I spent a night at one of the strangest venues in Glasgow and had the time of my life

Howdy Glasgow. As some of you might have realised, Americana is back in a big way here in the city - with country and western bars quickly emerging as a trend.

The obsession with the western has really took us all by surprise, but I’m all here for it. I love seeing cowboys kicking about Govan, and I’m not talking about those boys that did your granny’s driveway. Real life cowboys, with spurs, chaps, and all.

Following the closure of Western Wear Skinstyle on High Street, I thought we’d seen the last of the 21st century Scottish cowpokes, but several outlets have popped up in its place selling frilly jackets, cowboy boots, and the hats too of course.

If I’m being honest, I found the emergence of Maggie’s “Rock ‘n Rodeo” on Trongate as bewildering - seeing these part-time cowboys walking down Argyle Street every weekend in their Zara jeans and discount Halloween costumes bugged me to no end.

I wanted to get to the heart of this Glaswegian fascination with the Wild West, the old-school of course, not this new age sub-crawl quality costumed night out patter. Of course I went to the Grand Ole Opry.

The old boys and girls at the Opry go hard for the west, it’s much more than just a themed pub - there’s a Nashville-esque stage, beautiful hand-painted western murals on every wall, and make no mistake every single person there was dressed to the nines.

Ten Gallon hats, frilled jackets and vests, knee high boots, chaps, denims, holsters hiding revolvers that look a bit too real - it was all a bit overwhelming I had turned up wearing jeans, trainers and a jumper, feeling a touch underdressed.

Some folk were really committed to the bit - not enough to try out a western accent, but enough that I swear I heard someone say y’all in a Glaswegian twang. That being said I’m not sure how much my memory can be trusted, the drink is mega cheap - as is the food available from the ‘chuck wagon’ up the stairs

Expect the traditional Glaswegian gantry of spirits like gin, vodka, and whisky - and draught like Tennent’s of course - though you can also buy yourself a pint of venom, which I found pretty funny.

The Grand Ole Opry draws in an older, regular crowd who dress up like cowpokes every single weekend - which if you’re just passing by down Paisley Road West with no prior knowledge, can be a surprise to see some Glaswegian rancher fresh from the prairies smoking a JPS Player.

At 24, I think I was the youngest attendant at the venue that night, though oftentimes hen dos and stag nights will make an appearance at the weekend. To begin with I felt about as welcome as a rattlesnake at a square dance - but I soon got over myself and realised that no one really cared about my presence.

Crowds are entertained with bingo, line dancing, live singers and the jewel in the crown of the Opry - the gunfights. These showdowns are serious business - and all the punters treat it as such.

It’s real pistols at dawn type stuff. Gunfighters are chosen from the crowd and supplied with pop revolvers - completely harmless from a distance yet viewed by the punters through plexiglass screens. The contestants shoot out in a tournament, each duel sees the fighters walk 10 paces (perhaps less my memory gets hazy at this point), turn, and draw. The winner is decided by an impartial judge - the sheriff if you will.

I’ve never seen anything else like it in Glasgow, it was a right laugh.

All that being said, it’s impossible to talk about the Grand Ole Opry without talking about their recent controversy. There was anger as members of the club got involved in a dispute over a ceremony that included folding the Confederate Flag at the end of the night - a symbol connected to the American Civil War.

This issue resolved itself internally through the appointment of a new committee and the club no longer flies or folds the confederate flag, now widely acknowledged as having racist connotations. The community here is based around the music and sense of camaraderie that the venue brings and are welcome at Scotland's most famous country music club.

Should you visit the Grand Ole Opry? Yes definitely, get a group together and you’re guaranteed to have a good time. While you need to pay entry, it’s still so much cheaper than anywhere else in town, and you won’t be able to find any better entertainment in town for that price, I assure you.

It’s also worth noting that it’s cash only cowboy. Yeehaw.