Words and photos by Annie Barber
There is something special about getting to go to a concert at an iconic venue such as The Macintosh Church in Glasgow and there is something even more special about getting to see Jacob Alon perform live — combine the two things and you get a night that you will never forget. The Scottish singer-songwriter recently graced the venue with a captivating and intimate show.
Alon’s longtime friend and collaborator Rory F treats the crowd to a contemporary folk opening set. In between songs, he jokes with the crowd and even incorporates this humour into some of his performances, prompting the audience to laugh. He gets the crowd to join in by singing harmonies, which fill the venue with angelic tones, harking back to the countless hymns and psalms which the church’s walls have heard over time.
Alon emerges onto the stage to loud cheers and claps, taking in every drop of each attendee’s adoration with great humility. For the first two songs of the set, Alon plays them alone on acoustic guitar, taking things back to how their career first began. The artist is later joined on stage by their band and the addition of a violin, piano, and drums enhance the performance.
‘Of Amber’ is a standout track with finger picked acoustic guitar that has a slight Tuscan feel, a rainstick, and ethereal vocals. Next, Alon plays a new and unfinished song which they describe as “just a draft” before joking that they wrote it in the Uber on the way to the venue. Although the song performance is short, the lively and upbeat track receives a rave review from the crowd who cheer loudly.
After thanking Rory F for opening the show, Alon reveals that he plays the trumpet on ‘Liquid Gold 25’ but admits that they forgot to ask him to bring it with him for the show. Instead, the band performs as a three piece trumpet, using their vocals to mimic the sounds of a trumpet. Although humorous, this shows Alon and their band’s innovation and talent.
Chatting with the audience between sets, Alon appears very comfortable on stage and easily holds the attendees’ attention. When asking the crowd if any gay people were in attendance, the audience cheer as sirens go past the venue at the same time. Alon humorously exclaims “they’re after us” as the crowd laughs and someone from the audience shouts “welcome to Maryhill!” This ability to have banter with their audience is something which proves Alon to be a generational talent, and someone who can connect easily with their diverse audience.
Things slow down for ‘Confession’, a touching and vulnerable track which captivates the crowd’s attention, who watch the stage in awe. The band leave the stage and Alon moves to the piano to play an unreleased song. The emotions are palpable on this track which has partially spoken lyrics. The violin comes in part way through, enhancing the song. This performance shows Alon as a true star.
Announcing that they only have one song left, Alon says “I don’t believe in encores” and then jokes that the crowd has been “saved by the bell”, eliciting a ripple of laughter from the audience. Before their final song, Alon takes a moment to talk about the genocide in Palestine, the erasure of trans and queer rights, and racism. For ‘Fairy in a Bottle’, Alon plays alone on the guitar and their heavenly vocals fill the venue one last time.
Alon’s innate knack for storytelling and ability to create a safe space for everyone in the venue are unique skills which set them apart from their contemporaries. Alon played two shows at The MacIntosh Church, on the 5th and 6th of December, which was the perfect way to commemorate their album ‘In Limerence‘, as well as celebrate their recent Brit nomination and being shortlisted for the 2025 Mercury Prize Album of the Year.
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