JOSHUA BASSETT – SWG3 – GALVANIZERS – THE GOLDEN YEARS TOUR

Joshua Bassett’s performance at SWG3 Galvanisers for “The Golden Years Tour” exceeded expectations. From the moment that the American singer/songwriter and actor, best known for his role as Ricky Bowen in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” genuinely soared onto the stage, it was clear this was going to be an unforgettable night. After having postponed his UK/EU tour from late 2024 to early 2025, Joshua’s devoted British fans, some of whom lined outside as early as 12pm, were excited to finally see the star play in Glasgow again, and wow. What a performance it was!

The evening kicked off at 8pm with the brilliant Matthew Hall, a Scottish rising star, who stepped in as the opening act to replace the American Idol star, Thomas Day, who was unwell. Hall, most well-known for his dreamy cover of “Home” by Edith Whiskers, brought an undeniable charm and authenticity to the stage. His soulful voice and stripped-back acoustic arrangements resonated deeply with the Glasgow crowd, making his performance an unexpected highlight of the night.

Hall’s local roots and charisma made his show seem particularly special, and it served as an excellent opener. The contrast between Matthew’s laid-back set and Joshua’s circus-like stage presence was somewhat comical but it also made for an excellent transition.

As the house lights dimmed and the opening notes of “The Golden Years,” the title track from his 2024 debut album, rang out, Bassett quite literally flew onto the stage bouncing off a trampoline and from there on, the audience were immediately captivated.

To say his stage presence is insane would be an understatement; the guy literally never stops moving yet, oddly enough, hardly misses a note.

Bassett then easily moved into the high-energy piece “Secret,” which he began on piano and switched to guitar halfway through. This is undoubtedly one of his most popular songs, as seen by the enthusiastic response from the audience. Every word he spoke was met by jumping and yelling in response.

The show then proceeded with an adorable moment in which two fans stepped onstage to teach Joshua a Scottish Country Dance to his song “Circles”. Granted, it took him a few minutes to get the hang of it, but the audience enjoyed it nonetheless!

Midway through the concert, Bassett took a time to address the crowd in a more personal manner. He spoke out about his prior troubles, including a hospitalisation in 2021 around the time of a major pop culture drama which I’m pretty sure the whole world is aware of, for the wrong reasons. His candor regarding these issues was profound. Bassett pondered on how these events had changed him, teaching him to value life and the people around him. Joshua then transitioned into a stripped back, heartbreaking performance of “Lifeline”, stating that he was in septic shock and heart failure and that he was given a 30% chance of surviving the ordeal and told that if he hadn’t checked into the hospital within 12 hours, he would’ve been found dead. This heartfelt confession added a deeply emotional layer to the evening, resonating strongly with the audience and tugging at their heartstrings.

One of the most memorable moments came during “Different,” when Bassett left the stage to walk through the crowd, shaking hands with people and getting up close and personal with those who support him, something I found extremely heart warming and extra special.

Before wrapping up the show with “Set Me Free,” an uplifting church-like anthem of healing and freedom that had fans eager for more, Joshua took the phrase “No Scotland No Party” to heart with the incredible performance “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes.” This track swiftly turned SWG3 into a vibrant disco as the night unfolded. But unfortunately, during the finale, the show had to pause for five to ten minutes due to an issue in the crowd, but once the situation was resolved, Bassett was straight back in action, climbing on top of the drum kit and soaring through the air with the nearly sold-out crowd screaming the final chorus back to him at the top of their lungs.

Kicking off the encore, Bassett delivered a stunning surprise by starting “SHE SAID HE SAID SHE SAID” from the back of the room, leaving the audience puzzled, wondering “where did he go?” as they could only hear his voice whilst he made his way through the jubilant crowd.

He then concluded the night with “Look How Far You’ve Come,” a deeply emotional and reflective moment that served as both a heartfelt thank-you to his fans and a celebration of the journey they had shared together before taking a bow and kissing them goodbye.

In conclusion, “The Golden Years” tour in Glasgow was certainly a show you don’t want to miss. From start to finish, Bassett’s stage presence was nothing short of electric, catapulting from one end of the stage to the other in a matter of seconds. If you get the chance to see him live, do not hesitate. The show was nothing short of spectacular, and I cannot wait to see where the next few years take him as an artist! This may have only been his second ever UK tour, but you’d honestly think he has been doing this for ages.