BreakingThe News BBC Recording, Drygate, Glasgow. Thursday 30th October, 2025

Host: Des Clarke 

Panellists:
Mark Nelson

Kemah Bob

Amy Matthews

Robin Ince  

Dry when we arrived, wet when we left. This recording was actually for TV as well as radio, the broadcast due to go out on Friday night on BBC Scotland. The seating layout had been altered to accommodate the cameras: three pointed at the stage and one was carried to show audience reactions. One of the sound guys wore what looked like a proton pack, with a microphone on a looping pole pointed at us.  

I learned that I'm so fat now that I've lost the ability to pull in my stomach. As I tried to squeeze past the gentleman sitting on the bench next to me, my tummy inadvertently gave him a back rub. 

A rather large gentleman sat on my left during the recording. His upper half invaded my space so much that I had to lean over on my wife's side. After the two-hour recording, when I stood up, I keeled over and had to grab the chair to stop me falling. My balance was totally messed up. I did admire how he timed his pint so he finished it just at the end of the final round. 

This was my first time seeing Kemah Bob in action. Her voice is strange, but she acknowledged that, blaming the years she smoked weed. Her hair looked fantastic, like a black Sideshow Bob, only with red highlights.

One joke about Prince Andrew might not make the cut, not because it was slanderous, but because it's already out of date. By the time the show goes out, Andrew is no longer a Prince, the Royal having subsequently relinquished his title and royal home after the recording finished.

I learned that Amy Matthews is a people pleaser, and that Robin Ince is a lot funnier than he appears.  The football round discussing the resignation of Celtic Manager, Brendan Rodgers, left most of the panellists floundering, with only Mark Nelson and Des Clarke knowledgeable on the subject.

A good show this week.

Ticket Price: Free from BBC Tours and Shows

Biffy Clyro Futique Special Acoustic Show, SWG3 Glasgow. Wednesday 22nd October 2025

I have a confession: I'm not a huge Biffy fan. I've never bought any of their albums or attended any of their shows. But I have listened to their music and enjoyed it, and they do have a reputation for being excellent live, so this special show tempted me. A chance to catch them in a smaller venue.

I experienced an odd situation on the drive in when I approached the entrance to the northbound Clyde Tunnel, and the traffic lights changed to red. Typical! Here I am early for the show and now delayed for what turned out to be twelve minutes. By the time I arrived at the venue, the road system around the place was in gridlock as the fans attending the earlier show were now leaving. I still managed to find a nearby parking spot without too much delay and made my way to join the long queue.  

Inside the venue, I decided to stand on the left-hand side of the room, next to a wall pillar. That way, I wouldn't be obscuring anyone's view if I raised my phone above head height. The crowd seemed a friendly lot, with the ratio of males to females strongly favouring the latter. I was amazed and angry that so many chancers, late on, dared to make their way through the crowd to get to the front. One family, led by the mother, pushed as far as four deep from the barrier, then stopped, unable to get any closer. They didn't care about the other audience members whose view they now blocked. All that mattered was that the daughter had a clear view. 

As the band took the stage, I was surprised to see five people, with a guitarist and a keyboard player joining the usual trio. I was unaware that this was their touring line-up. As they played, it almost felt like a religious experience, with the crowd acting as a choir, the soft female voices notably growing louder for the swear words. They were engaged with their heroes, their faces lit up with joy. It was contagious. 

Then, more people tried to push forward through the crowd, acting as if their strength of fandom entitled them to a better position. One girl in a shiny black leather jacket bustled past me without warning as I was videoing the third song, knocking my arm. That annoyed me. I take pride in my recordings and like to share the best ones on YouTube. I could see her get close to the front, but she didn't last long; she met resistance that forced her to retrace her steps. When she tried to halt in front of me, I may have 'encouraged' her to continue her journey, resulting in another lapse in my camera attention. If there had been sufficient space, it would have been fine, but I was already against the wall. I had nowhere to go, so she had to.   

That slightly marred my appreciation of the band. They played for just shy of an hour. Their performance was glorious. I was most appreciative of their talents, just not the character of some of their fans.  

Afterwards, I waited to see if anyone had been handed a setlist. I managed to get a photo of one, but it turned out to be two because the girl had accidentally stuck the ends together. It was nice of her to allow me to take the pictures, though.

On the way out, I noticed a small group of fans waiting to get a selfie with a bloke standing inside the sound booth area. I didn't recognise him initially, then later realised it had been Dougie Payne from Travis.

Setlist

Ticket Price: £22.50 from Assai Records.

Video

True Believer

Those Damn Crows "God Shaped Hole" UK Tour 2025, SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow. Tuesday 21st October, 2025

After last night's pop warblings, I needed a palate cleanser, and Those Damn Crows were on hand to provide such a feast.

I snagged a position in front of the sound desk, using the barrier to support my back. What a relief that was! Unfortunately, the space on either side was swiftly swallowed up before any of my pals arrived.

The first support act was James Bruner. I'd seen him support TDC in Edinburgh, and my opinion of him didn't change. He still looks like a wee boy playing with the big boys. They are talented musicians. He's the frontman who likes to show off his front by stripping to the waist. It's not a sight to swoon over. Hard pass!

Next up were Autumn Kings. From the off, I thought I could hear a Linkin Park influence, with the guitarist rapping opposite the singer. When they played an odd, heavy version of Livin' La Vida Loca, he admitted it might split the audience. It did. Their lead singer's voice wasn't strong enough to carry the melody. Their own songs were fine. The audience came alive during their cover of LP's Bleed It Out, cementing my previous suspicion over their influences. By the time they finished their set, I was into them. They need a stronger lead singer, though.

Up until then, I had enjoyed the luxury of a small space in front of me. Needless to say, as the place filled up before TDC took to the stage, that luxury was stolen away, this time by a petite, older lady with silver hair. Not a problem, I thought. She was so small, the top of her head only came up as high as my nipples, although her hair did keep brushing against my arms. I expected her bob to blow up like a dandelion head from all the static generated, but she must have been using a lot of product. I did feel slightly sad for her when Alex returned from his drinks run, leaving her literally in his shadow. Her appeals to those around her fell on deaf ears as he had been there first, and there was no space for her to shift over. Rather than leave, she decided to use her phone as an occasional periscope.

The Crows were in immense form tonight, if a bit ragged at times. Shane, the lead singer, fluffed the intro to Dreaming twice, much to the audience's amusement. I'd already accepted that videoing any songs was off the table, which allowed me to engage with the music. There's no better feeling than when a song inhabits your body, the bass and drumbeat taking control of your movement, making you feel alive and in the moment. It doesn't matter who is around you or what they are doing; the music has claimed you. Co-codamol helps too, to stop that movement turning into pain. My hip ain't what it used to be, hence the barrier relief.

I so wish TDC would book the Barrowland, rather than (almost) fill SWG3. I know it's a big step up in ticket sales, but their music deserves to be played in a greater venue. Maybe if they assembled a stronger support bill, they'd gain the confidence to proceed, but I suspect they fear the financial loss if the gamble didn't pay off. Shane complained tonight that the cost of running past the 22:30 curfew was two grand. I think everyone would have been happy to chip in an extra £2 if it meant they'd played on till midnight.

Come on, boys, book the Barrowland next time! 

Setlist:

Dancing With the Enemy

Man on Fire

No Surrender

Find a Way

Spit & Choke

Turn It Around

Glass Heart

Dreaming

The Night Train

Who Did It

I Am

Still

Blink of an Eye

Go Get It

Sin on Skin

This Time I'm Ready

See You Again

Ticket Price:  £22.50 (Face value) plus fees = £26.31 x 4 = £105.24 Plus Transaction Fee £1 = £106.24 from Gigantic

James Bruner

Autumn Kings

Those Damn Crows

The Divine Comedy, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow. Monday 20th October, 2025

 

This one was for the wife—not that I was complaining. Neil Hannon has a deft talent for penning exquisite songs. The concert hall was an excellent venue for him, too, with the acoustics enhancing the clarity of his voice and the band's sound.

The support act, a Lancashire trio called Studio Electrophonique, didn't inspire visually, so it allowed me the opportunity to rest my eyes while listening to their pleasant though downbeat songs. The singer was funny in a self-deprecating manner, which lightened the mood.

For such a small guy, Neil has a beguiling presence. Tonight, he is playful, quirky, casually funny, and, possibly, tipsy, as he holds us in this throng for two hours, with songs old and new. His singing voice is clear, his lyrics eloquent, and his band plays so well. 

It was a lovely evening. 

Well, apart from this irritation:

The notice at the entrance to the hall said 'No Cameras or Recording Equipment', and usually, the staff are strict about enforcing this. Not tonight. I became increasingly more infuriated as the same people raised their cameras above their heads again and again to snap pictures or film snippets of every song. It was not that they blocked my view—they didn't. It was the fact that they were doing it while I wasn't. I could feel my wife's disapproving glare at even the slightest indication I would take out my phone.  

Eventually, when Neil requested that everyone stand up, I felt comfortable enough to grab a few snaps, but the picture quality ended up poor. Afterwards, my wife commented on my evident tension. I pointed out that it wasn't just the people with their phones. It was also the people beside me putting their pint tumblers on the balcony's ledge. Every time they wanted a drink, they had to lean forward in front of me to reach their pint, then do so again to put it back. Why couldn't they just hold them? She defended their actions, saying it didn't bother her.

Which is why she dislikes going to gigs with me—well, one of the reasons. 

I know I need to chill more. 

Get back to a state of contentment. 

Or just rock the fuck out tonight at Those Damn Crows! 

Setlist
Achilles
The Last Time I Saw the Old Man
When the Lights Go Out All Over Europe
Rainy Sunday Afternoon
Norman and Norma
I Want You
Bang Goes the Knighthood
Generation Sex
At the Indie Disco
Neapolitan Girl
The Plough
Mar-a-Lago by the Sea (Preceded by Neil making cocktails for the band)
The Happy Goth
A Lady of a Certain Age
Our Mutual Friend
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
Other People
Something for the Weekend
Becoming More Like Alfie
Absent Friends
National Express

Encore:
Songs of Love
Invisible Thread
Tonight We Fly

Ticket Price: £47.50 x2 = £95.00 plus Per Item Fees £5.95 x2 & £1.50 Facility Charge x2 = £14.90 plus Handling Fee £2.75 = total £112.65 from Gigs in Scotland (Presale) (Ticketmaster).

The Big Comedy Roadshow, The Tron, Glasgow. Sunday 12th October, 2025

Five comedians, one night of comedy. 

Amy Matthews compered, and she was lovely. Her crowdwork felt warm and supportive, and not just a means to delivering a bit. She engaged with the audience, giving a cheeky wink after she'd finished politely ribbing someone. She'd changed her look from blonde bombshell to winsome Millennial. Loved her.

The first act was Ross Leslie, an Edinburgh man currently living in Fife. He's also changed his appearance, now sporting a hefty beard. He did okay, garnering some big laughs. 

Next up was Brennan Reece, and he killed. Best comedian of the night. Lots of jokes slipped into the conversation, topped with more jokes. I was chuckling so much I now can't remember what he talked about, apart from relationships and that God must be bisexual because he's been in all of us.  

Alana Jackson, I'd seen at last year's GICF Gala. She started off with the same material about how she was from Glasgow but now lives in London, and how the English go to the pub, have one or two drinks, and then go home. She didn't even know that was possible. It's a tight bit, well written and performed, but old. I was so pleased when she moved on to fresh stuff, showing off her command of accents, even trying out some new material, which she wasn't happy with. A brave move for a theatre show.

Headliner, Felicity Ward, thinks she had ADHD, but hasn't had an official diagnosis because she keeps losing the forms to go to the appointments. She even distracted herself during her set as she stopped to watch an usher at the side of the stage (unless that was a cleverly acted bit). Then she discussed passing her driving test and offered some recommendations for what new drivers should be informed about. Unfortunately, she detected she was losing the crowd after this, especially after revealing she was going through a divorce and had discovered she was bisexual. She leaned into the awkwardness, but it didn't pay off. 

Ticket Price: 2x £25 (plus Pay It Forward donation £5) = £55

Website Blurb

The Big Comedy Roadshow is a rip-roaring night of the very best live stand-up comedy starring the TV names you know and love alongside some of the hottest up-and-coming talent. Presented by Scotland’s original home of live comedy Gilded Balloon, this is the ultimate night out for comedy fans!

Star of The Office (Australia), Felicity Ward headlines this season following appearances on Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week and The Stand-Up Sketch Show. Joining her for a hilarious night of comedy is fellow Live at the Apollo star Brennan Reece, one of the Scottish comedy circuit’s best-loved acts Ross Leslie and Glasgow’s own, So You Think You’re Funny? 2024 winner, Alana Jackson.

Hosting the show is Amy Matthews, best known from appearances on Scot Squad and Comedy Central live, who’ll be bringing her signature whimsical comedy to the stage.
‘A smorgasbord of stand-up offering a fabulous, feel-good night out.‘
The Herald

PERFORMER BIOS
Felicity Ward
Felicity is a London-based comedian, actor, writer and knucklehead. As seen on Wakefield, BBC’s Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, Stand Up Sketch Show and direct from her very own Amazon Prime stand-up comedy special. As heard on The Guilty Feminist, The News Quiz and The Now Show. She’s been Best Comedy Nominee – Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 2018, won Best International Show – New Zealand Comedy Festival, 2016 and was Best Show Nominee – Melbourne International Comedy Festival, 2012.
‘A gloriously entertaining stand-up at the top of their game.’ Evening Standard
‘On stage Ward is the life and soul of the party, energising the audience and bouncing back off them, too.’ Chortle

Brennan Reece
As seen on Live At The Apollo (BBC), Celeb Coach Trip (E4) and Roast Battle (Comedy Central). Brennan is a multi-award-winning working-class wordsmith (Edinburgh Best Newcomer Nominee and English Comedian Of The Year Winner). A stand-up, a storyteller and self-confessed mummy’s boy. His boyish cheeks recently cropped up on Survival Of The Fittest (ITV), The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV) Live At The Comedy Store (Comedy Central) and racking up over 6 million YouTube hits for his stint on Top Gear (BBC). A true Northern voice, with family close to his heart. Your Mum is going to love him! Not like that, you dirty little perve.
‘A powerfully entertaining, unstoppable force.’ Chortle
‘A teenage Alan Bennett.’ The Skinny

Amy Matthews
Lily Allen meets Kate McKinnon (Broadway World) in comedic force, as Amy weaves in and out of wry despair and whimsical imagination.
As seen/heard on the BAFTA-award-winning Scot Squad, Radio 4, BBC Radio Scotland, 5 Live; as a writer on Have I Got News for You; performing at comedy clubs all over the UK & Ireland; tour support for Rachel Fairburn, Alfie Brown and Jess Fostekew and winner of Best Newcomer at the Scottish Comedy Awards 2019.
‘Drily funny and giddily quirky.‘ The Scotsman

Ross Leslie
Scottish comedian, Ross Leslie is a regular at every comedy club in Scotland, since starting in 2012. His material on being a father of a very large household has audiences delighting in the crazy images he brings to life. This year he took his debut solo show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Pretty Shy For A White Guy, at the prestigious Stand Comedy Club, earning a 4 star review along the way. He has recently become the star of the first stand-up comedy show on Scottish televison for over a decade, the Comedy Underground on BBC Scotland and iPlayer and is a regular writer and contributor to the station’s Breaking The News satirical comedy show. In 2018, in his third final, he finished third place in the Scottish Comedian of the Year competition.
‘He had a robustly put-together set….with a nice variety of gags and pleasing turns of phrase.‘ Chortle
‘Easy flow and solid gag rate.‘ The List

Alana Jackson
A proud Glaswegian now based in London, Alana Jackson won the coveted So You Think You’re Funny? competition in August 2024. Since then she has performed at some of the UK’s best loved comedy venues and gone viral with her hilarious clip on Glasgow funerals.
‘Relatable and witty, told with impact and flair.’ Chortle
‘delivered with an amiability reminiscent of a good friend down the pub.’ Fest Mag

The Hot Damn! "About Last Night" Tour, the Mash House, Edinburgh. Saturday 11th October, 2025.

 

I originally had a ticket for Hue and Cry at Paisley Town Hall tonight, but gave it away when the girls announced their date for Edinburgh, the only Scottish gig of this tour. As much as I love the Kane brothers, The Hot Damn! are a class above anything else live.

Doug's car was having electronics trouble, so I drove the four of us to Edinburgh. Doug acted as my personal sat-nav, directing us to a free spot of on-street parking near the Tesco Bank office. From there, we hopped onto the tram to the city centre, where Doug headed off to meet up with his son.

The rest of us made our way to The Alexander Graham Bell for some afternoon refreshments. It was jam-packed, with few tables for four, so we almost gave up on eating there. It took a while before we were able to push two tables together and dine. Much cheapness, though! 

Suitably nourished, we headed over to the Old Town to find the venue. Then, having done so, and it not being open, we decided on Bannermans for our next refreshment. There, Gill and Lzi from The Hot Damn! were having a pre-show drink. They had company, so we didn't bother them. 

The Mash House is situated halfway up Hastie’s Close in the Cowgate, just a few steps away from La Belle Angele, and has a live show capacity of  230. The gig was close to being sold out (Gill informed us it was the best-selling date of this tour). I'd never been in it before, but liked it. It had an intimate atmosphere with a good sound system, although they went a bit overboard with the smoke machine and lighting, as many small venues do. 

The start time of tonight's show was brought forward from 7 pm to 6:30 pm to accommodate the addition of a second support act, Ayrshire's The Breathing Method. Their rhythm guitarist was on vocal duties as they'd recently parted ways with their singer. The bassist helped out on backing vocals, shouting out their heavy(ish) rock choruses. They were pretty good, though I'd like to hear how that sound changes when they get a new singer.

Kit Trigg was phenomenal. I'd not been aware of his work before, but he's a great guitarist and vocalist. He gives off a joyful vibe with his music (and happy resting face). The first track reminded me of Beck with its funky vibe and lyrics, but he then moved on to more solid rock territory. 

Goin' for Glory

 

The Hot Damn! blew it out of the park tonight. I've seen them twice before, but tonight, the band were so tight (and not just because of the small stage). Gill's vocals were off the charts, as was her swear quotient, even with her mum in the audience. The band has great tunes and choreography, bringing a lot of fun to the show. If they're going to cover a song, they make it their own, literally. Abba's Gimme Gimme Gimme tonight contains the lyric "Gimme Gimme Gimme Hot Damn after midnight". I filmed a tiny clip of this song (see below). Filming the rest of the gig was difficult due to the bright spotlights, the smoke haze (I could hardly make out Josie on drums), and my standing position (a punter's head often blocking my view of Lzi on the right), even though I only had one person in front of me. The back of Lorna's head makes a cameo in many of my photos. Her boyfriend turned out to be a rock-adjacent legend, with his dad roadying for Uriah Heap back in the day. His first gig was when he was three months old. I won't repeat his story about what went on between Sharon Osbourne and Randy Rhodes backstage at the Apollo.

A snippet of cover Gimme, Gimme, Gimme 

For all that, though, I still had a great time. The positive buzz lived on the following morning, after a great night's sleep (for a change). Who knew The Hot Damn! could cure insomnia? Not something they'd want on their posters.

Setlist:

Sorry. I never saw the setlist, and it's not updated on setlist.fm.

Ticket Price: 4 x £14 = £56, plus £5.60 Service Fees, plus, £1.65 Delivery Fee = £63.25 from TicketWeb. 

The merch stall

The Breathing Method

Press photographer (Santa was also there, not in costume)

Kit Trigg

Kit

The Hot Damn!

Gill

Josie

Laurie and Gill

Gill gieing it laldy

Gill and Lzi

Pulling out their dance moves