TRNSMT day two: Wonderwall singalong with Liam Gallagher ends festival’s second day

If day one was all about dipping toes in and getting reacquainted to the festival experience, Saturday at TRNSMT saw revellers dive right in.

With a wide variety of acts on show there was probably a bit of something for everyone on the event’s second day.

At one point, if you stood in the middle of Glasgow Green, you’d hear the sound of rap from KSI on the main stage, the soulful melodies of Charlotte Jade on the River Stage and the pounding rock of The Murder Capital blaring from the King Tut’s Stage.

Quite the mix and the perfect encapsulation of the variety of acts on show across the weekend.

Main stage highlights

Airdrie singer Nathan Evans had the honour of opening the main stage with a lunchtime set featuring a cover of Caledonia and the TikTok hit that launched his career, his version of the Wellerman sea shanty.

Rapper, YouTube star and sometime boxer KSI had a very special guest to introduce him to the stage via video message – none other than Scots TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, using some language a little fruiter than daytime ITV allows.

© RYANJOHNSTONCO

Edinburgh’s Vistas, indie-rockers Sea Girls and Irish ban Picture This soundtracked the early afternoon before local heroes and festival favourites Twin Atlantic took to the stage.

Frontman Sam McTrusty told the crowd: “It’s been a long time since I felt this type of adrenaline.”

A quick blast of late evening sunshine arrived as Keane played their set, taking the crowd through a back catalogue extending two decades.

Frontman Tom Chaplin admitted it was “weird” to be back in front of crowds again, and that it took him a few tunes to settle the nerves.

© Ryan Buchanan

Primal Scream showed their prowess as a live band with a set peppered with anthems from Loaded and Rocks to Come Together (which Bobby Gillespie dedicated to the Scotland football team).

Country Girl was even lyrically altered for the evening to Glasgow Girl.

© Andrew Cawley

Making her case for inclusion on the main stage was Becky Hill, with her set proving a popular choice ahead of headliner Liam Gallagher.

The King Tut’s stage was full to the brim, with notices on the big screens indicating that the area was now closed to new entries.

The chart-topper’s set was delayed after a member of the audience needed medical assistance in the packed area.

Those heading along had to search for an alternative vantage point as Hill and her powerful voice rattled through a set of high-octane, high-octave tracks.

A rock’n’roll star

Saturday night’s headliner was Oasis legend Liam Gallagher, who, a couple of songs in, asked if Glasgow was a peaceful place, “all kissing and cuddling” tonight because both Rangers and Celtic had won.

It would certainly become a lot more lively as he fired out a selection of his solo efforts and Oasis classics.

The opener, Oasis favourite Hello, set the tone with a mass singalong and the appropriate lyric “It’s Good To Be Back”.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Star was dedicated to Primal Scream, with Gallagher saying “This is for the best rock and roll band to come out of Scotland”.

© Ryan Buchanan

The encore was perfect to send the festival crowd home happy, including Roll With It, Live Forever and a final singalong of Wonderwall.

Geoff Ellis, Festival Director at TRNSMT, said: “It was the night we’ve all been waiting for and it surpassed my wildest expectations.

“Today, fans enjoyed some of the most memorable performances to ever grace the stage at Glasgow Green.

“I want to remind anybody attending again tomorrow to take another lateral flow test to ensure the negative result they displayed on entry on day one and two isn’t more than 48 hours old. This is really important.

“It’s hard to see how we can top Saturday but I’m pretty sure we’ll give it a try with the amazing acts we have lined up tomorrow. ”

Rising Scottish talent

One of the festival’s stronger points is the championing of young Scottish talent.

On the King Tut’s stage, East Kilbride outfit Declan Welsh & the Decadent West reminded the crowd exactly why their debut album made such a huge splash, with the frontman saying “Thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts for being here – we were a wee bit nervous before this…this means a lot!”

© Michael Hunter

Dylan John Thomas also proved he was on the track to even bigger things, playing a great set in the same place he used to play football as a kid.

Opening the stage for the day was singer, songwriter and producer Mike McKenzie, who was delighted with the faith put in him.

He told The Sunday Post: “It was incredible. To have an opportunity like that is just out of this world. It’s been nearly two years in the making.

“To finally be here and it actually happening… It was one of those things where I was like, show me it and I’ll believe it’s happening. Getting here and sound checking, the gates opening, that’s when I knew we were really going for it.

“There was an excitement because it’s been so long. To open the King Tut’s stage, iconic venue, iconic stage, iconic festival, I cannot thank Geoff Ellis enough for offering the spot.”

© Andrew Cawley

The River Stage saw lively sets from Lucia & the Best Boys, Baby Queen, Spyres and more.

Ahead of closing the stage for the night, Lucia said: “We’ve all missed it so much. I was definitely having withdrawal symptoms. We’ve had a couple of gigs since things opened back up.

“I usually quite like to interact with people and chat to them but I didn’t really know what to say and found myself repeating stuff because I was so flustered and overwhelmed, but in a good way. I think because I’m at home I’ll feel a lot more at ease.”

Sunday’s line-up

Main Stage

The Chemical Brothers | Snow Patrol | Dermot Kennedy | Amy Macdonald | Declan McKenna | Jay1 | Ella Eyre | Lyra

King Tut’s Stage

Tom Odell | Joesef | Ash | Ryan McMullan | Ms Banks | Kawala | Kyle Falconer | Tamzene

River Stage

Saint PHNX | Pip Blom | Aaron Smith | Daytime TV | Swim School | Lucy Blue | Sara’n’Junbug