire arena erupted. It wasn’t just a performance, it was a shared experience, a chorus of thousands singing in perfect, joyous chaos.
Nathan’s charm is something you can’t fake. He smiled, joked, and constantly thanked the crowd for “making a daft postman’s dream come true.” When he stepped into the audience, guitar in hand, singing shoulder-to-shoulder with fans, it felt like pure, unfiltered joy.
Watching someone live their dream and invite you along for the ride is a rare kind of happiness. Nathan Evans’ Glasgow show wasn’t about flash or spectacle; it was about connection, stories, and the magic of singing together.
If you came for flawless vocals, you got them. If you came for a sense of community, you found it in abundance. But most of all, you left with a sore throat, a full heart, and the kind of smile that lasts the whole way home on the train.
REVIEW & PHOTOS BY - CHLOE MCLELLAND
