THIS WEEKEND marks the return of Scotland’s biggest music festival to Glasgow Green, TRNSMT Festival. Set to attract thousands of music fans from 8th-10th July, some of the hottest acts on the planet will descend on the park once again for three days of incredible live music. This year’s festival will feature one of its most eclectic lineups to date – from Main Stage headliners The Strokes, Paolo Nutini and Lewis Capaldi to indie heavyweights Sam Fender, The Snuts, Fontaines D.C and Wet Leg to pop stars like Self Esteem and Years & Years to exciting breakthrough artists like Brooke Combe, Medicine Cabinet and Dead Pony.
As the excitement continues to mount for the weekend, here’s a rundown of our top picks of the festival and what acts you should check out across the weekend.
The Strokes
There’s nowhere else to be this Saturday night when The Strokes take on their first Scottish headline in over a decade. One of the most influential rock bands of the 21st century, their recent sets in Europe have delivered all the fan favourites, as well as cuts from their most recent album ‘The New Abnormal’. This will be one to remember.
When: Main Stage, Saturday, 9.20pm
Foals
Saturday at TRNSMT will be the ultimate indie dream with Foals set to appear on the Main Stage just before The Strokes. Their new album ‘Life Is Yours’ came out just a couple of weeks ago – and it’s one of their most gratifying albums to date, packed with dance-rock party anthems and escapist, summertime optimism.
When: Main Stage, Saturday, 7.40pm
Paolo Nutini
A week on from the release of his long-awaited fourth album ‘Last Night In The Bittersweet’, TRNSMT will mark Paolo Nutini’s biggest Scottish headline in years. The soulful crooner has played a number of shows in preparation, including a secret set at Glastonbury, and they’ve gone down a storm. A chance to see some of the more eclectic new material in action, there will also be plenty of fan favourites thrown in the mix.
When: Main Stage, Friday, 9.10pm
Lewis Capaldi
Three years on from that infamous Main Stage performance at TRNSMT in 2019, Lewis Capaldi is back. His massive debut album ‘Devilishly Uninspired to a Hellish Extent’ peaked at number one in 2019 and was the fastest selling album of the year. We’ve not heard any new music since then but fans can expect plenty of singalongs and patter from the Bathgate singer.
When: Main Stage, Sunday, 9.20pm
Brooke Combe
Edinburgh-born vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Brooke Combe has firmly established herself as one of the nation’s most exciting new talents. Absolutely effortless on stage, she’s already played some high profile shows with the likes of Blossoms, The Snuts and Paolo Nutini – winning over fans with her strident indie anthems and soulful ballads.
When: King Tut’s stage, Friday, 1.10pm
Dead Pony
With a new EP on the way, Dead Pony are enjoying a busy 2022 – they’ve released ‘Zero’ and ‘Bullet Farm’, appeared at the likes of Glastonbury and The Great Escape, and joined Twin Atlantic on a UK-wide tour. The momentum continues at TRNSMT where they’ll deliver half an hour of high octane punk rock. With a formidable frontwoman in Anna Shields, don’t miss out.
When: River Stage, Friday, 2.55pm
Sam Fender
Fresh off the back of a triumphant Glastobury debut and supporting the Rolling Stones, Sam Fender returns to TRNSMT as a special guest after a memorable performance at last year’s festival. Since then, he’s shared his acclaimed second album ‘Seventeen Going Under’ – and it’s made him a bonafide star. Expect plenty of emotional singalongs and crowd-pleasing anthems.
When: Main Stage, Friday, 7.15pm
The Snuts
Famed for their incendiary live shows, The Snuts return to TRNSMT to rip up the Main Stage once and for all. After being forced to pull out last year, this will be a special moment for the West Lothian outfit who continue to go from strength to strength with each release. Following the success of their debut ‘W.L’, they release its follow-up ‘Burn The Empire’ later this year.
When: Saturday, Main Stage, 6.10pm
Self Esteem
Rising from the ashes of her indie band roots, Rebecca Taylor released one of the best pop albums of 2021 in ‘Prioritise Pleasure’. With powerful, truth-telling lyricism that speaks to her love of rhythmic noughties pop and RnB, she sheds light on important issues around female autonomy, comparison culture and more – while her live show is known to be a spectacle.
When: Saturday, King Tuts stage, Saturday, 5.20pm
Wet Leg
The band of the moment, Wet Leg are sure to draw one of the biggest crowds of the weekend over on the King Tut’s stage. After releasing one of the best songs of 2021 in ‘Chaise Longue’, they followed it up with their self-titled debut album – an instant classic that instantly justified the hype. Indie-rock stuffed with hooks, wry humour and infectious joy, make sure you catch them on Saturday.
When: Saturday, King Tut’s stage, 4.10pm
Parliamo
In a world full of turmoil and uncertainty, Parliamo are a joyful antidote. A breath of fresh air, they draw from from a plethora of influences as wide-reaching as The Avalanches and Massive Attack to Super Furry Animals and The Beta Band. The Scottish six-piece bring together witty social commentary–styled lyricism with a distinctive songwriting approach very much of their own, and with a heady live-reputation preceding them, they’ve already been hailed as one of Scotland’s most exciting young prospects.
When: Saturday, King Tut’s stage, 3.55pm
Bemz
On the same weekend that he shares his new single ‘Zidane’, Scottish rapper Bemz is set to make his TRNSMT debut after winning a BBC Introducing competition. A star in the making and more than deserving of his place on the line-up, his raw, emotionally charged style of hip hop will go down a storm on the day.
When: Saturday, River Stage, 12.40pm
Wolf Alice
Currently in Europe with Harry Styles, Wolf Alice are taking time from their busy tour schedule to drop off in Glasgow for a set at TRNSMT. Following the release of ‘Blue Weekend’ last year, they firmly established themselves as one of the UK’s best bands with an iconic frontwoman in Ellie Rowsell. Known to shift from shimmering ballads to raging punk anthems, they’re a band at the peak of their powers.
When: Main Stage, Sunday, 7.40pm
Baby Strange
Glasgow punk veterans Baby Strange headline the River Stage on Saturday night – and you don’t want to miss them. The trio have just released their new album ‘World Below’ and it features some of their most accomplished work to date – packed with addictive hooks, rousing anthems and relentless energy. A band who have paved the way for so many in the city’s punk scene, catch them doing what they do best before The Strokes.
When: River Stage, Saturday, 7.50pm
Medicine Cabinet
If you’re not yet acquainted with Medicine Cabinet, then now is the time to get involved. Pairing their striking, playful image with raw, dancefloor-ready pop-rock, their fun and eccentric shows have showcased a band absolutely brimming with talent and charisma. Their debut single ‘The Signs’ came out earlier this year and it’s fun, upbeat and instantly infectious – sitting somewhere between the glittering yet grungy worlds of No Doubt, Blondie, B52s and Grimes. Led by the brilliant Anna Acquroff, it’s testament to the fun, fearless and empowering world they inhabit.
When: King Tut’s stage, Saturday, 1.45pm
Rianne Downey
Another fine emerging talent, Rianne Downey first caught our attention with a series of covers online. Since then, her star has continued to rise, all thanks to her personal lyrics and modern country-pop flare – as shown on her ‘Fuel to the Flame’ EP and her recent single ‘Devil’s Gonna Get You’. Growing in confidence, she’s now got a record deal and has worked with acclaimed producer and frontman of The Coral James Skelly – all with her eyes set firmly on a bright future ahead.
Photo by Ryan Johnstone
