Following an amazing first day at the festival, day two was set to continue the excitement with Gerry Cinnamon headlining the main stage. As fans poured into the festival grounds, the atmosphere was electric. A sea of St. Andrew’s Cross flags, vibrant clothing, and bucket hats of every color made their way toward the various stages.
To kick off the day, we headed to the King Tut’s stage to catch the opening band, direct from Australia. And what a start it was with the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets! This psychedelic rock band knew how to put on a show. The early arrivals at the stage had the cobwebs blown away from the night before. The band was full of energy and commanded attention; you simply couldn’t take your eyes off them. The singer, sporting a Newcastle top, and the bass guitarist, wearing an Aston Villa jacket, showed that for them, it was all about the music and sound, not fashion. They certainly won over the crowd, and more people gathered to watch as the band played their way through an electrifying set.
Next up on the main stage was the outstanding NewDad. Led by Julie Dawson, they struck a perfect chord with the Glasgow audience. Their sound is captivating, blending soft, melodic tunes with an edge that feels like it could burst at any moment—and occasionally, it does. This is a band you definitely want to see live if they come to a venue near you.
Down at the River Stage, the opening act Bottle Rockets, which recently won SMAS’s Best Alt Rock Band and the BBC Introducing award, took the stage with high spirits. The crowd had gathered early, eagerly anticipating the band’s performance. As the band arrived, their excitement was electric, matched by the enthusiastic crowd that had come to see them. Fronted by Kenzi Murray, the band took the audience on a musical journey reminiscent of Siouxsie & the Banshees. Kenzi’s stage presence captivated everyone, while the band’s powerful songs had the audience jumping and dancing along. With their compelling tunes, catchy hooks, and memorable choruses, the band has everything going for them. They are poised to move up to bigger stages soon, so catch them at smaller venues while you still can—they’re destined for greater heights in the near future.
It was time to return to the main stage for the highly anticipated performance by The Mary Wallopers. The band, featuring an array of traditional instruments, took their places. The front of the stage was crowded, and Irish tricolours were visible throughout the TRNSMT audience. The band performed primarily drinking songs with catchy choruses. After the first song, the rest of the set followed a similar pattern with different lead singers. Personally, I don’t understand all the buzz surrounding them. Nonetheless, the band is scheduled to return to the city later this year for sold-out shows at the renowned Barrowland.
At the King Tut’s stage, Glasgow’s own Dead Pony, led by Anna Shields, delivered an unforgettable performance. This final show of their European tour was nothing short of spectacular. From the very beginning, the band’s electrifying rock presence captivated the audience. Their songs hit hard with brilliant guitar riffs and dynamic stage presence.
Although bassist Liam Adams was absent due to a broken arm sustained during the tour, Lizzie Reid stepped in, ensuring the show went on. During their new single “Mama,” Liam made a surprising stage appearance, arm in a cast, showcasing the band’s resilience.
Dead Pony was touring their debut album “Ignore This” and plans to hit the road again later this year. This is a band on the brink of big things, not to be overlooked. They even introduced a fun element to the festival by bringing out a large inflatable pony, which the crowd enthusiastically tossed around.
If you haven’t seen Dead Pony live yet, it’s high time you did. Their performance will undoubtedly blow you away.
At the main stage, preparations were in full swing for Natasha Bedingfield’s entrance. The crowd, eager to embrace the pop party vibe, had gathered in large numbers. Bedingfield captivated them with performances of her hits, including the iconic “Unwritten,” as well as an array of covers such as Coldplay’s “The Scientist,” Prince’s “Purple Rain,” and Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved.” She left the Glasgow audience singing along and cheering loudly as she exited the stage to a phenomenal reception.
Local sensation Dylan John Thomas was next to take the stage. Having already sold out the iconic Glasgow Barrowland and recently released his debut album, he was on top of the world. As he stepped onto the stage and gazed out at the massive crowd stretching as far as the eye could see, one could only wonder what was going through his mind.
Dylan’s powerful voice carries echoes of legendary guitar heroes like Woody Guthrie, yet he has cultivated his own unique style that blends the old with the modern. His music, characterized by foot-tapping rhythms and big choruses, had the crowd singing along enthusiastically.
Kicking off his set with the classic “Jenna,” Dylan immediately demonstrated the crowd’s fervour, as they sang every word along with him. Throughout his festival performance, the energy remained electric. With girls perched on shoulders and arms raised high, the audience sang every song with full voice. It was a commanding set, and with the support of the Glasgow crowd, Dylan held the audience in the palm of his hand.
Next up on the main stage was 90’s icon Rick Astley, who got the audience dancing and singing along to his hits. Jokingly, he remarked to the crowd that they must have asked their grandparents about his music. Rick knew how to throw a party right from the start, opening with the brilliant “Never Gonna Stop” and engaging the younger members of the audience with an excellent cover of Sam Fender’s “Seventeen Going Under.” He then performed a mix of classic old and new covers, even taking a turn on the drum kit. The show had it all, with Rick playing “Highway to Hell” by ACDC on the drums and singing a fantastic cover of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” The highlight, of course, was when he delighted the TRNSMT audience with the song they had been waiting for from the start—the classic “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The crowd, many of whom were not even born when the song was released, sang and danced along passionately. The noise level at the end of the song was incredible. Rick Astley put on a great show, entertaining fans of all ages as if it were the 90’s all over again.
Next up on the main stage were Manchester’s finest, the Courteeners, who received an incredible welcome from the TRNSMT crowd as they took their positions. It didn’t take much to keep the audience dancing and singing along, as they were already in full party mode. The band sounded fantastic, with the crowd enthusiastically joining in on hits like “Cavorting,” “Take Over The World,” and “Hanging Off Your Cloud.” The noise level skyrocketed when the band played their classic anthem “Not Nineteen Forever,” with the entire TRNSMT audience dancing and singing along. The venue was packed to the brim, as far as the eye could see.
The time had come for Gerry Cinnamon, the headliner of the main stage, to perform his collection of indie hits that had drawn large crowds. Meanwhile, we made our way to the King Tut’s stage to see the Irish sensation, Cian Ducrot, who was headlining there. The audience at this stage was thoroughly captivated by Cian’s incredible voice and dynamic performance. Switching effortlessly between acoustic guitar and piano, his talent was truly exceptional, with the TRNSMT crowd enthusiastically singing and dancing along to his music. Cian Ducrot is undoubtedly a rising star, and it won’t be long before he’s performing on much larger stages.
As King Tut’s set concluded, Gerry was still rocking the main stage, delivering powerful performances of songs like “The Bony” and “Belter.” The crowd was completely captivated, singing along at full volume, a stark contrast to the previous night. As fireworks illuminated the night sky during his set, his fans were thrilled to see him headline the main stage.
Today was an incredible day, featuring a diverse lineup of bands that captivated the fantastic TRNSMT audience right from the start. With so much to see and do, the crowd had their eyes set on one performer: local favourite Gerry Cinnamon. His set had everyone bouncing and singing along from beginning to end, making him the undeniable highlight of the day.
Review by Karen Edmond
Photographs by James Edmond Photography
