My guy and I came here to see The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses - Master Quest. Total dorks night out we were surrounded by loads of gamers and people in fancy dress. I had originally bought us nose bleed seats figuring it was an orchestra, so there wasn't really anything we needed to see and the tickets were super expensive- even the nose bleed seats. When we got there, the doors hadn't opened so we were all gathered outside waiting. When the doors opened, instead of opening the big doors to let us flood in at once (or at least queue to have our tickets checked) they opened one turnstile door and we all squished ourselves through the door in an annoyingly slow fashion. The number of times the door jammed is more than I can count on my hands, but we finally made it in and b-lined it for the food. My guy and I are really good at eating before hand when we know there won't be much food on had where we're going, but this time, we didn't have time, so we figured we could get something here. The only thing they had on offer were £5 hot dogs and £3 bags of crisps. Whoa. So for the amount we would have paid for a nice night out, we got two hot dogs, a bag of crisps and two drinks. Not our finest moment ever. Hot dogs in hand, we headed up to check out our seats. When we got up to the top, ha, we were greeted by a lady saying that tickets hadn't sold out so we should make our way back downstairs to get our tickets exchanged. By the time we got back down stairs, there was a queue of just about everyone who purchased tickets that wrapped around and around and around the ground floor. There were loads of unhappy links and zeldas running around. We finally got our tickets exchanged and were surprised that we go ground floor stall tickets. Not too shabby. I felt bad, however, for the people who paid full price for the seats around us. They were not cheap at all. The actual event was really cool. I've managed to score us some tickets to some cool orchestra concerts and this one was at the top. The orchestra played songs from all the Zelda games and there was a screen above that showed all sorts of live action shots of the games. There were also clips from the creators of Zelda talking about how the music is very much a part of playing the games for emotional reasons. It really made the experience so much more personal. There was in intermission which was nice, and they played a 30 minute encore! The night out was great because of who I was with and what we had experienced, but the whole door issue and ticket experience was in complete shambles. read more

Clyde Auditorium - The Armadillo - Waiting for the orchestra. - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Glasgow, GLG

I've previously been here for a gig (Flight of the Conchords! Amazing!) and visited on Friday for the Commonwealth Games weightlifting. I really wasn't sure how it would translate to a sports venue but it ended up being perfect. The downside of the Armadillo is the location - I just think it's a little inaccessible (made worse by the Games restrictions of having one main entrance to the SECC precinct from Finnieston Street rather than being able to use the bridge from the Exhibition Centre station over). The venue is a strange shape - I mean, just look at it) but it works well as the pointy end (the head) is the entrance, and the stage area is nuzzled in the Armadillo's bottom area (ahem). You can get to the seats down either side and there are 4 levels of seating - if you're on level 3 or 4 you might prefer to get the lift rather than take the stairs. Depends on how lazy you're feeling! We were seated on level 3 and the view to the stage area was great, unobstructed by heads in front of us and a good view of screens either side on the walls and the stage. I didn't buy any food or drinks while we were here but I believe there was a shop open (although the one I walked past was closed). The toilets are back on level one which could be a little inconvenient to go during a show as it was a little bit of a treck. Other than that, the Armadillo is a great venue for music or sport, and I would definitely head back for a gig without hesitation. read more

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I've been in the Clyde Auditorium a few times but this most recent venture was thanks to a last minute ticket for Billy Connolly. I'd tried to get tickets on line but they sold out in minutes. Sadly, (but good for me), my cousin couldn't get a babysitter so sold me her tickets! The venue itself is housed in the famous Armadillo shape, is right next to the SECC and the Hydro and on entering the building you don't need to produce tickets (which you do in the Hydro). This prevents a build up of people at the door which is good, and the main foyer has a few ticket outlets, a bar area towards the back and a few vending machines. Our seats in the stalls were easily accessed from this point, passing some toilets on the way. I was expecting to have to show inside our bags on the way in as you do in a lot of venues these days, but this wasn't required so meant we walked right in and found our seats pretty quickly. The seats were relatively comfy, and despite being in row Y (quite near the back), we still had a good view of the stage. So how was Billy? Well he may not be on top form health wise, but he still knows how to pull the crowd. Despite a few moments where he seemed to lose track of his jokes/ tales, there were some fantastic laugh out loud moments and I love his genuine and Scottish humour. I suspect it might be his last show for a while, but if he comes to Glasgow again I hope its in the Armadillo and will be sure to get off the mark quick to get seats! read more

A distinctive exterior that holds a really nice auditorium inside with frequent events on throughout the calendar along with its SECC neighbour and soon-to-be neighbour being built right next to it. Been here for a few events including comedy and music with my lasting memory of the place being Brainiac: Live. I was on the wrong side of the mean age of the collective there, but had a great night nonetheless. It has high ceilings inside which inevitably impacts on the acoustics. The seating is also decent. It's just a bit of a pain to get to, as is SECC. Boo. read more

Clyde Auditorium - The Armadillo - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Glasgow, GLG

The 'Armadillo' is a local landmark and part of the cluster of large venues and conference spaces in this area next to the Clyde. Its capacity is 3000, all seated. I like the distinctive design of the building, which is based on the hulls of ships, referencing the shipbuilding past of the ground the building now stands on. I've been to this venue for a variety of different events including music gigs, stand-up comedy, spoken word performances and work conferences. For rock gigs the venue lacks atmosphere, the fact that the venue is fully seated seems to make audiences a bit passive. It does sound good though, so it probably hits the right note for 'sit back and listen' type gigs. For comedy and spoken word performances it's more successful, and for conference events it's fine. Lines of sight on the balconies are okay though it feels quite distant unless you're towards the front rows, and it's positively vertigo-inducing in the gods. Stall seats don't guarantee a good view - I still couldn't see a lot of the stage for people's heads during the most recent gig I attended (maybe I just need a booster cushion?). There are several bars. In the ground floor bar area, 'share' bags of crisps and chocolate are available for sale if you're feeling snack-ish and there's a hot dog stall. That's your lot for food though so eat beforehand, I overheard one poor soul looking for the 'restaurant' in the venue when I was last here... Staff are great, always professional and helpful. read more

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The Clyde Auditorium, known as The Armadillo is right next to the SECC is a concert venue, and probably one of the most recognisable buildings on Glasgow. It has a capacity of 3000, and is used as a venue mainly for musicians and comedians, although I think some conferences and speakers do come here too. I've never actually been inside, but it's an iconic Glaswegian feature that should be missed by nobody. It's probably quite near the top of most tourists' lists anyway. read more

Clyde Auditorium - The Armadillo - Taken by Liz - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Glasgow, GLG

The Armadillo is like the cute wee sister of the SECC sitting in its shadow but with everyone oohing and aahing over its beauty. The building, sitting by the clyde, is stunning and easily recognisable. As a venue, it is perfect. Small, modern and classy, it hosts some of the most intimate concerts I have ever been to and is suitable for a variety of shows such as theatre, comedy and all types of music. I love it when an act I want to see chooses the Armadillo as the venue - it becomes part of the experience. read more

Clyde Auditorium - The Armadillo - From official website - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Glasgow, GLG

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When Bob Dylan came to town, the Armadillo was his stage! Visually, from the outside, the Clyde Auditorium is stunning. It had been a while since I'd been here for a gig and I'd forgotten just how beautiful it is. It's pretty standard on the inside in that it very much feels like a concert hall. In this sense, it's quite a contrast from the outside and lacks the atmosphere of older, lived in venues like the Old Fruitmarket or Barrowlands. It simply serves the purpose of being a venue. Saying that, it is the perfect size to capture an element of intimacy despite it's 3000 person capacity. The Armadillo is perfect to musicians who, whilst could fill bigger venues, are better suited to more intimate venues. (3 nights at the Clyde Auditorium were far better for Dylan as opposed to one at the Hydro!) The stage is huge and the sound carries well. The staff are very insistent about getting you in your seats quickly before the show and enforce a strict 'no flash photography' rule. It was a bit distracting to have a member of staff keep coming over to tell the people in front of us to stop taking pictures. More distracting than them actually taking the pictures! And drinks prices are just as you'd expect for a venue of it's kind. (Overpriced!) Regardless, the Clyde Auditorium still makes for a good venue and is a wonder to look at. read more

I've toured all over the world and can say with ultimate conviction that the Clyde Auditorium is the biggest shithole I've ever had the displeasure to visit. Aside from having 240 pounds stolen out of my bag, the 'staff' is a nightmare to deal with. If you care about what the people on the other side of the stage are dealing with, I would suggest you support a real theatre in Glasgow. read more

Ive visited the armadillio i think around 3 times now for various events and last night it was a for a comedy night. We were seated down in the stalls right in the centre so had a perfect view of the stage and getting in was quite easy. There wasnt too many queues amnd interestingly enough it only took me 6 mins to get out the car park! It still shocks me how they can charge £8!! Anyway the sound quality was quite good and the seats reasonably comfortable. Its not a bad venue and perfect for comedy compared to the hydro. I will be back next month for a music show so will be interesting to see the difference! read more

My first first to the theatre bit of the SECC was disappointing. It might be comfortable, it might be clean, but it feels like a pretend theatre in a bunker, with a desperately drab imitation of a real theatre's elegance, as if put together by Ikea. It has a bit that looks like the Stalls, another like the Circle, but all the lines are so straight, and the big massive speakers are a reminder that this is never going to be the place for a tight two-hander. I was watching Beauty and the Beast. I guess it's my own fault. I really love performance, but it wasn't until I came here that I realised that I love theatres themselves. The shows can be well staged here- it is big and the sound system is better than most rock venues- but it lacks the romance. Mind you, the National Theatre are putting on a show about The Wall of Death next month. I can't wait! read more

Crunchy on the outside, smooth on the inside. People of a certain age will get that reference, others will just think I'm insane... which to be fair, I'm used to anyway! The Armadillo - I refuse to call it anything else - is a fine building. It's modern, it's spacious, it's well run and it's staffed by helpful people, It's signposted well inside for easy location of your seats, and everything just feels smooth about it. The acoustics for most of the venue are superb. I've been to a few gigs in here and for the most part, had clear, sharp sound. I was here a few days ago to see the mighty THUNDER~~~!!! and I was sitting on the ground floor, right at the back under the balcony and it was just a bit muffled. Not enough to ruin the feel of the gig, but enough to notice from time to time. Therein lies my problem with the Armadillo... it's a NICE venue, but it just doesn't scream "ROCK SHOW!" to me. Every show I've seen here, I've thought how much better it would be if the ground floor was standing rather than seated, like they do at the Hydro or even the Academy. Still, that's not the fault of the venue so I won't take it out on them in the review. The gig was good, the venue was fine. It didn't add to the feel of the show, the way somewhere like The Barras would, but it also didn't ruin it. The Armadillo is a fine venue, but I'd say more suited to comedy or quieter music shows than a rock show party crowd. Them's is the breaks, though. read more

The Armadillo is a great building that doubles up as a tourist attraction and brilliant theatre style venue that plays host to acts and events including panto, musicals and small and intimate gigs. The auditorium has a great atmosphere, with stewards in suits with torches waiting to seat you, which gives the place a real sense of occasion that you would find at any other theatre. Visitors can be seated in the rows at ground level, or can opt to be seated in the raised aisles above for a more cinematic experience. An altogether more classy venue than the SECC and perfect for an evening out, to enjoy a small and intimate gig in this big lovely building with its atmospheric theatre setting. read more

The Armadillo plays host to hundreds of acts every year. The 'theatre' hall of the SECC, it's a lovely, classy venue. From pop acts, like the Sugababes, McFly, and Busted (RIP - I may have been one of their biggest fans... I saw them here twice... good, no, GREAT times... sad face) to comedy kings like Bill Bailey and Michael MacIntyre. It's a great venue. read more

Worst Venue Ever, Attended this venue for a UB40 concert 9th Dec 2017.Made to queue 'outside' in minus temperatures for no reason whatsoever. Eventually got in only to stand in the in the ridiculous and barely moving queues for an overpriced drink from disinterested bar staff. Didn't have time to queue for a second drink before the concert started so decided to see the start of the gig and come back later when the queues might not be so bad, 20 minutes into the gig I went to try to get a second drink only to find a number of disgruntled customers complaining as they had closed the bar on the first floor but informed us the bar on the bottom floor was still opened??? On getting downstairs the queues were still as bad as ever, I text my partner to let her know I may be some time, only to then look up to see they had now also closed the bottom floor bar to those not already in the queues. Advice to Customers: Spend your money somewhere else to avoid disappointment. Advice to Venue: Get someone who knows how to 'manage' a venue of this size. Employ bar staff that have some interest in the length of queue. Give customers 'notice' of no alcohol licence during event. Sound quality - atrocious. Light spill - not addressed Atmosphere - cold, awkward Advice to UB40: Do yourselves a favour and don't play this venue ever again, unless you ask one of your team to experience it from the fans side, then you won't ever play there again because I personally seen around 50 fans very very disappointed. read more

I love seeing a show in here!! Its nickname is the armadillo, so if you're lost and you can't find it then you really do have a bad sense of direction because you can't miss it!! The seats are very roomy and comfortable and the view from all seats i've ever been in (stalls) is always really good. The staff seem to be pretty quick so you're never waiting around too long. read more

A great venue to see a show, live music, comedy or whatever else it has on offer. Brilliant acoustics and seating layout which every seat is a good seat! As others have said it is nicknamed the armadillo as it looks like one so is quite easy to spot! Don't be fooled by thinking it is the same as the SECC however as a lot of people to seem to think. It is the large building to the left of the armadillo! read more

We've been to a couple of shows now at the Armadillo, with seats in 'The Gods' and in the dress circle. I wouldn't bother with seats in the upmost tier - although the view is good, it's really far away from the stage. Being tall, we always notice where there's decent legroom, and here there is. Very comfortable! read more

A fantastic place to see a music or comedy gig, this Glasgow landmark is much nicer than its sister venue next door (SECC). It has benefited from being purpose built rather than be treated as just another large hall. The acoustics are great, the seating is brilliant with lots of legroom, and the views of the stage are stunning. Having said that I've only been at shows where I've been in the front stalls, so I'm not sure what it's like further back, or 'up in the Gods'. A big venue with 3000 capacity (I think) but shows there still feel intimate enough to make it definitely worth going to - a stunnign place both inside and out. read more

Don't get me wrong, I like little classic theatres but lets face it, they're not very comfortable. The Armadillo provides big comfy seats with an excellent view of the stage no matter where you're located. It's usually big acts that play here so expect to pay the price for tickets. At least, for the cost, regardless of whether the act is terrible, you know you're coming to watch a show in somewhere you can reply on to perform its purpose! read more

the clyde auditorium - known as the armadillo due to its design/outward shape - is located on the river clyde - just west of the city centre - has a huge car park - c.3k capacity - but takes forever to get out after concert - easily reached by public transport (train station onsite - bus routes nearby - used to be a nightmare by public transport but better now) - please be warned however that their are long tailbacks on the motorway whenever there is a big event on so ensure you have plenty of time or you'll miss the start ! it is a purpose built venue which has a seated capacity of up to 3k and is part of the SECC complex great music/rock venue - saw deep purple here not long after it opened and man the joint was jumpin :) - happy face - the smoke was most definitely on the water (river clyde on the doorstep) read more

Great for comedy shows and more mellow sounds is a nice looking building aswell, drinks prices seem to be notably higher than the secc though which isnt too great. tickets to shows here often sell out quicker due to is smaller capacity though, great acoustics in the building read more

cannot fault its, love it so much here attentive not in your face staff guide you to your seats. and ask for your tickets at the door no ticket in hands means no entry so no one can freely wander about which is good. The spaciousness and legroom is good , air con works a treat lovely seats and angled nicely so no ones head is ever directly in front and the seats slope, so bright and fresh unlike older style dumps with cracking paint and foosty seats that have red pisstake ripped up velvet on them sat on by a thousand drunken arses and ancient facilities. . a clean contempory and stylish building awaits outside and in, a total winner. I must however complain about the bar!! Show up early for an event and arena doors not open yet what to do? Stand around boredly in the main hall and go to bar, a bare large room with no seat and no toilets . They are a bit of a hike and then no seats in the bar!!?? Old and young tired people without even a wee bench to sit on and no ledge to rest a pint of beer , BOOO I think there may be a little eaterie up the stairs but if so it isnt promoted very well i have never seen a place to get a bag of chips or a burger you know how folk like to munch and chew , maybe it is good then as people can be messy bastards and fling leftovers down on carpet. now perhaps that explains everything ie why it stays so pristine. Parking is fine, just head to science centre and park on govan road and walk across the wee bridge. i aint paying effin £5 to be squashed like a sardine in secc main carpark a ruddy pain in paps ! read more

Went to Jerry Lee Lewis concert recently. The sound was atrocious . Bass guitar, bass guitar , bass guitar on top of everything . Could not hear a note that Albert Lee and James Burton played . A waste of £85 . Whoever was in control of the sound should try another career as he obviously has cloth ears and cannot be a musician . I wont be returning to this venu . The sound may have been great for the performers with their monitor speakers facing them but virtually no guitar sound coming towards the audience. I complained to one of the staff and she said she would tell the sound engineer - alas nothing happened. read more

The Clyde Auditorium (also known as the Armadillo due to its shape) is a great venue for all types of shows. Have been to comedy shows here and they have always been great, but music events here are great,the armadillo is purpose built for music and the acoustics are great. It resembles the Sydney Opera House in its look from the outside, I think its an amazing building and a great venue for all events! read more

I have only been twice as far as i am aware to see pantos, once in 1st year with school to see John Barrowman and the Krankies in Aladdin which was amazing then again in january there with my mum to see them all in Dick McWhittington and i plan to go to Robin hood too, a wonderful theatre with friendly staff read more