2025 marks 20 years of SWG3 being at the heart of Scotland’s creative landscape — a place where music, art, and culture have converged, evolved, and thrived. On Friday 28 November 2025, we hosted a special party to celebrate the milestone.
The night kicked off in the Workshop, with the launch of the Now I Know My 1, 2, 3's exhibition, which was curated by artist Jamie Kenyon – our first ever gallery curator, who worked alongside various artists to help shape SWG3's early arts programme.
Attendees then descended into the Warehouse – the space where it all began. The Warehouse was filled with a series of projects that SWG3 has been working on throughout the year, that each reflect a different facet of our creative DNA.
Acclaimed visual artist Sandy Smith — who is now based in New York, but was once among the first to rent a studio at SWG3, returned with a sculpture that took pride of place in the Warehouse. The sculpture, which is titled Please Don’t Break My Heart, is Smith's seminal work and reads All The Time I Was Making This I Was Thinking Of You, and it pays tribute to our artistic roots while bridging the past and present.
There was a chance for guests to sample, and purchase the remaining bottles of our unique, limited-edition single malt whisky. Released earlier in the year, the whisky, Velvet Odyssey, is a partnership with The Clydeside Distillery and renowned artist Jim Lambie. Matured in first-fill bourbon barrels from 2018 and finished for six months in a Pedro Ximénez sherry butt – the whisky pays tribute to one of our most notable friends and a longstanding figure in our history.
Before becoming the distinctive space for live music, clubs, and more that it is today, our ground floor was a wedding car garage. In 2006, as the space transitioned into a gallery, and Jim Lambie was invited to create work for the Comme des Garçons Guerrilla Store +44 141. Using a white Daimler Limousine from the garage as his canvas, he adorned it with his signature style layering psychedelic vinyl tape across its surface. The vehicle was displayed as part of the project before the space later evolved into the Gallery and then the TV Studio in 2015. Now, the artwork has been revisited for the whisky’s packaging, with the bottle and tubing adorned in the Paisley Pattern.
The celebration also marked the launch of our 20 year book. Designed by resident designer Phoebe Willison and Mitchell F Gillies, with words by poet Leyla Josephine, the coffee-table book weaves together key moments, personal reflections, and unseen and unheard memories from the venue's history – offering a vivid tapestry of the artists, musicians, and communities who have shaped the venue over the last two decades.
The night then progressed into the TV Studio, where local acts Lucia and The Best Boys, and Bemz took to the stage to deliver memorable sets infront of a packed out audience. The performances felt fitting, as both acts have a long-standing relationship with the venue, having played every space the venue has to offer throughout the years.
Guests then took the short walk across to the Galvanizers, which was completely transformed to play host to an immersive performance by Glasgow based art-club collective Ponyboy. Attendees lined both sides of the room, whilst performers delivered a hedonistic, extravagant show that will live long in the memory for all who were lucky enough to witness it.
Following the Ponyboy performance, Skylermyler then jumped behind the decks alongside Babyjaii, who were followed by Colin from Hot Mess, who rounded off the night perfectly.
From our origins as a disused warehouse to a dynamic hub of artistic expression, SWG3 has been a catalyst for ideas, a home for boundary-pushing talent, and a stage for unforgettable moments. The 20th year party was the perfect occasion to celebrate this milestone alongside everyone who has played a part in shaping the venue. It was the ideal opportunity to showcase the journey of creative collaborations, special projects, and landmark events that honour our past, whilst giving everyone a chance to look firmly to the future.
Reaching 20 years is a special moment for SWG3. The space has evolved in ways we could never have fully imagined, but at its heart, it has always been about creativity, collaboration, and community. This year is about reflecting on that journey, celebrating the people who have been part of it, and looking ahead to what’s next.
Andrew Fleming-Brown, SWG3 Founder and Director.
