As a university student in Montreal, hopping from one Mile End venue to the next while exploring the city’s DIY music scene, I stumbled upon Sorry Girls. Their dreamy blend of synths and vocals had me hooked. It was love at first listen. Eight years later and on the other side of the Atlantic, I was thrilled to find out their first European tour included a stop in Glasgow at The Glad Cafe. I had to go. 

Just in time to catch Starsky-Rae’s opening solo set, I quickly made my way to The Glad Cafe’s backroom venue. Even though the stripped-back melancholic sounds would contrast with what was yet to come, Starsky-Rae’s woozy bedroom pop captured the room entirely. Next up, Cheek To Cheek took the stage. As soon as the band’s synthy, jazzy, groovy goodness seeped out of their amps, we were transfixed. Cheek To Cheek’s smooth and syrupy vocals paired with playful groove-driven instrumentals bridging the night’s music worlds perfectly. 

After Cheek To Cheek’s set, people started trickling out. By the time Sorry Girls (Dylan Konrad Obront on guitar, Heather Foster Kirkpatrick on vocals, Daniel Gray on synths and keyboard, Emily Jacklin on bass, and Ryan Robinson on drums) walked on stage, it seemed as if almost half the room had cleared out. I was annoyed. Where did everyone go? Sorry Girls – one of the greatest things to come out of Montreal since poutine, Leonard Cohen, and the St. Viateur Bagel tote bag – had made it all the way to Glasgow and people were heading home? Just before I could let my disbelief consume me, the band’s synthy magic washed over the room and buoyed me to the surface. We were all set. 

Throughout the night, Sorry Girls bounced between songs off of their 3 LPs: Deborah (2019), Bravo! (2023), and the soon-to-be-released Dreamwalker (2025). With ‘Waking Up’ and ‘One That You Want’ from Deborah, Sorry Girls leaned into their signature strain of ‘80s pop nostalgia. Waves of swoony, boppy, dream pop flooded the room. Between the romantic synthyness, glowing vocals, and Springsteen-esque drums and guitar (think ‘I’m Goin’ Down’ Bruce), no-one was safe. Even the most serious of audience members couldn’t help but dance a bit. 

Then, with songs from Bravo!, Sorry Girls unleashed their sparkly disco groove. The buttery bass lines and glistening vocals on ‘Prettier Things’ transformed the dark Southside venue into a glowing disco hall. And with ‘Breathe’ – a song about recognizing the power in slowing down and releasing certain beliefs about oneself – the band’s lush instrumentals painted the room in electric pinks and blues. As Kirkpatrick repeatedly chimed “all my life, I never wanted to fight,” you could feel the warm waves of relief in her voice wash over us. 

Sorry Girls’s Dreamwalker will be released on June 13th, and, so far, they’ve released singles ‘Ricochet,’ ‘Quiet Hands,’ and ‘Hush Baby.’ We not only got the pleasure of listening to all three singles live but also got a sneak preview of ‘Falling Down Stairs.’ You know that feeling when you go to a gig and you expect to know every song that’s played, but then the band throws something new into the mix and catches you off guard? Well, that happened…and I loved every second of it. With most music being so digitally accessible, it’s hard to not immediately consume new music as soon as you can get your hands on it. We get a notification when a new song is released and instantly click play. As a result, the joy in seeing bands we love perform is more about experiencing the songs live rather than hearing new ones for the first time. Getting to hear this track for the first time live was a delight. I was swept up in the band’s gleaming fever dream pop and didn’t want to come down. 

After ‘Falling Down Stairs,’ it started to look like Sorry Girls were wrapping up. Our applause and yelps morphed into a crescendoing “one more chooon.” The band looked at each other, smiled, nodded, and then started playing ‘Sorcery.’ Propelled back into the band’s glossy dreamscape, we danced for a few minutes more and took it all in. 

Eight years and an ocean apart, Sorry Girls were just as mesmerizing as I remember. If dreamy, glowy, synthy music with a hint of nostalgia is your thing, then Sorry Girls have got you covered. If they’re playing in a city near you, check them out. Memorize their discography beforehand or don’t – either way, you’re in for a treat.