The Undertones « 50th Anniversary Show »

The Undertones mark 50 years at O2 Academy Glasgow on 2 October 2026. Formed in Derry in the mid-70s, they fuse punk urgency with a pop instinct: tight song formats, sharp riffs, lyrics about youth, everyday life and tangled feelings. Built around the O’Neill brothers on guitars with Michael Bradley on bass and Billy Doherty on drums, the band fired off a run from the self-titled 1979 debut to Hypnotised in 1980, then opened up the palette on Positive Touch and The Sin of Pride before stepping away. Back since the late 90s with Paul McLoone on vocals, they’ve kept the writing lean and melodic on Get What You Need and Dig Yourself Deep. This anniversary show draws a clear line through that story, from first-wave rush to brisk power-pop contours.

Skids complete the bill with a Dunfermline-born blend of punk bite and new wave angles. Emerging in 1977 around Richard Jobson and the late Stuart Adamson, they cut through early with the Charles EP, radio support from John Peel and stage time alongside The Clash, chiselling anthems like The Saints Are Coming and Into the Valley. Albums from Scared to Dance and Days in Europa to The Absolute Game tracked a move from raw attack to broader arrangements without losing the core pulse. Reformed in recent years, they’ve extended the timeline with Burning Cities, Peaceful Times, Songs from a Haunted Ballroom and Destination Düsseldorf. Guitars are taut, rhythms clipped, vocals on the edge.