Live Review: Mac Demarco – Glasgow Barrowland (September 2026) 

It would be fair to say that historically, Mac DeMarco gigs have been something of a lucky dip. Eccentric onstage behaviours including band members performing nude and other alcohol fuelled antics meant that sometimes the music was overshadowed. This was particularly evident when I last saw Mac at the Barras in 2017. He slugged his way through bottles of Buckfast and proceeded to indulge in a truly bizarre 30-minute medley of covers ranging from Red Hot Chilli Peppers to 50 Cent and the Proclaimers. 

A lot has changed since then, most pertinently the decision from Mac to become sober in 2020. Sobriety has not removed any of Mac’s onstage charm, but it has given more clarity to the music and as a whole tonight’s show is absolutely flawless.  

Opener ‘For the First Time’ raises the roof of the mighty and famous ballroom as the sold-out audience sing along en masse. That being said the crowd don’t actually let up at any point of the show, these are hardcore fans who appear to know Mac’s lyrics verbatim.

Between songs Mac is in jovial mood and there are the customary walking handstands along with him talking to the audience in a faux Scottish accent. ‘Given my name is McBriare I am probably Scottish somewhere along the line’ he declares, before saying ‘Glasgow’ as if possessed by Billy Connolly. 

Yuki Kikuchi, Mac’s perennial tour photographer, is known to regularly grace the stage, usually dancing around while he snaps the band and the crowd. Tonight he joins Mac for a duet of ‘No Other Heart’ as both just about manage to balance on sound monitors. What could have been a gimmick actually works with Yuki having a voice good enough to hold a tune. 

The un-denying chemistry between Mac and Yuki doesn’t end there as the former presents a number of questions to his sidekick, all specific to Scotland. The crowd ‘oooooh’ in anticipation as Yuki is asked whether he likes a caramel wafer and after pausing to ponder he replies ‘yes’ much to the delight of the cheering audience. 

‘Freaking Out the Neighbourhood’ is of more epic proportion live and has the Barras dancefloor springing with joy. There is time for one last surprise with a cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Human Nature’. Unlike 2017 the cover is short and sweet and doesn’t leave the locals bemused. 

Photo credit: Lennon Bean