Up the stairs of King Tut’s, where bands prove the strength of Scotland’s alternative music scene.
The cold air of the last Sunday of 2025 lay still above Glasgow’s St Vincent Street. Around 7 o’clock it began to stir, disturbed by the crowd heading towards the historic King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut.
Armed with Tonto flags, T-shirts and hats, fans queued outside the venue before the doors opened, never discouraged by the evening chill. The dedication came as no surprise – they were about to see one of the most promising rock bands of the Scottish alternative music scene.
With its impressive legacy, King Tut’s needs no introduction. Walking up the stairs to the stage room, names like Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and Kasabian glance out from the steps. Now at the top, these acts played right here at the beginning of their careers, in front of no more than 300 people. This is not just another venue but a part of Glasgow’s music history.
That night, Tonto, alongside support acts, Panhead Sharps, The Claes and Phanilla, had the privilege of playing a stage small in size, but monumental in significance.
PHANILLA
First on stage were Phanilla, whose style seamlessly blends a range of influences, their music carrying britpop’s romanticism of Cast and the new wave ‘grooviness’ of Talking Heads.
Elaborate and tasteful, their songs are built from layers of sound created by a multitude of instruments. Each track consistently features their signature funky rhythm guitar, while still having the gravity of sophisticated indie rock.
Originally a duo of cousins, they performed as a band of five, who knew exactly how to warm up the audience. Their lively, laid-back tunes were pleasantly mellow, and their rendition of ‘I Am the Resurrection’ by The Stone Roses got the crowd relaxed, hips swaying side to side.
THE CLAES
Next came The Claes. The Ayrshire four-piece are indie rock in its purest form, fusing the best of The Libertines and early Arctic Monkeys with the classic 90s Manchester sound.
Fronting them is Jude, whose fresh vocals, delivered with a carefree positivity, enhanced the band’s characteristic youthful style. Their warmth and friendliness glowed from the stage, engaging the crowd, who eagerly sang along to their catchy tunes.
Their cover of ‘This Is the One’ by The Stone Roses, dedicated to Mani, united everyone in a moment of respect for the late bassist. The heartfelt gesture was greatly appreciated by the audience who were heard praising The Claes throughout the rest of the night.
PANHEAD SHARPS
The unique sound of the alternative rock trio from Dunfermline combines the rawness of The Black Keys’ ‘Thickfreakness’ era with the melodiousness and emotional weight of Audioslave. Their strong basslines, aggressive drums and striking guitar solos underpin intentionally rough vocals that feel honest and authentic.
Edgy and dynamic, Panhead Sharps’ shows have a defining quality – the band completely lose themselves in their sound. They move around the stage, stomping, shaking, sweat splashing around. Every note is amplified by powerful movement, creating a performance that’s captivating and memorable. That night was no exception.
The intensity of their energy and sound was enormous, at times making it hard to believe that there were only three of them on stage.
TONTO
The Alloa supergroup are the embodiment of indie rock. Fuelled by timeless guitars, they echo the spirit of legendary bands like James and Oasis. Their sound is sharp and clear, with just enough harshness from the vocals to give it fierceness and confidence.
While Tonto’s lyrics are grounded in serious themes, their music remains light and upbeat, driven by infectiously catchy choruses. This careful balance delivers quality songs that are both meaningful and widely appealing, showing that Tonto have what it takes to achieve success on a mainstream scale. Catching them now, while they still play intimate venues like King Tut’s, was a real treat. And their fans knew that.
In anticipation of the band’s appearance, the crowd chanted their name, packing the room with excitement.
Waving and smiling, Tonto entered the stage greeted by a loud, welcoming cheer. Connecting with the fans, the charismatic frontman Kieran chatted and laughed between the songs, making everybody feel included, to which the crowd responded with passionate singing, dancing and even moshing.
The enthusiasm bounced back and forth between the fans and the band, creating a joyful atmosphere of friendship and mutual admiration. It was a beautiful showcase of music truly bringing people together.
Phanilla, The Claes, Panhead Sharps and Tonto: four unique bands, each different and well worth keeping an eye on. All hoping to put their name on the iconic staircase of King Tut’s one day. And with their excellent performances, all proved that they are on the right track to achieve this goal.
As for the stars of the night, Tonto delivered more than just a great show. They gave their fans a night full of love, connection and genuine fun. True rockstars who remember who they are – a rare quality that makes them one of the UK’s most exciting rising bands.
Was a belter off a night. Much respect to all bands. Am a Panhead Sharps follower, and they absolutely smashed their set. Saying that the others smashed their set’s also
Thank you for your comment, it was an amazing night and we’re glad you enjoyed it too!
The Claes were superb. The seem to get better and better each time they play in this venue and growing in stature. Thoroughly enjoy a great night of music.
What a night I’m a big Tonto fan all bands were great but Tonto just get it hopefully this years one to remember up the Tonto let’s go lads