TRNSMT 2019

James and I went to the TRNSMT festival on Sunday. This was notable because we have not been to a music festival since 1981, in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam, and that was by accident. So I was interested to find out whether I would enjoy the experience. The seeds for our attendance were planted in the early hours of 1st January this year when David and Chanel played some George Ezra music for me. I had never heard of him and was immediately impressed. So when James suggested that we go to TRNSMT, which has been held on Glasgow Green since 2017, I was especially keen to go when I found out that George Ezra was headlining on the last day, Sunday (it’s a three day festival). James was excited by the fact that Snow Patrol were also scheduled for Sunday so we went ahead and booked. Unfortunately Snow Patrol had to cancel because of a health issue, but they were replaced at short notice by the extremely popular newcomer Lewis Capaldi.
The day dawned warm and sunny and we set off by train after lunch and a visit to Grandma. The train was jam packed with people also going to TRNSMT who were in a party mood and singing loudly. Very loudly.
Soon we were at Glasgow Green where we had prudently booked the VIP area in order to have luxuries such as seated food areas and flushing toilets. But when we went to the stages to watch bands - we went to the main stage and the King Tut’s stage - we left that area and joined in with everyone else. The atmosphere was buzzing. It was so hot and crowded. At first I wasn’t sure that I liked it because it was very busy and people were throwing drinks around and generally being very boisterous. And I felt really hot and clammy. But I gradually relaxed into the day and I enjoyed bands like the Wombats and the Kooks and the Mystery Jets. And the day just got better and better. Lewis Capaldi was excellent and he was very funny and self-deprecating. He seemed overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response of the huge audience. Recently he has had a spat on social media with Noel Gallagher where Gallagher has made fun of him for being new and young and singing sad songs. Lewis Capaldi has taken it in good part and during his set he referred to Noel Gallagher as “Dad” and sang “Don’t look back in anger” as a tribute to him. The audience loved him.
And last of all came George Ezra. It was just beginning to get dark when he came on at 9.30 pm and he was absolutely brilliant. I can’t believe that he is only twenty-six, he has an amazing voice and great songs. He seemed genuinely to enjoy the beautiful evening and his interaction with the audience. The last song of the set was of course “Shotgun” and as it finished, pink and gold fireworks lit up the darkening blue sky. It was amazing.
Ally and Cat very kindly picked us up by car on their way back from a day out with Cat’s family at Loch Katrine so we got home nice and quickly, in time to see the end of the highlights from today at Wimbledon. I had been a bit disappointed that TRNSMT had clashed with the Men’s Singles Final, but I had resisted the temptation to check the result online. So even though I only saw the last fifteen minutes of the marathon nearly five hour match I was on the edge of my seat. Such a close match between these two great tennis players and it went to a tie break in the fifth set, but in the end Djokovic beat Federer to win the championship.
When I headed upstairs to bed, exhausted by our lovely festival day, I couldn’t wait to remove all my grubby and sweaty clothes and have a quick shower. Would I go back to TRNSMT? Actually, yes, I definitely would.