Following the release of their debut album, It Goes On, Westside Cowboy set off on a UK Record Store Tour to celebrate, with Liverpool being the group’s fourth stop before a string of festival appearances later in the tour.
Their newest release, It Goes On, builds upon the band’s renowned sound, uniting the guitar-driven influence of The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan with the earthy tones of groups like Black Country, New Road.
Whilst Westside Cowboy may still be considered ‘newbies’ on the UK music scene, their self-described genre of ‘Britainicana’ is proving a huge hit- as evidenced by the two sold-out shows at Rough Trade Liverpool. Having previously seen Westside Cowboy at a packed Sound City Arts Club Theatre and heard teasers of the album’s singles, it’s safe to say this was a highly anticipated 2026 album release for both myself and fellow indie fans. From this show’s turnout and the overall energy of this Liverpool crowd, it’s evident the new album did not disappoint.
As showtime approached and the room filled to the brim with eager Merseyside music lovers, it was announced that the band would carry out the show as their usual headline set rather than the album run-through they’d performed during recent stops on the tour- allowing seasoned fans to both revel in their personal favourites whilst discovering the fresh music of It Goes On.
Westside Cowboy jumped onto the Rough Trade stage as There She Goes by The La’s welcomed the band back to Liverpool for the first time since the unforgettable Sound City appearance.
The set began with Kick Stones (The Boys), the first single released for their new album- familiar enough for crowd singalongs, yet still a great pick from the new album’s repertoire. It’s no wonder this was the track to introduce the band’s newest era as it combines the vocals of their guitarist, Jimmy Bradbury, and bassist, Aoife Anson O’Connell, incredibly well- incorporating the soft-rock energy of their ‘Britainicana’ music.
“It goes on and on and on and on, on and on and on…” echoed across the Rough Trade venue as both the crowd and Westside Cowboy belted the lyrics to Paperchains– the second track of their debut album. This one has already solidified itself as a live-performance favourite with band-typical erratic guitar-playing paired with nostalgic, instantly memorable lyricism. It’s a shame how short the song’s duration is, as this was undoubtedly a highlight of the night.
Following this, Westside Cowboy intertwined songs both ‘old’ and new, creating arguably a perfect setlist- allowing for time to introduce new music alongside appeasing diehard fans eager to hear the likes of Can’t See.
“We’re going to play an older song…” guitarist Reuben Haycocks introduced as the starting riff of Shells was played. Simultaneously, the signature Rough Trade disco ball spun as the light scattered across the entranced audience. Here, it was a pleasure simply to take in the scale of Westside Cowboy’s reception; despite only being formed three years ago, they’ve got the indie-rock listeners in the palm of their hands- capable of slowing a set down and still having every member of the crowd’s gaze locked onto them. It was truly a moment that captured how far they’d come- and how much further they could still go.
Westside Cowboy is a band whose sets always manage to keep you on your toes. With relaxed, solo-vocalist tracks such as Patchwork highlighting the band’s lyricism, shortly followed by Coyote’s frantic, full-band energy, the contrast makes for a set that never feels predictable. It’s this ability to effortlessly shift between intimacy and intensity that makes Westside Cowboy so compelling live.
Perhaps the clearest demonstration of the connection between the band and their fans came with I’ve Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Really Love (Until I Met You). Before the song even began, the crowd erupted into a unified “WESTSIDE COWBOY!”, effectively introducing the track themselves. There’s something so intimate about hearing hundreds of people collectively connecting with and calling for a band by name before immediately singing their words back to them; moments like that make their reception feel far beyond a band still finding its feet.
As the final song brought the night to a close, its lyrics eerily reflected the evening spent at Rough Trade, watching the band and crowd move as one, as they sang, “You could have died there on the dance floor… Where the place was dark and crowded…”
It’s clear that Westside Cowboy have created music and a brand that’s already bigger than the small venues of this tour: crowds that know every word, a setlist capable of bringing both excitement and stillness, and a stage presence that leaves you wondering just how big they could become after another three years of music-making and live-performances.
Arlo McCarthy
