SWG3 was already packed shoulder to shoulder before the first note even hit, and the energy in the room made it clear this was going to be something special.
First up were The Pretty Wild — a sister duo from the US blending alternative metal with hard-hitting modern rock, cinematic melodies, and a dark, theatrical edge. Think powerful female-fronted vocals, genre-hopping confidence, and a touch of chaos in the best way.
I’ll be honest — this was my first time hearing them, and they were not what I expected.
Visually, they set the tone immediately. One sister appeared in a gothic ball-gown style outfit, while the other leaned more towards a gritty, gurney-core aesthetic — somehow totally different, yet perfectly matched for what was to come. And what came next was a mysterious blend of sweet but commanding melodic vocals, crashing head-first into gritty, powerful screams.
They shared early on how buzzed they were to be on this tour — especially as it was their first time in the UK — joking with the crowd and acknowledging just how tightly packed we all were. Judging by the response, Glasgow would happily welcome them back.
What really stood out was their energy and sarcastic, playful humour. Sisters Jyl and Jules compliment each other beautifully — bouncing between mighty roars, delicate ballad-like moments, and even bursts of rap. It felt confident and fun.
Then… it was time.
The lights dimmed, and Miley Cyrus’s Party in the USA blasted through the speakers as a room full of metalheads absolutely lost their minds!!!
Out came Sleep Theory — a modern metal band known for blending heavy riffs, emotional hooks, and genre-defying influences that pull from metalcore, pop, R&B, and alternative rock.
What I love most about Sleep Theory is that no one dominates the stage. Everyone pulls their weight. It’s rare — often your eyes are glued to the frontman — but here, each member captures your attention. They genuinely looked like a family up there, having fun together, like we were watching a jam session rather than a performance. That chemistry is infectious.
Vocalist Cullen Moore constantly checked in with the crowd, throwing out sick dance moves, locking eyes with fans, pulling silly faces, smiling — easily some of the best fan engagement I’ve seen. It felt personal without feeling forced.
They made a point of saying they didn’t want to jibber-jabber — they wanted to play. And play they did. We were treated to an incredible 19-song setlist, opening with ‘Fallout‘ from their latest album ‘Afterglow‘, alongside older favourites like ‘Gone or Staying‘.
And then… the covers…
Not one.
Not two.
Three.
Bands, take notes — this is how you do a cover.
We got classic boy-band nostalgia with NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye”, a huge crowd-pleasing version of Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer”, and hands down my favourite — “Paper Heart” by Paramore.
Before Paper Heart, Cullen shared why the song meant so much to the band. He told a story about being at one of his best pal’s birthday parties, hearing someone pick up a guitar and sing, and immediately thinking, “Who is this guy? That voice is unreal.” That singer turned out to be Paolo, now Sleep Theory’s bassist. After plenty of back-and-forth trying to convince him to join, they ended up standing on stage together — a full-circle moment that hit hard.
I don’t know why, but I got really teary during that track. You could feel the emotion — the connection between the band and the crowd was undeniable.
During Cruel Summer, footage played behind them of touring life and festival moments — pure fun, pure joy. At one point, a fan became unwell and had to be escorted out, and Cullen immediately clocked it and handed the fan his setlist — a small gesture that said a lot.
There were chaotic, funny moments too — confetti randomly drifting past Cullen’s face mid-song, leaving him visibly confused, and security absolutely soaked during ‘Numb‘ when water was launched into the crowd. Hilarious.
They saved one of the biggest tracks for last, closing with Static, sending the crowd into full jump-mode and ending the night on a massive high.
A night full of heart, chaos, connection, and pure fun — and one I won’t forget anytime soon.
Top 3 songs of the night:
Hourglass
III
Another Way