Dylan John Thomas at Barrowland, Glasgow (Live review)

Five years ago, Dylan John Thomas played the Barras, supporting Ocean Colour Scene, amongst the chaos of COVID and rescheduled tours. Now, tonight, the same venue hosts a special album launch gig for the Glaswegian singer-songwriter, with today marking the release of his sophomore record Nothing Here Worth Taking. 

It’s testament to years of hard work, from growing up in care, to busking the streets of Glasgow and even a failed audition in 2016, on BBC’s The Voice, didn’t deter him from following his dream. Thomas finally tasted success with his self-titled debut, which was released in 2024, that has since seen sell-out tours and main stage appearances at festivals including TRNSMT.

Opener ‘Jenna’, a single first released in 2021, has the crowd immediately bouncing with joy. It is hard to convey just how deliriously happy the audience appeared as they hugged, danced and sang along.

The mix of old and new tracks also highlights the slight change of direction, with the new album very much bigger and bolder. While the debut was largely acoustic and embodied the sound of Gerry Cinnamon, recent singles have introduced more varied instrumentation.

A rousing rendition of ‘Come and Get It’ had the feel of a 90s dancefloor classic with its upbeat riffs, thumping percussion and brass. The onstage flash lighting further enhancing the old school feel.

‘Got You On My Mind’ is an energetic and infectious, banjo led crowd-pleaser that also features a thumping trombone backing. It carries perfectly on the stage, which is helped given how tight-knit Thomas’ backing band is.

Thomas joked with the crowd that he could see people leaving for the toilet during ‘the new stuff’ but that was likely just a safe bet for the avid fans who didn’t want to miss the classics. They were duly rewarded with ‘Nobody Else’ and ‘Fever’, which closed the night in rousing fashion.

With a winter tour just a couple of months away, Thomas will make his biggest step to date when he plays the Glasgow Hydro in December. A feat that will surely inspire young budding musicians given the long road that has led to such positivity.

Dylan John Thomas’ new album Nothing Here Worth Taking is out now via Believe UK.

Dylan John Thomas plays the OVO Hydro on 11th December 2026.