Being the UK’s third largest city, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Glasgow has a stellar music scene. A massive student population has helped Glasgow’s bohemian vibe flourish for decades. Legendary artists like Franz Ferdinand, Primal Scream, Belle and Sebastian, and the Fratellis all cut their teeth in the sweaty rock clubs and venues throughout Glasgow. 

Today, places like Barrowland Ballroom and King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut are preferred venues for touring bands and acts, and music festivals like TRNSMT have turned the city into a travel destination for music fans from all over the world. 

While the rock scene is alive and well in Glasgow, some venues cater to a wider audience. The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall is where classical orchestral performances can be enjoyed, and events like Celtic Connections and Piping Live are where you can enjoy traditional Scottish music. If you’re a crate digger (a euphemism for “record nerd”), you’ll have plenty of choices of stores to shop for new and used records. 

Here’s everything you need to know about live music in Glasgow: 

Glasgow is jam-packed with stellar music venues 

• Glasgow Royal Concert Hall: This modern music venue may sound like an opulent setting for opera performances, but it hosts plenty of rock and pop shows when the Scottish National Orchestra isn’t filling its chambers with classical music. BB King, Johnny Cash, and Van Morrison have all played here, among other events. 
• King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut: Glasgow’s most iconic music venue has been the setting for some of its most iconic performances, with names like Oasis, No Doubt, The Killers, Bloc Party, and Radiohead all performing there earlier in their careers. While these living legends have outgrown the comfy confines of King Tut’s, it’s a great place to see emerging local talent and up-and-comers touring through the UK. The venue is smaller but really packs it in, making for a sweaty, rowdy atmosphere. It’s the sort of venue you can tell the band loves playing in, which makes for the perfect experience. 
• Òran Mór: Easily the most beautiful and distinct music venue in the city, this converted church now hosts intimate performances and events. The acoustics are absolutely dialed in, and the ornate details of the surrounding church features make for an otherworldly concert experience. 
• Nice N Sleezy: The most irreverently-named venue in Glasgow is a haven for music obsessives and trendy scenesters from the university. Every detail of this mid-size concert hall is designed to evoke the sweaty rock clubs of old, and their surprisingly great restaurant makes for a complete evening. Concerts here don’t always sell out, so check the schedule before your trip to see who is playing or simply show up.
• Barrowland Ballroom: One of the oldest continuously-operated music venues in Glasgow is also its most popular. U2, Oasis, The Clash, The Smiths, and The Foo Fighters have all graced the stage here, and today’s buzziest bands and the “next big thing” acts regularly tour through Barrowland Ballroom.
• Bloc: This small rock club is more of a bar, which makes it the perfect place for a casual night out. Local bands tend to play here, and almost every show is free. That doesn’t mean Bar Bloc is any less appealing; the bespoke decor and stylish crowd make it a great destination for date night. 

Glasgow’s music festivals are worth planning a trip around 

• TRNSMT Festival: One of the UK’s biggest music festivals is held at Glasgow Green, right in the heart of the city. For two weekends every summer, the city is taken over by thousands of music fans and artists enjoying a few days of eclectic music and culture. Past headliners include The 1975, Radiohead, Pulp, Lewis Capaldi, and The Strokes. Unlike many festivals in the UK, this city event is easily accessible from downtown hotels and other parts of Glasgow, making it easy to plan a trip around. 
• Celtic Connections: Traditional Celtic music and culture are celebrated around the world, and one of its most important events is held every January in Glasgow. Celtic Connections takes place over a few weeks in different venues and features performances from traditional Irish and Scottish bands, including some mainstream crossover acts. 
• Piping Live: Every August, some of the best bagpiping groups in the world descend upon Glasgow for a celebration of this iconic art form. Piping Live features performances and events throughout the city showcasing Scotland’s well-known cultural export. 

Record stores in Glasgow

There’s been a massive resurgence in the popularity of vinyl records, but judging by the storefronts throughout Glasgow’s Bohemian neighborhoods, records never went away at all. Here are some of the best record shops to dig through: 

• Missing Records: This hole-in-the-wall record store is located right near Glasgow Central train station. It may not look like much at first, but pass through the aisles of CDs and DVDs to the basement to find it packed with used vinyl records covering every genre. You’ll have to dig a little, but Missing Records is where you’ll find some gems at dirt-cheap prices, especially if you want rare 7” singles. 
• Monorail Music: Easily one of the coolest and most photogenic record stores in Glasgow is this trendy spot situated beneath a railway arch. New and used vinyl aren’t the only things on offer here, as the store’s counterpart, Mono Café, serves up delectable vegan bites alongside its third-wave coffee. You’ll find all the buzziest indie rock and pop acts on the shelves, but eclectic offerings from metal and jazz make Monorail a complete destination for music nerds. 
• Mixed Up Records: Located within walking distance of the university, the popularity of Mixed Up Records makes a ton of sense. Its next-door neighbor is a used bookstore, so you can imagine the students selling their old textbooks and immediately blowing the cash on used Pink Floyd LPs or the new Arcade Fire record. 
• Some Great Reward: Located in the uber-trendy Cooperage retail spot near Queens Park, Some Great Reward has ridden the wave of vinyl’s comeback since opening in 2018. While it certainly doesn’t lack character, it’s less dusty than some of its more vintage-oriented counterparts, and it doesn’t buy or sell used records at all. Expect newer bands and reissued records from the classics, and don’t forget to peruse some of the other cafés and stores nearby!