Kerr Mercer - Terrified and live at The Attic

Kerr Mercer, a young Scottish singer-songwriter who is a real favourite of mine, played 3 sold out shows in the intimate setting of The Attic (upstairs in The Garage) at the end of last week. After a couple of years of solid touring; opening slots, support slots and his own headline shows, Kerr's been pretty quiet on the gig front for the last 6-months. 

The focus has been on writing and recording. Mercer released debut single Alcohol in November 2025. In a January blog I wrote; Alcohol is a belter of a debut. Stripped back, leaving plenty of room for Mercer's rich and soulful voice, telling the teenage tale of going out drinking and falling for someone.

Kerr has swiftly followed that with Terrified, that came out on Friday, hence he was determined to celebrate with these shows. Check the live performance video below. 

The way Kerr's voice rises for the chorus is spine tingling. It's quite something to see and hear this in person, when he leans back from the mic, eyes closed and just goes for it, lost in the moment. Beautiful. 

No-one loves me like you do

If perfect's real then you're the proof

I'm doing all I can to hide the truth

That I'm so terrified ... 

I enjoy following Kerr's progress on his Insta page, although keeping up with his stories can be hard at times! His humour and love for music, playing and writing comes across in every post. One story I was particularly struck by was a recent writing session with Max Martin in Sweden. Yes, that Max Martin - the songwriter/producer who has penned/co-penned hits for Taylor Swift, Kate Perry, The Weeknd ... 

Given the number of songs Kerr has been writing, I only recognised one (not including the singles) from the previous times I have caught him live. Opening One in a Million which contains this beautiful heartfelt hook.

Cause this thing about love, my love, it only has to work once

This thing about love, my love, it only has to hurt once

Terrified is set to be swiftly followed by Kerr's third single. One that has been doing well on TikTok after Kerr posted a video of him singing it in the shower, clearly loving the melodic and soulful chorus he has just written. Love Me Twice is set to come out this month. 2026 is set to be Kerr's break out year. 

Oh I'd go anywhere you are, so that you're not alone

We got something different and it just needs time

We can make this right

If you love me once, you can love me twice

There was a moving and also funny moment during the matinee show I attended on Friday (early shows are brilliant!) when Kerr asked the song to sing-a-long 'like this' and then sang. I laughed as I think I speak for most (if not all the crowd) when I say - we can't sing like that! But we sang-a-long regardless!

Mercer flirted between guitar and piano with ease, constantly thanked people for support and displayed a grounded humour that will stand him in good stead. Asking people how they found out about him, one said TikTok, another said 'yer Maw!' Brilliant Scottish humour that Kerr loved.

One song with Elton John-esque piano flourishes sounded excellent, while the trilogy of Love Me Twice, Terrified and Alcohol showed that people are really falling for Mercer and his songs. I look forward to seeing Kerr playing live again soon.

Kerr Mercer at the Garage

 

There were a few moments last night at The Garage where Kerr Mercer tilted his head back, or slightly to the side, and just let rip, taking his already exceptionally rich, emotional, soulful and powerful voice to new levels.

It's quite the sight. Quite the sonic experience. 

Whenever this happened, my wife and I would exchange a little nod or glance in appreciation. However, there was one particular moment, during Kerr's song Soldier, when even his guitarist Adam Frame looked up in awe as his friend's voice soared beautifully. It was so nice to catch this.

Only 18-years old, Kerr Mercer has been building a head of steam for over a year, picking up some excellent support/opening slots for established artists to build his fanbase and hitting the road on his own mini tours. 

There was a real sense of occasion around last nights sold out show at The Garage. The venue looked incredible! Has it had a makeover? Or do I just always think back to when I was attending club nights as a teenager before getting a late (and very long) bus home to Carluke?

Perhaps there was a greater anticipation around the show after a fantastic feature was published on the BBC Scotland news page on Sunday morning. Journalist Jonathan Geddes brought out Kerr's humour, family values and humility in the interview. 

This is something Kerr naturally brings out on stage - whether forgetting to put his guitar on for a song, mentioning how his Mum brought him down to earth when he was hoping for a Glasgow aftershow (as any 18-year old would after a big hometown show) but had to get up at 5am for a flight to Europe to begin a tour supporting Only The Poets, or consistently thanking the audience and expressing his amazement that people showed up to see him - 'my knees are knocking backstage before every show as I don't think anyone will turn up.'

People turned up last night. I overheard a Dad talking to his daughter behind us. She had caught Kerr supporting someone and had brought her Dad along to The Garage. Dad approved - 'Aye, he's got something. What a voice!' I like to think that Dad and daughter will be having more bonding trips over Kerr Mercer gigs in the future. I hope to take our eldest to the next one after she turns 14 in June.

Anyway, on to the songs. Kerr Mercer showcased an exceptional talent for music (playing electric piano or acoustic/electric guitar), songwriting and singing. 

Setlist

1. Hurts
2. Love to Lose
3. Her
4. Best of Me
5. One in a Million
6. Never Be You
7. Jealous
8. Soldier
9. Waves
10. Handbags & Gladrags (Rod Stewart cover version)
11. Alcohol

The sense of occasion was heightened by the fact that Kerr was playing with a full band for the first time. Previous shows have seen Kerr performing solo (guitar/keyboard), or with Adam on guitar. Adam let rip on a couple of songs, relishing the opportunity to play electric guitar.

Mercer's and his band wasted no time in showing what they could do with an opening number entitled Hurts that reminded me a little of Michael Kiwanuka. With the addition of drums, Mercer said that he wanted the crowd to have the opportunity to dance, as well as enjoy his slow piano ballads. The backbeat was cool, as was the song.

Love to Lose slowed things back down, Her had one of those choruses that take off, aching with love, angst, heartache and heartbreak.

One in a Million was a stunner. Pre-show someone had handed out pieces of heart-shaped cards displaying the song title. People started holding them up after Kerr introduced the song and his band played the intro. It took Kerr a verse to realise what everyone was doing and he laughed to say he was wondering what they were and knew who probably brought them. One in a Million is a beautiful song, I fully expect it to be playing on the radio before too long.

I think it was during Never Be You that Kerr displayed some outstanding piano skills and then there was a fantastic run of 3 songs that I've got to know over the last year of catching him live.

Jealous is a heart tugging gem with Kerr pouring his heart out (as he does on every song, but the lyrics go pretty deep here). It's so well written and arranged that you could be forgiven for thinking tht it is an old classic. Soldier is soulful with Kerr really going for it and Waves seems to have been adopted as a real fan favourite. 

Kerr likes to play a cover in his sets and he opted for an older song than usual, playing Rod Stewart's Handbags & Gladrags (I've only just found out this isn't a Rod original! It was written by Mike d'Abo of Manfred Mann and originally recorded by Chris Farlowe), although Kerr discovered the song through a later day version by The Stereophonics. Regardless of who wrote it or originally recorded it, Mercer delivered it with raw emotion, like messrs Stewart and Jones. The song suited him perfectly and allowed him to attack his piano as he sang. Stunning! 

Closing with Alcohol, Kerr teased that it might be his debut single, there was no encore. Not to worry, there is A LOT more to come from this young man. 

Kerr Mercer plays TRNSMT 2025 on Sunday 13th July. Keep an eye on his Instagram for regular story updates about his shows, songwriting and plans.

Kingdom of Wires by Kevin Harper

Once I loved a girl while i was broken hearted

So we were doomed from the minute it started

So begins 'Kingdom of Wires', the debut solo album by Kevin Harper, one of the most talented songwriters in Scotland.

Anyone familiar with Harper's work from his fondly remembered band Little Eskimo's will know that he isn't afraid to pour his heart out into his songs. 'Kingdom of Wires' takes things further, Kev has lived a life, he has loved and lost, several times, friends included.

Once I had a brother a friend for a lifetime
Until he left us, he suddenly left us

The title track flows superbly with guitars powering through and ringing true, much like Kev's lyrics.

Harper's love of American guitar music is evident throughout the album, perhaps displayed at best with 'Couch'. Catchy, personal and with an element of self depreciating humour, 'Couch' is brilliant.

In a year from now I will miss you still
If i could tell you I'm sorry, Jennifer i will

'Get Me Down' slows things down - well a little bit. There is a sense of urgency throughout the album, almost like these songs have been stored for a while and during recording (with Harper playing pretty much everything) they were just bursting out.

'Better Ways' rumbles into life and once again Harper is opening his heart to the world. The song fizzes into life like a classic Foo Fighters single for the chorus.

'I Was A Sailor' is a song I first heard many moons ago and it is great to hear it on record. I sometimes think that Kev must have lived in America in a previous lifetime. Real humour and playfulness on this track, although again there is that sense of hurt and looking for something new.

Gotta get some light in here

I can hardly see

I gotta get some air in here

I can barely breathe

'Said It All' has another soaring chorus and the guitars across the album sound fantastic.

A secret in the morning can be a ruin by the afternoon

'Glory Box' by Portishead can ruin the day for you

So begins 'Used It Well' before the chorus explodes into life - seriously, the way the choruses flow on this album are exceptional. The closing hook 'You gotta come back down' is the killer blow.

'Forgotten Girls' starts with just an acoustic guitar and drum machine and Kev's heartfelt vocals. Synths help power the chorus to this song, rather than the usual guitars. In that sense, it does break up the album quite nicely, offering something different and leading into some slower tracks.

The album goes off in a completely different direction with 'Oxygen' with Kev singing about another lost love who has a new boy who just uses her for 'idle entertainment'. The chorus on this song soars in a different way to others, there is barely anything backing up Harper other than emotional synth sounds.

The epic 6-and-a-half minute 'Jacqueline' closes the album in spectacular manner. There is a welcome increase in the speed and urgency of the song from the previous two songs 'Majorette; (ripe for an American sync deal!) and 'Gibraltar'. This is Kevin Harper and the Heartbreakers, acoustic guitars married perfectly to synths and electric guitar.

The guitar solo is scorching and Kev even allows a nice 'alright' during it, recognising the groove he has found with this tune. The song progresses into a real synth jam - brilliant.

Kevin Harper and his band play King Tuts on July 29th. The bands on after him better be on top of there game or he is going to blow them off the stage. See you there!