
English Teacher took their winter UK headline tour to Glasgow’s QMU on 18 November.
The alternative rock post-punk band are already making waves after winning the Mercury prize for ‘Album of the Year’ with their debut album ‘This Could Be Texas’. A fusion of upbeat indie tracks and slower, unique, soulful ballads were played to the sold-out crowd, that confidently mark their variability and skill.
The British band, originally from Leeds and Lancashire, consist of lead vocalist Lily Fontaine, Lewis Whiting on guitar, drummer Douglas Frost and Nicholas Eden on bass, with additional keys and string players that add to the sheer talent of the band in performing live. English Teacher would best appeal to fans of Yard Act, SPRINTS, and The Last Dinner Party.

TTSSFU opened the night at 7.45pm with a range of alternative indie tracks including ‘Baggage’ and ‘I Hope You Die’ from their debut EP ‘Me, Jed and Andy’. Lead vocalist Tasmin Stephens blends 90s shoegaze with unique synth-rock, instantly warming up the Glasgow crowd with her captivating vocals before English Teacher took the stage at around 8.45 pm.
The stage setup was atmospheric with blue swirling waves as the backdrop, and tall yellow flowers creating an ethereal scene for English Teacher as they began their set with single ‘R&B’. Fontaine, wearing an oversized jacket and black halter-neck top, offered gripping vocals and impressive stage presence – often providing the crowd with backstories behind the songs and encouraging them to dance and move around.
The set explored multiple themes ranging from self-discovery to the supernatural, with ‘Not Everybody Gets to Go to Space’ questioning the existence of aliens. An unreleased track ‘Billboards’ also featured in the set, providing a catchy, fast-paced indie-rock vibe with captivating drums and vocals.

Heading toward the end of the set, English Teacher played a fantastic live rendition of their hit singles ‘Nearly Daffodils’ and ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’ both crowd favourites and often mixing different tempos and speeds that had you constantly gripped. ‘Albert Road’, a song based on Fontaine’s hometown, concluded the set. With their friends and family in the audience, it marked a memorable night for both the band and the crowd.
English Teacher already have a jam-packed 2025, with a headline in Tokyo, a slot at Sheffield’s Get Together festival, and an exciting supporting slot at Wythenshawe Park with Fontaines D.C. in August.