Westside Cowboy

If you were to play the Woodsies stage at Glastonbury, chances are, you’d be a well established act with a couple of big singles released and maybe an album or two. Now imagine getting to play the Woodsies stage before releasing your first EP. It sounds outrageous on paper, but Westside Cowboy have very much earned that right. Winning the highly esteemed Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition in 2025, beating out hundreds of entries from across the country, has cemented themselves as one to watch out for. And now, this debut headline tour is giving them the opportunity to show everyone just how good they really are. Now that the dust has settled on what many may deem as the opportunity of a lifetime, the band, consisting of Reuben Haycocks, Jimmy Bradbury, Aoife Anson-O’Connell and Paddy Murphy are out to prove a point. Thankfully, you needn’t worry, because their live performances highlight a group constantly improving at a rapid pace.

One thing that was certainly rapid, and immediately noticeable, was the intensity and speed at which they opened their set. Following a beautiful instrumental track, titled ‘Midnight’ on the setlist, drummer Paddy Murphy lets out the “Westside Cowboy!!” scream that has become synonymous with their debut single “I Never Met Anyone…”. Many in the crowd tried emulating that scream throughout the show, ultimately nowhere near the standard Paddy set. There is a clear speed up in tempo in the live version of this song compared to the studio version, which sometimes loses the initial effect of the track on the listener. However, if anything, these slightly quicker speeds give the band the chance to show their talent and musicality. “Alright Alright Alright” contains some of the most bonkers drumming you’ll see (once again courtesy of Paddy), but even guitarists Reuben and Jimmy play at a frantic speed to keep up. It’s chaotic, yet fantastic. A live preview of their newest single, “Can’t See”, highlights the sonic development between their debut EP and their hotly anticipated second release in January 2026, “So Much Country ‘Til We Get There”. There is a sense of freedom and catharsis, perhaps thanks to the influence of producer Loren Humphrey (Cameron Winter, Arctic Monkeys, etc.), and it’s joyous to the point you have to smile hearing it live.

Another joyous thing stems from just how much fun the band has on stage. Drawing a lot of inspiration from 1950s rock ‘n roll and skiffle, they’re always energetic, either interacting with each other or simply jumping around. Their togetherness can be highlighted through the performance of songs such as “Slowly I’m Sure”, where what is initially just Jimmy Bradbury on vocals finishes off with some beautiful harmonies across the band, with Aoife’s vocals a particular shining star. Songs like this reflect the band’s diversity in the way they approach their music - while some very much encourage movement (maybe even a few mosh pits!!), others are there to be listened to and appreciated. While many there knew just how good “Shells” is, with its frequent dynamic shifts between an intimate duo of Aoife and Reuben, to its louder, more abrasive moments in the second verse and chorus, “Old Billy” (as listed on the setlist) was a real standout. Starting out as a beautifully lush track featuring Aoife’s stunning and warm vocals, it cascaded into this grand moment with sprawling sections that often changed. 

Keeping up with the teasing of new studio material, Reuben mentioned that tonight was only the second time they’d ever played new EP song “The Wahs” live, and to not be too harsh. After hearing how polished the band sounded playing this new track, I immediately disregarded the warning - there is something so connected and unified about not only the way they play with each other, but the way they play off each other. “The Wahs” features some excellent guitar interplay, giving both Jimmy and Reuben the chance to shine. Finally, closing the set with “In The Morning”, the band all stand in a semi circle with nothing but Reuben’s guitar and a tom that appeared out of nowhere. This element of DIY helps serve as a reflection of where the band have come from to get to this point. At the root of it all, this isn’t just a group of musicians, but a group of friends. And this power of friendship is not only what has brought them to heights they must’ve dreamt of, but will help set them up for many years, so long as they can keep that unified spirit. With mega festival slots at TRNSMT and Latitude already lined up, as well as a massive run opening for American hotshots Geese early next year, they’re upping their credentials by the month. The band set themselves a dream of opening for Bruce Springsteen back in 2024, and when/if he’s back touring anytime soon, the band should have their phone on standby ready for the inevitable call.