LAST week, TRNSMT revealed a whole new batch of acts who will be gracing the Glasgow festival on the King Tut’s Stage Powered by Utilita.
Compared to the Main Stage across the arena which will feature some of the biggest names in rock and pop, the King Tut’s stage will give music fans a chance to see a whole array of rising stars before they too hit the big time. Undoubtedly one of TRNSMT’s biggest appeals in its inaugural year of 2017, we should look no further than Tom Grennan and Declan McKenna for evidence of its success as a platform for emerging artists; last year both acts played the King Tut’s stage and will now go onto play the Main one in 2018.
Featuring an eclectic mix of homegrown talent and hotly tipped acts from further afield, many of whom made the esteemed BBC Sound of 2018 list, this year it is particularly exciting to see a host of TTV favourites be given the opportunity to reach out to a more mainstream audience, play in front of some of their biggest crowds to date and gain some new fans in the process.
Sure to be another key moment in what is shaping up to be a milestone year for the band, The Ninth Wave will play the King Tuts stage on Friday 29th June. With a new EP on the way and a number of big live shows lined up, they are sure to make a significant impact in front of the TRNSMT crowds with their increasingly impressive goth-pop creations.
Other members of the Tenement Trail alumni announced include Radio 1 favourite Sam Fender, known for his lyrical prowess and emotionally charged pop songs, and Anteros, a band with a striking repertoire of material to their name already. Bursting with energy and ambition, their irresistible combo of sharply defined power pop with a nostalgic new wave gloss is known to come to life in splendorous fashion when they perform live.
Easily one of the most talked about new outfits heading into 2018, the 1975-produced indie pop group Pale Waves will make an appearance before headliner Tom Walker. A singer-songwriter who delivered a stunning live session in TTV HQ last year, the SONY signing will undoubtedly treat the crowds to material from his highly anticipated debut album which arrives this spring.
Saturday 30th June will be headlined by indie-rockers The Sherlocks after a day that includes The View’s frontman Kyle Falconer, who has a solo album on the way, and The Snuts, a band from West Lothian who have gathered a cult-like following around Scotland their impassioned, stadium-ready rock anthems.
Meanwhile, the Sunday line-up will be headlined by Sigrid, winner of the BBC Sound of 2018. A longlist with an undeniably decent hit rate when it comes to pop music, the Norwegian singer is believed to be on a fast track to world domination following her well-documented win after winning over many fans and critics alike in recent months. Brighton-based quartet The Magic Gang will undoubtedly provide another highlight. With a long-awaited debut album on the way, the prolific outfit have garnered a strong fanbase all around the UK with their heartfelt guitar-pop and hook-laden songwriting. More interesting however will be a live set from Australian duo Confidence Man. Unlike anything out there at the minute, the enigmatic outfit are known for their hyperactive, intoxicating live shows and utterly infectious pop songs. Marking their first ever gig in Scotland, this is a set you won’t want to miss on the Sunday afternoon. Expect synchronised dancing, costume changes and one of the most unique displays of stagecraft you’ll ever see.
Scottish popstar Nina Nesbitt will top another varied bill on the closing day, Sunday 8th July. Having re-emerged last year with an entirely new image and sound, the singer has ditched the twee acoustic pop of yesteryear in favour of synths and electronics; a surprising shift that has ramped up interest in her forthcoming second album.
Taking place across five days this summer, from 29th June – 1st July, 6th and 8th July, TRNSMT looks set to attract thousands of music lovers to Glasgow Green once again following a hugely successful inugural year in 2017. Not only will festival-goers descend on the event in the hope of catching some of the biggest acts in the world such as Liam Gallagher, Wolf Alice, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys and CHVRCHES, there will also be an opportunity to catch some fresh hotly tipped acts along the way before they too hit the big stages.
With many more acts still to be announced, TRNSMT tickets can be found here.
