Róisín McCarney @ King Tut’s, Glasgow, 30 Oct

Wearing a striking leather bodysuit embellished with oversized white collars and red tartan frills, Róisín McCarney bounds onto the stage in front of a packed King Tut’s with unmatched enthusiasm, space buns and micro fringe bouncing with her every move. From the moment she opens her set with her most recent single, SOS, the energy in the room is electric. The song’s choreography, filled with sharp arm windmilling, sets the tone for what proves to be a performance of infectious excitement.

The first half of her set is an exhilarating rush of high-octane pop songs, which she performs with larger-than-life enthusiasm and vitality, bursting with presence and charisma. McCarney’s voice is powerful, cutting cleanly through the heavy beats and distorted guitar as she confidently struts around the stage with energetic dance moves. Between songs, she interacts with the audience with relaxed humour and playfulness. She encourages the crowd to sing along and dance as she performs a cover of Blondie’s Call Me, which was also featured in her 2025 EP, Guess Who.

The second part of her show features an acoustic set, consisting only of McCarney’s vocals and a guitar or a keyboard. A cancer survivor, she reflects on the hardships of battling through tough times, but ultimately brightens the mood with a genuinely motivational and inspirational message. Towards the end of the acoustic set, she moves into the back of the venue with just her acoustic guitar, and the entire audience hushes. Without a mic, she performs a fully acoustic version of Meet me in Montauk, accompanied by the audience singing the backing vocals in the chorus. It's a tender and poignant moment, with McCarney basking in the soft light of the dark venue, her vocals soft and intimate, and it feels as though the crowd has become one.

Her performance is matched by her band, who both seem to enjoy each other’s musical company. They're reintroduced to the stage in the final section of the set before she finishes proceedings with another blast of energy. The audience goes wild for her performance of The Juggler, singing along to the chorus and jumping in unison. At times, her sheer kinetic energy threatens to outshine the subtler moments, but her charm, candour and passion always bring the focus back to her voice. It’s a triumphant end to a joyous performance that encapsulates McCarney’s strengths of pairing heartfelt authenticity and commanding showmanship.