SUNSHINE AND SCHEDULING STRESS: TRNSMT DAY 2 PUTS THE WRONGS TO RIGHT

FESTIVAL REVIEW | TRNSMT 2026: DAY 2 | 20th June 2026 by Anne Kelly and Ella Dowell

If Friday’s opening day of TRNSMT 2026 was defined by wet weather and a poor turnout, then Saturday set the wrongs to right – providing the vibes, and sunshine, that make TRNSMT the iconic experience it is. Yet, while the energy vastly improved, the clashes were difficult and, for the most part, entirely unnecessary. We’re no amateurs when it comes to music festivals; we know that navigating a line-up is an art form, and this year’s TRNSMT served up some of the toughest scheduling dilemmas yet.

From main-stage triumphs and brilliant new discoveries to packed-out, sweat-soaked “secret” sets, the day became a see-saw of incredible live music. It was an experience underpinned by massive homegrown pride for Scotland’s flourishing music scene, even if it was occasionally derailed by those baffling scheduling gaps that left crowds stranded in silence.

Brogeal

The early afternoon presented a brutal three-way clash between Brogeal, Sister Maads, and The Rooks, with all three playing between 1.30pm – 2pm. Ultimately, seeing Brogeal take the Main Stage won out. I’ve watched them grow from playing a muddy Calendar Park on the wee stage at Vibration Festival in 2022, to supporting The Lathums and Rianne Downey in 2023, right through to selling out their own Glasgow headline shows and conquering TRNSMT’s smaller stages. Seeing them step out there felt like a true “proud maw” moment.

Tearing through a setlist of fan favourites, they instantly had the early crowd singing along. Unlike many bands who adopt a Glasgow persona to fit in, Brogeal wear their Falkirk roots like a badge of honour, making them incredibly relatable. A highlight was frontman Daniel admitting his first TRNSMT was spent in the A&E tent after too many pints – a story his parents didn’t actually know until that exact moment when he pointed them out in the crowd.

English Teacher

Another frustrating scheduling complaint followed Brogeal’s set. Glasgow Green unplugged for another 30 minutes, leaving crowds standing around with zero live music options (the Boogie Bar doesn’t count). To make matters worse, this dead air was immediately followed by a brutal three-way clash between English Teacher, Big Special and Lacuna – an unnecessary scheduling oversight which was unfair on both the artists and crowd alike.

When English Teacher took the Main Stage though, the decision felt right. Lead singer Lily’s vocals were jaw-droppingly good. They treated us to some unreleased tracks, noting it was their first UK gig of the year since New Year. I did intend to jump over to Lacuna at BBC Introducing, but the iconic bassline of ‘World’s Biggest Paving Slab‘ dragged me back, and ‘Nearly Daffodils‘ held me hostage until the end. When I finally broke away, Lacuna were already packing up, and King Tut’s was just as dead. With no live music playing anywhere on the Green, the festival’s scheduling felt incredibly off.

Madra Salach

One of our most anticipated sets of the weekend belonged to Madra Salach, a band whose name has been rightfully dominating line-up posters over the last year. They did not disappoint.

Chatting ahead of the set with vocalist Paul and harmonium player Maxime, they shared a lovely sentiment:

“I’m not just saying this, but Scotland always feels like a home away from home. I really like being in Scotland… You guys just get it.”

They repeated that warmth on stage before launching into a stunning cover of Ewan MacColl’s ‘The Tunnel Tigers’, setting the context of the Irish labourers who built London’s Dartford Tunnel. The lyrics landed beautifully, propelled by the traditional, intense build of the instrumentation and Paul’s rich, commanding vocals. When they played ‘I Was Just A Boy’, it gave me goosebumps all over. Paul’s voice sounds like it belongs to a man who has lived many lives – there is so much soul, grit, and passion in every single syllable. Again, I had tried to beat the set clashes and sneak away early to catch The Fratellis on the Main Stage, but once again I found myself utterly transfixed. I couldn’t break my gaze until Madra Salach left the stage.

The Fratellis

No massive loss though, as The Fratellis were still in full swing. One of my all-time favourite Scottish bands, I’ve been romanticising the band set ever since I last saw them at the Barrowlands a few years ago. Even then, their shows are rooted in pure nostalgia, with Costello Music serving as the ultimate soundtrack to my teenage years. Shockingly, that album turned 20 this year – which makes zero mathematical sense, considering I am only 21??

They drew what felt like the biggest crowd of the entire weekend so far, with everybody ready to boogie. As a festival band, they are unmatched; their catalogue is just wall-to-wall, upbeat bangers. While they stuck mostly to the breakthrough hits, slipping in ‘Living in the Dark’ and ‘We Need Medicine’ was a lovely treat to enjoy live. Ending predictably on ‘Chelsea Dagger’, it was a massive, joyous moment of festival togetherness.

Triplet Pacific aka Twin Atlantic

Word traveled fast that this weekend’s worst-kept secret set was about to kick off at The Hangout under the alias Triplet Pacific. Eagle-eyed fans easily cracked the anagram, leaving the tent at absolute capacity with crowds spilling out the sides.

Currently on tour with McFly, Twin Atlantic celebrated their TRNSMT return by dropping some massive news: their 8th studio album is arriving this October, with a brand-new single dropping in a couple of days time. They closed out the high-energy set with their biggest sing-along anthems, and frontman Sam McTrusty couldn’t resist diving into the crowd on multiple occasions. It was my first time seeing them live, and I was completely blown away by their energy. If there is any justice, these lads will be back on the Main Stage next year.

Catching up with Sam and guitarist Ross after the set, the adrenaline was still visibly pumping. Reflecting on returning to the original four-piece line-up, they shared how they’ve managed to stay together:

“Just over the years we’ve had different things happening in our lives where people need to take a break or it doesn’t work out for whatever reason. Rather than doing the big dramatic rock band thing of the past where everybody falls out and fights, we’ve worked really hard remaining as friends and keeping the music fun. Don’t get me wrong, you get under each other’s skin at times, but that’s probably the thing we are most proud of—that the band now represents more a journey than just the songs.

It’s the first time we’ve all been in the studio together for like 10 years. It just fits like a glove and you’re back in, and in those wee moments it reminds you just why you do what you do.”

Tanzana

This was easily another contender for the best set of the weekend. Tanzana had been on my radar for a little while, but after both Cliffords and Madra Salach gave them glowing shout-outs during our interviews, missing them wasn’t an option.

Now, I completely understand the hype. They are outstanding. Their stage presence is massive, and lead vocalist Freya Talbot is a spellbinding performer with a powerhouse voice that demands your attention. Aesthetically stunning and incredibly tight as a unit, they only have two singles out right now, but they are clearly destined for massive things.

The Snuts

Because wild horses couldn’t have dragged me away from Tanzana early, I unfortunately missed the first few songs of The Snuts. However, arriving at the stage felt like stepping into a sea of sunflowers and pure joy – a vibe that perfectly encapsulates their feel good new era.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen them live, but they manage to impress every single time. They look entirely at home on a stage of this magnitude, commanding massive crowds who scream every lyric right back at them. The Snuts are tailor-made for these kinds of golden summer evenings, delivering the exact sounds and feelings that lock themselves into your core festival memories.

Radio Free Alice

Australia’s Radio Free Alice headlined the BBC Introducing stage on Saturday night, and they certainly brought their Aussie swagger with them. They played to an active crowd; people were really getting involved with their punky sounds and clearly had a great time doing so! Their lighting was lovely too. At one point, the stage was bathed in golden beams; it had a real cinematic touch. The band played well and were received even better. Unfortunately, I could only catch part of their set due to yet another clash, this time over on the King Tuts stage.

Loyle Carner

Headlining the King Tut’s stage was the one and only Loyle Carner. An artist more than deserving of the main stage, I will say. Donning a tartan Scotland top, he gave us a performance filled with emotion, flow and sing-alongs. The set was elevated by the masterful, almost machine-like grooves of Richard Spaven on drums; truly incredible. Loyle Carner is one of the most unique hip-hop artists in this time, and seeing his soul shine as he performs live is so refreshing. If you don’t know, get to know!

Kasabian

Kasabian – who headlined the first ever run in 2017 – returned to TRNSMT once again this year to lead another party on Glasgow Green. It was truly mega. Kasabian are masters at capturing an audience and once again proved their talent by conducting a sea of bouncing bodies as they shouted along.

The band were on fire (ha); there’s a real energy that surrounds them. They performed a set full of hits that had everybody excited, including a big Happy Birthday singalong for powerhouse drummer Ian Matthews while the sun set behind the Ferris wheel – beautiful times. I was shattered after the gig, so the boys did their job well.

For all its scheduling headaches, Saturday beautifully reminded us why TRNSMT remains a premier hotbed for music discovery, even when competing with the biggest names on the lineup. The clashes were brutal, but the sets were so magnetic that moving between stages became an afterthought – once you were locked in, you were staying. We left the Green deeply impressed, heavily inspired, and one half of us utterly roasted – proving once again that ginger genes and a full day outdoors don’t mix, even when the sun feels deceptively mild.

Still, the buzz for the final day was already building; Sunday was looming, and with it, the official start of a massive Scottish heatwave.

About the Author

Anne Kelly

Contributor

Visit Website View All Posts