BACK TO BATHGATE: THE SNUTS FULL CIRCLE HOMECOMING GIG
LIVE REVIEW | THE SNUTS w/ Stride | REGAL THEATRE, BATHGATE | 26th March 2026 by Anne Kelly
There is a specific kind of electricity that fills a room when a band comes back to the streets that raised them. On Thursday night at the Regal Theatre, The Snuts staged a hometown takeover. For a band who have topped UK charts and toured the world, this intimate, ballot-only show in aid of Music Broth felt like the most significant date on their 2026 calendar.
Local boys Stride took on warm-up duties tonight, and they absolutely understood the assignment. Even with a buzzing crowd already on their side, they brought maximum energy with a setlist of infectious indie-pop tunes. With 2026 in their sights, this is clearly just the beginning of a very big year for them.
The Snuts kicked off with‘Gloria‘, and the effect was instantaneous. Within seconds, the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up. It was an emotive reminder of the role this band has played in my own life these past few years. A sort of “gateway” moment, tonight’s show felt like rediscovering an old passion.
By the time they transitioned into ‘Seasons‘, the Regal had transformed into a community. Seeing the fans locked in a shared, rowdy embrace brought a genuine sense of belonging to the room. It was one of those rare moments where the barrier between the stage and the crowd felt invisible.
One of the most charming moments of the night was the introduction to their well loved track ‘Glasgow‘; frontman Jack took a moment to reminisce about the song’s origins in Whitburn – the small town just down the road where the band is from. He joked that the first time they played it there, it went down so well they ended up playing it twice in one night. Hearing it performed in back in the “motherland” felt like the song had gone full circle.
The setlist was a calculated mix of nostalgia and the “now.” The band debuted several new tracks alongside the brand-new singles‘Summer Rain‘ and ‘Motherlands‘, the latter of which was released the very same day. While the new material sounded strong and polished, it understandably struggled to compete with the weight of the classics. Jack, ever the realist, acknowledged the struggle with his trademark wit. Joking that as someone who goes to gigs himself, he knows that new tunes can be a drag, he told the crowd: “If you want to go to the toilet or get a drink, now is the time to do it.” While the new tunes were good, they didn’t quite take hold in the way I wished they could, but in a set full of massive sing-along hits, they were always going to feel a bit lost.
Addressing the crowd about how tonight’s show came about, Jack shared that on their recent tour, they made a point to visit towns often overlooked by major tour schedules. He later realised that West Lothian towns are one of those places. He claimed it had been nine years since they last played locally; and while I’m not entirely convinced it’s been that long, the hunger of the crowd suggested they were certainly overdue.
From the first time I saw them back at Falkirk’s Variety Bar in 2022, hearing ‘All Your Friends‘ last night proved the track hasn’t lost an ounce of its bite. It hit just as hard in the Regal as it did in that small bar four years ago. Other personal highlights included ‘Fatboy Slim’, ‘Juan Belmonte‘ and ‘Rodeo‘ which kept the energy at a fever pitch. However, the standout of the “heavy” hitters was ‘Elephants’ that felt bigger tonight than it ever has.
The encore brought the house down with the soaring ‘Hallelujah Moment‘ before finishing on the anthemic ‘Always‘. If there was one minor sting to the evening, it was the omission of ‘Burn The Empire‘. I was a bit gutted not to hear it, as it would have likely torn the roof off, but it’s a small complaint for a night that felt so personal.
When I spoke with Jack earlier this month, he told me The Snuts’ 2026 mission was to keep things “human” and “spontaneous.” He wanted to build live moments that fans could actually be a part of— standing in this crowd tonight felt like the ultimate proof of concept. From the fan buzz of the announcement of this show just last week to raw energy in the room on the night, it’s safe to say the “back to basics” approach is exactly what this era needed.
With a greatest-hits style setlist, the sense of full-circle nostalgia was impossible to miss during this landmark homecoming. Last night proved that no matter how many charts they top, they’ll always be the local boys who make their audience feel like they’re part of something bigger.
It’s only March, and while their calendar only marks a a handful of summer festival appearances, the air of spontaneity suggests the surprises are far from over. If this “back to basics” era holds its heat, The Snuts are well on their way to reclaiming the title of Scotland’s most essential musical export.
