Franz Ferdinand

Livehouse Dundee

24th February 2026

It was back in November when I had my first visit to the new Livehouse venue in Dundee. The Last Dinner Party was the first major band to play the 4,500 capacity venue and what a gig it was, so tonight, this should be an exceptionally sweaty, high-energy performance from Franz Ferdinand.

It’s still only February in Scotland, and that means it’s still bloody cold outside, so let’s go join the queue and freeze with the rest of the fans for a while.

Outside the venue, a large queue had formed around the building a good hour before the doors opened. It seems this new venue in Dundee is packing in the crowds as it attracts bigger bands to the city.

I was also quite surprised that this was the only Scottish gig the band were playing, so well done to the band and again, the Livehouse venue, as it’s usually Glasgow who gets all the big acts.

The fans couldn’t wait for the doors to open so they could get themselves inside, warmed up, and have a dance to the bands vast collection of hit songs.

Once inside, the fans also seemed to have a bit of cash to burn. All I could see was a massive crowd queueing at the bands merchandise stall, all eager to get their t-shirts or other band mementos of the night.

The fans claimed their appropriate spots for the night and bedded themselves in waiting for the main event.

Support for the night came from Home Counties. A British art/punk indie band who emerged in 2020, followed by the release of their album, ‘Exactly as it Seems’ in 2024, and ‘Humdrum’ in 2025.

The band consists of Will Harrison, Lois Kelly, Conor Kearney, Dan Hearn, Barn Peiser Pepin, and Bill Griffin.

I’d not heard anything from Home Counties before, but I have to say that I was very impressed with their energetic performance and stage presence from the young band. It was very upbeat tunes such as “You Break It, You Bought It” that got the fans warmed up before the main act.

As Franz Ferdinand took to the stage, the packed Livehouse crowd gave the band a big roaring Dundee welcome, but I couldn’t help notice that Kapranos had a mug of coffee or something sitting down beside his mic stand. Very strange I thought, as it’s usually bottles of beer that sitting across the stage for the band members to enjoy.

Right from the off, front man Alex Kapranos got straight into it with the Dark of the Matinée, Night or Day, and Walk away. Kapranos has such an amazing presence as he covers all corners of the stage.

Three songs in and Kapranos, dressed in a black pinstripe suit, was already sweating with his energetic performance. He didn’t disappoint as he had his usual swagger and trademark jumps out in abundance, and the fans loved every single minute of it.

No You Girls followed and then Audacious was the first song taken from the album Human Fear to be played on the night.

The set list continued with other classics such as Don’t You Want To, and Michael.

“Take Me Out” followed, and for many, this is the bands signature tune. It’s one that the fans really couldn’t wait for as they joined in the synchronised jumping along with the rest of the band members. It was mayhem inside the venue as the fans belted the song right back at the band.

This was a Franz Ferdinand gig that covered all the classics with a few tracks from the Human Fear album thrown in for the fans to hear live, but it was Kapranos who made this not only one of the best gigs, but also one of the best front men I’ve seen.

This might have been the only Scottish gig on the bands tour, but how lucky were we tonight to see one of Scotlands most successful bands play in Dundee, and as for this new Livehouse venture, it seems it has been a massive success and long may it continue to thrive and bring more top acts to the city.

Set list

The Dark of the Matinée

Night or Day

Walk Away

No You Girls

Audacious

Do You Want To

40′

Build It Up

Evil Eye

Black Eyelashes

Michael