City Live Spotlights: Cowboy Hunters
By Iain McLean
Desmond Johnston and Megan Pollock || image provided by Cowboy Hunters
“69 years have passed since the cowboys attacked.
When the world needed them most, Cowboy Hunters were in the pub.
This is a story of farty rock redemption.
Tie your shoes.”
Megan Pollock and Desmond Johnston originally met while both searching for Cowboy, Slim Jim, and decided to hunt him together.
This is the story behind one of Glasgow’s buzzworthy up-and-coming punk bands, Cowboy Hunters.
Megan Pollock and Desmond Johnston, both from Glasgow, met while studying at Edinburgh Napier University in 2022, and the band was born.
The band's music combines electronic and rave influences with the raw energy of punk rock, creating a distinctive sound that gets people dancing as much as turning up the volume.
Their lyrics reflect this intention, staying unconventional while blending humour, profanity, and surprisingly accurate social commentary.
Despite being relatively new to the scene, Cowboy Hunters are seeing considerable success, with their most recent release putting a punk-rock twist on Mason's Perfect (Exceeder), originally released in 2007.
Decibel Decoder describes the release of Perfect (Exceeder) as a significant moment for Cowboy Hunters: “It showcased their ability to blend punk intensity with electronic elements. This fusion has been a hallmark of their sound, setting them apart in the punk scene.”
2026 has been the band's year, with sessions for Treacle Inc, a Glasgow-based media production company, and a feature on BBC Radio 6 Music's New Music Fix shortly after the release of their single “Punched In The Head.”
They’ve also supported acts such as Bob Vylan and Sleaford Mods and have amassed 457,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
Megan and Desmond begin their Mortal Kombat || image provided by Cowboy Hunters
Craig Chisholm of isthismusic.com describes seeing them live as “exciting, dangerous, funny and angry all at the same time. They’re of a generation where anything goes musically and there are no rules. Go see them – if you’re young, you’ll fall in love with them, if you’re old, you’ll feel young again.”
This success will continue with their “All Cowboys Must Die!” tour, which begins in December and runs into January, with all 11 dates sold out.
Cowboy Hunters are just what the Scottish music scene needed. Their unique blend of styles makes them a band to watch in 2027, and one you won't want to miss when they next hit the road.