Balu Brigada’s Glasgow gig was a portal worth getting lost in
The brothers headlined Glasgow for the first time on the European leg of their ‘Portal Tour’.
Photo: Press
Following the release of their debut album Portal last year, Balu Brigada brought their electronic-leaning alt-pop sound to a sold-out Queen Margaret Union in Glasgow for the penultimate night of their first UK headline tour.
The night opened with a DJ set from ryeberry (spelt “R to the Y to the E to the motherfuckin’ berry”), who instantly turned the room into a sweaty mix of jumping, chanting and cheering as he urged the crowd to “get stupid with me”. Mixing tracks like Doechii’s DENIAL IS A RIVER and even sampling Balu Brigada themselves, his unique stylings felt perfectly suited to the stuffy student union and could easily have kept the young crowd entertained for hours. But given the Kiwi duo’s adoring fanbase, it’s no shock that this wasn’t even the peak reaction of the night.
Aptly opening their set with Portal, brothers Henry and Pierre Beasley walked on stage with an effortless confidence, immediately locking into their roles as multi-instrumentalists and dual vocalists. Golden Gate Girl, Sideways and Politix formed a powerful opening trio as the pair showcased intricate guitar work, seamless switches between bass and guitar and strikingly smooth vocals, all while moving with the stamina of seasoned performers barely pausing for breath.
This musicianship remained undeniable throughout. Both Henry and Pierre held their own on multiple instruments, trading roles fluidly and matching each other’s energy and precision without ever overshadowing the other.
Joined by Harper Finn on keys and Jacob Stockman on drums, the duo’s sound expanded far beyond a four-piece setup, creating an immersive live experience that often felt arena-sized.
There was plenty of movement throughout the set, too. From slower bops, OH! Not Again and Butterfly Boy, to the face-screwing intensity of Backseat and the stunning finale of Could You Not, there was truly something for everyone. Album tracks like Sideways, So Cold and Backseat sounded even more expansive live, adding an extra buzz to already standout recordings, and further proving just how strong Portal really is.
As is standard, the set also featured a couple of covers: a moody, almost unrecognisable take on Hall & Oates’ You Make My Dreams (Come True), and the Scottish version of The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army, where “no Scotland, no party” was chanted at least a hundred times. The duo also performed their unreleased track Bedhead, which leaned into Portal’s darker edge and is sure to go down a treat once released.
But, beyond their phenomenal musicianship, excellent setlist and dance-inducing production, the duo were simply a whole lot of fun. Getting in fans’ faces at the barrier, waving to a fan on FaceTime mid-crowd and attempting Scottish accents, they not only worked the crowd but actively pulled each member in.
As a result, it was a show that felt much bigger than the space it was in. With huge instrumentals, a devoted crowd and enough charisma to make even the stubbornly stern smile, it was a transportive, high-energy escape from start to finish.