Ah, January—famously the month of broken resolutions, empty wallets, and grey skies. You’d think, in a city like Glasgow, where even the seagulls look like they’re frowning, people would be holed up in their flats, clinging to their last tenner like it’s a golden ticket. And yet, LeisureLand only went and sold out King Tut’s. That’s right—the hallowed ground that launched the likes of Oasis and Paolo Nutini was absolutely heaving. If selling out this venue in mid-January doesn’t scream “we’re onto something,” then I don’t know what does.

But before we dive into LeisureLand, let’s talk about their support act Vanderlye—a band so hypnotic, they should come with a health warning. Imagine Britpop in a leather jacket colliding with grunge that hasn’t washed its hair in a week, and you’ve got Vanderlye. Their set was a slow-burning bonfire, with “Guilty Lovers & Heartbreak Serenades” blazing brightest. It’s no wonder this track nabbed Single of the Year at the 2024 Unsigned Music Awards with over 9,000 nominations—though, let’s be honest, it probably only needed one listen to clinch it. “This Plastic Ego” was another standout—a snarky, snarling ode to self-destruction that felt like it could’ve been scrawled on a pub bathroom wall after a particularly bad breakup.

Unfortunately, just as Vanderlye announced their final track, “Romantic Anarchy,” the plug was pulled, leaving the audience muttering mutinous curses and glaring at their watches. You could tell people came just to see Vanderlye; they’d have happily rioted if someone handed them a pitchfork.

But all was forgiven the moment LeisureLand ( Adam Dolan – vocals, Connor McGeechan – bass/vocals, Scott Simpson -guitar/vocals, Reece Paul – guitar, Struan Battison – drums) swagger on stage. Their lead singer Adam Dolan strode out like he’d just won the lottery, the World Cup, and a free chippy supper all in one go. His grin alone could’ve powered the stage lights.

LeisureLand kicked off with two brand-new demos, “Just Like the Movies” and “Daydream”—tracks so fresh, they practically smelled of wet paint. They were warmly received, though the crowd still seemed to be defrosting. By the time “Suzie” rolled around, though, the place was a furnace. This track is a banger in the purest sense—like someone bottled the fizz of early Britpop and added a splash of George Ezra’s hummable choruses. Hearing it live was like seeing Sam Fender and Paolo Nutini in a fistfight, with The La’s acting as referee.

But it was the last two songs that really tipped the night into legendary territory. “Waster” turned King Tut’s into a cathartic free-for-all, with Dolan vaulting the barrier to sing with the front row, beaming like a kid who just got let loose in a pick-n-mix shop. Then came the final track, “Jamaica Street,” a love letter to Glasgow that had the crowd losing their minds. The floor was literally bouncing like it was about to take off, with pint glasses splashing and people dancing with wild abandon.

LeisureLand are a band who don’t just play gigs—they throw parties. Watching them felt like finding out about an underground rave before it hits the mainstream, except this rave is fronted by a singer with the raw, gravelly soul of Nutini and the cheeky swagger of Britpop’s golden era. If January is supposed to be dreary, someone forgot to tell LeisureLand—they’ve just lit a fire that’ll keep Glasgow warm well into Spring.

Words: Angela Canavan

Pictures: Angela Canavan