Amy Macdonald @ The Globe Theatre, Stockton-on-Tees – 19 June 2026
- John Hayhurst
- 8 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Amy Macdonald Made Stockton Gig Scotland’s Pre-Match World Cup Party
With a Scotland shirt, two Saltires and a setlist packed with anthems, Amy Macdonald brought warmth, wit and a proper Friday night singalong to the Globe Theatre.
Words and Photos - John Hayhurst
Amy Macdonald arrived at The Globe Theatre wearing a Scotland football shirt, two Saltires hanging from her microphone stand and with the World Cup very much on her mind.
“This is the pre-match party before Scotland play Morocco in the World Cup,” she joked, earning a huge cheer from a Stockton crowd dotted with Scotland shirts. It was a very different reaction from the previous evening in Halifax, where her playful Scotland taunts had apparently been met with boos. On Teesside, she was among friends.
That good-natured football energy gave the night its own identity. This was not just another stop on a tour; it felt like a Scottish takeover in the North East, with Macdonald steering the room with the ease of someone who knows exactly what they are doing.
Opening with album title track Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For?, she wasted no time setting the tone. It was bright, confident and built for the live stage, before The Hudson and Mr. Rock & Roll sent the Globe into full voice. Nearly twenty years on from her breakthrough, Macdonald’s songs still have that rare ability to sound both familiar and fresh.
The magnificent art deco surroundings of Stockton Globe suited her perfectly. There were no gimmicks, no overblown theatrics and no need for distraction. Just strong songs, a tight band and one of the most distinctive voices in British music. Woman of the World brought a sense of swagger, while Don’t Tell Me That It’s Over and Run reminded everyone how many huge choruses Macdonald has in her catalogue. The latter in particular drew one of the loudest reactions of the night, its urgency echoing beautifully around the room.
Slowing things down with errr.. Slow It Down, she showed the warmth and control in her voice. There is nothing forced about her delivery. She does not over-sing or chase dramatic moments; she simply lets the songs do their job.
Mid-set highlights came with Poison Prince and Can You Hear Me?, before a cover of Beluga Lagoon’s The Glen added another proudly Scottish touch. Given the flags, football shirts and World Cup chat, it landed perfectly, feeling like part of the night’s character.
Then came Statues, one of the evening’s emotional peaks, before the inevitable roar that greeted This Is The Life. If anyone inside Stockton Globe did not know the words, they hid it well. The whole venue sang it back at her, turning the room into one giant chorus. Barrowland Ballroom kept the Scottish spirit high, a love letter to one of the country’s most iconic Glasgow venues closed the main set.
The encore started with a cover of Beluga Lagoon’s The Glen which added another proudly Scottish touch. Given the flags, football shirts and World Cup chat, it landed perfectly, feeling like part of the night’s character.before Let’s Start a Band closed the night with exactly the right kind of optimism.
What makes Amy Macdonald so dependable live is not spectacle, but sincerity. She writes direct, honest songs and performs them with the confidence of someone who knows they still matter to people. At Stockton Globe, with football shirts in the crowd and Saltires on the mic stand, that connection felt even stronger. A warm, uplifting and proudly Scottish night from an artist who knows how to turn a theatre into a community.
