Okay, admittedly not as long a wait as the old lady at the end of the Titanic movie had, but still, the debut UK headline tour by Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts has certainly been a long time coming.

Nobody’s fault (apart from an apathetic music industry that values content over genuine storytelling talent), as the likeable Smith is an independent artist with zero financial support from elsewhere. Getting on a plane and crossing the Atlantic is not always an option. A lengthy European support slot in 2025 with Danko Jones included a few UK shows as well as an appearance at Planet Rockstock Festival. Now, though, after what, 11 years away, Tuk Smith is back in the UK as a headline act. And that sure does feel good to say.

Born a few decades too late, Tuk Smith harks back to a time when things were a great deal simpler. After school, nights weren’t spent in front of a screen or talking to friends through DM’s or online. It was a case of going straight outside to meet up, do crazy shit, pretending to be a rebel, and talk about music. The weekends were better, as that usually involved a train to the closest city to spend your hard-earned money – from whatever menial job you had in the mornings before school – on vinyl from bands recommended by the cooler, older guy behind the counter at the local record store. Nights and weekends were what it meant to be young. And Tuk Smith has the songs that reignite those memories.

With one hell of a jukebox under his belt, Tuk Smith has enough material (from his previous band, Biters, solo, and with The Restless Hearts) to perform a “Night with Tuk Smith” style set that runs a few hours. Tonight, with it being Sunday and the curfew looming, the set is lean. An hour’s worth. But an hour in the company of one of the last-standing musical mavericks is worth more than two in the company of most acts.

Last to take to the stage, after Primal Scream’s ‘Rocks’ fades out, Tuk is straight into ‘Little Renegade’ from 2024’s ‘Rogue to Redemption’ album and instantly the long wait for headline shows has been forgotten. The line “…it’s a shame this world rewards the cream of the cringe…” hits home, as does the prophetic “…if you tried you still couldn’t fake it…”. Mix in some killer guitar licks from the immaculate Tobin Dale (christened Keith Richards by Smith during the band introductions) with some of the biggest hooks this side of Cheap Trick, and you are almost there. When the AC/DC-like intro to ‘Lookin’ For Love, Ready For War’ kicks in, there is an audible “YESSSSSSSSSS” from somebody near the front, and once the band locks into that shuffle, heads are bobbing, and fists are raised in appreciation. A lot of people have been waiting an eternity for these shows, and not just the guys on the barrier with matching home-made “TUK ‘N’ ROLL” t-shirts.

Flanked by the aforementioned Tobin Dale, bassist Matt “Pony Boy” Curtis (stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold), and new drummer Ricky Ferrilli, Smith has assembled a fine band. Great back and forth between band members, nothing flashy, just letting the songs take centre stage. And there are some beauties; ‘Sadie Mae’ is less full-on than most material, but still packs a punch or two, with some gorgeous tones from Dale, and an Allmans touch to the dual guitars. ‘Same Old You’ is a fantastic, immediate follow-on that could very well be a snottier version of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers jamming on a Thin Lizzy song.

Pony Boy Curtis unravels some Tom Hamilton-sized bass licks on a groovy intro to the boot-stomping, glam-fuelled ‘Ballad of a Misspent Youth’, which at times out-Stones The Stones before delivering some Thin Lizzy-inspired guitar melodies. Smith does confess that although ‘Girls on the East Side of Town’ is “…not a Thin Lizzy song…”, he did “…rip them off…”. Nothing wrong with that, especially when it’s from the heart, and as catchy as this beauty.

With the dreaded curfew looming, ‘Glorybound’ is dropped in favour of the title track to the latest EP ‘Troubled Paradise’, and from here on in, it’s a sprint to the finish line with one banger after another: ‘Gypsy Rose’ is the sole offering from Biters material (which makes sense considering how strong The Restless Hearts material is); ‘Wild Ones’ is riproaring, and what else but the glorious ‘Take the Long Way’ could bring the set to a rousing conclusion.

Despite the dreaded lurgy working its way through the band, this was one of those life-affirming shows where you honestly had to be there. The industry needs guys like Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts. It needs that refreshing honesty. The perfect palate cleanser for the TikTok-fuelled state of music in 2026.

Booking a few local support acts is always a great idea; the choices of, first of all, Too Red, and following on, PowderKeg are decent picks. Two acts different in style, and also at varying levels of experience.

Glasgow-based female Alt-Rock duo Too Red are just starting on their musical journey and have that wide-eyed enthusiasm that every band needs to get through those initial stages of finding their feet. Consisting of Emily Irving (drums/vocals) & Darcy Brook (vocals/guitars), the pair have already released a couple of catchy, memorable singles that stand out in the well-received 30-minute set. ‘Yours to Take’ is harsher in places, and the intro slaps like the reigning Power Slap champion (Google it; it is actually a real thing), while the bouncy, thumping ‘Torn’ is perhaps the highlight. Emily Irving certainly knows her way around a drum kit, and if you have loose dental work, then perhaps it’s not a good idea to get too close to the PA; Christ, she can hit those skins.

PowderKeg are old-hands at this, and are often the go-to band for local promoters. And for good reason: the five-piece put on a show and warm the crowd up for the headliners, rather than simply having punters loitering at the bar waiting on the main act. Fronted by vocalist Jen Lambie, with Gibson-wielding lead guitarist Brian Kerr a constant blur of activity, PowderKeg are the quintessential good-time rock’n’ roll band that would be right at home on a bill that also featured The Wildhearts. Raw, loud, messy, and great fun, they always perform as if it were their last night on earth. Mixed in with total bangers like ‘New Day’ and the beer-fuelled romp that is ‘Make Up Your Mind’ are a whole raft of new songs that sound very interesting indeed, and suggest that the band have struck oil with what they have been cooking up in the studio. Looking forward to hearing the finished product.

Review – Dave

All images – Dave Jamieson