Photo Credit Tim Craig
TRNSMT 8th to 10th July 1022
Day 1
TRNSMT returns to its normal summer spot in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre. The sold-out event, has crowds queued up outside, patiently waiting for hours for entry, to gain their ultimate spot in front of the main stage. The Glasgow green events space will see 50,000 people daily, watching in excess of 70 bands perform over the weekend.
The sun was shining brightly as the gates opened welcoming the first excited festival goers through to the arena. As festivals go, the age range is always variable, as the young and the old gear up for a day of music, cheering on the up-and-coming future headliners throughout the day, as they wait for their idols hitting the stage as night falls. The atmosphere around the arena was electric, the excitement of the festival goers was evident, with the general chatter of joy at the event taking place in what is still uncertain times.
As the first day gets underway the main stage opens with the perfect party atmosphere, with the Bootleg Beatles playing hit after hit from the fab four, delighting the Glasgow audience who were getting into full party mode, a sing a long was in full swing from the crowd gathered at the main stage.
Over at the King Tuts stage Brooke Combe from Edinburgh and recent winner of the Scottish Music Award from best breakthrough artist was leaving her mark on the King Tuts stage, from the glow on her face, it was evident she was enjoying her set as much as the crowd packed in front of the stage singing along to her music.
Ella Henderson received a warm welcome from the Glasgow audience as she came on to the main stage, and she did not disappoint as she performed her hits sending the audience wild with Set You Free having the young audience dancing and singing along before playing her recent single Crazy What love Can Do, saying she loves playing in front of Scottish audience as it feels a real part of her. She had the audience singing along as she played Brave, 21 Reason, This is Real, Free, before closing her set with the excellent Ghost, leaving the stage she waved goodbye to the Glasgow audience that had formed in front of the main stage to see her perform.
At the Kings Tuts stage the festival goers were entertained by the excellent Luke La Volpe, he entered the stage with a great presence around him. Luke is a born entertainer and delighted the audience with an enthusiastic performance
Over at the King Tuts stage Scotland’s own Callum Beatie was about to perform to a massive audience, as his band took to the stage, he exploded on to the stage to a hero’s welcome, standing centre stage he had the perfect view of the waiting crowd as far as the eye could see, launching into the excellent Mouth Of A Tiger delighting the hometown audience. This was followed by 25 Seconds before capturing the moment with the excellent Daddy’s Eyes, the crowd in full voice were singing along to the delight of Callum and the band , who were thoroughly enjoying the moment as they performed War on the Streets, Don’t Walk Along and Salamander Street. Callum had the crowd in his hand from the first moment of the set, his grip just got stronger as the set progressed, truly and act to follow over the next 12 months , Callum and his band are definitely one to watch out for.
TRNSMT Main stage was gearing up to welcome Wigan’s finest The Luthums fronted by Alex Moore. The indie band had the crowd jumping around from the off with the excellent Fight On, never slowing down, it was a power punch set that included The Great Escape, Say My Name, Pagans Delight and the excellent Artificial Screens, delighting their fans with a power packed set that entertained the new fans that may have stumbled across the excellent The Luthums.
Tom Grennan a regular performer at the festival over the years, tonight’s performance however had something a little special about it. The crowd were up for it, packed into the main stage area, singing along with the PA music before Tom took to the stage. His name in big letters on the rear stage screen as the intro music started playing, Tom set the festival alight as soon as he took to the stage he was ready to capture and command the attention of the crowd and deliver an epic set to the Glasgow audience, including If Only, Royal Highness and This is the place. Tonight, Glasgow Green was the place, the audience went wild, girls screaming with delight up on the shoulders of others catching the best views, the party was just getting started. Tom delivered a set filled with energy and passion, with songs including Sober, All Goes Wrong and By your side before closing the set with Little Bit of Love, the Glasgow crowd showed Tom love and respect for his music turning out in vast numbers to hear him perform.
Wishaw lads Saint Phnx were back on home soil performing the King Tuts stage, the band have such presence on stage, capturing the imagination of their followers. The band performed an epic set, the audience were going wild from the off, the band went one step further when lead singer when Steve Jukes went into the crowd to take in the atmosphere and taking it up another level. The Glasgow audience surrounded him, singing along and jumping around. They were further entertained when brother Alan came off the drums and down to the front of the audience, the set was filled with passion from the off, putting on an excellent show that resonated deeply with festival goers that hadn’t seen the band perform before. Catch them at a venue near you, they will not disappoint.
Next up on the main stage, 70’s icon Nile Rodgers & Chic were ready to kick the party mode up a notch or two. The front of the stage was packed for what was to be a major highlight on the first day of the festival. Opening the set with Chic Cheer set the tone for the show, playing chic classic’s along with a host of cover songs that entertained the vast audience. Highlights from the set include the classics, Everybody Dance, A melody of I’m Coming Out / Upside Down / He’s the Greatest Dancer, then a cover of Madonna classic Like a Virgin / Material Girl before classic versions of David Bowie classics Modern Love and Let’s Dance, closing the set with Rapper’s Delight, blew the Glasgow audience away with a fast-paced set that had the whole festival dancing and singing along.
Next up on the main stage, the phenomenal Sam Fender, his love of Newcastle United is prominently displayed on the keyboards, it has also been reported, many times that he also has a real love of Glasgow and Scotland. Opening the set with the excellent Will We Talk, he treated the Glasgow audience to a set to remember, that had the Glasgow audience in full voice singing along, from this moment on it was clear he had them in the palm of his hand. He even managed to bring a small down pour of rain to the festival on what had been a truly spectacular day of sunshine, further delighting the audience with Dead Boys, The Borders, Get You Down and the Angel in Lothian. Fender, enjoying the splendid Glasgow atmosphere, thanked the fans for sticking around during the downpour and treated them to last year’s big hit of Seventeen Going Under, highlighted with the backing vocals of the Glasgow audience, closing the set with the epic Hypersonic Missiles before saying his farewell to Glasgow until his next tour.
Next up was over to the King Tuts stage for the closing set from beabadoobee, fronted by Beatrice Kristi Laus, delighting a packed area in front of the stage and as far as the eye can see the Glasgow crowd were getting into the party mode, as she delighted the crowd with an epic performance, setting the tone of the set with the excellent Worth It, capturing the scene before taking things to another level with Charlie Brown. Smiling widely, you could see both Beatrice and the band were enjoying every second of the performance that included Care, He Gets Me So High, Sun More Often & Sorry. The set was powerful and really captured the music from Beatrice Kristi Laus, entertaining the festival audience before bringing the stage to a close for the day with the excellent Last Day On Earth and Cologne. This was a proud performance from beabadoobee, looking forward to seeing her again later in the year when she is back in Glasgow.
The main headliner on the main stage is Scotland own Paolo Nutini playing his first performance in Glasgow after an 8 years absence from the music scene, his loyal fans were out in force to welcome him back to Glasgow. The packed area in front of the main stage was ready to greet their idol back to the limelight. As the lights came up on stage the noise level was over-powering, the intro music played as the band members took their position, it was time, for the main man to take to the stage, the band had already started the opening chords of Afterneath that delighted the fans as Paolo made his way onto the stage, performing the song in true Paolo style. He was back, performing like he had never been away, making his way through an impressive set including Acid Eyes, Jenny Don’t Be Hasty with Teenage Kicks and New Shoes mixed up within it.
Treating the fans to songs new and old he had the Glasgow crowd hooked, performing each song with passion throughout. The Glasgow audience helped him along the way, singing every song word for word, none more than with the new song Through The Echoes, note perfect with amazing unpredicted harmonies. Closing the set with the impressive Pencil Full of Lead and Candy, before Paolo ended the set with Everywhere. He left the stage as the Glasgow audience went wild demanding more and Paolo did not disappoint, coming back to play a four-song encore starting off with Dougie MacLean cover of Caledonia that had the crowd in full voice singing along before delighting them with Coming Up Easy, and Iron Sky, closing his set with the excellent Shine a Light. This was an impressive set of old and new that delighted even those unfamiliar with the music of Paolo Nutini. Saying goodbye to the Glasgow audience, was the perfect end to what had been an excellent first day of the festival.
TRNSMT did not disappoint, the setting was perfect, the atmosphere electric, making all performing at the festival a whole lot easier, the fans up for one big party had an absolute ball, singing and dancing throughout the day, making this year’s opening day of TRNSMT one to remember. Day has now been delivered, now it is on to day two.
Photographs by James Edmond Review By Karen Edmond
