Glasvegas @ Ayr Town Hall, 31 Oct

The gravitas of Laura Marling’s (***) lyrics belie the fact that she’s just old enough to attend her own shows. Beginning the set with her new single Ghosts, the moonlighting member of Noah and the Whale doesn’t seem terribly pleased to be performing tonight, but it’s possible that’s just her ‘sullen and bored’ stage persona. Despite the ennui, Marling's music manages to eclipse the gloom. Comparisons to Cat Power or Regina Spektor are understandable; the pop-folk female singer/songwriter category is always bursting, but Marling’s youth coupled with her unique and compelling voice should ensure her longevity. Here's a tip, though: a touch of enthusiasm for your own music can’t hurt.

It’s certain that a crowd this enthusiastic has never graced the Ayr Town Hall before this particular Halloween. The be-costumed punters bellow the refrain from Go Square Go in frantic anticipation and are rewarded when the band finally appears on the blue-lit stage. James Allan pauses and poses at the edge, deigning to give the multitude a moment of adulation. Glasvegas (****) waste no time with small talk; they launch into Flowers and Football Tops, making it clear that although they may be vamping up their standoffish persona, rarely does a band work so hard on stage and with such unflagging joy. Allan occasionally mutters a few unintelligible words between numbers, otherwise Glasvegas do not communicate in any way other than the reverb that’s shot them to UK stardom. Allan accepts he’s outnumbered and frequently allows the audience to sing instead, proving that behind the perpetual sunglasses is a man resigned to the fact that his songs are no longer his own. [Marta Nelson]