By Tommy McGrory
The Bungalow welcome back Jericho Hill on Saturday, 27 December afternoon with their excellent tribute to Johnny Cash. Entry is free and doors are at 1.00pm.
The show will finish at 4.30pm to get things ready for a three-band line up in the evening and they are Shout, Republic of Soul and Bits and Pieces. Tickets on the door from 6.00pm. On Sunday afternoon, 28 December 2025, The Backtrack Beatles are back for an end of year celebration of all the classic Beatles songs. Doors open at 1.00pm and it is free entry.
The Area Renaissance team returns on Sunday night, 28 December, with their annual party and you get another chance to relive the glory days of 1990’s clubbing. Expect another spectacular night of 90’s dance anthems provided by original Area residents Stephen Lee & Jamie Mitchell.
There were some brilliant Christmas nights in the old AREA nightclub in the mid to late 1990’s and NNE are inviting you to the AREA Christmas Party 2025 at The Bungalow. This is Paisley’s longest running dance music night. It’s a time to rekindle old friendships and celebrate the best of 90s house music with Stephen and Jamie (original DJ’s) once more captaining the ship. Tickets are on sale now via Skiddle or you can get tickets on the door from 7.00pm.
Itchycoo Park are playing on Monday 29 December 2025, and they are putting on a free afternoon show to celebrate the end of 2025. Doors open 1.00pm.
Have a ‘Rotten’ Christmas! with tributes to The Sex Pistols from The Scottish Sex Pistols and The Clash tribute from Combat Rock. Two great tributes to two of the biggest punk bands ever, so get warmed up for the year ahead with a night of Punk classics. Tickets on the door from 7.00pm on Tuesday 30 December.
It’s Big Band time with The Bobby Deans Big Band on Wednesday afternoon – Hogmanay, 31 December 2025. It is free entry and doors are 1.00pm.
The Hogmanay Party has live music from The M65’s and a buffet too which starts at 8.00pm. You can get tickets from Skiddle.
The Keg have Mark McMillan on Friday night, Boxing Day, 26 December from 9.00pm and Ocean Views will be on stage from 9.00pm on Saturday night, 27 December and they will play late into the night.
The Swan has a Boxing Day Bash, Friday 26 December with Cammy Miller from 6pm. The Carlyle Band are playing Saturday 27 December from 4.00pm.
The Old Swan Hogmanay Party kicks off at 3.00pm with Small Town Sound and Duncan McLellan.
Crawford Carlyle (pictured) will be playing on Monday 29 December from 4pm; Lee James starts his comedy and song stage show on Tuesday, 30 December at 3.00pm.
Midnight Moses are at Kennedy’s from 3.00pm, and over at The Inn on the Corner there will be a live band from 4.30pm. Local ‘Mad Rockers’ Wreckless are at The Tea Gardens from 6.30pm.
The Open Mic/Stage Sessions next week are: The Abbey at 9pm on Monday, Ugly Duck Monday at 7pm, The Gantry at 9pm on Tuesday, The Bungalow on Tuesday 7pm, The Keg on Wednesday at 8.30pm and The Inn on the Corner has an Open Mic on the last Tuesday of the month. As it is a busy time, check your local venue for the latest updates on their live entertainment.
This years’ outstanding gigs for me was: Best Tribute – Moving Pictures (Rush), Best Up and Coming – Kai Reesu, Best Covers Band – The Dead Flowers, Best Original – The Skids, Best Solo Act – Crawford Carlyle (pictured), Best Open Mic – The Keg, Special Award for The Hardest Working Band – Abbey Road, Best Big Band – Bobby Deans,
Best Venue – Well, you can pick that one. What was your best gigs?
Big thanks to the venues, The Old Swan, The Keg, Venue, The Abbey, The Gantry, The Ugly Duck, The Inn on the Corner, The Tea Gardens and Kennedy’s who work hard to make our music scene what it is. Have a great 2026.
Here’s to more live music in the town and the success of The Paisley Alive Festival in 2026.
Tommy
PAISLEY LIVE MUSIC VENUES ADDRESS GUIDE
The Cave, 38 New Street, Paisley PA1 1YG
Gantry, 12 New Street, Paisley PA1 1XY
Whisky Joes, 7b New Street, Paisley PA1 1XU
Barga, 25 New Street, Paisley PA1 1XU
Paisley Arts Centre, 15 New Street, Paisley PA1 1EZ
The Bungalow, 15 Shuttle Street, Paisley PA1 1YD
The Venue, 4 Sma’ Shot Lane, Paisley PA1 2HG
The Keg, 15b Gilmour Street, Paisley PA1 1DD
The Abbey Bar, 8 Lawn Street, Paisley PA1 1HA
The Ugly Duck, 38 High Street, Paisley PA1 2DQ
The Wee Howff, 53 High Street, Paisley PA1 2AN
Kennedy’s, 33a Causeyside Street, Paisley PA1 1UL
The Tea Gardens, 69 Causeyside Street, Paisley PA1 1YT
The Venue, 5 Wellmeadow Street, Paisley PA1 2EF
The Anchor, 23 Gauze Street, Paisley PA1 1ES
The Old Swan, 20 Smithhills Street, Paisley PA1 1EB
The Tile Bar, 14 Smithhills Street, Paisley PA1 1EB
Inn on the Corner, 70 Causeyside Street, Paisley PA1 1YP
Paisley Town Hall, Abbey Close, Gauze Street, Paisley PA1 1JF
