Teenage Fanclub – Kelvin Bandstand

I had never been to a gig at Kelvingrove Bandstand before and, if I’m being honest, I wasn’t entirely convinced it was the sort of venue I’d enjoy.

Outdoor concerts in Scotland always come with an element of risk. You can spend weeks looking forward to a show only to spend the evening standing in a puddle while questioning your life choices.

Fortunately, there was one band capable of persuading me to take that chance.

Teenage Fanclub.

I’ve been a fan of the band for years and when I saw they were playing Kelvingrove, curiosity about the venue combined with my love of their music proved enough to get my wallet out.

Thankfully, the weather gods were in a generous mood.

At the start of the show, Norman Blake mentioned that the last time the band had played there they had been thoroughly drenched by Scottish summer conditions. This time, however, the skies behaved themselves and everyone got to enjoy the concert without requiring a change of clothes afterwards.

A rare and welcome victory.

Before Teenage Fanclub took to the stage, support came from Constant Follower.

Their music suited the surroundings perfectly. There was something about their thoughtful, atmospheric songs that seemed to complement the relaxed outdoor setting, and they did an excellent job of warming up the crowd for the evening ahead.

By the time their set finished, the audience were more than ready for the main event.

Getting there on time had been a bit of a challenge.

I couldn’t escape work early, so Emma and I arrived later than I would normally like. Given that it was a sold-out Teenage Fanclub show, I assumed any chance of getting close to the stage had long since disappeared.

To my surprise, there was still room in the front row seating area.

Result.

We settled into our seats and enjoyed the view. Well, Emma enjoyed the seats. I spent much of the time looking longingly towards the barrier at the front, where I felt I truly belonged.

Experience has taught me that opportunities at gigs can appear suddenly and disappear just as quickly.

So we had a plan.

The moment somebody made a move towards the front, we’d be right behind them.

Sure enough, eventually someone stood up and headed for the barrier.

We reacted immediately.

Within seconds we had abandoned our comfortable seating arrangement and secured a prime spot right down the front before anyone else had the same idea. Years of concert-going have sharpened these instincts to an almost professional level.

Once established at the barrier, the evening became even better.

Teenage Fanclub have always possessed a remarkable ability to make everything sound effortless. Their songs are filled with beautiful melodies, rich harmonies and understated craftsmanship. They don’t rely on gimmicks or theatrics because the songs themselves do all the heavy lifting.

And what songs they are.

Decades after first emerging, they remain one of Scotland’s finest bands and continue to produce music that stands comfortably alongside their classic material. Hearing those songs performed outdoors on a warm summer evening felt like the perfect setting for them.

Looking back, my concerns about the venue proved completely unfounded.

The weather behaved, the support act were excellent, we secured a spot at the barrier and Teenage Fanclub delivered exactly the sort of performance I had hoped for.

Not bad for a venue I wasn’t sure I even wanted to visit.

The videos below include Constant Follower’s support set and footage from a wonderful evening with one of Scotland’s greatest bands, captured from the prime position that Emma and I managed to secure through a combination of patience, experience and a well-timed dash to the front.