Thinking about a wee visit to Glasgow in 2018? We don’t blame you! One of only 19 UNESCO Cities of Music worldwide, it’s no surprise that the line-up of gigs and events in 2018 is a thing of beauty! We’ve tried to whittle the list down to just some of the hottest highlights that will be happening in the city this year.
Comedy in Glasgow
There’ll be plenty of lols in Glasgow this year, with some of the best British comedians heading to the city.
Jason Manford is bringing his Muddle Class tour to the SEC on 5th May. Deemed ‘effortlessly entertaining’ by the Evening Standard, the ‘8 out of 10 Cats’ star heads back to live stand up to acknowledge his shocking realisation that part of him has become ‘middle class’. Grab a signature ‘Clydebuilt’ burger or stone baked pizza from the venue’s Bar & Kitchen for some pre-gig bait.
Millennial, brunch advocate and pun king Joe Lycett will grace the stage for a sold out show at the 02 Academy on the 12th June. The catchily-named 'I'm About To Lose Control and I Think Joe Lycett' tour sees the charming and effortlessly witty comedian on the road with his biggest tour yet. If you’re lucky enough to have grabbed some tickets, but are still searching for somewhere to stay, Euro Hostel Glasgow is a short 9-minute walk to the 02 Academy.
Iain Stirling is no longer simply known as the “voice of Love Island”. He’s a hilarious stand-up comic in his own right, which is no better confirmed than by his nearly fully sold out ‘U OK Hun? X’ 2018 tour. If you bagged yourself a ticket to the sold out shows either at The Stand on 12th February, or the extra date at Glasgow Garage on 8th March but need somewhere to stay, Euro Hostel is a short Uber trip to both venues.
For the first time in 5 years, Russell Brand is back doing what he does best. His Re:Birth tour hits the SEC on 11th April. Find out for yourself whether he’s matured since his unexpected political commentator status and newfound fatherhood. Our guess would be, no.
BAFTA nominee Michael McIntyre’s Big World Tour comes to the SSE Hydro from 14th -16th June. And if that wasn’t enough, Scotland’s own Kevin Bridges is performing his aptly named Brand New Tour from 4th-28th October at the SSE Hydro, with only 4 of the 18 dates not sold out – don’t wait any longer to get your tickets!
Gigs in Glasgow
If, on the other hand, you’re heading to Glasgow for live music this year - you won’t be disappointed. As usual, Glasgow isn’t short of a packed line-up of gigs to rival other cities. Kicking things off, Kendrick Lamar is bringing his DAMN. tour to the SSE Hyrdo, along with the Mercury prize nominated James Blake. With an incredible seven Grammys and very limited tickets available, this is a show you’d be mad to miss.
For a considerably more down-tempo treat, Jake Bugg’s Solo Acoustic Tour couldn’t be more at home than within the beautiful walls and under the vaulted roof of the Old Fruitmarket.
As always, the SSE Hydro has listings to rival the best venues in the U.K. From February to April alone, the stage will be met with the likes of the Stereophonics, Sam Smith, Paloma Faith, Harry Styles, Arcade Fire and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. And that’s all before the summer even starts!
In June, following his Glastonbury headline performance, the indisputable king of song-writing Ed Sheeran heads to Hampden Park stadium from 1st-3rd June. His hit single ‘Shape of You’ was the biggest song of 2017, surpassing 2.8 billion views on YouTube. So, we’re assuming we don’t have to sell this one to you. If you’ve got tickets, you’ve done well! We know they’ll not have been cheap, so if you’re still looking for a reasonably priced place to rest your head after the gig, Euro Hostel is just over 2 miles away by taxi. And we can promise some tasty scran and drink offers to start or end your night.
TRNSMT Festival
If you don’t catch Stereophonics at the SSE in February, they have been announced as the headliners of 2018’s TRNSMT Festival. The Welsh rock band will take centre stage in Glasgow Green on Friday 29th June. Lead singer Kelly Jones has described the Scottish crowds as ‘beautiful’ and ‘always up for it’. We couldn’t have put it better ourselves! The line-up is still being announced, but so far includes the Arctic Monkeys, Blossoms, Declan McKenna, Liam Gallagher, the Courteeners and The Killers.
European Championships Glasgow 2018
Promising to be a new era in world sport, the European Championships are coming to Glasgow for the very first time. The summer of 2018 will see the city host an exciting new multi-sport event including Aquatics, Cycling, Golf, Gymnastics, Rowing and Triathlon. Considered one of the world’s top 5 sporting cities, Glasgow is well within their rights to host such a prestigious event alongside Berlin, who will host the Athletics. Be part of history by getting your hands on tickets for this first time ever event which runs from 2nd-12th August.
What’s more, the Championships have invested £750,000 in Scotland’s artists and cultural organisations, with Festival 2018 set to run alongside the sporting event. Unique urban spaces will be filled with cultural and creative contributions, from music to digital art, dance and comedy across the 11 days.
Artist's Impression: © Glasgow 2018 European Championships
You won’t struggle for somewhere to spend your surplus cash during your stay at Euro Hostel Glasgow. For even more inspiration, head to our Glasgow Places of Interest page. Or, if you’ve heard enough, book a room today!
