BELUGA Lagoon brought a party to Kelvongrove Park on Sunday Night.
For a band whose music is based in folklore and encapsulates all things wild in Scotland, the Bandstand was a perfect fit.
The booming vocals, stunning harmonies and thickly layered instrumentals of the eight-piece band carried through the park as they took the crowd on a journey.
Founded by Scottish wildlife film-maker, Andrew O’Donnell, Beluga Lagoon conjure up music “inspired by the great outdoors.”
And Andrew couldn’t look more at home as he beamed at the front of the stage, enveloped in the lush green canopy of the park’s trees.
I saw Beluga Lagoon live at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Bandstand (Image: Newsquest) He looked to the sky and said: “It’s not raining at least, eh? Yet…”
The band swelled into life, with Misty Munro FM building up the crowd for a set that would have them dancing all night.
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And before Andrew signalled the start of the raucous Isla, he geeed up the crowd. He joked: “You ready for some dancing, aye? Just watch yourselves on the steps, I don’t want anyone phoning Digby Brown on me.”
And with his battle-cry-esque wailing, the song and the crowd burst into life — people ceilidh dancing and bouncing from the front to the back.
Andrew’s voice is incredible. He plays several different instruments and goes from guttural, shanty-like wails to sweet, soaring harmonies.
His talent is matched by his energy on stage – you can tell how much he and the band are enjoying themselves.
(Image: Newsquest) Beluga Lagoon work their way through the sonic landscapes of their songs as each one ebbs and flows like living, breathing creatures.
Stopping for a brief intermission after a meander through old and new material, Andrew opens the second half with help from support act Kirsteen Harvey.
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Glasgow-based Kirsteen had warmed up the crowd with an angelic, stripped-back acoustic set featuring songs written for family and shaped by her upbringing – she bares her heart on stage as she sings.
A highlight from her was a stunning rendition of Billy Connolly’s I Wish I Was in Glasgow, which prompted a sing-along.
Kirsteen joined Andrew to harmonise on Beluga’s track Coping on My Own, adding a delicious bit of depth to the haunting tune.
Kirsteen Harvey warmed up the crowd (Image: Newsquest) The whole band then rejoined, and the dancing ensued immediately, both on and off the stage.
Andrew joked after having a laugh and a twirl on stage, saying: “We’ve been practising that choreography for weeks!”
The only falter he had the whole show was forgetting some lines in one song, but he recovered well and said: “Sorry, I was struggling there, bloody weird lyrics… wit am a like?!”
You could feel the warmth and joy pulsing from the band as they played tune after tune. Andrew’s dad, Jim, even stole the limelight at one point, belting out his best Lulu impression.
The crowd was a perfect mix for this kind of family fun, and they lapped up the antics while the sky grew darker and the orange hue of the sky added to the ambience.
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The night’s highlight came from the band’s biggest hit, The Glen.
The crowd cheered and danced while singing every word of the TikTok-famous tune back to them.
After a brief walk-off, they retook the stage for the encore, which rounded off the night with fan-favourite Margo & Barry.
As the lights faded down and the crowd shuffled out of the park, groups were chanting choruses and basking in the leafy leftovers of a band that is no doubt about to head to bigger stages.
But, with a sound so steeped in the essence of Scotland, the Bandstand stage is one they’ll always fit like a big green glove.
