Sometimes the best concert experiences happen when travel, timing, and music all align perfectly. My wife and I were in Glasgow celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary, and, as I always do when I travel, I checked to see if there were any reggae shows while we were in town.
When I saw that Hollie Cook was playing the legendary King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut on June 5, I knew immediately this was a show I could not miss. Even better, I was fortunate enough to photograph the concert, making the evening even more memorable. And what a venue to experience it in.
King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut is one of the most iconic small venues in the UK. Since opening in 1990, the intimate Glasgow club has hosted early performances from artists who would later become global stars, including Radiohead, The Verve, Travis, Skunk Anansie, Muse, No Doubt, Snow Patrol, Coldplay, and Blur. The room itself is compact, sweaty, loud, and alive—the kind of place where audiences feel completely connected to the performers on stage. For reggae music, with its warmth and heavy bass vibrations, it was the perfect setting.
Cook herself has one of the more fascinating musical backgrounds in modern reggae. She was part of the final lineup of pioneering all-female punk/reggae band The Slits before launching her solo career in 2010, working closely with producer Prince Fatty. Since releasing her self-titled debut album in 2011, she has carved out a unique sound she describes as “tropical pop,” blending reggae, lovers rock, rocksteady, and the influence of classic female reggae singers like Janet Kay and Phyllis Dillon with the sweetness of 1960s girl groups.
Music is truly in her blood. Hollie is the daughter of Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols, while her mother, Jeni Cook, worked as a backing singer for Culture Club. Even more fitting, Boy George is her godfather. That mix of punk attitude, reggae soul, and pop sensibility feels deeply embedded in everything she does on stage.
From the moment Cook walked onstage, the sold-out crowd was completely locked in. What immediately stands out is her voice. Live, it is even more captivating than on record—powerful yet sweet and silky. Her vocals float effortlessly over the deep reggae basslines with a breezy serenity that feels almost hypnotic. There is a dreamy, ethereal quality to her singing, enhanced by lush reverb that creates a hazy, cosmic atmosphere throughout the room. But beneath that softness is confidence and command.
Cook owns the stage with a fierce energy while still looking like she is having the absolute time of her life. She danced constantly, smiled at the crowd all night, and radiated joy from start to finish. Her cool and casual delivery kept the performance intimate, while her natural charisma turned the packed venue into one giant celebration. You could tell she genuinely loves performing, and the Glasgow audience gave that energy right back to her every second of the night.
Her lovers rock style sounded incredible in a live setting. The blend of classic reggae grooves, rocksteady rhythms, and warm tropical melodies created an atmosphere that felt both nostalgic and fresh. The band also deserves major credit—they sounded flawless all evening, locking into every groove with precision while still keeping the music loose, organic, and full of life.
One of the most beautiful parts of the evening was realizing that a reggae crowd in Glasgow feels no different from one anywhere else in the world. Whether it is Jamaica, the United States, or now Scotland, reggae fans bring the same positive energy, unity, warmth, and love for the music. The packed house inside King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut moved together from start to finish, singing along, dancing, smiling, and completely locked into the vibe. It was another reminder that reggae music truly is universal—capable of connecting people across countries, cultures, and backgrounds through rhythm, bass, and shared feeling.
The setlist was packed with highlights, but a few songs stood out in particular. “Rockaway” brought an infectious groove that had the entire crowd moving, while “Postman” carried that timeless lover’s rock feel that defines so much of Cook’s music. “Milk & Honey” sounded absolutely beautiful live, dreamy, and warm, with her vocals gliding effortlessly through the melody. “Shy Girl” was another standout, showcasing both her playful stage presence and the emotional subtlety in her voice.
To close the evening, Cook delivered the perfect finale with “The Beat Goes On,” her collaboration with Prince Fatty. It was the ideal ending—uplifting, soulful, hypnotic, and impossible not to dance to. By the final notes, the crowd inside King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut was completely energized and smiling from ear to ear.
Experiencing a reggae show like this while celebrating 30 years of marriage in Scotland made the night even more special. Great music has a way of becoming tied to memories forever, and this performance by Hollie Cook in Glasgow is one my wife and I will never forget.
