TRNSMT 2025 (see Saturday right here)
Glasgow Inexperienced, Scotland
11-Thirteenth July 2025
Sunday at TRNSMT: Shiny pop, indie stalwarts, and the sounds of Scotland in 2025. Trev Eales frolicked trying out the expertise on the smaller levels.
Making an early begin, my first act of the day is Nxdia, from Egypt through Manchester; alt pop with attention-grabbing beats, just a few musical traces of her Center Japanese heritage, and a few pleasing bursts of rock guitar. Visually too, she’s an enticing presence and price additional investigation.
Subsequent up, two younger Scots each impress. Each have nice voices. Nineteen yr outdated pupil Pat Hamilton mines a dance pop vein with upbeat actually infectious songs. Kerr Mercer brings extra gravitas. His voice is harking back to Lewis Capaldi, with whom he’s been writing songs. Each have but to launch music in bodily type however are apparently promoting out reveals in central Scotland and Mercer attracts a very robust crowd for thus early within the day. Positively ones to observe.
Persevering with my early wandering I encounter Kuleeange on the BBC Introducing Stage, a guitar and bass duo backed by electro beats. There are echoes of Nineteen Nineties dance, of techno and dub. Musically, if not vocally, they’re harking back to Alabama 3 at occasions, they usually’re getting air time on 6 Music. They’re most likely not destined for mass consumption however your reviewer enjoys them.
As for mass consumption . . .
Nathan Evans & Saint PHNX Band are tearing up the primary stage. Nathan Evans went viral on TikTok 5 years in the past singing sea shanties. Now he’s gracing TRNSMT’S primary stage and getting the most effective response of the day up to now. He’s like an much more Scottish model of Gerry Cinnamon; a populist tackle folks with nation flavours thrown in.
The Lathums, who comply with him, wrestle. Taking part in a set dominated by their new album could have brought on difficulties, with the group seeming to not recognise earlier songs like Say My Title. They battle on however get little response. It’s little doubt partly as a consequence of set decisions however maybe additionally right down to programming. Sandwiched between the Scottish populism of Nathan Evans and the three shiny pop acts who comply with them, this actually isn’t their viewers.
In the meantime on King Tuts, Kyle Falconer has no such issues. Whether or not selling solo materials or fronting The View, the Dundee singer at all times goes down nicely on his (maybe over) frequent visits to TRNSMT. I’m starting to surprise if he owns shares in promoters DF Concert events.
Whereas pop strengthens its grip on the primary stage, a trio of feminine acts maintain court docket at King Tuts. All acquit themselves nicely. Rianne Downey, maybe finest identified for singing with Paul Heaton, is pleasant. Mixing country-tinged pop and Scottish folks ballads, her voice is faultless, whereas her on stage informal attraction provides to the ambiance.
Brooke Combe‘s expertise is past query. As we speak, she’s the epitome of a clean soul singer. I final noticed her two years in the past, extra tough edged, with a band that introduced a rockier sound together with her soulful vocals. Mass reputation little doubt beckons however I a lot want the sooner incarnation.
Nina Nesbitt‘s an intriguing character. Singer, tune author, and typically mannequin, she’s a musician seemingly repeatedly altering genres. Coming throughout her over a decade in the past, she was a teenage solo artist taking part in jangly folks pop on acoustic guitar. The pure pop album that adopted bore little resemblance to the reside act I’d seen. By 2022, locks shorn and time spent within the USA, her reside sound had develop into soulful, electro flavoured pop with a really American really feel. As we speak, turned Scottish cowgirl, we’re handled to folks and nation flavoured Americana. It’s undoubtedly right down to innate expertise however every reincarnation appears to work.
Again on the primary stage it’s clear that the higher layers of as we speak’s line up have industrial pop as their core focus and market.
Myles Smith‘s speedy rise to fame has been spectacular. Fuelled by on-line success, BBC patronage, BRIT nominations, and a current assist slot with Ed Sheeran, he’s taking part in a late afternoon slot at TRNSMT. Stay, he initially presents as humble and maybe barely over awed by over 20,00 folks in entrance of him.
“Hello, my identify’s Myles Smith. You might not have heard of me or know my songs however I’m going to do my highest to ensure you have time.”
He needn’t have anxious. His voice, vitality, and uplifting songs are infectious. Whether or not taking part in it critically with acoustic guitar or bouncing across the stage, his expertise is self evident. Anticipate to see and listen to way more of him sooner or later.
Jade‘s efficiency is all about manufactured, choreographed, shiny woman pop, whereas between tune banter contrasts with earthy northern sincerity. On stage we’ve obtained shiny inflated spikes and an identical silver podium to climb. Every tune’s tightly choreographed with accompanying dancers. Musically there’s a mixture of Little Combine and solo materials – not that your reviewer can differentiate. The gang although, like it.
Because the pop parade continues, the penultimate primary stage act is a few American pop princess. Is she any good? I’ve no thought. Like an rising variety of artists from the USA, she’s banned all photographers. Is it ego, narcissism, a need for management, or one thing to cover? I share the views of many who each {photograph} and assessment gigs. If we aren’t adequate to {photograph} her, she isn’t getting reviewed.
I head again to King Tuts the place a parallel world has unfolded; the youngsters and twenty somethings in entrance of the primary stage have been changed by just a few thousand males of their forties and fifties. Is it a secret Oasis reunion? The place have all these folks been all day? I don’t know the place they’ve been however they’re right here to re-live their Nineteen Nineties youth with Shed Seven. “Shed” have loads of hits, fan favourites and some new songs to entertain them for an hour. And so they do it very nicely. After which these misplaced souls migrate to the primary stage for an additional dose of nostalgia with Snow Patrol.
And what of as we speak’s headliners, Snow Patrol? They’re skilled, they’ve obtained some good songs, they’re an satisfying hear. You don’t realise simply what number of good songs till you hear them once more. They’re clearly happy and proud to be taking part in within the metropolis the place they first gained success. However ought to they be headlining Sunday evening at TRNSMT? As we speak’s three previous acts are all very “pop,” attracting a completely completely different demographic.
There’s been some satisfying music and some new finds as we speak however I’ve needed to wander to the smaller levels to search out them. The day definitely hasn’t reached Saturday’s heights, and it appears vital numbers have left after the pop acts. As I depart I can’t assist ponder whether a special headliner was initially deliberate. A younger act, extra pop oriented, extra suitable with the remainder of the primary stage programme and the viewers it attracted?
I suppose I’ll by no means know.
TRNSMT Competition competition might be adopted on Fb and their web site
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Phrases and photographs by Trev Eales. Extra work by Trev on Louder Than Conflict might be discovered at his writer’s profile. His pictures portfolio is right here
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