Ben Walker // The Garage, Glasgow
strong support, a locked in crowd, and a headliner stepping into his moment.
⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)
BEN WALKER PERFORMING AT THE GARAGE, GLASGOW
PHOTOCREDIT: CHLOE MCLELLAND
Ben Walker an artist I have wanted to see since he started popping up on TikTok during lockdown played his biggest headline show yet in Glasgow on 29th January, and what a night it was. His voice cuts straight to the heart, and the energy in the room was sheer excitement. Every song landed, every moment felt intimate, yet the whole crowd was completely swept up. If you ever get the chance to see him live, do not miss it, Ben Walker is one to watch.
Opening the show were Copper Lungs, who set the tone with a raw, punchy performance. Their sound was gritty and full of intent, driven by muscular guitar lines and emotionally charged vocals. There was a refreshing look of polish to the set, not messy, but honest and it worked in their favour. As the set went on, the crowd warmed quickly, with applause growing louder and attention sharpening. It was the kind of opening that does exactly what it should.
Robyn Red followed with a shift in pace and mood. Her set leaned more melodic, bringing warmth and focus to the room. Vocally strong and quietly charismatic, she commanded attention without forcing it. There was an ease to her stage presence that made the performance feel natural and unforced, and her brief interactions with the crowd felt genuine rather than scripted. By the time she left the stage, the atmosphere felt settled and fully engaged, the audience ready for the main event.
When Ben Walker finally took to the stage, the response was immediate and loud. From the opening track, he sounded confident and in control, with vocals that carried both clarity and emotion. What stood out most was how comfortable he seemed on stage. The set flowed beautifully, moving between quieter, more reflective moments and bigger, guitar-driven tracks that lifted the entire room. The softer songs created pockets of intimacy that felt rare in a packed venue, while the more energetic numbers sparked singalongs that spread effortlessly through the crowd. Each song built naturally into the next. Walker’s interaction with the audience was minimal but meaningful. When he spoke, it felt sincere, and his appreciation for the Glasgow crowd was clearly mutual. Many in the room knew the words by heart, and there was a sense that this was a fanbase that had grown alongside him, rather than discovered him overnight.
The Garage proved to be the perfect setting for the show, by the final song, the atmosphere was full, hands raised, voices lifted, and a shared sense that this was a night most fans had imagined.
With strong and well-matched support from Copper Lungs and Robyn Red, and a headline performance that balanced intimacy with energy, most fans will look back on and say they were there before the rooms got bigger.
REVIEW & PHOTOS BY: CHLOE MCLELLAND
