Bums. Bums everywhere. Wherever your eyes averted to there was a different bum to be caught off guard with. Maybe that explains why the crowd were acting as if the full moon was out.
TRNSMT is back Glasgow and boy it was definitely the most interesting that it’s ever been. Before we begin, I want to preface this – spending time at a festival by yourself and staying mainly sober because it costs £6 for a pint of cider (six pounds!) is an experience within itself. I’ve been to festivals before, sober at the start and ended up drunk by the end of it, but sober the whole time? An experience I wouldn’t even know how to describe.
First off, the good – from the line-up this year it seemed as though TRNSMT was struggling to keep up with previous years, especially last years fest which saw headliners like The Killers, the Arctic Monkeys and even Queen. There are big names here this year, especially in Stormzy who put on an absolutely fantastic performance.
However, one thing I enjoyed from TRNSMT this year were the smaller acts showcased not only on the King Tut’s stage but also on the Queen Tut’s stage. A lot of the acts were Glasgow based and local, which really gave this great city the chance to show off its never-ending stream of talent.
In fact, artist Fredo had to pull out of the festival due to traffic problems, meaning Glasgow’s very own Chlobocop stepped in to cover his set for him. A rapper who had half an hour previously performed on the Queen Tut’s stage.
Another highlight for me was a performance from Jimothy on the King Tut’s stage, who’s sound is so intensely unique that it’s hard to place it somewhere specific. It’s a bit of a mix of hip-hop with a sort of lo-fi chilled back feel to it. His music is described as being bedroom pop and very DIY. Real name, Timothy Gonzales (20) put on a lively and energetic performance. Jimothy’s songs are so catchy that by the second chorus the whole crowd knew his lyrics and would sing along. This paired with some quirky dance moves made for a fantastically charismatic performance. Anyone who is looking for a new artist to listen to who is an easy listen, chilled out and even funny should give Jimothy a try.
In the lead up to Stormzy the highlight of the TRNSMT main stage for me was Years & Years, they just put on such a brilliant performance it was hard not to want to have as good a time as the band were up on stage. It’s vital for artists to enjoy their time on stage and for the audience to do that and Years & Years put on such an amazing show, it was hard not to match energy with lead singer Olly Alexander. An artist who has such an amazing voice, it was so easy to just appreciate Alexander’s voice in its raw, live form.
Now, this wouldn’t be a TRNSMT round up if I didn’t bring up the man himself, Gerry Cinnamon. Throughout the day there were constant shouts of people asking when Gerry was on, or just generally chanting his name in excitement for his performance. It’s understandable, especially for Glaswegians it’s hard not to have love for a guy from Castlemilk, who really is just a guy standing on a stage with a guitar and having the time of his life. It’s charming, and something that Glaswegians are drawn to. Gerry himself always puts on a great performance as well, and today was no different, he’s a charismatic guy that the crowd just warms to.
Now, onto the bad:
Glasgow is known for hosting a brilliant party and being a great crowd but today didn’t feel like a Glasgow crowd. The only time anyone had any energy was for Gerry Cinnamon, and there were even lulls in the crowd with his performance. I began to wonder why a lot of people had even bought tickets to a music festival if they were just here to get drunk and watch Gerry Cinnamon. Wouldn’t it be cheaper to just go to one of his shows? Then they would be surround by other like-minded Gerry Cinnamon fans.
Trnsmt is a festival which was created to stop the sheer mayhem of T in the Park and has turned into a primary 7 disco where everybody has come dressed as their favourite influencers and celebrities. Nobody is there to go along see some artists play and enjoy themselves. They are there to get their pictures taken, showcase their outfits and take a million photos and videos to prove to god knows who that they actually went to TRNSMT and seen this person perform.
In the Gerry Cinnamon crowd, two guys started fighting beside me, there was people arguing over whether they should get to squeeze in towards the front or not and it just seemed as if nobody had any respect for each other.
It’s hard to enjoy a concert never-mind a festival where the crowd is so negative. That general feeling becomes overbearing enough that it’s difficult to even enjoy yourself. You’re constantly on edge worried about saying the wrong thing to someone or accidentally bumping into someone.
The best part about a festival is the crowd, and if they aren’t a good crowd then it’s hard to really let loose and enjoy yourself.
However, with that all said and done TRNSMT Day One was pretty successful, despite Fredo not showing for his show all of the performers put on a great show.
Bring on Day 2.
