There can’t be many small venues around better than Glasgow’s Audio. The tiny room under the arches of Glasgow Central gives the intimacy of a living-room gig, allowing you to get right up close and personal with the bands. I’ve seen all types of bands there at the beginning of their career, or just before they go on to headline bigger venues. There is no better place to be than on a lovely sunny Sunday night to catch three great young bands showing that the alternative scene in the UK is alive and well at the moment.
Just before doors, Voted Most Likely unfortunately had to pull out, as their singer Scott had lost his voice. While it was disappointing, health comes first and I know it was a hard decision for them to make. Hopefully, it’s not too long before they’re back at it, and next time they make it to Scotland I’ll definitely be checking them out. In the meantime, if you’re a fan of Midwest emo, you should go listen to them because they’re a really good band who deserve more ears on them. I’d recommend “Coffee At Lukes” as a good place to start – great music and a Gilmore Girls reference, what more could you want?
Kicking things off were Human Renegade, who brought their own brand of alternative. They blend metal, industrial, emo, and pop elements into one brilliant sound. Clearly influenced by some of the best about, you can hear bits of Deftones, Korn, and Slipknot amongst others in their sound. There was a heavy, bass-driven industrial monster of a song that brought Nine Inch Nails to mind, and it was a real highlight of their set. As their set progressed, the tracks became less about their influences and felt more personal and uniquely their own, with the track “Emo” and latest single “Insaniac” sounding really good. A great set to get us going.
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Next up were Aberdeen trio Palejoy, who really threatened to steal the show. Any set that has a Come Dine With Me audio sample is always going to be a winner. These guys brought full-on energy and fun to the stage, packing a load into their set. Not to be confined to the stage, they were in the crowd (lying on the floor by the end!), a disposable camera was given out for some candid crowd pictures, and they had a load more audio clips in the arsenal. Oh, and of course, the music itself was pretty great. The trio felt like a young Biffy Clyro with their powerful playing, emotive lyrics, and aggressive high-octane delivery. Whether it was an audience of one or one thousand, they were going to give it their all. One to watch going forward for sure.
The job of following all that was down to our headliners for the night, Oscura. Fortunately, they were more than up to the challenge, delivering a powerful set that brought back memories of alt-metal in all its early 2000s glory, but with a very 2026 feel. While their records are good, they sound even better in a live environment. Drawing from 2025’s In Another Light, the tracks sounded raw, intense, and full of energy. The guys brought a lot of feeling to Audio’s relatively small confines. One of the night’s highlights was getting to hear the newest single “Liminal” up close and personal; the song is a real high point for the band. From the vocals to the heavy, hard-hitting riffs, to the massive, thick, and weighty bass and drums, each part was on point and built to be heard live. These guys really put on a show, and nobody would have left disappointed. They sound and feel like a band built for the live stage.
Gigs like this are a great advert for going to the small venues, supporting the independent scene, and giving new bands a try. If you missed out on this one, make sure you give at least one of these bands a listen wherever you get your music. Even better, next time one of them is in your town, go and check them out before they’re in the bigger venues and you can’t get a ticket.
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Oscura: facebook | instagram | spotify
Palejoy: facebook | instagram | spotify | bandcamp | tiktok
Human Renegade: instagram | spotify | tiktok
Voted Most Likely: facebook | instagram | spotify | bandcamp | tiktok | youtube
