Livehouse Dundee
22nd October 2025
Tonight, I’m back photographing in Dundee and this time, it’s one of my favourite bands, The Last Dinner Party. It’s also my first time shooting in the new Livehouse venue, so it will be an interesting and exciting night ahead.
Before the gig, a wee history lesson is in order about tonight’s new venue as The Last Dinner Party are the first major band to play it.
Opening in May 2025, The Livehouse venue can hold a maximum of 4,500 people making this the third-largest indoor venue in Scotland behind the Glasgow Ovo Hydro and the Aberdeen P&J Live Arena.
Originally, back in the day, well, 1936 to be precise, the venue was the home to Greens Playhouse. One of the largest cinemas in Europe at the time before it’s decline in the 1960s. It then changed to the Mega Bingo Hall before officially closing in 2024.
Back to the gig tonight and it’s all about The Last Dinner Party and the new songs from the band’s new album From the Pyre. On the new album, it’s about “a place of violence and destruction but also regeneration, passion and light,” the band said in a statement.
The Last Dinner Party have gone from strength to strength the last couple of years since the single “Nothing Matters” was released in 2023, exploding them onto the world’s music scene as the single swiftly became a top 20 hit for the band.
The album Prelude to Ecstasy gave the band further success in 2024 as it debuted at number one in the UK album charts.
Winning the Brits Rising Star Award and Best New Artist Award also followed during this successful period for the band as well as endless TV and Radio appearances across the world. Critics have described them as “The most exciting band in Britain,” and I have to say, it’s been nothing short of breathtaking from this band over their short career.
Now two years on the band are back and their success just seems to grow and grow.
I’m glad I arrived early for this gig as the crowd eagerly waited for the doors to open. I’ve photographed in Dundee many times for gigs, but this must be the biggest crowd I’ve seen to date for an indoor gig.
The front entrance had fans camped out in the street hours before the doors opened. It was all about getting the prime spot at the front of the stage for these fans.
As this was an album launch show event, there was no support act for the night, so it was straight into the main event.
The new venue looks amazing, the fans are ready, the excitement is building and at exactly 8pm The Last Dinner Party took to the stage to a roaring crowd.
The band kicked the night off with Agnus Dei followed by Count the Ways and by now the crowd couldn’t get enough. It was bedlam inside.
Second Best followed. A song about being obsessed with someone, also knowing that they will betray you again, and you allow it because you still love them.
Rifle, Woman Is A Tree, Hold Your Anger and Sail Away all came before one of my favourite tracks on the new album “. The Scythe. It’s a very emotional song about death and grief, lyrics that were written when Abigail was 16-17 years old. “You shouldn’t be afraid about what’s on the other side. “Belief that death is not the end, and that two souls can find one another in every lifetime”. It’s a song that gives you goosebumps and stops you in your tracks as you get mesmerised by the lyrics and haunting voice of Morris.
To finish the night off, Abigail asks all the audience to join in on the last song of the evening. “This is the Killer Speaking”, Abigail announced. “Anyone not joining in, I will stop the song”. Laughing with the crowd, the fans didn’t need much prompting for this request. The crowd were already in full voice throughout the gig.
The song might be about betrayal and dealing with the person who caused that betrayal. “The Killer” is the person seeking revenge due to the partners dishonesty. The word to the song might be somewhat troubling, but this song had the place bouncing.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an energetic performance from both the band and the fans. This might only have been a short gig to promote the new album, but this was one to remember.
The end came right after this, no encore and all I could hear from the fans was, “One more song”, “One more song”, but sadly it wasn’t to be.
As the fans streamed out the new venue and back onto the streets of Dundee. I have to say what a performance from the band and as for the new venue, well, what a place. The venue will give Glasgow and Edinburgh a run for their money, so Livehouse, keep the bands coming and as for The Last Dinner Party, don’t be a stranger, return to Dundee soon.
Set List
Agnus Dei
Count The Ways
Second Best
Rifle
Woman Is A Tree
Hold Your Anger
Sail Away
The Scythe
Inferno
This Is the Killer Speaking
