November 11 2026 | Written By Cameron Rhodes
Photography by Alistair Fleming
I had the pleasure of attending MT Jones’ gig supported by Aaron Miralles at Saint Luke’s and The Winged Ox in Glasgow. The venue is one of my favourites in the city. While it might sometimes be overshadowed by the iconic Barrowlands Ballroom just round the corner, I don’t think there are many better venues for an intimate gig across Glasgow. Saint Luke’s is a restored church, with stained glass windows and imposing organ pipes overlooking the stage. This set the scene beautifully for two equally soulful performances from Irish singer Aaron Miralles and Liverpool native MT Jones.
Miralles played a varied set, backed by his band termed “The Lads”. The live instrumentation consisted of two guitars, a double bass and a bongo drum. What made the performance so varied was the band’s ability to produce syncopated a cappella that didn't drown out Aaron and harmonised well with his voice.
Miralles has a classical voice almost reminiscent of a trans-Atlantic accent from the 1920s, his Irish lilt trickling through his powerful vocals. His catalogue is entirely unreleased, and the setlist consisted of some songs written by himself and some covers. One touching standout for me was the song “Chasing Moonbeams”, a reworked version of a song written by Miralles’ grandfather, which he heard through a voice note at his funeral. The lyrics had a section where Mirellas sang: “I see the tears well up in your blue eyes”, and I know that certainly was happening for me.
The whole band had great synergy, especially when it came to vocals, even singing completely a cappella for one tune. No one overpowered anyone else, and Aaron’s voice got the spotlight it deserved.
Overall, Miralles’ set was very memorable, and it was great to see something that I feel encapsulates exactly what live shows are about, with MT Jones himself stating later on that he felt that Aaron had been “One of the best openers on the tour”.
After a warm opening from Miralles, I felt perfectly settled for Jones’ personal brand of smooth soul music. Jones was supported by three band members and played an electric set filled with a mix of more upbeat songs with audience participation and some softer ballads. Despite being seated, I don’t think there were many still bodies in the room.
Jones was equally smooth in his personality and stage presence between songs, asking the crowd multiple times, “Are you good?!” and also providing small anecdotes about the music. For example, “Nothing I Can’t Do” was written while Jones listened to John Lennon, and “Change Like the Weather” started as barely a hook of the words in the title accompanied by mumbles, before he “found the substance” he needed in the music.
Jones also performed a few covers alongside popular hits like “Why I Cry” and “All I Do”. For this particular gig, he covered Paul McCartney’s “Coming Up”, Curtis Mayfield’s “Put Me Through” and The Beatles' “I’m a Lover”. Jones obviously has a soft spot for his fellow Liverpool natives, and both he and his band played through these songs with strong passion for these songs.
Jones’ frenetic strumming and his ability to belt out songs with a touch of gravel in his voice made for an enjoyable viewing and listening experience. The way he evoked sorrow in one song and groove and rhythm in the next meant that I was never once bored or unfocused in my seat. Those seats would eventually be left for a near-full standing ovation at the end of the gig.
Against the backdrop of those giant organ pipes and imposing stained-glass windows, both artists created such a warm atmosphere in Saint Luke’s. They played to a crowd more than willing to participate and give them both a Glaswegian welcome, with Jones proclaiming how much he loved the welcoming Scottish city, similar to Liverpool in its renown for its friendliness. The blending of talents from different backgrounds with equally strong passions for their genres made for a standout example of what live music is all about.