SUNSHINE AND SOLIDARITY | TRNSMT DAY 2 BRINGS ROCK ROYALTY ALONGSIDE THE BEST OF THE NEW

TRNSMT FESTIVAL | DAY 2 REVIEW by Anne Kelly

It was the hottest day of the year so far, but Scotland’s biggest music festival was set to raise the temperature even higher as day 2 of Glasgow Green’s TRNSMT Festival 2025 got underway. For a pale, ginger native, it was an experience like no other; a line up full of some of the best new and established talent from all over, the second day was a collective offering of indie, rock, pop and dance vibes, whilst retaining a sense of togetherness as a whole.

LUCIA AND THE BEST BOYS

A fantastic kickoff for the weekend’s female artists unfolded as the captivating local talent, Lucia and The Best Boys, took to the main stage just after noon. With the sun shining down on the enthusiastic crowd, Lucia Fairfull‘s powerful vocals resonated throughout Glasgow Green, creating an electrifying atmosphere. Since their debut album, Burning Castles, climbed to number six on the Scottish Album Chart in 2023, the Glasgow band has enjoyed significant success, sharing the stage with acts like Garbage and, more recently, The Last Dinner Party. They might be making a name as the support band but their set today prove they are the main act too.

CHLOE QISHA

The thrill of discovering new music is one of the highlights of any festival, and that’s exactly what happened when I paused for a snack near the King Tuts stage. I was drawn in by Chloe Qisha, a rising alt-pop star originally from Malaysia but now based in the UK. Her catchy single ’21st Century Cool Girl’ caught my ear with its infectious Abba-like chorus and Olivia Rodrigo-inspired style, leaving a memorable mark on the festival.

ALESSI ROSE

The pop vibes continued on the main stage with Alessi Rose, who enchanted the early audience with her self-proclaimed “delusional” teeny bopper pop. Having opened for big names like Dua Lipa and Tate McCrae, Rose is clearly on the rise, and with her third EP in the space of a year, Voyeur, set to drop next week, she’s proving her talent extends beyond live performances.

SIGRID

ALEX SPENCER

As the day progressed, the focus shifted from pop sensations to a more guitar-driven vibe. On the newly established BBC Introducing stage, Alex Spencer from Manchester kicked things off with an energetic performance that drew a large crowd by the riverside. Clearly grateful for the turnout, Spencer shared his journey, reminiscing about his early days of busking, his recent gig opening for the Black Keys, and his song ‘Nightmares’ being featured in the EA Sports game FC25 alongside artists like Billie Eilish and Charli XCX. His latest EP, Where Do We Go From Here, marks the third release from the 18-year-old Mancunian and showcases his dedication to becoming the next big name in indie music.

CHLOE SLATER

BRÒGEAL

Brògeal is no stranger to Northern Exposure. Having made their debut at TRNSMT last year on the smaller River Stage, now known as BBC Introducing. This time, the Falkirk band showcased their indie-infused traditional folk on the larger King Tuts stage. They delighted the audience with sing-along favorites like ‘You’ll Be Mine’ and ‘Girl From NYC’, while also giving a sneak peek of new songs from their upcoming debut album, Tuesday Paper Club, which is set to drop on October 17th.

WELLY

Back over at the BBC Introducing stage, Welly took the spotlight, providing festival-goers with a delightful mix of music and humor, even while competing with Inhaler on the main stage. Lead singer Elliot Hall lightened the mood with playful banter, asking “Who’s his Dad again?” pausing before asking “Is it Bono?” – referencing the Inhaler frontman Elijah Hewson. “You’ll never guess who my dad is” he jokingly asked. Raising another laugh from the crowd, the singer satirically confesses “Greg Wallace”. The band’s signature British dry wit resonated well with the Scottish audience, and their lively performance left a memorable mark on everyone present.

THE ROOKS

BIIG PIIG

The energy continued to flow with a stand out performance from the incredible Biig Piig on the King Tuts Stage. Having taken some time to chat to us earlier in the day, the Irish artist commented on her ever evolving style and sound.

“When I finally found my feet in a live space it just made me want to make music which makes you wanna dance. I really want to push that a little bit more but, there’s also a part of me that still wants to revisit my older sounds so yeah, we’ll see. Maybe a combo of the two at some point would be cool.”

The dance pop genre is where Biig Piig truly shines on stage, her high energy and authenticity is infectious. Proudly displaying a Palestinian flag in the centre of the stage, the Irish artist was one of a handful of others who used their platform to show their support. ther acts like Lucia & The Best Boys, Brògeal, and of course, Fontaines D.C. set up similar displays of solidarity with Palestine.

INHALER

FONTAINES D.C.

It quickly became clear that the Dublin band was the main attraction, with an electric atmosphere building in the park as fans eagerly awaited their performance. Everywhere you looked, there were Fontaines D.C. t-shirts worn by fans of all ages. We were just as buzzing for them too.

Fontaines D.C. have captured the hearts of music fans everywhere with their undeniable and effortless charisma, drawing us back time and again. In a powerful set of just 13 songs, they showcased the four corners of their extensive catalogue while keeping their latest album, Romance, front and centre. The energy surged as ‘Here’s The Thing’ blasted through Glasgow Green, marking their triumphant arrival. They took the audience on a journey through their evolution, from tracks like ‘Jackie Down The Line’ and ‘Televised Mind’ to the earlier hit ‘Boys In The Better Land’, reminding everyone of their impressive growth over just six years. Dedicating ‘Favourite’ to Glasgow, the crowd erupted in applause, fueling the excitement for the rest of their brief yet memorable performance. With messages like “FREE PALESTINE” and “ISRAEL IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE. USE YOUR VOICE” displayed prominently, only reinforced their support for Gaza. Despite attempts to silence dissenting voices (Kneecap) the solidarity from both the artists and the fans was deafening.

There’s no doubt that Fontaines could have headlined tonight’s main stage line up. They have the draw in Scotland to fill Glasgow Green like they did Finsbury Park just one week earlier. But, they lacked one key ingredient for a Glasgow festival, and that was that they simply aren’t Scottish. First emerging from Glasgow 30 years ago, Biffy Clyro are modern pioneers of Scottish rock music. The trio made their name across the world and are one of the finest melodic rock bands for a generation. Now 10 albums deep, there was absolutely no shortage of hits to keep fans singing along to on Saturday night. The second time headlining TRNSMT Festival, Biffy Clyro appeared top of the bill during the first ever TRNSMT in 2017 too.

MILES KANE

VLURE

Before heading over to the main stage though, we took one final glance at BBC Introducing stage and their Saturday headliners, VLURE. The Prodigy inspired Glasgow techno band put fans in a green tinged trance, captivating anybody who passed their way. Set to release their debut album Escalate on 26th September, VLURE are big ones to watch on the live scene.

JAKE BUGG

BIFFY CLYRO

On what turned out to be the hottest day of the year, Biffy’s performance felt like a well-deserved treat for those who had endured the sweltering heat until 9 PM. The band brought an electrifying energy to the stage, with frontman Simon Neil glistening with sweat, resembling a dazzling star from a distance. Their setlist was a nostalgic journey through their greatest hits, including tracks like ‘Who’s Got A Match‘, ‘Biblical‘, ‘Re-arrange‘, and ‘Space‘, the latter dedicated to all the gingers suffering in the heat (myself included!). Fans were thrilled to hear their new single, ‘A Little Love’, making its Scottish debut since their secret “Screwfish” gig at SWG3 in April. It was clear that Biffy Clyro‘s music has woven itself into the fabric of Scottish culture, as many in the crowd sang along, even those who admitted they didn’t expect to know the lyrics. The night concluded with an encore featuring beloved songs like ‘Machines’ and ‘Bubbles’, capped off by a stunning fireworks display during ‘Many of Horror’, making for an unforgettable homecoming show.

Despite the day’s sweltering heat and pricey beverages, it’s clear that the organisers quickly tackled some of the previous day’s challenges. Whilst the water points had heavy queues at times they mostly seemed to be dispensing refreshingly cold water today. Then there was the comically nicknamed “TRNSMT spa”, where staff sprayed a refreshing water mist to cool off attendees, providing much-needed relief from the soaring temperatures. It might still not be T in the Park, but TRNSMT has become a staple addition to the Scottish music scene and one which continues to grow and improve year on year.