Glasgow Cranked The MF Hog
30th June 2026 – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
After being a supporting act for big names like Bad Omens and Sleep Token, Bilmuri came back to Scotland to play the final two shows of their UK/EU Kinda Hard tour at the iconic Barrowland Ballroom.
The night was a controlled masterclass in chaos, with the band delivering a relentless, high-energy set that blended crushing emotional breakdowns with soaring pop choruses. In between songs, frontman Johnny Franck’s self-deprecating humour left the Scottish crowd grinning from ear to ear.
Glasgow’s signature “Here we, here we, here we fucking go!” chants frequently erupted, and the band celebrated it further with lead guitarist Reese Malsen appearing on stage wearing a traffic cone while playing one of his solos. Despite all the laughs and jokes from Johnny and the rest of the band, he also took time to mention his own struggles with mental health and express appreciation for his fans’ unending support throughout the years.
Another massive highlight of the evening was Gabi Rose.
She opened the show with a saxophone version of “Flower of Scotland”, followed by the crowd chanting her name as a sign of appreciation. Alongside showcasing her skill on both saxophone and flute, the audience was mesmerised by the harmonies and undeniable chemistry between her and frontman Johnny. Her sheer talent and the way she commanded the room offered a refreshing, empowering, and inclusive vision of the modern alternative music scene.
After the gig, Gabi played a DJ set at one of Glasgow’s most iconic alternative clubs, The Cathouse. Alongside playing and singing along to a variety of songs, she also performed her saxophone solo from Emergence live on stage.
Bilmuri’s set was a sweaty, country-metal house party that made it impossible not to feel completely rejuvenated afterwards.
Review written by Rina
As a female/non-binary writer, I refuse to deliver copy-paste reviews and try to highlight the female and non-binary creatives. I picked up the keyboard again, to share a different perspective on the music I love. I skip the standard industry hype, take the reader with me into the pit and deep dive into the scene. If you love heavy breakdowns -both metal and mental- live music, and honest storytelling, I hope you’ll tag along.
Instagram: @atypical.ghoul
“I don’t do typical“