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City Guide
Dylan John Thomas’ insider guide to Glasgow
Dylan John Thomas has played every possible stage there is to play in Glasgow. Here's the local hero's insider guide to his native city
Dylan John Thomas‘ unpretentious poetism and full-hearted sentiment has seen him rise through the ranks to become one of Glasgow’s favourite sons. But Glaswegians’ affections for him is wholly reciprocated, given that the singer-songwriter wouldn’t be where he is – or who he is – without his native city.
Admitting that he “was lucky with how the city’s music circuit works” over our Zoom chat, Dylan’s journey to the OVO Hydro – the arena he’s set to play once again on the forthcoming tour in support of his new record Nothing Here Worth Taking – has been winding but gradual.
Starting out as a busker on the city’s streets, Dylan John Thomas earned his stripes as part of Glasgow’s underground music scene, playing a few open mics before stepping up to venues like St Luke’s and SWG3. His distant dream of headlining arenas, and simply being able to make a living from music, became reality after the release of his debut self-titled record in 2024. “To get to arena level off the back of one album is mad. It was special to even be able to play King Tut’s!”
It’s a remarkable change in fortunes for the self-taught musician, who wasn’t afforded a musical education growing up, and was laughed off in guitar shops as a youngster.
“I used to get the bus into town to the guitar shop across the road from Barrowlands,” he tells us. “I’d walk in wearing a Carbrini tracksuit and try to pick up the Les Paul which was worth about £3,000. The staff would say ‘no chance, mate’. Now, I can go into those shops and play the guitars on merit.”
Local hero Dylan has played every possible stage there is to play in Glasgow, including the main stage at TRNSMT, so who better to offer their sage wisdom about the city he calls home. For the uninitiated, here’s Dylan John Thomas’ (no frills) insider guide to Glasgow.
Best venue: Barrowland Ballroom
I’ve played at Barrowland Ballroom six nights in a row. It’s a good walk from town and as a venue it has everything: the atmosphere, the sound and the experience of being there. The sprung floor means you can feel the crowd moving when people jump. On stage, you feel it too, so you’re part of the crowd. The sound comes back from the rear wall brilliantly. It’s my favourite venue as a performer – and as a punter.
My all-time favourite gig was The Specials at the Barrowlands. I also saw them at the O2 Academy when I was younger too. Those were the first proper shows I remember going to. It was a full-circle moment [at Barrowlands] because Steve Cradock, who played with The Specials and was a founding member of Ocean Colour Scene, later asked us to support them at the Barrowlands. We played a few shows with them actually. Steve asked for my address after one show, and sent me a 12-string acoustic that had been recorded on some Ocean Colour Scene songs. It was mad.
Best place to eat: Mother India
Mother India. Definitely Mother India. You cannae go wrong with an Indian, mate. Other than that, all I eat is Pepe’s…
Favourite record store: Assai Records
There are a few record shops I’m into. Assai Records on Sauchiehall Street has done a lot for the record community. There’s also Strip Joint on Byres Road which I’ve played at a few times.
I also love the record fair when it comes around. It used to be at the old Fruitmarket. When I was young, I’d buy old Buddy Holly and Del Shannon records for 50p. Ten singles for a fiver. I’ve still got some of them to this day. It was brilliant to have a piece of history in your hands, something physical and something tangible: a record someone owned in the sixties that has lived a life of its own. That’s the beauty of going to these old record fairs.
Best hangover cure: a round of golf at Easter Moffat
I’m not really much of a drinker these days. I’ll sink a few after a gig, like. Playing golf is how I’d get rid of a hangover. I play golf a few days a week when I can, when I’m not rehearsing or gigging. There are a few great golf courses around Glasgow. Easter Moffat, just on the outskirts, is my favourite. It’s a beautiful course. It has an old Edwardian clubhouse and it’s in the middle of nowhere. It feels away from everything.
Best word of advice to visitors: just go to a gig in Glasgow
It depends on what you’re into, musically, but definitely go to a gig. Glasgow has so much to see, there’s so many incredible venues here. Seeing something at the music venues in Glasgow is the recommendation I’d make.
