Houston’s finest, ‘Waterparks’, made their long-awaited return to Glasgow’s world-famous Barrowland Ballroom last night. This was their first visit since 2023, and the audience didn’t let them forget it, making it feel more like a reunion than a typical tour stop. They were late onstage, but once the lights went out and the intro started on the screens, the Barrowland crowd was ready to deliver. The night promised to be unforgettable, with CO₂jets, vibrant colours, and all the signature pop punk elements we know and love. Fans waited outside from as early as 5 a.m. to grab a spot up front, and it was finally time for the boys to take the stage. Was this the perfect reunion we had been waiting for? Let’s discuss!
When Waterparks took the stage at 9:05 p.m., frontman Awsten Knight immediately set the tone with his signature blend of humour and unpredictability. One thing to know about Awsten is that he is very unfiltered and raw. If he has a random thought during the gig, he will blurt it out. At a previous show, he spent 5 minutes talking about a seagull he saw that morning. This adds extra character to the show and guarantees a great night. He might as well be a comedian; he’s that hilarious.
At one point, in a moment that wonderfully reflected the band’s anarchic spirit, he mockingly “punished” the audience by forcing them to boo the band for a full 10 seconds merely because it took them so long to return. Rather than breaking the immersion, it became one of the night’s most memorable and unifying moments, with the entire crowd excitedly playing along and Awsten repeatedly apologising. This remained a vital feature of the show, but Awsten promised to make this the best Waterparks show Glasgow had ever seen, and boy, was he right!
One of the main things that stood out to me about this show was its planned division into five distinct sections: “happiness”, “anger”, “sadness”, “acoustic”, and “anticipation”. Rather than feeling like a random assortment of songs just thrown together with little to no thought, the set unfolded more like an emotional arc, taking the audience through various moods and energy shifts while preserving the band’s trademark unpredictability. One minute, we were hearing more emotional songs; the next, it was a weird, somewhat comical one, and then, at the end of the set, we had crowd surfers, mosh pits, and all those typical punk band signatures! The transitions between these sections were distinct but never abrupt, accompanied by short video interludes on the screen behind them, which gave the performance e a sense of coherence that elevated it above the average setlist from previous tours.
The acoustic segment, in particular, stood out as one of the night’s defining highlights. Stripping things back completely, Awsten turned the focus almost entirely onto the audience. Fans shouted out requests from across the room, and he responded in real time, picking songs and performing them on guitar with minimal structure. It created a rare sense of spontaneity and intimacy, transforming the packed ballroom into something that felt much smaller and more personal for a brief moment. Songs included for this part include “You’d Be Paranoid Too (If Everyone Was Out to Get You)”, “Sleep Alone”, “Rare”, and “21 Questions”. In a show known for its high energy and controlled chaos, this moment of direct engagement gave the audience a fresh sense of ownership over the performance.Elsewhere, the set balanced familiar material with a clear sense of forward momentum.
The performances of their big hits “Funeral Grey”,“I Miss Having Sex, but at Least I Don’t Wanna Die Anymore” and “Red Guitar” emerged as major high points, each showcasing a different side of the band’s sound. However, the inclusion of several new, previously unreleased tracks gave an extra element of excitement. The audience’s reaction indicated significant early approval, and that enthusiasm only increased when Awsten announced that the band’s next album is already finished and he is simply waiting for the day to unveil it. This sent the audience into a frenzy; everyone was ecstatic. His promise that they would return soon for a full global tour gave the night a forward-thinking aspect; it wasn’t only about reuniting with Glasgow, but also about setting the basis of what followed.
I am super excited tohear more from this new album when it gets released, especially after hearing a sneak peek at the show of the type of sound we are looking at. The unreleased track “PROWLER” serves as the title of the tour, but wow, this track is going to be insane! With a much heavier sound than some of their older music, this was the first call of the night to “open the pits”, and Glasgow certainly did that! The mosh pits began, as did the crowd surfing! Another excellent moment in this portion of the show was “ANY MINUTE NOW,” one of their more recent tracks, but one of my personal favourites. The song begins fairly acoustically, but by the end, it has evolved into a super strong punk track that is certainly one of their best! Of course, “IF LYRICS WERE CONFIDENTIAL” wasalso highly anticipated, as the audience roared every line back to Awsten, especially during the call-and-response section in the pre-chorus.As always, the audience played a crucial role. Glasgow crowds are known for being the best in the world, and theyproved it at this show. Every word, even in unreleased tracks, was loudly sung back to Awsten. Their fans are always super dedicated, so this was no surprise.
Visually, the concert was way more ambitious than their stripped-back image would indicate. A big screen behind the band projected changing visuals throughout the night, enhancing the atmosphere of each segment and adding another layer of depth to the experience. Combined with dramatic lighting and blasts from 4 gigantic CO₂cannons, the production enhanced important moments without overshadowing the performance itself. When the cannons fired during the more powerful songs, they amplified the already strong excitement in the crowd. This was my third time seeing Waterparks live, but this show in particular blew me away. Awsten always puts on a fantastic performance, but his vocals remained crystal clear all night, and the energy from Geoff Wigington on guitar was out of this world! Hop, skipping and jumping all over that stage with no sign of stopping anytime soon.
In conclusion, this is a tour you definitely should attend! Waterparks are constantly levelling up year after year, and I can confidently say this is one of the best shows I have ever attended in Barrowlands. The stage presence was outstanding, but the crowd energy combined with Awsten’s humour really sold the night for me.
All words & photos by @kgshoots_
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