THE WOMBATS // OVO HYDRO, GLASGOW
THE WOMBATS PLAY THEIR BIGGEST HEADLINE SHOW TO DATE IN SCOTLAND IN FRONT OF 13,000 FANS AT GLASGOW’S OVO HYDRO ARENA.
★★★★★ (5/5)
THE WOMBATS PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S OVO HYDRO
PHOTOCREDIT: PAUL STORR
Red Rum Club bring their funky indie sound to the OVO Hydro tonight, opening for The Wombats with an infectious energy that quickly wins over the early arrivals.
Hailing from Merseyside, the six-piece might step out to a fairly empty floor at first, but it doesn’t take long for their bold brass-infused style to get the crowd moving.
Kicking off with "Vibrate", they set the tone with groovy rhythms and soaring trumpet lines.
"Would You Rather Be Lonely?" is another standout, its anthemic chorus ringing through the arena as more people trickle in and start nodding along.
By the time they close with "Vanilla", they’ve more than proven themselves as the perfect choice to warm up the night.
Manchester's Everything Everything are main support tonight, launching straight into "The Mad Stone" and instantly pulling the crowd on side with their unique, genre-blending sound.
Every song feels like a story, and "Pizza Boy" is no exception. Despite its upbeat energy, it digs into themes of trauma, isolation, and indulgence, all wrapped up in the band's signature quirky style. It’s a perfect example of their ability to make deep themes feel danceable.
A real highlight comes with "Cough Cough", its sharp beats and urgent vocals getting the crowd moving.
By the time they close with "No Reptiles", the room is fully on board, singing along to its hypnotic, almost surreal lyrics. Everything Everything are both intriguing and completely engaging, setting the stage perfectly for The Wombats.
The Wombats hit the OVO Hydro stage with an electrifying start, opening with "Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come" before diving straight into "Moving to New York", setting the tone for a raucous, high-energy night.
Part way through the set, things get even more chaotic when a trumpet player in a full wombat costume appears for "Ready for the High", adding to the sheer fun of the performance before the band honors an Instagram poll by playing "1996", much to the delight of the crowd.
Frontman Matthew Murphy takes a moment to reflect on a week spent in Barcelona, where he convinced himself his then-girlfriend was up to no good back in London. The result? "Pink Lemonade", a song born from that paranoia and delivered with an intense, infectious energy.
The singalongs reach their peak with "Kill the Director", which has the entire Hydro—including myself!—belting out every word.
One of the night’s standout moments comes when Murphy steps up alone with an acoustic guitar for "Lethal Combination". “Get your camera phones out, or any flamethrowers you’ve snuck into the building” he jokes, then it’s not long before the tempo is cranked back up for "Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)", getting the crowd moving again.
"Method to the Madness" starts slow, giving everyone a breather—until its explosive ending sparks chaos, with mosh pits breaking out across the floor.
The main set wraps up in style with "Lemon to a Knife Fight", "If You Ever Leave, I'm Coming With You", and a riotous "Let’s Dance to Joy Division", cheekily introduced as “a bonus track off our sixth album that we hope you’ll like.”
Of course, they’re not done yet. The band returns for a euphoric encore of "Can’t Say No", "Turn", and "Greek Tragedy", capping off an absolutely incredible night of live music!
