More than seven years after her last solo headline show in Glasgow, Courtney Barnett’s return to the city was highly anticipated, and the legendary Barrowland Ballroom felt like the perfect setting for the occasion.

The setlist struck a great balance between new and old, with every track from her latest record, Creature of Habit, making an appearance alongside some well-loved favourites.

Barnett was joined by longtime bandmate and bassist Bones Sloane, alongside Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint on drums. The trio were tightly locked in throughout, providing the perfect foundation for Barnett’s distinctive guitar work, from her fuzzy tones and angular riffs to the more melodic passages. Her sharp, often humorous observations on everyday life remain central to her appeal, and songs like ‘Avant Gardener’, ‘Depreston’ and ‘History Eraser’ were particular highlights. The encore offered a change of pace with a solo performance of ‘Mostly Patient’, during which the audience fell completely silent, creating a wonderfully intimate moment before the band returned for a closing run of classics, including ‘Canned Tomatoes (Whole)’, ‘Pedestrian at Best’ and ‘Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go to the Party’.

Barnett seemed completely at home on the Barrowland stage, delivering a performance that felt effortless from beginning to end. After such a long wait, it was well worth it. Undoubtedly one of the best gigs of 2026.

Article: Barry Carson