Glasvegas star Paul Donoghue on why he loves Glasgow

Oct 24 2012 By Paul Donoghue

Paul Donoghue Glasvegas Image 1

I GREW up, and still live, in the east end of Glasgow. I don't think there is anywhere else I'd rather live.

There is a real electricity and excitement that runs through the city and it's people, which make it totally unique in the world. A lot of people may not believe this, but to people all over the world, Glasgow is a very exotic place.

For the outsider looking in, there are so many creative people to come from here, so many great musicians, comedians, artists, photographers and footballers who have had an influence around the world on people from all walks of life.

This is something everyone should be proud of. I for one am certainly very lucky to have grown up here.

The reason I got into playing guitar and wanting to be in a band was through my first ever experience at the Barrowlands. I think any kid in Glasgow who wants to be in a band has dreamed about playing there. The very first time I went, (I'm not saying who I went to see, the rest of the band will slaughter me if I write that!) I could feel this was a special place.

There is something about the room that lifts any gig there above normal. I don't know if it's the crowd, the acoustics, or whatever, but there is a magic that happens that nowhere else can recreate. Glasgow crowds are well known for being the best throughout the world, rightly so, but the Barrowlands seems to be able to amplify that and take things to a whole new level.

I'm lucky enough to have played there three times now. And one of the happiest moments I have had is standing on stage with the crowd singing back. I could have took on the world that night. Hopefully we'll get back there soon!

We're back in Glasgow in December in the Garage, where I have been a lot of nights out. One night I was in there I had to be put in a taxi after I had fell asleep in the gents cubicle. Pure Glesga! With any luck I'll be in a bit of a better state this time.

It's been a while since we played in Glasgow so we're hoping that this is as special as any of the previous shows have been.

We owe you a lot, people of Glasgow, so if you're there, lets do what we do best and have a ball!