When: 11th October 2025
Where: Various venues, Glasgow, Scotland
Over 50 acts took the stage at this year’s Tenement Trail Festival, now in its eleventh year. The event can boast having previously hosted talents like Lewis Capaldi and Sam Fender. From the smaller stages of McChuills and Gallowgate 226 to the BBC Introducing Stage at Barrowland 2, and the coveted Barrowland main stage (a milestone for Scottish and non-Scottish musicians alike), this festival was an amazing showcase of both emerging and established talent. This is a short round-up of all the artists I got to see.
Leading Ladies
In Vertigo and Dead Pony can both boast powerful vocals from charismatic female vocalists. Coast and Anna Shields dominated their respective stages at McChuills and Barrowland, accompanied by their bands of skilled musicians. They took centre stage, set the vibe, and engaged with the audience. In a still male-dominated industry, it’s refreshing to see so many bands led by talented women. Both groups originated in Scotland, like many of the acts performing at Tenement Trail, testifying to the immense contribution this small country makes to music. With powerful vocals, captivating guitar riffs, and each their own unique style, both bands attracted large audiences in their respective venues.
Homegrown Highlights
Tenement Trail is surely a springboard for emerging and more established Scottish bands to grow beyond their regular audiences and expand their listenership. This was evident with Waverley and Jelly. The more established Waverley caught quite the attention on the BBC Introducing Stage at the perfectly lit Barrowland 2, filling up the mid-sized venue. This was my third time seeing Waverley, my second time shooting them, and as usual, it was a powerful experience — it feels like witnessing a fast-growing career. Similarly, Jelly’s infectious indie-pop tunes drew quite a following at Gallowgate 226. While I was unfamiliar with his music before, it felt timely and on-point, fitting right in with the rising acts we see around today, such as Royel Otis.
The Deadlians Bring Irish Spirit to Glasgow
Hailing all the way from Dublin, The Deadlians rocked the hauntingly beautiful St Luke’s on Saturday and drew quite a number of fans wearing their merch. These seasoned supporters were joined by first-timers who had the privilege of hearing their rhythmic arrangements and Sean Fitzgerald’s powerful vocals and fiddle skills. St Luke’s proved to be the perfect venue for this band, who brought strong Irish folk vibes to my evening.
