BRIGHTON-based band The Magic Gang were truly living up to their name as they cast a spell over the crowd at TRNSMT last Sunday.
A bumper audience, complete with typically Glaswegian chants, squeezed into a corner of the festival site to see the rising indie stars.
And speaking to The Sunday Post shortly after playing their set, the band revealed their love of playing in the city.
“It was a crazy crowd, more than what we imagined,” says bassist Angus Taylor. “We didn’t know what to expect because Miles Kane was playing at the same time as us so it was lovely that the die hard fans turned up.”
Guitarist and vocalist Kristian Smith agrees: “It was really good, really fun. They’ve been really good to us every time we’ve played here.”
The four-piece were one of the up and coming acts performing on the King Tut’s Stage, with the likes of King No-One, Island, Fatherson and Sigrid also on the bill.
“It felt like playing in the King Tut’s venue… but in the sun,” laughs Jack Kaye.
The second stage at the festival allows bands to showcase their talents in front of an audience of thousands of potential fans.
Judging by the reaction from revellers, The Magic Gang will have a few more people heading along to any future Scottish dates.
It’s music to the ears of Angus, who despite the name has no Scottish connection, as he reckons crowds north of the border are a lot more fun.
“They’re a lot warmer than you get down south,” he says. “They just have it. There’s no holding back which is amazing.
“You’re going to see live music so you want to have it. A lot of people down south are more conservative, arms folded. You need to let go, relax!”
The band’s fourth member, drummer Paeris Giles adds: “You have to earn the movement a lot more down south, up here people go into the space with the intention of having a good time, rather than to be impressed.”
If you were country before club last night, listen back to our @BBCR1 Live Gig with @AnnieMac – with a cover of our favourite ABBA song in the name of Jordan Pickford https://t.co/I06SfyA5He
— The Magic Gang (@_TheMagicGang) July 4, 2018
It’s been quite a year for the band, having released their self-titled debut album back in March.
“We’re now seeing the positive repercussions of putting [the album] out,” says Kristian.
“It’s now the period of time where people have learned our songs so we’re now getting them singing it back to us.
“It’s the most special thing about being in a band.”
Spent a lot of time here before but that’s got to be the record pic.twitter.com/CM6O4Uw7sc
— The Magic Gang (@_TheMagicGang) July 2, 2018
Jack agrees, adding: “It’s the best thing ever to see people react like that to your songs, that’s the intention of them anyway.”
There’ll be plenty of opportunity to experience that kind of audience reaction this summer, with a number of festival dates coming up and a UK tour later in the year.
That includes a show in Edinburgh’s Liquid Rooms on September 23.
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