15 YEARS OF THE VACCINES: WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM…GLASGOW?

LIVE REVIEW | THE VACCINES | O2 ACADEMY, GLASGOW | 28th February 2026 by Emma Carrington

Celebrating 15 years since their 2011 debut, What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? this March, The Vaccines have hit the road to perform the record in its entirety. With a night full of nostalgia and charm on the cards, what better way to start than in Glasgow? The night centred on that iconic tracklist, delivered with a raw, heart and soul performance by frontman Justin Young.

Back when What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? was first released much of the audience would have been teenagers themselves, so hearing the album played live in full only evoked those fond feelings of nostalgia. The performance was both interactive and effortless, with the crowd clapping along as if by muscle memory – a credit to fifteen years of shared history with these songs. The room was filled with an overwhelmingly positive energy, radiating from a diverse audience that didn’t stop smiling all night.

The evening’s charm came not only from the audience, with the band proclaiming multiple times just how much the city meant to them, and what an honour it was to play in Glasgow. Justin Young at one point said that it’s a shame that the tour started off in Glasgow because “it’s only downhill from here.”

The highlights of the show were naturally their biggest hits, ‘Post Break Up Sex‘ and ‘If You Wanna’. Two songs that everyone – fan or not – knows enough to sing along. The connection between the band and the crowd was powerful; you could truly feel how deeply their music resonates and the electric energy they share with their fans.

The night ended on a charming note when the band came out for the encore and Young explained that the band have recently finished writing their seventh studio album. To the delight of the crowd, they debuted a brand-new track perfectly titled ’10 Years Too Far’. It was surreal to hear this new track live as it wraps up the last fifteen years of The Vaccines whilst also giving their sound a modern and contemporary twist. As The Vaccines continue their album tour I’m sure more teasers from their upcoming album will be revealed.

The Vaccines’ undeniable desire to perform remains as fierce as ever. What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? has served as the definitive soundtrack for a generation, and its legacy shows no signs of fading. Fast-forward another fifteen years, and it’s certain they’ll still be captivating audiences, leaving not a single disappointed soul.