GIG REVIEW | CALLUM STEWART @ KING TUTS | 19.01.25

Tonight, I went down to King Tuts for the twelfth night of their New Year’s Resolution fest, headlined by Motherwell singer/songwriter Callum Stewart, supported by gritty new Glasgow band McCandless, and the funky fusion of Sean Choon and the Prawn Monsoon. It was a nice change from the lazy Sundays, and it did not disappoint.

Sean Choon and The Prawn Monsoon

Kicking things off this evening as part of the New Year Resolution fest at King Tuts was the eccentric, wacky five-piece, fronted by the multi-talented Sean Choon on drums and vocals- while also wearing a giant homemade shrimp hat. His charismatic performance was awe-inspiring, showcasing his insane multitasking ability. The whole band displayed impressive musical craftsmanship and brought a sound like no other; it was an experimental rollercoaster I didn’t know I needed. They had the crowd dancing, spinning and singing along- the audience participation in the set took it from gig to party, if you are a fan of fun, this band is for you.

McCandless

Up next, after the colourful mayhem of Shaun Choon and his Prawn Monsoon, was fresh on the scene four-piece McCandless, who packed the punch and gave the audience their fix of upbeat punk-infused rock- and it went down a treat. For their first-ever performance, they’ve got it down. Their charismatic frontman Ewan MacDonald quickly established himself as an enthusiastic and energetic performer. Multitasking was in the air tonight, the dexterous guitarist and keyboard player Peter Cat managed to juggle these instruments during the powerful set, I was very impressed. They have singles in the bank to release this year, their song Broken Pony specifically received high praise from the crowd, and they are one to watch.

Callum Stewart

The much-anticipated headliner Callum Stewart came on stage at 9:30 to rapturous applause from the audience; the band made their appearance first before the Motherwell singer/songwriter swanned on stage after giving us our fill of suspense, and the crowd went wild. Stewart performed to a full house; the venue was packed from wall to wall with dedicated fans repping his merch and giving the artist a very warm welcome.

It was clear to me that Callum Stewart is a respected Scottish musician, much like one of his primary musical inspirations, Paolo Nutini. It is apparent that he has a true passion for his songwriting, and he is a pleasure to watch perform. It isn’t hard to tell that he genuinely enjoys performing, and that made his set even more refreshing.

Photo by Katie Reid

Throughout the gig, the audience cheered, whistled, clapped, and sang along. His latest release, Broken, had the audience buzzing from the first chord. Your Forever was another track that received a great response. This gentle ballad was the first song he had ever written, and its pairing with golden, sombre lighting truly elevated the performance. His backing band also deserves praise; they played fluently from start to finish and succeeded in showcasing their professional ability.

The Motherwell headliner was a joy to watch, and the atmosphere in the room made it even better. Stewart isn’t stopping anytime soon, so we have much to look forward to!