Last week’s show from Ashnikko at the O2 Academy Glasgow was a wild, high-production, energetic ride that left the Scottish crowd buzzing all night long. The SMOOCHES tour follows the release of her third album, Smoochies, and the energy in the room was electric from the off.
Support act Amelia Moore warmed up the crowd with an upbeat set that perfectly set the tone for what was to come. Moore’s set was a cracking blend of alt-pop edginess and great vocal range—a range she was able to show off numerous times throughout her set, much to my amazement.
She managed to draw in an extremely large crowd for her slot and captured the audience’s attention from the get-go. Moore’s style seemed to blend perfectly with what Ashnikko’s fans were looking for; she had a very similar aura while still keeping her own and delivering a memorable performance. Even those there solely for the headliner must have found themselves having a great time. Amelia Moore is an artist worth watching, making her support slot feel like a highlight of the main show.
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By the start of the main event, the room was packed, everyone ready for Ashnikko and her signature blend of genre-bending pop, rap, and punk-inspired tunes. She crawled onto the stage through the tiny door in her purse and kicked the night off with “Sticky Fingers”. It was clear this wasn’t going to be your run-of-the-mill performance, featuring fantastic choreography and talented background dancers.
While the setlist focused mainly on songs from Smoochies, there were many of her older hits mixed in too, including a mashup of her annual “Halloweenie” songs and multiple tracks from her breakthrough EP, Hi It’s Me.
While the singer expressed regret over her vocals not being quite up to par due to recently having the flu, her performance was still incredibly impressive. Slowing the show down to give herself more time between songs was definitely the right choice, and by the end of the gig, her voice sounded just as strong as it did at the beginning.
Ashnikko’s stage presence was fantastic; she owned every moment with fun fan interactions that made everyone feel seen. Including a “trinket swap” was a unique touch that I hadn’t seen before, but it was a brilliant way for punters to pass over bits of artwork or just silly bits they wanted the singer to have. It brought a real connection to the crowd that you don’t often get at this level.
A fun highlight was when she crowned her “Smoochie girl” of the evening, who turned out to be a well-known TikToker who goes by Whatshername online. Later in the set, “Wet Like” and “Full Frontal” had the lights, bass, and crowd all jumping, creating a club-like intensity that had everyone completely immersed. There wasn’t a single person standing still.
Overall, the Glasgow crowd got exactly what they came for: a whimsically bold show filled with chaos, brutalist feminine energy, and banging tunes. From “Sticky Fingers” to “Daisy,” it was a night of unfiltered energy—chaotic and unforgettable. An incredible performance put on by an incredible performer.
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Photos by Alan Swan Photography
