This is an unlikely blog article about going to a Yungblud gig out of curiosity and coming out very pleasantly surprised.

Last week, I attended YungBlud’s sold-out, intimate album launch show at the impressive new LiveHouse in Dundee, presented by Assai Records. Originally scheduled for July 2025 to celebrate the release of his album IDOLS, the show was postponed due to ill health.

I only ever paint portraits of musicians I genuinely respect and enjoy. I’ve turned down countless commissions because my heart just isn’t in it. I admittedly never thought I’d find myself painting Yungblud, but I’d say I’m wholeheartedly converted.

I now proudly present my portrait of Dominic Richard Harrison himself, aka Yungblud.

I’ve been watching Yungblud’s rise to fame quietly in the background, always assuming it belonged to a Gen Z world, one I wasn’t sure I could fully relate to. I arrived an hour before doors opened and joined the already well-formed queue.

I stood out like an absolute sore thumb. Everyone was dressed in black with rock-style makeup. I wore my vintage floral tapestry jacket, “proper” walking shoes (practical, of course) and stood rather awkwardly reading my copy of Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone.

I started to take more notice of Yungblud after seeing headlines about his relationship with the late Ozzy Osbourne.

I was also really struck by how he managed to bring Aerosmith out of retirement to record new music and perform live with him. I’m a big Aerosmith fan and one of my proudest live music memories is being lucky enough to see them at Hyde Park Calling in 2007. In my world, Aerosmith are the ultimate rock legends and I couldn’t quite understand how Yungblud could fit into that category… until now.

Cheeky, charismatic, full of energy, great style, excellent vocals, sharp lyrics, strong guitar playing, and most importantly, a genuine connection with his audience. Yungblud is taking music back to the fans, rejecting inflated ticket prices, and creating moments that bring people together in a world that can feel increasingly disconnected.

The moment he stepped on stage, any sense of being out of place disappeared. There was a real sense of inclusivity. It struck me how rare that feels at gigs these days. Too often there’s tension, fights, or people taking things too far with drink or drugs. This gig felt different - safer, kinder and more human.

At the end of the set Yungblud shouted out to the crowd that he’d see everyone outside his tour bus in 15 minutes. He meant it. No barriers, no distance, just a genuine invitation. It wasn’t about maintaining mystique or disappearing behind security. It was about connection and showing up for the very people who had just filled the room.

For that short time while Yungblud owned the stage, the increasingly heavy weight of the world (the noise, the division, the politics …) just faded into the background. Not ignored or forgotten, but softened. Replaced, albeit briefly, by music, shared energy and a room full of people choosing to be present together. To me, that feels more important now than ever.

Undercover with the Gen Zs: Me at a Yungblud Gig

The Art of Slowing Down