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 testing the expertise on the smaller phases.
Making an early begin, my first act of the day is Nxdia, from Egypt by way of Manchester; alt pop with fascinating beats, a number of musical traces of her Center Japanese heritage, and a few pleasing bursts of rock guitar. Visually too, she’s an interesting presence and price additional investigation.
Subsequent up, two younger Scots each impress. Each have nice voices. Nineteen yr previous 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 kind however are apparently promoting out exhibits in central Scotland and Mercer attracts a very sturdy crowd for therefore early within the day. Undoubtedly 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, and so they’re getting air time on 6 Music. They’re in all probability 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 most important stage and getting one of the best response of the day to this point. He’s like an much more Scottish model of Gerry Cinnamon; a populist tackle people with nation flavours thrown in.
The Lathums, who observe him, battle. Enjoying a set dominated by their new album could have brought about difficulties, with the gang seeming to not recognise earlier songs like Say My Identify. They battle on however get little response. It’s little question partly as a result of set selections however maybe additionally right down to programming. Sandwiched between the Scottish populism of Nathan Evans and the three shiny pop acts who observe 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 marvel if he owns shares in promoters DF Live shows.
Whereas pop strengthens its grip on the primary stage, a trio of feminine acts maintain courtroom at King Tuts. All acquit themselves nicely. Rianne Downey, maybe greatest recognized for singing with Paul Heaton, is pleasant. Mixing country-tinged pop and Scottish people ballads, her voice is faultless, whereas her on stage informal allure provides to the environment.
Brooke Combe‘s expertise is past query. In the present day, 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 along with her soulful vocals. Mass reputation little question beckons however I a lot desire the sooner incarnation.
Nina Nesbitt‘s an intriguing character. Singer, music author, and generally 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 people pop on acoustic guitar. The pure pop album that adopted bore little resemblance to the dwell act I’d seen. By 2022, locks shorn and time spent within the USA, her dwell sound had grow to be soulful, electro flavoured pop with a really American really feel. In the present day, turned Scottish cowgirl, we’re handled to people and nation flavoured Americana. It’s undoubtedly right down to innate expertise however every reincarnation appears to work.
Again on the most important stage it’s clear that the higher layers of at the moment’s line up have business 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 latest help 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. It’s possible you’ll not have heard of me or know my songs however I’m going to do my perfect to be sure to have an excellent time.”
He needn’t have apprehensive. His voice, power, and uplifting songs are infectious. Whether or not taking part in it severely with acoustic guitar or bouncing across the stage, his expertise is self evident. Anticipate to see and listen to rather more of him sooner or later.
Jade‘s efficiency is all about manufactured, choreographed, shiny woman pop, whereas between music banter contrasts with earthy northern sincerity. On stage we’ve obtained shiny inflated spikes and an identical silver podium to climb. Every music’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 most important stage act is a few American pop princess. Is she any good? I’ve no concept. 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 evaluation 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 a number of 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. They usually do it very nicely. After which these misplaced souls migrate to the primary stage for one more dose of nostalgia with Snow Patrol.
And what of at the moment’s headliners, Snow Patrol? They’re skilled, they’ve obtained some good songs, they’re an pleasant pay attention. 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 night time at TRNSMT? In the present day’s three previous acts are all very “pop,” attracting a completely totally different demographic.
There’s been some pleasant music and some new finds at the moment however I’ve needed to wander to the smaller phases to search out them. The day definitely hasn’t reached Saturday’s heights, and it appears important numbers have left after the pop acts. As I depart I can’t assist ponder whether a distinct headliner was initially deliberate. A younger act, extra pop oriented, extra appropriate with the remainder of the primary stage programme and the viewers it attracted?
I assume I’ll by no means know.
TRNSMT Competition competition will 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 Battle will be discovered at his creator’s profile. His images portfolio is right here
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