Black Country, New Road are back in the UK
Black Country, New Road return to the UK after a stint of shows in the US. This is their first show back following their US tour.
Black Country, New Road are one of those bands I know will never disappoint live. Thursday's show at Queen's Park was my fourth time seeing BC,NR. I previously caught them twice at Primavera Sound in Barcelona and at their headline show at Glasgow's Barrowland Ballroom last year.
There's something about a summer evening at the Bandstand that makes every gig feel a little more special, and this was no exception. A sold-out amphitheatre welcomed Black Country, New Road back to Glasgow, with the band mentioning how good it was to return after touring the US. This was their first show back in the UK after a soft album tour and continuing to establish their international presence across the pond that spanned almost an entire month between June and July finishing at Winnipeg Folk Festival. The crowd settled in the rather quaint amphitheater style stage that was set for the band. It had that perfect summer vibe, yet the set list was perfectly balanced with calm and slow while also parts that were full of energy, following suit of their discography.
This show formed part of the annual Summer Sessions at the Bandstand, a series that brings a wide range of artists to Queen’s Park throughout July and August. Black Country, New Road’s appearance wasn’t tied to a traditional tour cycle, but rather a one‑off outdoor date. The blue and orange sky as the sun set was the perfect setting for this almost intimate show.
The setlist leaned heavily on material from their latest album, Forever Howlong. They broke up the run of new material with three outliers: their now semi‑regular cover of Wings’ Band on the Run and the Bush Hall favourite “Dancers”. The Wings cover has become a playful mid‑set tradition for the group, offering a moment of looseness before returning to the more intricate album tracks. Dancers provided a nod to their earlier era, bridging their past and present without disrupting the flow of the newer material and what a song it is to hear live. The show also started with Strangers which is a War Child compilation track from HELP(2). It’s a song they perform frequently at their live shows, most of them, in fact. It’s another great song that was amplified by the venue and setting and fantastic at getting people warmed up.
Hearing so much of Forever Howlong in one sitting highlighted how varied the album is. Two Horses relies on slow‑building tension, while songs such as Mary and Besties open up more quickly and feel instantly warm in a live setting. Outdoors, those contrasts became even clearer. The quieter introductions felt almost fragile, while the bigger crescendos carried beautifully across the open space.
It was great to see a band like BC,NR in such a unique setting. With perfect weather, a full run of Forever Howlong, and a crowd fully tuned into every detail, Queen’s Park Arena proved to be the ideal location for this show. The intimate atmosphere of the Bandstand suited their music perfectly, making for a memorable evening.
