Toploader

Toploader bring their piano-led alt rock to Glasgow on 22 October 2026 at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. Formed in Eastbourne at the end of the Britpop era, the band developed a piano-forward sound that blends rock, pop and touches of soul and funk. Frontman and keyboardist Joseph Washbourn carries the vocal lines while guitarist Dan Hipgrave shapes the riffs and textures. Their debut Onka’s Big Moka (1999) featured their version of Dancing in the Moonlight, followed by Magic Hotel (2002). After a break in the mid-2000s, they returned with Only Human (2011) and Seeing Stars (2017), extending a catalogue that moves between ballads and more uptempo numbers. On stage, the group typically revisits early tracks and adds later material, with arrangements centered on piano grooves, layered choruses and tight rhythm sections. The set traces their path from late-90s beginnings to recent releases, carried by the melodic, piano-centric writing that has defined the band over the years.